Allah says in the Qur’an:
وَنَجَّيْنَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَكَانُوا يَتَّقُونَ “And We saved those who believed and used to fear Allah (avoiding sins).”
— Surah Ha-Meem As-Sajdah: 18
Deliberately committing a sin even after knowing it is wrong is the way of Iblees (Satan), whereas feeling remorse for a committed mistake and seeking forgiveness is the way of Prophet Adam (Alaihis Salam).
If a person tells a lie and considers what they did to be correct, it becomes easy for Shaytan to lead them towards major sins. On the other hand, if they realize that lying was a mistake, and plead to Allah for forgiveness, they become highly difficult for Shaytan to overcome.
There is no human being who does not commit sins. However, persisting continuously in sin earns the immense wrath of the Almighty. While committing sins might be a human trait, forgiving is the attribute of Allah.
Whoever feels remorse in their heart for their sins, and cries out of a desire to break free from them, Allah is sufficient to forgive their sins.
We must accustom ourselves to avoiding sins. If we turn sinning into a habit, we will eventually fail to even recognize it as a sin. Furthermore, we will not feel remorseful or perform Tawbah (repentance) for it.
Entering someone’s house without permission, using another person’s property without asking, instigating others to lie, deliberately delaying the repayment of a debt, quarreling inside the mosque, and using the mosque’s restroom without intending to pray—all of these are sins.
However, many among us have turned these into a part of their daily routine.
Carrying tales about the husband to the wife and about the wife to the husband to incite enmity, backbiting among relatives by revealing who said what about whom, treating the poor with disdain while exalting the wealthy, exposing someone’s secrets, and eavesdropping on others’ conversations—all of these are major sins.
Just as it is a sin to do what the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) has forbidden, it is also a sin to abandon what he has commanded us to do.
The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) has advised that a person who looks at the faults of others and criticizes them will not die until they themselves commit that very sin during their lifetime.
Therefore, when interacting with others, if we look only at their good deeds, it will cause those good qualities to develop within ourselves.
By looking at the sins of others, we will unknowingly be drawn toward them. Action gives rise to action. He who sees good in others will see good in himself. He who sees evil in others will see evil in himself.
Cheating in business measurements, breaking promises, fraud in weighing scales, engaging in usury (interest), and adulterating goods—if one persists in these without realizing they are sins, thinking of them merely as ways to earn money, their wealth and comforts will eventually be snatched away, their peace of mind will be lost, and they will ultimately die carrying a burden of unpardonable sins. Consequently, their life in the Hereafter will face a massive crisis.
Carrying tales among people, backbiting, lying, hypocritical talk, and speaking ill of others are sins of speech.
Listening secretly to someone’s conversation and using it against them, spying into the affairs of others, judging someone to be a dweller of Hell just by looking at their outward action, and exposing others’ secrets are all sins strictly warned against by Allah.
If one commits financial wrongs such as cheating in weights, defrauding money, property fraud, or usurping others’ lands, Allah does not forgive them simply by asking for His forgiveness. Instead, the property must be returned to its rightful owner. This is extremely vital.
Boasting about the charity given, falsely accusing someone, speaking about a subject as if one knows it well when they are actually ignorant of it, and snatching away the rights of others—such sins have become deeply ingrained in daily practices.
Boasting about one’s Ibadah (acts of worship) to others to pride oneself is also a sinful act.
Not knowing how to recite the Qur’an, and knowing how to recite it but neglecting to do so, are often not even considered sins. These are among the greatest losses in life.
Delivering a religious sermon and desiring that people praise one’s speech is a highly detestable act before Allah. The desire to be praised becomes a form of minor Shirk (associating partners with Allah), which is a major sin.
If someone commits bribery and corruption, that money must be returned to the people who rightfully own it. Retaining control over illegally acquired money and property while asking for forgiveness is not an acceptable act.
Performing Wudu (ablution), Salah (prayer), Ghusl (ritual bath) regulations, and other acts of worship according to one’s own whims without learning their proper rules ruins the divine commands and constitutes a major sin. Yet, many consider this merely a minor shortcoming rather than a sin.
Just as following the actions of the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) brings rewards, deviating from and abandoning the Sunnah of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) is also a sin.
Men not keeping a beard, men wearing gold, women going out of their homes among strangers without the Hijab, dressing male children in gold ornaments, and dressing female children in male attire are all sins.
The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) has taught supplications to seek Allah’s help for every single action, including eating, sleeping, and using the restroom. Engaging in these actions without reciting those prayers is a sin. For a believer, it is not right to dislike something that the Prophet (SW) loved.
Some people talk to one another during the Jumu’ah prayer while the Imam is delivering the Khutbah (sermon). Once the Imam ascends the Minbar to deliver the Khutbah, the Jumu’ah prayer proceedings have effectively begun. Exchanging Salaam or making gestures to one another is strictly forbidden at that time. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) has prohibited this.
The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: Whoever reproaches a fellow brother for a sin from which he has already repented will not die until he himself falls into that sin.
— Tirmidhi
Suppose someone sees another person committing a sin. He then goes around telling others, “I saw so-and-so committing such a sin.” However, the one who sinned may have sat in solitude, asked Allah for Tawbah (repentance), and Allah might have forgiven his sin—which this person would not know. In this situation, spreading rumors about him is a futile and sinful act.
Furthermore, the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) has warned that if someone continues to speak about a sin without knowing that the sinner has already received Allah’s forgiveness, they will not die until they commit that very sin themselves.
Tawbah means seeking forgiveness from Allah. Its condition is to feel deep remorse for the sin committed. Moreover, if one firmly resolves in their heart never to commit that sin again and begs Allah for forgiveness, forgiveness will be granted.
The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: If anyone constantly seeks forgiveness (from Allah), Allah appoints for him a way out of every distress, relief from every anxiety, and provides for him from quarters he could never imagine.
— Abu Dawud
Allah says in the Qur’an:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا تُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ تَوْبَةً نَصُوحًا عَسَى رَبُّكُمْ أَنْ يُكَفِّرَ عَنْكُمْ سَيِّئَاتِكُمْ وَيُدْخِلَكُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ
“O you who believe! Turn to Allah with sincere repentance! It may be that your Lord will expiate from you your sins, and admit you into Gardens under which rivers flow.”
— Surah At-Tahreem: 8
Major sins can strip away a person’s Eeman (faith). If minor sins accumulate, they will eventually lead a person to major sins.
Protect yourselves from sins. A person commits certain sins, and due to their evil consequences, he forgets a portion of the knowledge (Ilm) he possessed.
There are some sins due to which waking up during the night for Tahajjud prayers becomes difficult. Furthermore, there are certain sins because of which the sustenance (Rizq) that was ready to reach him gets diverted away.
This was narrated by the companion Abdullah ibn Mas’ood (Radhiyallahu Anhu) as an advice taught to him.
Allah says in the Qur’an:
وَإِنِّي لَغَفَّارٌ لِمَنْ تَابَ وَآمَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا ثُمَّ اهْتَدَى
“And verily, I am indeed Forgiving to him who repents, believes, does righteous good deeds, and then remains constant in guidance.”
— Surah Taha: 82
By seeking forgiveness, a way out opens up for many crises encountered in worldly affairs. One can find liberation from anxiety, frustration, and mental restlessness. Moreover, we can attain Allah’s assistance for the numerous good deeds we anticipate.
Repentance (Tawbah) means feeling remorse for the past sin, pleading for forgiveness in the presence of the Almighty, alongside detaching oneself from that sin and forming a firm resolve never to return toward that sinful act again.
أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ الَّذِي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ
“I seek the forgiveness of Allah, there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of all existence, and I turn to Him in repentance.”
The forgiveness of Allah is magnificent. His mercy is boundless. If His servants feel remorse for their sins and weep, and turn away from them, Allah is sufficient to forgive.
