Islam Guidance

Part Two: Greater sins regarding whom there is no clear ‘nass’

Chapter 43 

Part Two: Greater sins regarding whom there is no clear ‘nass’

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Greater sins regarding whom there is no clear ‘nass’ (ayat or tradition).

As stated in the introduction of this book, a sin is considered a greater sin under four conditions:

 (1) There is clear mention of it in ayat or tradition of Ma’sÅ«mÄ«n (a.s.).

(2) Its punishment is mentioned to be damnation in Hell in Qur’an or an authentic tradition, whether in unequivocal words or indication.

 (3) It is mentioned to be greater than one of the great sins proved by other Three methods.

 (4) The sin, which is considered great by a group of religious people.

 The greater sins which come under condition

 (1) have received full treatment in part one. The remaining Three shall be discussed in Three sections in part two. Before we start listing the sins that are promised divine punishment i.e. condition

(2) we must know that this condition itself is clearly mentioned in a number of traditions. Some of them are given below. A hadith recorded in the Sahih of Ibn Abi Yafur from Imam Sadiq (a.s.) says,

“The Adalat (reliability) of some people can be understood from their neglect of sins that are promised Hell.”

(Wasa’il ul-Shia)

This tradition clearly indicates that sins for which Hell is destined are indeed greater sins. In Sahih of ‘Ali Ibn Ja’far it is mentioned that he asked his brother Imam MÅ«sa Ibn Ja’far (a.s.) regarding the sins which are denounced in Qur’an.

Imam (a.s.) said,

“Those sins are great for which Allah has made Hell incumbent.”

(al-Kāfi Vol. 2 page 276)

 A tradition is recorded from Imam Sadiq (a.s.) in al-Kāfi. Abu BasÄ«r says that when Imam (a.s.) was queried regarding this matter he (a.s.) recited the following ayat:

 “…and whoever is granted wisdom, he indeed is given a great good and none but men of understanding mind.”

(Surah al-Baqarah 2: 269)

 Imam (a.s.) explains the meaning of wisdom:

“Marefat (recognition) of Imam, abstinence from Greater sins (those who fail in this) Allah has made Hell as their abode.”

(al-Kāfi Vol. 2 page 284)

Muhammad Ibn Muslim relates from the same Imam (a.s.):

“Of whichever sin Allah has prescribed Hell is a Greater Sin.”

According to some traditions, specially, the one mentioned in the Sahih of Abdul AzÄ«m, every sin which is specially promised Hell fire in Qur’an or Sunnah (traditions) of the Holy Prophet (S) and Imams (a.s.) is a greater sin, whether it is unequivocal like that for the one who does not pray:

 “But there came after them an evil generation, who neglected prayers and followed sensual desires, so they will meet perdition.”

(Surah Maryam 19: 59)

 Or the sinner is described as an inmate of Hell. For example in the tradition, “The one who leaves prayers is a polytheist,

 “and the abode of polytheists is Hell.”, So be steadfast in prayers and do not be of the polytheist,”(30:31)

 Similarly Qur’an says,

 “So woe (Hell) to the praying ones, who are unmindful of their prayers…”

(Surah Ma’Å«n 107: 4-5)

 Or as mentioned in the tradition of the Holy Prophet (S),

“One who leaves prayers wilfully will go out of the refuge of Allah and the Messenger of Allah (S).”

(Wasa’il ul-Shia Vol. 3 page 29)

According to Ibn Abbas the number of sins that are mentioned in ayats and authentic traditions are very many. If all of them are enumerated they will exceed seven hundred. This would be a very time consuming job. So we shall discuss only some of the most common sins that people are prone to commit.