Righteousness is good morality and sin is that which causes discomfort

In Islam, a sin is defined as any act which contradicts the commandments or Will of Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) (the One God, the Creator).
Some sins are regarded as major, while others are considered minor. What are the differences between the two?
Major Sins in Islam

Some scholars assert that there are seven major sins, based on the following narration (hadith) by the Prophet Muhammad Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam):
"Avoid the seven noxious things: associating anything with Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD), magic, killing one whom Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) has declared inviolate without a just case,
Consuming the property of an orphan, devouring usury, turning back when the army advances,
And slandering chaste women who are believers but indiscreet." (Bukhari and Muslim)

Other scholars cite evidence that Islam's major sins are actually much greater in number.
These religious scholars define major sins as acts which are expressly forbidden in the Qur'an or by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him),
Or for which there is a haad punishment under Islamic law. A haad punishment is a punishment specified by Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) in the Qur'an.

Prophet Muhammad Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam said: "Should I not inform you of that which I fear for you even more than the dangers of Dajjal?
 It is the hidden shirk: A person stands to pray and he beautifies his prayer because he sees the people looking at him".
Prophet Muhammad Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam said:
“Righteousness is good morality and sin is that which causes discomfort (or pinches) within your soul
And which you dislike people to become informed of.” [Sahih Muslim]

Sin is that aspect in a Muslim’s life in which he or she makes effort to abstain from at all costs.
Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) warns all of mankind that everything mankind does in this world will be put before us on Yawmil -Qiyamah (The Day of Resurrection) in Surah al-Zilzal:

“And he who does an atom’s weight of good will see it. And he who does an atom’s weight of evil will see it.” [Holy Qur’an, 99:7-8]

Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) also warns mankind that the one whose bad deeds (sins) are heavy will be in Hell, as can be found in Surah al-Qari’ah.
A Muslim’s strife is to live the life of a believer and separate from the likeness of the sinner, as Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) differentiates the Mu_min (believer) from the fasiq (sinner) in Surah As-Sajadah:

“Is he who is a believer like unto him who is a sinner? They are not alike!
 For those who believe and do righteous works, for them are Gardens of Retreat, a welcome (in reward) for what works they did.
And as for those who do evil, their abode is the Fire. Whenever they wish to leave, they will be forced back into it, and it will be said to them:
Taste the torment of the Fire which you used to reject.” [Holy Qur’an, 32:18-20]

It is clear that one must steer away from sin and do righteous acts.
However uncertainty arises in the mind when referring to the subject of sin such as;

1.) The difference between a sin and a mistake,

2.) Shaitans (Satan) role in the commission of a sin,

3.) If one becomes removed from Islam due to committing a sin, and

4.) The major sins.

The purpose of this essay is to provide concise answers to such inquiries, InshaAllah.

Question: What is the difference between sin and mistakes? What role does Shaitan, the accursed one, play in sin?

Fault means any action that takes place unintentionally and sin is with intention.

For example, Shaitan put such ideas into the heart of Hazrat Adam (a.s.) to approach the tree. Adam did it and as a result,
Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) sent him to the earth. Similarly, Hazrat Yunus (Jonah) committed a fault and he adopted that way prohibited to him according to the instruction of Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD).
Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) says in the Holy Qur’an that it was Shaitan, who put the idea into Hazrat Adam and Hazrat Yunus (a.s.),
So there is no doubt that Shaitan can put these ideas into the hearts of the Nabiyyan to divert their attention from the right way.
 But the mistakes they commit are only according to the Hikma of Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD).
These mistakes are below the standards of the Nabiyyan, so we can not point it out that they took place according to the Order of Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD).
 We must say Shaitan is responsible. All the good things take place from the Kindness of Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) while all of the bad things are due to Shaitan.
The awliyâ are not free from this “was-was” (evil whispers), but if this was-was happens to any Wali,
As soon as he realizes it, he busies himself in Tawba (repentance).
But on the other hand, the common people, when they commit a sin, they do not realize it and they do not feel guilty about it.

Sins are of three types:

   1. against Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD).

   2. against brotherhood.

   3. against humanity.

In Hadith, Hazrat Anas (Radiyallaahu Anhu.) narrated that Prophet Muhammad Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam said Shaitan travels through the body like blood.

Explanation by Imam Al-Bukhari and Imam Muslim: Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) gave full power to Shaitan to put evil ideas into the hearts of men.
 If a man does not act upon these ideas, he has passed the worldly examination and will get a high place in Jannah (Heaven).
 When we say that the Shaitan travels through the body like blood, it means not physically but according to his evil ideas or thinking there are things that travel like the human blood.

In Hadith Hazrat Imam Abu Hanifa (r.a.) related that the Prophet Muhammad Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam said:

“The “was-was” that enters the hearts of my ummah Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) has forgiven, as long as they don’t act upon or voice it.” [Imam Al-Bukhari and Imam Muslim]

Tafseer (Commentary): Was-was the bad intention that enters one’s heart. And those good intentions that enter one’s heart are called ilham.
The ilham won’t be accepted unless it is accordance with the Holy Qur’an and Hadith.
 Bad thoughts by a person that is not related to Aqidah (belief), and doesn’t act on them, for him is (forgiveness).
If vice versa is related to kufr (disbelief), then it will be kufr. And if related to dhal (straying away), then it will be dhalleen.
For both of these situations, Tawba is fard (obligatory). If this intention is related to any actions and not Aqidah (belief),
And he keeps this intention in his heart, and then he is a sinner.


Does the commission of sin remove one from Islam?

Hazrat Anas bin MalikR.A. relates Rasulullah said that three things form the foundation of Al-Islam.

    Whosoever says Laa ilaaha illallaah, Muhammadur-Rasulullah (There is none worthy of worship, but Allah, Muhammad is His Messenger),

Do not take him out of Al-Islam because he committed a sin.

    From the time I was sent as Nabi, Jihad will continue until the last person of this ummah wages war against the Dajjal, and
   The rule of a tyrant and the justice of a just ruler can not abrogate this.

        What other kinds of sin are there, and how are they forgiven?
                           Kabirat is that which Shari`ah has strictly forbidden.
                            And the punishment for that in this dunya is haad or ta’zirat or the punishment will come in Akheel.
                            Kabirat pertains to that which is not forgiven, until a person makes Tawba (repentance). Gumara sajira or its called tharaba sajira is forgiven                          through practicing of good deeds. If one commits tharaba sajira continuously, it becomes tharaba kabira.


                 There are four kinds of tharuba (sins).

    Sin: which will not be forgiven without tawba? Commission of this sin is like a Kafir.
    That sin: which has a possibility of being forgiven by tawba or by good deeds? These are tharaba sagina.
    Those sins for which Tawba is necessary, but, if Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) wills, he can forgive without Tawba.
    This is tharaba kabiran, but it is tharab that transgress the rights of Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD).
    The tharab kabiran, which are connected to the rights of the society,
For forgiveness, it is necessary to make Tawba and then restore the rights to that person and ask his forgiveness,
And on conditions that he forgives you. This does not pertain exclusively to wealth.
 If one does not ask for forgiveness and is not forgiven, then on Yawmil- Qiyamah,
The one whose rights have been transgressed will be given the good deeds of the transgressor as much as he pleases in accordance with justice.
Or else the sins of the oppressed will be given to the transgressor according to justice.
Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) may, of His own will, make the oppressed happy and show Mercy to the dhalimeen (oppressor).

Hadith: Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas’ud Radiyallaahu Anhu narrates that a person asked Prophet Muhammad Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam

“Ya Rasulullah: according to Allah, which is the greatest sin?”

Prophet Muhammad Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam answered, “To associate partners with Allah (known as shirk), while He has created you.”

Then he was asked, “Which is the biggest sin after that?”

And he Prophet Muhammad Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam said, “To kill your offspring because he will eat with you.”

Then he was asked “Which is the greatest after that,”

And he said, “To make zina (fornication) with your neighbor’s wife.”

As can be seen from the evidence provided, sin is a very major issue in the life of a Muslim.
   A Muslim strives to gain the pleasure of Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) and abstains from that which incurs the wrath of Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD).
   A Muslim begs Allah for His Guidance each and every time he or she performs Salat (the ritual form of prayer a Muslim is commanded to perform five times a day),
   By reciting the last three ayahs of Surah al-Fatiha (the opening Surah of the Holy Qur’an):

“(We beg of you to) Guide us in the Straight Path. The path of those whom you have favored.
Not of those who have earned your anger, and nor of those who have gone astray.”

Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) shows the Muslim the prayer for seeking His Guidance and avoiding His Wrath.
The Mu_min is one who fully adheres to the Shari`ah and earns the Pleasure of Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD), thus steering away from sin at all costs. Al-Gawth Al-A’zam Sheikh Muhyuddin ‘Abdul-Qadir al-Jilani (r.a.) has given many discourses on securing this path, and in Futhu Al-Ghaib (The Revelations of the Unseen), he states in the very first discourse:

Three things are indispensable for a believer in all conditions of life:

    Should keep the Commandments of Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD);
   Should abstain from the haram (forbidden); and should be pleased with the decree of Providence.

Thus the least that is expected of a believer is that he should be without these three things.
So it is meant that he should make up his mind for this and talk to himself about this and keep his organs engaged in this.

In conclusion, one sees that there exists a distinct difference between sin and mistakes.
One should distinguish between the two and be aware of what his or her niyah (intention) is before proceeding with an action.
The Holy Prophet Muhammad Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam.);
“Actions are but by intentions and every man will have but that which he intended.”
It is best that one proceeds with the intention of pleasing Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD), and doing an action for Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD)’s sake.
Major sins are those sins in which a Muslim would never imagine of doing under any circumstances,
But if committed, Tawba would be performed immediately.
One’s sins do not remove him or her from Islam unless he or she commits an act of Kafir, unless their belief removes one from Islam.

Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) says: “If I were to punish everyone for their sins, then NOTHING would remain in existence.”

The worst sin anyone could ever commit is to ascribe partners with Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD), and this is known as shirk.

The evil which man does is either by his nafs (the unruly self which causes man to act irreligiously and cause his own harm) or Shaitan. Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) is not happy with evil or bad deeds, and good deeds make Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) happy. And good is done by the help of Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD), but Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) only helps who desires good and puts forth effort. May Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) guide us all and forgive the sins of the past and the present and protect us from future sins. Ameen!

Please make sincere repentance to Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) before as Ali Radiyallaahu Anhu said,
       "Today is deed without reckoning and tomorrow is reckoning without deeds". Sincere repentance has four conditions:
     Feeling bad for the sin
             Firm commitment in intention not to repeat sin (whether it happens again is not a condition if one tried his best)
             Make repentance to Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) by Dua’s and asking or better crying for forgiveness
             If some person has been wronged because of this sin then one needs to make up to this person.

     The Noble Prophet Muhammad Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam said: "There are four signs of one who is repentant:
                    (1) He is sincere to Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) in his actions
                    (2) He shuns falsehood
                    (3) He is firmly attached to truth
                    (4) He is eager to do good for others.”

May Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) help us to do that which He loves and which pleases Him?
And Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) knows best.
May Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) make our efforts sincere and keep us all on the straight path...........

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