SINSin is an immoral act considered to be a transgression against divine law. The word ISLAM means submitting your will to the will of ALLAH سبحانه و تعالى i.e., following to Law of Allah سبحانه و تعالى Islamically, a sin is an act in contrast to the will of Allah سبحانه و تعالى.
The Muslim should not look at how small or great the sin is, rather he should look at the greatness and might of the One Whom he is disobeying. After committing many sins also we human beings are doing well because of the mercy of Allah and the two most important names of Allah سبحانه و تعالى (the creator) are AR-RAHMAAN AND AR-RAHEEM WHICH MEANS ENTIRELY MERCIFUL AND ESPECIALLY MERCIFUL.
Qur’anWhen there are many sins they leave a mark on the heart of the person who commits them, so he becomes one of the negligent. As one of the said, concerning the ayath, “Nay! But on their hearts is the Raan (covering of sins and evil deeds) which they used to earn” Qur’an.Surah Mutaffifeen 83:14.
How this starts is that the heart gets stained by sin, and if the sin increases then the stain grows bigger until it becomes the raan (covering of sin and evil deeds), then it increases until it becomes a seal, and the heart becomes covered and sealed. If that happens after a person had been guided and had understood, then his heart is turned upside down, and at that point the Shaytaan gains control over him and directs him as he wants.
It is Allah سبحانه و تعالى who can accept repentance, as Allah سبحانه و تعالى says in Qur’an: “And it is He who accepts repentance from his servants and pardons misdeeds, and He knows what you do.” Quran.surah Shura 42:25
Hadith“The Messenger of Allah ﷺsaid: ‘A man is deprived of provision because of the sins that he commits.’” Sunan Ibn Maajah : 4022, classed as hasan/sound by al-Albaani رحمت الله in Saheeh Ibn Maajah
The Prophet ﷺ said: “All of my ummah (followers) will be fine except for those who commit sin openly, and that includes cases where Allah سبحانه و تعالى conceals a person’s sin, but the following morning he exposes himself and says, ‘O So and so, I did such and such last night, so he shamelessly exposes himself when all night his Lord had concealed his sin.” Sahih Al Bukhaari, 5949; Muslim, 2744.
What is the worst sin in front of Allah?Associating partners will Allah سبحانه و تعالى is the worst sin in front of Allah سبحانه و تعالى. For a person to enter Islam and become a Muslim, he or she must first attest that there is NO ‘Ilah” or deity that is worthy of worship other than Allah سبحانه و تعالى.
Indeed, Allah سبحانه و تعالى does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And he who associates others with Allah سبحانه و تعالى has certainly fabricated a tremendous sin. Qur’an.Surah Al-Nisa 4:48
Concept of ForgivenessConcept of forgiveness is very simple in Islam. You should note that whoever repents sincerely, Allah سبحانه و تعالىaccepts his repentance and Allah سبحانه و تعالىis Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. He has promised the one who repents to Him that He will forgive him his sins. He says “Say: ‘O ‘Ibaadi (My slaves) who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah سبحانه و تعالى, verily, Allah سبحانه و تعالىforgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft‑Forgiving, Most Merciful’”Qur’an.Surah Al Zumar 39:53.
When Allah سبحانه و تعالىpromises something, He does not break His promise. And Allah سبحانه و تعالىsays: “Except those who repent and believe (in Islamic Monotheism), and do righteous deeds; for those, Allah سبحانه و تعالىwill change their sins into good deeds, and Allah سبحانه و تعالىis Oft‑Forgiving, Most Merciful. And whosoever repents and does righteous good deeds; then verily, he repents towards Allah سبحانه و تعالىwith true repentance” Qur’an.Surah Furqaan 25:70-71.
Allah removes the sinCalamities by means of which Allah سبحانه و تعالى expiates sins in this world. It was narrated in al-Saheehayn that the Prophet ﷺsaid: “No tiredness, exhaustion, worry, grief, distress or harm befalls a believer in this world, not even a thorn that pricks him, but Allah سبحانه و تعالىexpiates some of his sins thereby.” Sahih Al Bukhari 5640; Muslim 2572.
Praying for forgivenessIt was narrated in al-Saheehayn that the Prophet ﷺsaid: “If a person commits a sin, then says, ‘O Lord, I have committed a sin so forgive me,’ He says, ‘My slave knows that he has a Lord Who may forgive sins or punish for it; I have forgiven My slave…’” Sahih Al-Bukhari, 6953 and Sahih Muslim, 4953
Prophet ﷺsaid: “If you did not commit sin, Allah سبحانه و تعالىwould do away with you and bring people who would commit sins then ask Him to forgive them, so He would forgive them.” Saheeh Muslim al-Tawbah, 4936
Doing good deeds which wipe out sinsAllah سبحانه و تعالى says in Qur’an: “And perform As‑Salaah (Iqaamat‑as‑ Salaah), at the two ends of the day and in some hours of the night [i.e. the five compulsory Salaah (prayers)]. Verily, the good deeds remove the evil deeds (i.e. small sins)” Qur’an.Surah Hood 11:114
And the Prophet ﷺ said: “The five daily prayers and Jumu’ah (Friday prayers) and Ramadaan take away the bad deeds between one and the next, if you avoid major sins.” Sahih Muslim 344.
And He ﷺsaid: “Whoever fasts Ramadaan out of faith and the hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.” Sahih Al-Bukhaari 37 and Sahih Muslim 1268
And He ﷺsaid: “Whoever spends the night of Laylat al-Qadr in prayer out of faith and the hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.” Sahih Al-Bukhaari, 1768.
And He ﷺsaid: “Whoever performs Pilgrimage to this House, and does not behave in an obscene or immoral manner, he will go back free of sin like the day his mother gave birth to him.” Sahih Al-Bukhaari, 1690.
And He ﷺsaid: “The expiation for the fitnah caused to a man by his family, wealth and children is prayer, fasting, enjoining what is good and forbidding what is evil.” Sahih Al-Bukhaari 494, Sahih Muslim 5150.
And He ﷺ said: “Whoever frees a believing slave, for each of (the slave’s) limbs Allah سبحانه و تعالى will free one of his limbs from the Fire…” Sahih Muslim 2777
These and similar ahaadeeth are narrated in the books of Saheeh. And he said: “Charity extinguishes sin as water extinguishes fire, but hasad (malicious envy) consumes good deeds as fire consumes wood.” Jami at Tirmidhi 614[1]
Dua of the believersThe du’aa’ of the believers for the believer, such as when they pray the funeral prayer for him. It was narrated from ‘Aa’ishah رضي الله عنهand Anas ibn Maalik رضي الله عنه that the Prophet ﷺ said: “There is no Muslim who dies, and a group of Muslims numbering one hundred pray for him, all of them interceding for him, but their intercession for him will be accepted.” Sahih Muslim 1576
It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbaas رضي الله عنهsaid: “I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺsay: ‘There is no Muslim man who dies, and forty men pray the funeral prayer for him, not associating anything with Allah سبحانه و تعالى, but Allah سبحانه و تعالىwill accept their intercession for him.’” Sahih Muslim 1577. This refers to praying for him after he has died.
List of 70 Major sinsThe major sins are those acts which have been forbidden by Allah سبحانه و تعالى in the Qur’an and by His last and final Messenger , Prophet Muhammadﷺ in the Sunnah, and which have been made clear by the actions of the first righteous generation of Muslims, the Companions of the Prophet Muhammad .ﷺRead more (link to The Major Sins article) [2]
Scholars view on sinShaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah رحمت الله said: The punishment for sin is lifted from a person by means of ten things:
1 – Repentance This is agreed upon among the Muslims. Allah سبحانه و تعالىsays: “Say: ‘O ‘Ibaadi (My slaves) who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah سبحانه و تعالى, verily, Allah سبحانه و تعالىforgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft‑Forgiving, Most Merciful’” Qur’an.surah Al-Zumar 39:53.
“Know they not that Allah سبحانه و تعالى accepts repentance from His slaves and takes the Sadaqaat (alms, charity), and that Allah سبحانه و تعالىAlone is the One Who forgives and accepts repentance, Most Merciful?” Qur'an surah al-Tawbah 9:104.
“And He it is Who accepts repentance from His slaves, and forgives sins” Qur’an.Surah Al-Shoora 42:25.
2 – Praying for forgiveness. It was narrated in al-Saheehayn that the Prophet ﷺsaid: “If a person commits a sin, then says, ‘O Lord, I have committed a sin so forgive me,’ He says, ‘My slave knows that he has a Lord Who may forgive sins or punish for it; I have forgiven My slave…’” (Narrated by Sahih Al-Bukhaari 6953 andSahih Al-Muslim 4953
It is narrated that the Prophet ﷺsaid: “If you did not commit sin, Allah سبحانه و تعالىwould do away with you and bring people who would commit sins then ask Him to forgive them, so He would forgive them.” Saheeh Muslim Al-Tawbah 4936.
3 – Doing good deeds which wipe out sins Allah سبحانه و تعالىsays: “And perform As‑Salaah (Iqaamat‑as‑ Salaah), at the two ends of the day and in some hours of the night [i.e. the five compulsory Salaah (prayers)]. Verily, the good deeds remove the evil deeds (i.e. small sins)” Qur’an.Surah Hood 11:114.
And the Prophet ﷺsaid: “The five daily prayers and Jumu’ah (Friday prayers) and Ramadaan take away the bad deeds between one and the next, if you avoid major sins.” Narrated by Sahih Al-Muslim 344.
And He ﷺsaid: “Whoever fasts Ramadaan out of faith and the hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.” Narrated by Sahih Al-Bukhaari 37 and Sahih Al-Muslim 1268
And He ﷺsaid: “Whoever spends the night of Laylat al-Qadr in prayer out of faith and the hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.” Sahih Al-Bukhaari 1768
And He ﷺsaid: “Whoever performs Pilgrimage to this House, and does not behave in an obscene or immoral manner, he will go back free of sin like the day his mother gave birth to him.” Sahih Al-Bukhaari 1690
And He ﷺsaid: “The expiation for the fitnah caused to a man by his family, wealth and children is prayer, fasting, enjoining what is good and forbidding what is evil.” Narrated by Sahih Al-Bukhaari 494 and Sahih Al- Muslim 5150
And He ﷺsaid: “Whoever frees a believing slave, for each of (the slave’s) limbs Allah سبحانه و تعالى will free one of his limbs from the Fire…” Sahih Al-Muslim 2777
These and similar ahaadeeth are narrated in the books of Saheeh. And he said: “Charity extinguishes sin as water extinguishes fire, but hasad (malicious envy) consumes good deeds as fire consumes wood.”
4 – The du’aa’ of the believers for the believer Such as when they pray the funeral prayer for him. It was narrated from ‘Aa’ishah رضي الله عنه and Anas ibn Maalik رضي الله عنه that the Prophet ﷺsaid: “There is no Muslim who dies, and a group of Muslims numbering one hundred pray for him, all of them interceding for him, but their intercession for him will be accepted.” Sahih Al-Muslim 1576
It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbaas رضي الله عنهsaid: “I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺsay: ‘There is no Muslim man who dies, and forty men pray the funeral prayer for him, not associating anything with Allah, but Allah will accept their intercession for him.’” Sahih Muslim 1577
This refers to praying for him after he has died.
5 – Good deeds which can be done for the deceased Such as giving in charity (on his behalf), etc. This will benefit him, according to the clear, saheeh texts of the Sunnah and the consensus of the Imams. The same applies to freeing slaves and Hajj (on his behalf), indeed it was proven in al-Saheehayn that the Prophet ﷺsaid: “Whoever dies owing any (obligatory) fasts, his heir should fast them on his behalf.” Narrated by Sahih Al-Bukhaari 5210 and Sahih Al-Muslim 4670
6 – The intercession of the Prophet ﷺand others on the Day of Resurrection for those who have committed sins This is narrated in the mutawaatir ahaadeeth about intercession, such as the hadeeth in which He ﷺsaid: “My intercession will be for those among my ummah who have committed major sins.” Classed as saheeh by Al-Albaani رحمت الله in Sahih Abu Dawood 3965.
And He ﷺsaid: “I was given the choice between admitting half of my ummah to Paradise and intercession, and I chose intercession.” Sahih Al-Jaami’ 3335
7 – Calamities by means of which Allah سبحانه و تعالىexpiates sins in this world It was narrated in al-Saheehayn that the Prophet ﷺsaid: “No tiredness, exhaustion, worry, grief, distress or harm befalls a believer in this world, not even a thorn that pricks him, but Allah سبحانه و تعالىexpiates some of his sins thereby.” Narrated by Sahih Al-Bukhaari 5210 and Sahih Muslim 4670.
8 – The torment, squeezing and terror that happens in the grave. These are also things by means of which sins are expiated.
9 – The horrors, distress and hardship of the Day of Resurrection.
10 – The mercy and forgiveness of Allah سبحانه و تعالى, with no cause on the part of His slaves. [3]
Majmoo’ Fataawa Ibn Taymiyah, vol. 7, p. 487-501. Ibn Al-Qayyim رحمت اللهsaid that a sin that leads one to submission (and humility to Allah سبحانه و تعالىin repentance) is preferable in the sight of Allah سبحانه و تعالىthan a good deed that causes pride (in one’s heart) (Al Fawwaid). That is obviously because pride puts a veil on our eyes and hearts and can lead us to more sins.
Not taking minor sins seriouslyMany take minor sins lightly taking it for granted that Allah سبحانه و تعالىwill forgive them for such sins. As a result, they persist in such sins thereby getting desensitized to the need to address them. Consider the hadith of the Prophet ﷺwhere according to one report he said,“Beware of minor sins, for they will pile up until they destroy a person” Reported by Ahmad; Sahih Al-Jaami’ 2686-2687
Some scholars are of the view that when minor sins are accompanied by a lack of shame or remorse, and with no fear of Allah سبحانه و تعالى, and are taken lightly, then there is the risk that they will be counted as major sins. Hence it is said that no minor sin is minor if you persist, and no major sin is major if you seek forgiveness. [4]
References[1] http://islamqa.info/en/ref/23425 [2] [4] http://www.iqrasense.com/faith-and-iman/why-do-we-sin-and-steps-for-prevention.html [3] http://islamqa.info/en/ref/13693
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