Major and Minor Sins in Islam

Major and Minor Sins in Islam

Sinful Acts According to Qur'an and Hadith

How can a Muslim differentiate between major and minor sins? What acts are regarded as sinful in Islam?

In Islam, a sin is defined as any act which contradicts the commandments or Will of Allah (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 (peace be upon him): "Avoid the seven noxious things: associating anything with Allah, magic, killing one whom Allah 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 major sins are actually much greater in number. They define major sins as acts which are expressly forbidden in the Qu'an or by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), or for which there is a hadd punishment under Islamic law. (A hadd punishment is a punishment specified by Allah in the Qur'an.)

Under this definition, the list of major sins includes (but is not limited to) the following acts:

• Worshiping others, or associating partners with Allah (shirk)
• Believing in superstition, fortune telling and astrology
• Using magic or sorcery
• Committing murder
• Committing suicide
• Bearing false witness
• Committing adultery or fornication
• Cheating, stealing, and lying
• Charging or paying interest or usury (riba)
• Consuming pork or alcohol
• Consuming the wealth of an orphan
• Not fasting Ramadan
• Not observing daily prayers
• Not paying zakat (annual charity)
• Gambling
• Oppression and unjust leadership
• Bribery, betraying trusts and breaking contracts
• Backbiting and slandering
• Breaking the ties of kinship
• Disobeying or not honoring one's parents

Minor Sins in Islam

Minor sins are acts which are displeasing to Allah but for which no specific punishment or severe warning has been issued. In this case, a Muslim's conscience and heart help him to know that an act is sinful. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, "Righteousness is good character, and sin is that which wavers in your heart and which you do not want people to know about." (Muslim)

Minor sins are not, however, to be taken lightly, as disobeying Allah is always a serious matter. Allah says: “You counted it a little thing, while with Allah it was very great.” (Al-Noor 24:15)

Minor sins can easily lead someone to commit a major sin, and repeatedly committing a minor sin will change its status to that of a major sin. Furthermore, habitual sinning causes a Muslim to lose faith and disregard the commandments of Allah. In the Qur'an, Allah says: “Nay, their hearts have been sealed by the sins they have accumulated.” (Al-Mutaffifeen: 14).

Forgiveness and Expiation

Scholars agree that while good deeds and extra acts of worship help expiate minor sins, they won't compensate for major sins. Instead, a Muslim must make sincere repentance for major sins by showing genuine remorse, praying for Allah's Mercy and Forgiveness, and avoiding that sin in the future.

Only a person who avoids major sins will have good deeds such as charity, praying, or fasting accepted as expiation for minor sins. Allah says: “If you shun the great sins which you are forbidden, We will do away with your small sins and cause you to enter an honorable place of entering.” (Qur'an 4: 31)

Shirk, however, is the one sin which Allah will not forgive. "Verily, Allah forgives not that partners be set up with Him (in worship) but He forgives other than that to whom He pleases; and whoever sets up partners with Allah (in worship), he has indeed invented an enormous wrong" (Qur'an 4:48)

Remembrance of Allah

A Muslim should strive at all times to remember Allah, as this helps him refrain from sins of the tongue, heart, mind and hands. As Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid advises "The Muslim should not look at how small or great the sin is, rather he should look at the greatness and might of the One Whom he is disobeying."