The Book of Major Sins

One of the major tribulations of human existence is the consequence of committing sins or releasing evil into the world. According to the moral scale of Islam, it is known that man is imperfect or fallible and prone to committing sins. This is a part of his innate weak nature as a finite creature. However, it is a sin if he has the ways and means to attain relative moral perfection and deliberately chooses not to seek it.

What is the definition of a sin in Islam?

1. deliberately,
2. defying the unequivocal law of Allah, the Exalted,
3. violating the rights of Allah or the rights of man,
4. any deed harmful to the soul or body,
5. any evil deed committed repeatedly, and
6. a deed that is normally avoidable.

In Islam, there are major and minor categories of sins relating against Allah, the Exalted, and sins against Allah's creation. All sins against Allah, except one are forgivable, if the sinner sincerely seeks forgiveness. Allah, the Exalted, has stated in the Qur'an that He does not forgive the sin of shirk (associating partners to Allah), but He forgives sins other than this and pardons whom He wills. If anyone repents and turns to Allah with tawheed or belief in Allah alone, as his only deity, his sins will be forgiven. Sins against men are forgivable only if the victims pardon the offender or if the proper compensations and/or punishments are applied.

The human being is imperfect, greedy and desirous of more. But committing a sin or making a mistake, as Adam and Eve did, does not necessarily deaden the human heart, prevent spiritual reform or stop moral growth. On the contrary, the human being is capable of knowing where to turn and to whom he should turn for guidance. Much more important is the fact that Allah is ever prepared to respond to the sincere calls of those who seek His aid. He is the All-Compassionate and All-Merciful and His forgiveness is encompassing and His mercy is All-Inclusive:

Our Lord! Accept [our worship] from us, for you are the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing. (Qur’an 2: 127)

Our Lord! Punish us not if we forget or fall into error. Our Lord! Lay not on us a burden like that which you did lay on those before us, a burden greater than we have strength to bear. Pardon us and grant us forgiveness. Have mercy on us. You are our Protector; grant us victory over the disbelievers. (Qur'an 2: 286)

A few of the sins covered in this book

Greatest of major sins, Pride, Vanity, Lying, Breaking one's covenant, Greed, Envy, Falsehood, Backbiting, Bribery, Killing, Breaking kinship ties, etc ...