My Reflection on The Righteous Sinner

After watching The Righteous Sinner by Boona Mohammed—an emotional retelling inspired by the story of Barsisa the Monk—I was left deeply stirred. This heartfelt piece explores the complex intersection of mental health, sin, faith, and the possibility of external doom. It’s a raw reflection on how easily one can spiral when pain is left unaddressed and how hope, healing, and redemption are always within reach. Read on, reflect deeply, and remember—no matter how far you’ve gone, it’s never too late to return.

Hauwa Bello

4/4/20253 min read

Reflection on Sin, Mental Health, and Redemption

I just finished watching The Righteous Sinner, written by Boona Mohammed and inspired by the story of Barsisa the Monk, and I’m left with a whirlwind of emotions. I can’t even place a solid finger on any single one—they’re dancing around too fast.

SubhanAllah, Allah gives us countless opportunities to turn back to Him and seek Istighfar, but do we actually take them?

I don’t even know where to start—should I begin with the ignored mental health conditions that kept calling for attention? The grief of loss? The insomnia? The drug addiction that followed? The denial? So much was unraveling, yet no one really stopped to address it.

SubhanAllah, was it really the devil in the form of Lucky creeping in, or did Musa simply not know when to draw the line? Was it about principles or self-preservation? Willpower or vulnerability? When does one realize it’s time to retrace their steps? After all, we can never say, “I will never sin,” because we were created to sin—and to seek forgiveness.

The Prophet (ﷺ) made this clear in a Hadith narrated by Abu Huraira:

"By Him in Whose Hand is my life, if you were not to commit sin, Allah would sweep you out of existence and replace you with a people who would sin and seek forgiveness from Allah, and He would pardon them." (Sahih Muslim 2749)

We are not angels. We will make mistakes. But when we fall, do we recognize when to return to Allah, knowing that He is Al-‘Afuww—The One who pardons? When we lose our way (because at some point, we will), will we turn back to Him? When? Now? Because no matter how far we stray, Allah is always near.

Where Do We Turn?

What do we do to protect ourselves such that even when we sin, we never cross the no return boundary? When we slip, what safeguards do we have in place?

Muslim friends—How vulnerable are you with them?
Muslim family—Do they truly know enough of Islam to be a strong support system?
Halqa/Masjid—Are they welcoming, or are they judgmental?

Subhanallah, the list goes on, and so do the excuses and blame. But despite all that, Allah has promised us that He will always provide a way back. The question is: Do we hold onto Him even when everything seems bleak?

The Mental Health Factor

For those who watched the movie, did you notice that Musa’s downward spiral started with depression? His father’s death left a deep wound that was ignored. If only he had addressed his mental health—without fearing stigma or shame—his story might have been different.

Shame and stigma are temporary. His decline and death were permanent.

As a mental health advocate, this strikes me sharply. How many people are suffering in silence, afraid to seek help because of what others might say? How many lives have been lost because mental health struggles were swept under the rug?

The Sins We Overlook

There are so many layers to this story, but before I wrap up, let’s not ignore some of the clear-cut sins that played out:

Pretending to be something you’re not
Lying
Stealing
Seclusion with a non-mahram
Looking at a non-mahram seductively
Drug abuse (and the illegal means of procuring them)
Neglecting responsibilities (e.g., sleeping during work)
Fornication
Murder
Suicide etc.

Each step led to the next, spiraling deeper into darkness. Shaytan doesn’t drag us down all at once—he works gradually. A compromise here, a small sin there, until we find ourselves in places we never imagined we’d be.

I pray that Allah protects us all from the whispers of Shaytan and strengthens us against his deception. May He grant us the ability to recognize when we’ve strayed and the humility to return to Him before it’s too late. And may we all be blessed to leave this world with La ilaha illa Allah on our lips. Ameen.

Please, No Matter What, Don’t Despair

Whatever has happened, Whatever will happen, whatever sins you have committed—NEVER despair. Never lose hope. Allah is ALWAYS near, waiting for you to turn back TO HIM. He will show you the way. And in shaa Allah, we will all find our way.

Khair Always In shaa Allah.

NB: for those who want to watch the movie it's available for free on youtube. Watch and let me know what you think. Till next time in shaa Allah. I remain... Hauwa Bello

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