An-Nisaa (The Women)

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:

" ...What a book this is! it does not omit a small one nor a great one.... ".

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.

"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."

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.