OTHER SINS

OTHER SINS

Q.   What are the other acts of sin besides Kufr (unbelief), Shirk (polytheism) and Bid’ah (innovation in religion)?

  There are great many other acts of sin besides Kufr, Shirk and Bid’ah e.g., telling lies, missing Salat, missing fasts, falling to give alms, failing to undertake Hajj despite ability in terms of money and physical fitness, drinking liquor, thievery, rape, backbiting, giving false evidence, molesting women, eavesdropping, deceipt, disobedience to parents and teachers, hanging portraits and pictures in houses and rooms, misappropriation of money under trust, looking down upon others, gambling, abusing, watching dances, usury, shaving the beard, extravagant spending, visiting balls, cinema houses and theatres. There are many other acts of sin also discussed in bigger books.

Q.   Can a person commit sins and still be a Muslim?

  Anybody committing a sin which involves Kufr or Shirk does not remain a Muslim, but turns an unbeliever or a polytheist. On the other hand, a person who will innovate in religion will remain a Muslim but his Islam and Iman will become extremely fickle. Such a one is known as an innovator. A person guilty of a major sin other than unbelief, polytheism and innovation in religion is, likewise, a Muslim but of a lesser degree. He will be called a transgressor.

Q.   What is the way to escape Al-lah’s punishment in the event of one’s having committed a sin?

  Repentance invokes Al-lah’s forgiveness. To be repentant means to feel sorry for one’s sinful deeds, to crave Al-lah’s forgiveness and to affirm one’s determination not to repeat the sins again. It must be remembered that mere lip service is no real repentance.

Q.   Can repentance absolve one of all types of sins?

  Sins that have no bearing on other fellow human being or creatures but are transgressions against Al-lah can be washed off by repentance. Even sins of polytheism and unbelief are condoned by Al-lah. But sins that have consequences or bearings on others, such as squandering the property of an orphan without right, scandalous talk against others or perpetrating cruelties on somebody fall within the definition of Huququl-‘Ibad (rights of fellow human beings). Mere oral expression of repentance will not wash off such sins. To deserve reprieve from punishment for such sins it is necessary that we fulfill our obligations to such persons or secure their forgiveness. Thus only can we except Al-lah’s forgiveness on expressing our repentance.

Q.   What is the latest hour by which repentance sought by a person stands the chance of being accepted by Al-lah?

  Repentance by anyone would be acceptable to Al-lah at any time except by a person on the verge of death when the angels of punishment appear before him and life is extinguishing in him.

Q.   Can ever a sinner who dies without repentance go to Heaven?

  Yes, all persons who have committed sins other than polytheism and unbelief will go to Heaven on completion of their punishment. It is also not unlikely that      Al-lah will forgive all sins except those of polytheism and unbelief before punishment with or without intercession.

Q.   Can the surviving relatives and friends of a deceased person do some good to him (the deceased)?

  Yes, worships and charity for the sake of Al-lah by the living can also benefit the deceased. If those alive do righteous deeds like reciting the Qur-an or chanting the Darud, giving alms and feeding the hungry, they shall get reward from Al-lah. But it is also open to them to send their blessings to the departed souls and pray to Al-lah to apportion their own reward to them (the departed ones). Al-lah will apportion them in heaven.

There should be no particularization of any item or hour or method for sending blessings from our side. On the contrary, whatever is within our means at any time, we should give it to the deserving, in the name of Al-lah and send the expected reward to the departed ones. It is extremely bad to fix something as a permanent ritual or organize grand feasts or ceremonies on borrowed money for purposes of show or love of fame.