Logic For Islamic Rules

How Many Grave Sins Are There?

Question: How many grave sins are there?

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

  1. Every action the doer of which has been promised by Allah punishment and chastisement in the Holy Quran. (Whether, it is clearly stated or indicated or it may be emphatic prohibited again and again). It is a graver sin.

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

Now we shall describe a greater part of the grave sins which are mentioned in verses or traditions and pray to the Almighty Allah that He may give us the guidance 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
  2. 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. Carelessness 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. Eating the flesh of animal which is slaughtered without reciting the name of Allah 27. Despair from mercy of Allah 28. Weighing less. 29. Repeating light sins 30. Breaking off relations 31. Non payment of Zakah 32. Breaking of covenant 33. Concealing Testimony 34. False swearing.

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