THE GREATER SINS

What is sin? Any act of omission or commission which is against the commands of Allah as detailed in the Holy Qur’an and elaborately discussed by the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.). In one sentence, Imam Jaffer al-Sadiq (a.s.) said “Submit to the command of Allah and do not go near the Prohibited”. Some sins are Greater and others are Lesser in gravity. All those acts which brings in the wrath of Allah and Hell fire is prescribed, are Greater Sins. Their number is more than forty. To refrain from committing sins is more important than performing good deeds. The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said “There is an angel who raises the call every night saying ‘whoever partakes of the prohibited things, Allah does not accept any of his deeds, obligatory or recommended’”.

In other words, good deeds are accepted only if accompanied by piety.

Sin is a barrier to the acceptance of invocation (duaa). Imam Jaffer al-Sadiq (a.s.) said “Allah revealed to prophet Musa saying ‘My slave cannot achieve nearness to Me without three things which I like: Practice piety in this world, abstain from sins and weep due to fear (of Me)’”. Abstaining from Greater Sins causes the Lesser Sins to be overlooked as mentioned in Sura al-Nisa verse 31 “If you shun the Greater Sins which are forbidden, we will do away with your Lesser Sins and cause you to enter an honorable place”

A person who commits a Greater Sin and does not repent for it is a transgressor. After death he is liable for Divine punishment. By the Grace of Allah he may yet get salvation by the intercession (Shafa’at) of Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) and his Progeny (a.s.). The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s) said “My intercession is especially for sinful ones among my followers. But those who abstain from Greater Sins for them there is no accounting (of deeds)”

However, intercession should not prompt one to commit sins.

Imam Muhammad Taqi (a.s.) relates from Amiral Momineen (a.s.) as “Death occurs to a person in one of three ways: He is given the good news of everlasting bounties or informed of the never ending retribution or he remains in a perpetual state of terror or fear. Then, act (rightly) and obey the commandments of Allah. Do not consider the Divine punishment to be trifle and certainly there are such people who will not be able to receive our intercession till after 300,000 years”. Imam Jaffer al-Sadiq (a.s.) said “All of you (shias) shall enter Paradise by the intercession of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) or his successors on the Day of Judgment. But, by Allah I fear for you the Barzakh. Barzakh is the grave. Its duration commences from the time of death to the Day of Judgment.

Imam Jaffer al-Sadiq (a.s.) said “Our intercession is not for those who consider the Prayers (Namaaz) as unimportant.”

It happens, some times, that due to excessive involvement in sins and delay in repentance, faith in religion is erased from the heart. There is no intercession for such people. Sura al-Rome verse 10 “ Then evil was the end of those who did evil, because they rejected the communications of Allah and used to mock them.”

Imam Jaffer al-Sadiq said “There is a white spot in every man’s heart. When he commits a sin a black spot emerges from this. If he repents, the blackness goes away but if he persists the blackness goes on increasing till it completely surrounds the whiteness. When this happens, this man will not revert to goodness.”

Hence, we should weep for our past sins specially those sins that we remember.

Intercession should neither raise false hope nor arrogance but the fear of Allah is necessary.

There is a difference between a Shia and Mohib. Once a person asked Imam Ali (a.s.) as to who is a Shia? Imam Ali(a.s.) replied “ Shias are those whose faces are pale due to excessive worship and the fear of Allah, their backs are bent due to prolong prayers, too much fasting causes their abdomen to touch their backbones, their lips become dry by repeating endless invocations, and their hearts are filled with fear of Allah.”

Sura Baiyyana verse 7 “(As for) those who believe and do good, surely they are the best of men.” The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said “O Ali, ‘Khairul Bareeya’ means you and your Shias. On the Day of Judgment, they would be satisfied with what Allah has bestowed upon them and they shall be liked by Allah.”  

One of the factors which prevent a Shia from committing sins is the Wilayat or love for Imam Ali (a.s.). The natural consequence of love is to follow in to his foot-steps and avoid things prohibited in Islam. There is a tradition by Imam Ali al-Raza (a.s.) “Allah says’ Wilayat of Ali Ibne Abi Talib is My fort. Then one who enters My fort is safe from My wrath (Ghazab)." Verbal claim of love of Imam Ali (a.s.) is insufficient unless it follows by action.

Imam Jaffer al-Sadiq (a.s.) had explained some of the Greater Sins as follows:

1. The Greatest of the Greater Sins is “Shirk”, to attribute partners with Allah. Sura al-Maida verse 72 “Certainly who ever associates (others) with Allah, then Allah has forbidden to him the Garden (Paradise).”
2. To despair from Mercy of Allah. Sura al-Yousuf verse 87 “Surely non despairs from Allah’s Mercy except the unbelieving people.”
3. Not fearing the retribution of Allah. Sura al-Araaf verse 99 “But none feels secure from Allah’s plan except the people who shall perish.”
4. To disobey ones parents. Sura al-Maryam verse 14 “And dutiful to his parents, and he was not insolent, disobedient.”
5. To kill a believer. Sura al-Nisa verse 93 “And whoever kills a believer intentionally, his punishment is Hell; he shall abide in it, and Allah will send His wrath on him and curse him and prepare for him a painful chastisement.”
6. Slander a believing man or a woman of adultery (or sodomy). Sura al-Noor verse 23 “Surely those who accuse chaste believing woman, unaware (of the evil) are cursed in this world and the hereafter, and they shall have a grievous chastisement.”
7. The usurpation of an orphan’s property. Sura al-Nisa verse 10 “(As for) those who swallow the property of the orphans unjustly, surely they only swallow the fire in to their bellies and they shall enter burning fire.”
8. To retreat from Jihad (the Holy War). Sura al-Anfal verse 16 “And who ever shall turn his back to them on that day-unless he turns aside for the sake of fighting or withdraws to a company-then he, indeed becomes deserving of Allah’s wrath, and his abode is Hell; and an evil destination shall it be.”
9. To take interest. Sura al-Baqara verse 275 “One who swallows down usury cannot arise except as one whom Shaitan has prostrated by (his) touch does rise. This is because they say, trading is only like usury; and Allah has allowed trading and forbidden usury.”
10. Magic. Sura al-Baqara verse 102 “and certainly they know that he who bought it (the magic) should have no share of good in the hereafter and evil was the price for which they sold their souls; had they but known this.”
11. Adultery (fornication) Sura al-Furqan verses 68 and 69 “And they who do not call upon another god with Allah and do not slay a soul which Allah has forbidden except in the requirements of justice and (who) do not commit fornication. And he who does this shall find a requital of sin. The punishment shall be doubled to him on the Day of Resurrection, and he shall abide therein in abasement.”
12. Taking a false oath. Sura Al-Aale Imran verse 76 “(As for ) those who take a small price for the covenant of Allah and their own oaths-Surely they shall have no portion in the hereafter, and Allah will not speak to them, nor will He look upon them on the Day of Resurrection nor will He purify them, and they shall have a painful chastisement.”
13. Betrayal of trust or to act unfaithfully. Sura al-Aale Imran verse 161 and 162 “And it is not attributable that he should act unfaithfully; and he who acts unfaithfully shall bring that in respect of which he acted unfaithfully on the Day of Resurrection; then shall every soul be paid back fully what it has earned, and they shall not be dealt unjustly. Is then he who follows the pleasure of Allah like him who has made himself deserving of displeasure from Allah, and his abode is Hell; and it is an evil destination.”
14. Failure to pay Zakat. Sura al-Tauba verse 34 “and (as for) those who hoard up gold and silver and do not spend in Allah’s ways, announce to them a painful chastisement.”
15. To bear a false witness. Sura al-Hajj verse 30 “…..and avoid false words.”
16. Do not conceal evidence. Sura al-Baqara verse 283 “…..and do not conceal testimony and whoever conceals it, his heart is surely sinful; and Allah knows what you do.”
17. Drinking of wine. Sura al-Baqara verse 219 “They ask you about intoxicants and game of chance. Say: In both of them there is Great Sin and means of profit for men, and their sin is greater than their profit.”
18. Willfully avoid prayers. The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s) said “One who willfully avoids prayers is away from the protection of Allah and His Messenger”
19. Breaking an oath. Sura al-Baqara verse 27 “ Who break the covenant of Allah after its confirmation and cut as under what Allah has ordered to be joined (that is mutual relationship), and make mischief in the land; these it is that are the losers.”
20. To break ties with the relatives. Sura al-Raad verse 25 “and cut asunder what Allah has ordained to establish.”  

Imam Ali al-Raza (a.s.) wrote to the caliph Mamun enumerating the Greater Sins. The list included additional sins as under:

Stealing, Eating dead animals, pigs and blood, Homosexuality, Not acknowledging bounties of Allah, Associating and cooperating with oppressors, Lying, Expenditures in ways not permitted by Allah, Persist in committing Lesser Sins, To treat Lesser Sins as trifle.