To sin means to disobey Allah and His Prophet (sawa). It means to disobey Islamic laws and its commandments. The grade of disobedience is in relation to the one who is disobeyed. There is a vast difference between disobeying one’s neighbour and disobeying one’s parents, although in both the cases there is disobedience. Viewed in this perspective, all sins can be categorised as major sins because there is no one greater than Allah and his Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and their dissatisfaction is the highest form of dissatisfaction. It is only with the mercy of Allah and His Prophet (s.a.w.s.) that there is easy forgiveness for the creatures.

Sins have been divided into two categories i.e. Major Sins and Minor Sins. One of the main differences between major and minor sins is that once a Muslim commits a major sin he becomes liable to be chastised. While chastisement for a minor sin is only on its repeated performance.

In this lesson we have outlined the major sins. Allah forbid, if we are committing even of one these sins, then we should abandon it immediately and repent and seek forgiveness from Allah. Also, we should seek protection from committing these sins in future.

1. Polytheism
2. To despair from Allah’s mercy
3. To consider oneself safe from Allah’s punishment
4. Disobeying parents
5. Killing a believer
6. Slandering a blameless person.
7. Usurping an orphan’s wealth
8. To flee from the battlefield
9. Usury
10. Adultery
11. Sodomy
12. Magic
13. To take false oath on Allah
14. Not paying zakat which is due
15. Giving false testimony
16. Suppressing the truth
17. Consuming alcohol
18. Leaving obligatory prayers
19. Violating the pledge
20. To sever relations
21. Migrating to a place where one’s religion is harmed
22. Theft
23. Disobeying any command of Allah
24. Attributing falsehood towards Allah, Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and Ahlul Bait (a.s.)
25. Lie
26. Eating a corpse
27. Drinking blood
28. Eating the flesh of swine
29. Eating unlawful meat (which has not been slaughtered in an Islamic manner)
30. Gambling
31. Eating from unlawful wealth
32. Cheating in weighing and measuring things
33. Helping the oppressors
34. To be inclined toward injustice
35. Not giving the due of others
36. Pride and arrogance
37. Extravagance
38. Considering Hajj lightly
39. Fighting against the friends of Allah
40. Being involved in play and fun
41. Slandering
42. To facilitate adultery (even if one does not commit it himself or herself)
43. Backbiting
44. Accusing a believer falsely
45. Abusing and disgracing a believer
46. Considering a sin to be insignificant and repeating it

    (Minhaajus Saaleheen, vol 1, pg 10, 12, 22nd edition)

O Allah, for the sake of Imam-e-Asr (a.t.f.s.), give us the taufeeq to abstain from all major and minor sins.