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ʾin tajtanibū kabāʾira mā tunhawna ʿanhu nukaffir ʿankum sayyiʾātikum wa-nudkhilkum mudkhalan karīman
If you avoid the major sins that you are forbidden, We will absolve you of your misdeeds and admit you to a noble abode.
— Ali Quli Qarai
4An-Nisā’النساءVerse 31 of 176
The Women4. An-Nisā’النساء
Al Nisā’
The Women
MedinanVerse 31 of 176
Surah An-Nisa', Verse 31
31. "If you avoid the great sins which you are forbidden, We remit from you your small sins and We cause you to enter an honourable place of entering."
It is understood from this verse that sins are divided into two groups: the minor sins and the major sins. We also recite in Surah Al-Kahf, No.18, Verse 49 that, on the Day of Judgement, when sinners see the record of their evil deeds, they say:
According to the Islamic literature, a great sin is a sin for which Allah has promised Fire to its performer. The numbers of great sins are mentioned differently in the Islamic narrations. Some of the pioneers among the Muslim scholars, derived from the verses of the Qur'an and traditions, have introduced 33 great sins. There are, of course, degrees for the great sins when comparing them. Therefore, some of the great sins are called 'the most major sins'.
Explanations
1. It is necessary for us to ignore the slight offences of those whose ideological and practical doctrine is proper.
2. The reward of those who abandon major sins is that Allah (s.w.t.) forgives their minor sins.
The total number of the major sins, as many traditions denote, is 33 sins which are listed in the following:
1. To associate a partner for Allah
2. Homicide (the believers)
3. The curse of the parents
4. To escape from Holy Struggle
5. To devour the orphan's property
6. Usury
7. False accusation of unchastity to an immaculate woman
8. Fornication
9. Sodomy
10. Theft
11. Consuming the flesh of a corpse
12. To consume blood
13. To eat the flesh of swine, pig
14. To eat the flesh of an animal slaughtered without mentioning Allah's Name
15. To defraud whether by scale or by measure
16. Gambling
17. A false attestation
18. Despair from the grace of Allah
19. To feel secured from the punishment of Allah
20. To assist the evil-doers
21. To rely on the tyrants
22. To swear falsely
23. Rancour and deceit
24. To restrain from giving others' rights
25. To tell a lie
26. To behave arrogantly
27. Immoderation and extravagance.
28. Treachery
29. Making little of Hajj
30. To fight against Allah's saints
31. To be busy with diversion and play
32. Magic and whatever causes trouble for others
33. To drink wine