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.
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.
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.
- Murder
- Adultery
- Wine
- Leaving Prayer
- Usurping the property of orphans
- Fleeing the battlefield
- Interest taking
- Gambling
- Oppression
- Sodomy
- Helping the oppressors
- Supporting the oppressor
- Denying the rights of people
- Fighting the saints of Allah
- Lying
- Betrayal of trust.
- Hurting the Parents
- Accusing pure people falsely
- Backbiting
- Careless of the Anger and Punishment of Allah
- Carelessness about performing the Hajj
- Squandering and over spending
- Pork
- Blood
- Eating dead meat
- Eat the flesh of animal which is slaughtered without reciting the name of Allah
- Despair from mercy of Allah
- Weighing less.
- Repeating smaller sins
- Breaking off relations
- Non payment of Zakat
- Breaking of covenant
- Concealing Testimony
- 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.