Philosophy of Islamic Laws

Question 69: How Many Greater Sins Are There?

Question: How many greater sins are there?

Answer: There are different methods to recognize the greater sin and we indicate towards two of these methods.

  1. Every action the doers of which have been promised by Allah punishment and chastisement in the Holy Qur’an. (Whether, it is clearly stated or indicated or it may be emphatic prohibited again and again). It is a greater sin.

  2. Through the correct and authentic traditions that have reached us from the great leaders of Islam and in which the greater sins are clearly enumerated. For example the letter Imam Ali Ibn Musa ar-Rida (a.s.) had written to Mamoon the Abbaside Caliph. In the letter he has mentioned the number of greater sins. And in the same way is the tradition narrated by Amash from Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq (a.s.). There is mention of many greater sins in this tradition. And the same is the condition of other traditions.

Now we shall describe a greater part of the greater sins which mentioned in ayats or traditions and pray to the Almighty Allah that He may give us the Tawfiq to shun all these sins.

  1. Murder
  2. Adultery
  3. Wine
  4. Leaving Prayer
  5. Usurping the property of orphans
  6. Fleeing the battlefield
  7. Interest taking
  8. Gambling
  9. Oppression
  10. Sodomy
  11. Helping the oppressors
  12. Supporting the oppressor
  13. Denying the rights of people
  14. Fighting the saints of Allah
  15. Lying
  16. Betrayal of trust.
  17. Hurting the Parents
  18. Accusing pure people falsely
  19. Backbiting
  20. Careless of the Anger and Punishment of Allah
  21. Carelessness about performing the Hajj
  22. Squandering and over spending
  23. Pork
  24. Blood
  25. Eating dead meat
  26. Eat the flesh of animal which is slaughtered without reciting the name of Allah
  27. Despair from mercy of Allah
  28. Weighing less.
  29. Repeating smaller sins
  30. Breaking off relations
  31. Non payment of Zakat
  32. Breaking of covenant
  33. Concealing Testimony
  34. False swearing.

The above-mentioned sins are a major portion of greater sins though according to the view of many scholars they are not limited to these.