15. ALL SINS ARE AWFUL, BUT SOME ARE MORE AWFUL THAN OTHERS
All sins (maasi) are awful (qabiha), but some are more awful than others. Adultery (zinah) is the most awful of sins (aqbah al-dhunub) because it ruins marriages and distorts lineages. And it is even worse if committed against a female neighbour.
‘Abdullah Ibn Mas’ud (radiy Allahu ‘anhu) said: ‘I asked Allah’s Messenger: ‘Which sin is the greatest?’ He replied: “To make any rival with Allah when it is He who created you.” I asked, ‘Then what?’ He said, “To kill your child for fear that he will eat with you.” I asked, ‘Then what?’ He said: “To commit fornication with the wife of your neighbour’”
And the Prophet said: “It is less serious for a man to fornicate with ten women than for him to fornicate with his neighbour’s wife. And it is less serious for a man to steal from ten houses than for him to steal from his neighbour’s house.”
This is because such sins include a disobedience to Allah and a violation to the rights of the neighbour, which are indeed great. And amongst the worst of sins is for an older man to commit fornication. Allah’s Messenger said: “Allah hates a fornicating old man.”
This is because for an old man, his sexual desires recede, so it needs to be provoked excessively in defiance to Allah’s order.
Among the sins that include an aspect of defiance to them is wearing silk and gold for men, especially for an older man tit wear a gold ring. It is indeed one of the most obnoxious of actions and worst of sins.
Similarly, showing-off (riya) and pretending to have humility (takhasha) to other people is like worshiping them, and involves ignoring Allah’s rights. The same applies to dealing in obvious usury by a wealthy person.
And among the worst of things is for an old man to be ill for a long time. Yet he does not make repentance or seek forgiveness from sins, and does not pay off debt he owes and does not ask his heirs to pay them off from the due rights on him.
Amongst the worst of sins is for a thief or an oppressor to stop doing evil without returning the money he has stolen to the victims. And for he who does not pay fakat and offers prayer, not to make up for them later.
And among the worst of sins is for a man to divorce his wife but continue his relationship with her. Use what I have mentioned as a measure for other sins for sins are numerous and the worst of them is clear.
All of these sins involve defying Allah, so he who falls into them deserves to be cursed and punished continuously.
1 also believe drinking liquor to be of this type of sin, because liquor is not sought for itself, smell or taste.
It is sought for the pleasure that happens after the agony of drinking it. So going against one’s desires for the sake of a later pleasure, is a form of defiance.
We ask Allah for a strong belief that prevents us from disobeying Him, and we seek that He aids us in pleasing Him, for we are only by Him and for Him.
(Source: al-Hafiz Abu’l-Faraj ibn al-jawzl [d. 597AH] “CAPTURED THOUGHTS being” a translation of his masterpiece ‘Sayd al-K hatir)
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John Doe
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