Lesson Seventeen -A Warning against Shirk and Different Kinds of Sins

One category of sins is called "The seven grave (and deadly) sins":

1) Associating partners with Allah (Shirk).

2) Magic.

3) Killing a person, an act which Allah has forbidden, unless there
is an Islamic reason.

4) Consuming usury (interest).

5) Consuming the wealth of orphans.

6) Fleeing on the day of battle.

7) Accusing chaste, innocent, believing women of wrongdoing.

These are also great sins:

Being undutiful to one's parents. Cutting off ties with relatives. Giving false testimony.

Making false oaths.

Hurting one's neighbor.

Wrongfully shedding the blood of others. Wrongfully taking the wealth of others. Wrongfully attacking the honor of others.

Drinking any form of alcohol.

Gambling.

Backbiting.

Spreading false rumors.

And all other sins that Allah Almighty and His Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) have prohibited.



The seven grave and deadly sins: The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) mentioned them all in one Hadith when he (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said:

Stay away from the seven grave sins: associating partners with Allah; magic; killing a person whose life Allah has made sacred except with a right; consuming usury; consuming the wealth of orphans; fleeing on the day of battle; slandering chaste, innocent, believing women. (Agreed upon)


Associating partners with Allah (Shirk): Shirk means to dedicate any kind of worship to other than Allah. (Refer to lesson four, where we have already discussed Shirk and its different categories.) Both Allah - in His Book - and the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) - in his Sunnah - have warned us against Shirk. Relating to us the words of Luqman, Allah Almighty says:

"0 my son! Join not in worship others with Allah. Verily! Joining others in worship with Allah is a great wrong indeed." (Surah Luqman 31: 13)

The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said to his Companions:



They said, "Yes, 0 Messenger of Allah." He (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said:


(Agreed upon)

One form of Shirk is to prostrate to anyone other than Allah; another is to supplicate to anyone other than Allah or to ask for one's needs to be fulfilled by anyone other than Allah; and yet another form is to sacrifice an animal, seeking closeness not to Allah, but to another.

Basically, it is Shirk to dedicate any form of worship to anyone other than Allah, regardless of what the object of worship is: the living, the dead, a grave, a statue, a stone, a tree, an angel, a Prophet, a pious man, an animal, or anything else. This is the only sin that Allah does not forgive: it requires one to not only repent, but to also re-enter the fold of Islam. Allah says:

Verily, Allah forgives not that partners should be set up with Him in worship, but He forgives except that (anything else) to whom He pleases, and whoever sets up partners with Allah in worship, he has indeed invented a tremendous sin.(Surah An-Nisa’ 4: 48)

The Muslim submits only to Allah, prays only to Allah, and supplicates only to Allah:

Say: "Verily, my Salat (prayer), my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists). (Surah Al-An’am 6: 162-163)

One also perpetrates Shirk when one believes that Allah has a wife or a child, far above is Allah from any of that. Allah says:

Say: "He is Allah, (the) One; Allahus-Samad (Allah - the Self-Sufficient Master, Whom all creatures need, He neither eats nor drinks). He begets not, nor was He begotten. And there is none co-equal or comparable to Him. (Surah Al-Ikhlas 112:1-4)


Magic (soothsaying, or claiming to know the unseen): Magic involves things that occur without us knowing how - the means or the reality is hidden. The ostensible reason for these happenings is when the magician, for instance, ties a knot, says a phrase, or writes something down, all of which he does, intending to affect the person (either his mind, heart, or body) whom he wishes to make the object of nefarious activities, all of which he performs without actually taking physical measures to harm that person.

Both magic and soothsaying are forms of Kufr (disbelief): the magician cannot really be a magician unless he has ties with devils, whom he worships instead of worshipping Allah. Allah Almighty says:

Sulaiman did not disbelieve, but the Shayatin (devils) disbelieved, teaching men magic,.. but neither of these two (angels) taught anyone (such things) till they had said, "We are only for trial, so disbelieve not (by learning this magic from us).(Surah Al-Baqarah 2: 102)

A Muslim is forbidden from going to magicians and soothsayers, from asking them, from believing what lies they speak regarding the unseen, from believing their predictions about the future, regardless of what methods they use (reading palms or crystal balls). Allah Almighty says:

Say: "None in the heavens and the earth knows the Ghaib (unseen) except Allah. (Surah An-Naml 27: 65)

And:

"(He Alone) the All-Knower of the Ghaib (unseen), and He reveals to none His Ghaib (unseen)." Except to a Messenger (from mankind) whom He has chosen (He informs him of unseen as much as He likes), and then He makes a band of watching guards (angels) to march before him and behind him. (Surah Al-Jinn 72: 26-27)

The Islamic punishment for the magician is execution by sword, a ruling that has been related from three of the Prophet's (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) Companions.

To continue Insha Allah

Killing a person, an act which Allah has forbidden, unless there is an Islamic reason: In Islam, it is a grave deed indeed to take the life another, a sin regarding which Allah has given a stern warning, a warning that involves a painful torment in the Hereafter and a severe punishment in this world - the murderer is executed unless the relatives or guardians of the murdered forgive him. Allah says:

Because of that We ordained for the Children of Israel that if anyone killed a person not in retaliation of murder, or (and) to spread mischief in the land - it would be as if he killed all mankind, and if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of all mankind. And indeed, there came to them Our Messengers with clear proofs, evidences, and signs, even then after that many of them continued to exceed the limits (e.g., by doing oppression unjustly and exceeding beyond the limits set by
Allah by committing the major sins) in the land! (Surah Al-Ma’idah 5: 32)

And:

And whoever kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell to abide therein, and the wrath and the curse of Allah are upon him, and a great punishment is prepared for him. (Surah An-Nisa’ 4: 93)

The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said:

"If two Muslims meet each other, each with his sword, then the murderer and the murdered are in the Fire."

Someone asked, "0 Messenger of Allah, (I understand about) the murderer, but why (is) the murdered (punished as well)?" He (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said:

"He was indeed eager to kill his opponent." (Recorded by Al- Bukhari and Muslim)

The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) also said:

The slave continues to liberty in his religion, as long as he does not spill unlawful blood. (Recorded by AI-Bukhari and Ahmad)


Consuming usury (interest): Usury is one of the greatest of sins: it destroys the economy and it takes wrongful advantage of those who are in need of money, regardless of whether it is the businessman for his business or the poor man for his basic needs.

Basically, usury occurs (at least in one of its forms) when one person lends money to another person for a set period, stipulating that when that period arrives, he pays a specific amount more than what was originally loaned. Therefore the lender and those like him take advantage of those who are in need of money, forcing them to live a life of debt. Taking advantage of businessman, and without incurring any risks in case of losses, the usurer takes a percentage over and above profits received. When the business declines and the businessman is drowned in debt, the usurer will destroy him. But had they been partners, both sharing in profit and loss, one striving with his wealth the other with his business acumen, the wheels of the economy would continue to turn, but this time, for the benefit of all. Allah Almighty says:

O you who believe! Be afraid of Allah and give up what remains (due to you) from Riba (usury) (from now onward), if you are (really) believers. And if you do not do it, then take a notice of war from Allah and His Messenger but if you repent, you shall have your capital sums. Deal not unjustly (by asking more than your capital sums), and you shall not be dealt with unjustly (by receiving less than your capital sums). And if the debtor is in a hard time (has no money), then grant him time till it is easy for him to repay, but if you remit it by way of charity, that is better for you if you did but know (Surah Al-Baqarah 2: 278-280)

The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said:

Allah has cursed both the one who eats usury and the one who gives it. (Recorded by Muslim).

At-Tirmidhi recorded it with a Sahih chain and the addition:

... and the witnesses and the one who records it.

Usury, in all of its forms, is forbidden, for the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said:

Usury (Riba) is seventy-two doors, the least of which is equal to a man committing incest with his mother. (Recorded by At-Tabarani in Al-Awsat with a Sahih chain)



Consuming the wealth of orphans: Allah Almighty says:

Verily, those who unjustly consume the property of orphans, they eat up only fire into their bellies, and they will be burnt in the blazing Fire! (Surah An-Nisa’ 4: 10)

When one consumes the wealth of an orphan, he perpetrates one of the great sins, but only if he takes that wealth unlawfully. If the guardian of the orphan is poor, he may take according to need, and the amount he takes that corresponds to his needs is governed by custom. Allah Almighty says:



And:



The warning regarding those, "who unjustly consume the property of orphans" includes those who literally do so, and those guardians, who because of their dereliction and not because of their greed, allow the orphan's wealth to dwindle away. For instance, in clearly unsound investments; the words "consume" are used because that is what happens in most cases.



Fleeing on the day of battle: Allah Almighty says:

And whoever turns his back to them on such a day - unless it be a stratagem of war, or to retreat to a troop (of his own),¬he indeed has drawn upon himself wrath from Allah. And his abode is Hell, and worst indeed is that destination!((Surah Al-Anfal 8: 16)

If one flees when there is a battle between Muslims fighting in Jihad in the cause of Allah against their enemies, when the two armies face one another, then one is perpetrating a grave sin, for he has forsaken the Muslims and weakened their ranks. When a battle is about to begin and the two armies are present at the place of battle, Jihad becomes obligatory on those who are present.


Slandering chaste, innocent, believing women: Allah Almighty says:

Verily, those who accuse chaste women, who never even think of anything touching their chastity and are good believers, are cursed in this life and in the Hereafter, and for them will be a great torment. (Surah An-Nur 24: 23)

And:

And those who accuse chaste women, and produce not four witnesses, flog them with eighty stripes. (Surah An-Nur 24: 4)

And:

And those who annoy believing men and women undeserv¬edly, bear on themselves the crime of slander and plain sin. (Surah Al-Ahzab 33: 58)

The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said:

Whoever accuses a slave he owns, of fornication, will be punished for that on the Day of Judgement (i.e., for accusing) unless what he says is true. (Agreed upon)

Therefore the Muslim must be careful not to harm believing men and women with his tongue, especially since the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said:

The Muslim is the one from whom the Muslims are safe, from his tongue and hand. (Recorded by Al-Bukhari and Muslim).

To continue Insha Allah

Being undutiful to one's parents: After the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) asked:



He mentioned being undutiful to one's parents among them. (Agreed upon).

It has been related that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said:

The disobedient (to his parents) does not enter Paradise, nor does the one who reminds others of his favors (in a harmful way), the one who is addicted to alcohol, and the one who believes in magic. (Recorded by Al-Hakim and Ath-Thahabi graded its chain Hasan in Al-Kaba'ir).

In another narration, the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said:


(Recorded by An-Nasa'i with a Hasan chain)

Being undutiful to one's parents means that one rejects the good that has been done to him and it means that one is disobedient to Allah, so beware, brother Muslim, of this grave sin.


Cutting off ties with relatives: Allah Almighty says:

Would you then, if you were given the authority, do mischief in the land, and sever your ties of kinship? Such are they whom Allah has cursed, so that He has made them deaf and blinded their sight. (Surah Muhammad 47: 22-23)

The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said:


(Recorded by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

One can sever ties by doing something, and by neglecting to do something, by harming a relative or by not helping him when he is in need.

Az-Zain Al-'Iraqi said, "To sever ties with kinship means to do harm to them." Others have said, "To sever ties with kinship means to abstain from doing good to them." When one breaks off ties with relatives, one only harms himself, for the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said:

Indeed, the deeds of the children of Adam are displayed every Thursday night; no deed from the one who severs ties with relatives will be accepted from him. (Recorded by Ahmad)



Wrongfully taking the wealth of others ...: The Shaikh refers here to oppression, which is of many kinds: a man can wrong himself, those around him, society, even his enemies. Indeed, Allah does not love those who oppress; in a Qudsi Hadith, the Prophet * related that Allah Almighty said:

O my worshippers, Indeed I have forbidden Myself from oppression, and I have made it forbidden among you, so do not wrong one another. (Recorded by Muslim, with the explanation of An-Nawawi 16: 133)

Wrongdoing is forbidden in all of its forms: the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said:


(Recorded by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

In summary, oppression is one of the major sins.

One form of oppression is to wrongfully take other people's wealth: by stealing, usurping, deceiving, or even bribing. Allah says:

And the male thief and the female thief, cut off their hands, as a recompense for that which they committed, a punishment by way of example from Allah. And Allah is All-Powerful, All-¬Wise. (Surah Al-Ma’idah 5: 38)

And Allah Almighty says:



The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said:


(Recorded by At-Tirmidhi who graded it as Hasan)

Islam has strong safeguards to prevent people from unjustly taking other peoples' wealth: the punishments are so severe in this regard, that those who desire to take away from the safety of society are forced to hesitate, and most of the time desist altogether.

Other forms of wrongdoing include cheating, deception, or betrayal, all of which are forbidden, in business deals, contracts, or in any other dealing. Allah Almighty says:

Woe to Al-Mutaffifin [those who give less in measure and weight (decrease the rights of others)] Those who, when they have to receive by measure from men, demand full measure And when they have to give by measure or weight to men, give less than due. Think they not that they will be resurrected (for reckoning). On a Great Day The Day when (all) mankind will stand before the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists) (Surah Al-Mutaffifin 83: 1-6)

And Allah Almighty says:

Verily, Allah does not like anyone who is a betrayer of his trust, and indulges in crime. (Surah An-Nisa’ 4: 107)

Another form of oppression is to attack people's honor, cursing them, backbiting them, spreading rumors about them, mocking them, or being jealous of them. Islam promotes the building of a pure society, one based on love, brotherhood, and mutual cooperation, which is why Islam is stern regarding those diseases that lead to a decay in society - diseases that make every member think only about his personal benefit. Allah Almighty says:

O you who believe! Let not a group scoff at another group, it may be that the latter are better than the former; nor let ( some) women scoff at other women, it may be that the latter are better than the former, nor defame one another, nor insult one another by nicknames. How bad is it, to insult one's brother after having faith. And whosoever does not repent, then such are indeed wrongdoers. 0 you who believe! Avoid much suspicion, indeed some suspicions are sins. And spy not, neither backbite one another. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would hate it (so hate backbiting). And fear Allah. Verily, Allah is the One Who accepts repentance, Most Merciful. (Surah Al-Hujurat 49: 11-12)

Islam also fights against racism or class division in society; all are equal: the Arab has no superiority over the non-Arab, neither the white over the black. The only means by which one's value is measured is the religion and piety that is in one's heart; therefore all compete equally in performing good, righteous deeds. Allah Almighty says:

O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honorable of you with Allah is the one with the most Taqwa. Verily, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware. (Surah Al-Hujurat 49: 13)

One of the worst ways of attacking the honor of another is to perpetrate fornication. Fornication ruins one's character, destroys society, causes one to be ignorant of his own father's identity, wastes away families, and wreaks havoc on societal morals. The children that result from fornication feel the true bitterness of the crime when society looks down upon them. Allah Almighty says:

And come not near to the unlawful sexual intercourse. Verily, it is a Fahishah [i.e. anything that transgresses its limits (a great sin), and an evil way. (Surah Al-Isra’ 17: 32)

As we can clearly perceive today, widespread fornication results in the spread of sexually transmitted diseases; the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said,

When Fahishah pervades a society so much so that people begin to practice it openly, plague will spread among them and so will sicknesses, sicknesses that were nonexistent among their predecessors. (Recorded by Ibn Majah (2:1332) with a Sahih chain)

That is why Islam closed the door to all ways that lead to it. Muslims are commanded to lower their gazes because the forbidden look is the beginning of the path which leads to fornication. Muslim women must cover themselves, protecting themselves and society from the spread of wickedness. At the same time, Islam orders Muslims to marry early. This is in the hope that chaste and honorable families may flourish, the guardians of which provide good training to the children of today so that they may become the noble men of tomorrow.

To harm a Muslim in any way is considered to be a form of oppression. Allah Almighty says:

And those who annoy believing men and women undeservedly, bear on themselves the crime of slander and plain sin. (Surah Al-Ahzab 33: 58)

The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said:

The people who are in the most miserable position in terms of their ranking with Allah are those that the people abandon, fearing their evil. (Recorded by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

He (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) also said:



(Recorded by At-Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud with a Hasan chain)

In yet another narration, he (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said,

The Muslim is the brother of the Muslim: He neither wrongs him, forsakes him, nor belittles him. Enough evil for a person is to belittle his brother Muslim. (Recorded by Muslim)

He (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) also said:

(Recorded by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Other ways to attack someone regarding his honor is backbiting, spreading false rumors, and falsely accusing someone.

To continue Insha Allah

Giving false testimony: Describing the believers, Allah Almighty said:


In a Hadith related by Abu Bakrah (Radhi Allahu Anhu) the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said:

Shall I not inform you of the greatest of great sins: to associate partners with Allah, to be undutiful toward one's parents, to speak a lie, and to bear false testimony.

The narrator, Abu Bakrah, said, "He continued repeating this phrase until (we became so afraid of his warning that) we wished that he would stop talking." (Agreed upon).

Imam Ath- Thahabi said that the one who gives a false testimony commits a number of grave wrongs:

1) Lying and slander; Allah says:



2) He has wronged the one who suffered because of his false testimony, the one who lost his wealth, his honor, or sometimes even his soul.

3) He wrongs the one who benefits by his testimony, because he helps him attain forbidden wealth.

4) He has made permissible that which Allah has made inviolable, for the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said:

All of the Muslim is sacred the Muslim: his wealth, his blood, and his honor. (Recorded by Al-Bukhari and Muslim).




Making false oaths: Allah Almighty says:

And make not your oaths, a means of deception among yourselves, lest a foot may slip after being firmly planted, and you may have to taste the evil of having hindered (others) from the path of Allah, and yours will be a great torment. (Surah An-Nahl 16: 94)

'Abdullah bin 'Umar (Radhi Allahu Anhuma) related that the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said:

The great sins are associating partners with Allah, being undutiful to one's parents, killing someone, and a lying oath. (Recorded by AI-Bukhari)

In Arabic, the word used to describe this oath is Ghamus, which comes from Ghamasa, which means to dip; therefore it is an oath that dips the one who made it into sin (or into the Hellfire).

In another Hadith, the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said:

On the Day of Judgement, there are three people that Allah will neither speak to nor purify, and for them is a painful punishment: the one who lets his garment hang down below his ankles, the one who does favors and then in a harmful way reminds others about those favors, and the one who pushes the sale of his goods by making false oaths. (Recorded by Muslim)

The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) also said:

Whoever makes an oath, intending to (unjustly) take away the wealth of a Muslim, he will meet Allah, Who will be angry with him.

It was asked, "What if he intends to take something small?" He answered:

Even it were a small stick taken from the Arak tree. (Recorded by Muslim)



Hurting one's neighbor The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said:

"By Allah, he does not believe; by Allah, he does not believe; by Allah, he does not believe."

He was asked, "Who, 0 Messenger of Allah." He (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said,

"The one whose neighbor is not safe from his trouble making." (Agreed upon).

In the narration of Muslim:

"The one whose neighbor is not safe from his trouble making will not enter Paradise."

Meaning that his neighbor is not safe from his harm.

The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) would supplicate:

O Allah! Indeed I seek refuge with You from the evil neighbor in the prestigious abode; for indeed the near neighbor is influential.


(Recorded by An-Nasa'i and Al-Bukhari in Al-Adab Al-Mufrad with a Sahih chain)

On one occasion, the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) was told about a woman who prayed at night, who fasted during the day, who gave charity, but despite all of that, she would inflict harm on her neighbor with her tongue. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said:


Then the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) was told about a woman who prayed the compulsory prayers and who would give pieces of cheese for charity; she was further described as being a woman who didn't harm others. The Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said:


Recorded by Al-Bukhari in Al-Adab Al-Mufrad with a Sahih chain.

He (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said on another occasion:

Whoever believes in Allah and in the Last Day, then he should not harm his neighbor. (Agreed upon).

Then the Shaikh said, "And other deeds that Allah has forbidden":

Though there are many other forbidden deeds, there is one specific that I will mention:


Miserliness: This sin indicates the wrong kind of individualism: the extreme love of one's self. The miser hoards his wealth, refusing to give even the compulsory charity to the poor and needy, showing his disdain for society, declining to accept the principles of mutual cooperation and brotherhood, principles that both Allah and His Messenger have ordered us to adopt. Allah Almaighty says:

And let not those who covetously withhold of that which Allah has bestowed on them of His bounty think that it is good for them (and so they do not pay the obligatory Zakat). Nay, it will be worse for them; the things which they covetously withheld shall be tied to their necks like a collar on the Day of Resurrection. And to Allah belongs the heritage of the heavens and the earth; and Allah is Well-Acquainted with all that you do. (Surah Aal-‘Imran 3: 180)


Other examples of forbidden actions are to eat the meat of a dead carcass, to eat blood, to eat the meat of a pig, and to slaughter animals, seeking closeness to other than Allah. Allah says:

O you who believe! Eat of the lawful things that We have provided you with, and be grateful to Allah, if it is indeed He Whom you worship. He has forbidden you only the Maytah (dead animals), and blood, and the flesh of swine, and that which is slaughtered as a sacrifice for others than Allah. But if one is forced by necessity without willful disobedience nor transgressing due limits, then there is no sin on him. Truly, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (Surah Al-Baqarah 2: 172-173)



To continue Insha Allah

Repentance From Perpetrating What Is Forbidden

Because you will be held accountable for all of your deeds on the Day of Judgement - being rewarded for good and punished for evil - you should stay away from the grave sins and from all other sins. But if you do perpetrate any sin, you should be quick to repent to Allah, asking Him for forgiveness and protection from further perpetrating evil deeds. A true repentance requires you to do the following:

1) To desist from the sin that you are repenting from.

2) To feel remorse for having perpetrated that sin.

3) To make a firm resolve not to return to it.

And there is a fourth condition if the sin you perpetrated involves the rights of others:

4) To return that which you wrongfully took to its owner or to seek forgiveness from the one you wronged.

These are the conditions of true repentance: if they are met, Allah will forgive you and not punish you for them. The one who repents from a sin is like he who has no sin. Thereafter, you should continue to ask Allah for forgiveness; indeed, every Muslim should continually ask for forgiveness, for the grave sins he commits and for the small ones. Allah Almighty says:

I said (to them), "Ask forgiveness from your Lord; verily, He is Oft-Forgiving. (Surah Nuh 71: 10)

When one repents often, he shows one of the characteristics of the true believer; Allah Almighty says:

Say: "0 My worshippers who have transgressed against themselves! Despair not of the mercy of Allah, verily Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." And turn in repentance and in obedience with true faith to your Lord and submit to Him (in Islam), before the torment comes upon you, then you will not be helped (Surah Az-Zumar 39: 53-54)


In general, the following are some of the more prevalent sins that many people take lightly:

To deem lawful that which Allah has forbidden, or to deem forbidden that which Allah has made permissible.

To believe that the stars and planets have some kind of effect on the lives of people.

To believe that certain things benefit, when in fact the Creator did not make them so.

To believe in evil omens - because you hear or see something, for example, to believe that evil will befall you; that is a form of Shirk (associating partners with Allah).

For you to keep company with hypocrites or wicked people, seeking closeness to them or finding comfort in their company

To not pray in a calm and peaceful fashion.

To make a lot of frivolous, extraneous movements during prayer For the follower to precede the Imam on purpose during any stage of the prayer.

To come to the Masjid after having eaten onion or garlic or anything else that has a foul odor.

Without having just cause, for a woman to refuse her husband's desire to have sexual relations.

For a woman to seek a divorce from her husband without a legislated reason.

A practice known in Arabic as Az-Zihar, i.e., for a man to say to his wife, "You are to me like my mother," when he intends to make her forbidden for him: this practice is forbidden based on the Qur'an, the Sunnah, and consensus.

To have intercourse with one's wife during her monthly period.

To have anal sex.

For you to be unjust with your wives, treating some better than others.

To be alone with a strange woman, in other words, a woman who is not a Mahram (someone who you can never marry) for you. This practice has become prevalent nowadays, especially in families that keep female servants.

For a man to shake hands with a strange woman (i.e., one who is not a Mahram).

As she leaves her home, for a woman to wear perfume, knowing that she will pass by men.

For a woman to travel without a Mahram.

For a man to look at a strange woman on purpose.

For one to feel it is okay when one of his relatives (wives or children) fornicates.

For one to lie about who his parents really are, or for a man to refuse to acknowledge his true son.

When one is selling a product, to hide its defects.

For one to be bid on a product, intending to raise its price, but not intending to actually purchase it.

After the second call to Friday prayer is made, to engage in trade. To give or take bribes.

To wrongfully usurp land.

For you to accept a gift when intercession is required of you. To receive full services from an employee without paying him his due.

To give to some of one's children more than the others. Without actually being in need, to ask others for money.

To seek a loan without intending to pay it back.

To eat or drink that which is forbidden.

To use gold and silver utensils or dishes and to eat using them.

To give a false testimony.

To listen to musical instruments.

Backbiting, which is to say about your brother that which he dislikes.

To spread false rumors between people, intending to create dissension between them.

To look inside the homes of others without their permission. When three are present, for two to speak to the exclusion of the third.

For men to wear gold, regardless of how they wear it.

For men to let their garments fall down below the level of their ankles.

For a woman to wear thin, short, tight, or transparent clothing. For a man or a woman to attach false hair to the end of their natural hair, regardless whether that false hair is human or otherwise.

For men to imitate women or vice versa.

To dye your hair black.

To make pictures of that which has a spirit (man or animal); this includes on clothes, on walls, on paper, and so on.

To lie about one's dreams.

Sitting or walking on a grave.

To relieve yourself in a graveyard.

When you are relieving yourself, for you to not take cover properly, so that others cannot see you.

To listen in on other peoples' conversations when they dislike for you to do that.

To deal badly with your neighbor.

To harm people on purpose in the writing of your will. Playing dice, a game that relies on chance.

To curse a believer and to curse someone who doesn't deserve to be cursed.

To wail loudly when mourning.

To hit someone on the face; or to stamp someone's face. Without a valid Islamic reason, to shun a Muslim for more than three days.

Haughtiness, pride, vanity, or self-conceit are the qualities that are most disliked in Islam. Allah says about people who have such qualities:



The arrogant one is hated by Allah and by His creation.