Sin is an important concept in Islamic ethics that Muslims view as being anything that goes against the commands of God or breaching the laws and norms laid down by religion.^[1] Islam teaches that sin is an act and not a state of being. It is believed that God weighs an individual's good deeds against their sins on the Day of Judgement and punishes those individuals whose evil deeds outweigh their good deeds.^{[The Quran Surah Al-A’raf (7:8-9) 1]}

This article uses texts from within a religion or faith system without referring to secondary sources that critically analyze them. (May 2012)

1. REDIRECT khiṭʾ

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1. REDIRECT Islamic views on sin

The dynamic between merits and sins in Christianity is somewhat similar to the dynamic between thawab and khiṭʾ within Islam.

The Quran describes these sins throughout the texts and demonstrates that some sins are more punishable than others in the hereafter. A clear distinction is made between major sins (al-Kabirah) and minor sins (al-Sagha'ir) (Q53:31–32), indicating that if an individual stays away from the major sins then they will be forgiven of the minor sins. Sources differ on the exact meanings of the different terms for sin used in the Islamic tradition.^[2]

A number of different words for sin are used in the Islamic tradition.

According to A. J. Wensinck's entry on the topic in the Encyclopedia of Islam, Islamic terms for sin include dhanb and khaṭīʾa, which are synonymous and refer to intentional sins; khiṭʾ, which means simply a sin; and ithm, which is used for grave sins.^[3]

According to Cyril Glasse, Islam recognizes two kinds of sin (khati'ah): dhanb, a fault or shortcoming which is to be sanctioned; and ithm, a willful transgression which is to be punished.^[4]

The Islamic concept of repentance for any sins and misdeeds is called tawba.^[11] It is a direct matter between a person and God, so there is no intercession or formal, ecclesiastical confession to a religious leader.^[12] There is also no concept of original sin in Islam.^[13][14] Islam has no concept of original sin, need for atonement, or ecclesiastical confession. Another contrast to Christianity is, that sin isn't seen as the worst. Abu Uthman al-Maghribi argues that sin is better than complacency, since the sinner makes tawba.^[15]

Repentance and forgiveness are a direct matter between the individual and God, requiring no intercession. In cases of sin against another person, restitution is required. In cases of sin against God, repentance, remorse, and resolution to change one's behavior are considered sufficient. Although classical scholars emphasized the individual dimension of repentance, many revivalists and reformists have tied individual actions to larger issues of public morality, ethics, and social reform, arguing for reimplementation of the Islamic penal code as public expiation for sins.

Sufis understand repentance as a process of spiritual conversion toward constant awareness of God's presence. Muhammad reputedly requested God's forgiveness several times daily.^[16] It is the act of leaving what God has prohibited and returning to what he has commanded. The word denotes the act of being repentant for one's misdeeds, atoning for those misdeeds, and having a strong determination to forsake those misdeeds (remorse, resolution, and repentance). If someone sins against another person, restitution is required.^[17]

The most heinous sins in Islam are known as al-Kaba'ir (Arabic: كبيرة) which translates to the great or major one. Some authors use the term enormity. While every sin is seen as an offense to God, al-Kaba'ir are the gravest of the offenses.^[1] God's power is thought to be only eclipsed by his mercy and thus minor or small sins (al-sagha'ir), are tacitly understood to be forgiven after repentance. Not every sin is equal however and some are thought to be more spiritually hurting than others. The biggest and the worst of the sins described as al-Kaba'ir is the association of anyone and/or anything with Allah. Shirk.^[18]

Hadiths differ as to how many major sins there are. Different hadith list three, four, or seven major sins.^[19] In contrasting major sins with minor sins, the eighth-century Shafi'i scholar Al-Dhahabi found the hadith collections of Sahih al-Bukhari and Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj listed seven major sins.^[20] Ibn Ḥajar al-Haythamī (d. 974/1567) found 467 major sins, and "often-quoted definition attributed" to "companion of the prophet" and mufassir Abd Allah ibn Abbas (d. 68/686–8), states that a major sin is "everything for which God has prescribed a fixed punishment (ḥadd) in this world and the Fire in the hereafter",^[21] bringing the number closer to seventy major sins.^[20]

Some of the major or al-Kaba'ir sins in Islam are as follows:^[22]

1. Shirk (reverence due God directed toward those other than God); (Idolatry, Polytheism)
2. Committing murder (taking away someone's life);^[23], especially if it is of a Muslim or Mustaʾmīn
3. Consuming the property of an orphan placed in one's care;
4. Taking or paying financial interest (riba)
5. Witchcraft
6. Theft
7. Harassment of parents
8. Leaving off the five daily prayers (Salah);
9. Not paying the minimum amount of Zakat when the person is required to do so;
10. Not fasting on the days of Ramadan (without a valid reason such as medical, traveling, too young, too old, etc.);
11. Never having performed Hajj to the holy city of Mecca (within one's lifetime) while being financially able to do so (as per the Qur'an 3:97);
12. Cutting off the ties of relationships (choosing to never speak to one's parents for example and not forgive them, as all are human and make mistakes);
13. Committing zina (adultery and/or fornication);
14. Falsely Accusing one of zina
15. Using intoxicants (khamr), such as alcohol, or any other mind-altering drugs or harmful substances. (To harm one's body is considered sinful.)
16. Gambling
17. Lying about religion, i.e.: lying about God, Muhammad, Jesus or any of God's prophets or creations except to prevent harm to others or dissent in the community.
18. Oppression
19. Suicide
20. Forcing acceptance of the Islamic faith on a non-Muslim via threat of violence^[24]

Good deeds in Islam include:

1. Enjoining right;
2. Forbidding evil;
3. Kindness to all others;
4. Planting trees and preserving the environment;
5. Not hunting animals except for food;
6. Never harming an animal;
7. Kindness to parents; with specific emphasis placed on kindness to one's mother;
8. Forgiving wrongs and apologizing and seeking forgiveness from those a Muslim has wronged;
9. To right one's wrongs;
10. Pick up harmful things from the road to prevent them from harming others;
11. To respect members of all religions;
12. To raise an orphan and feed the needy;

These references do not constitute all major sins in Islam or the extensive list of good deeds. There are other fifty-four other notable major sins^[25] and countless good deeds. Even the smallest act of kindness such as a friendly word or a smile is considered a good deed and rewardable kind act. Some within this list also represent the opinions of particular scholars and so they do not perfectly represent Islam. Islam encourages all of mankind to work to do good deeds every day and to avoid bad deeds/sins, to be the best they can be.

Although many of the ideas for what is unacceptable overlap, the seven major sins of Islam differs from the seven deadly sins of some denominations of Christianity. The Islamic sins refer more to specific undesirable behavior rather than to the general negative characteristics or actions of the cardinal Christian sins. Despite the similar names, the seven main sins in Islam are more comparable to the Ten Commandments rather than the seven deadly sins. They both provide the bottom line for believers in terms of what is acceptable behavior in the faith. The actions themselves differ most of the major crimes in Islam relate to subservience to God. Any form of polytheism is seen to be the most severe offense in the religion and all of the other transgressions are in some form of association with God. Witchcraft, for example, is the taking on of supernatural powers in order to make the practitioner a being above the normal human. This challenges the power of God as the person in question has superseded their mortal position to become something greater and akin to a god. The same can be said of murder, as ultimately the power to decide who shall live and die is believed to belong solely to God. Life is thought to be a gift from God and the unjust taking of life is a severe spiritual offense, as it is not only seen as morally wrong but also as an affront to God.

In addition to what Muslim scholars agree are the principal seven sins, the idea exists that the major sins extend far past the seven. These additional transgressions, potentially up to seventy, are not universally settled upon nor are they explicitly stated in the Qur'an, however they are thought to be implied by the text.^[22] The supplementary sins as a whole lack the spiritual gravity of the original seven and include things such as drinking alcohol and eavesdropping.

The 7 major sins in Islam are:

1- shirk (Idolatry, Polytheism)

2- witchcraft;

3- killing a soul whom Allah has forbidden us to kill; (murdering a Muslim or a Mustaʾmīn)

4- consuming orphans' wealth;

5- consuming riba; (accepting financial interest)

6- fleeing from the battlefield; (cowardice, desertion)

7- slandering chaste, pure women.^[26] (Accusing her of fornication or adultery without proof)

Some scholars say there are 70 major sins according to various hadith: ^{[27] [28]}

1) Shirk (polytheism, idolatry)

2) Murder, especially of a Muslim or a Musta'min

3) Attempted practice of sorcery or witchcraft

4) Not praying obligatory five daily salah

5) not paying zakat charity

6) breaking fast during ramadan without a valid reason

7) not performing Hajj when you are capable to do it

8) disrespect towards parents

9) severing the ties of Kinship

10) Zina (adultery and fornication)

11) Homosexuality (same-sex intimacy)

12) Accepting financial interest (riba)

13) consuming an orphan's property or wealth

14) Lying about Allah, Islam, or his Prophets

15) Fleeing from battlefield (cowardice, desertion)

16) Being a leader and misguiding your people, as well as tyranny and oppression

17) Arrogance, pride, conceit, vanity, or haughtiness

18) bearing false witness

19) Drinking alcohol

20) Gambling

21) Accusing a woman of adultery or fornication wrongly, especially without proof

22) Misappropriating spoils of war, government funds, zakat, etc. (Embezzlement)

23) Theft

24) Banditry (highway robbery)

25) Taking false oath

26) Usurping peoples property, whether land or money, through fraud

27) Collecting illegitimate or unfair taxes, including misuse of taxes

28) consumption of haram (wealth or food)

29) suicide

30) Lying (outside of 3 cases - 1: to please your wife 2: during war 3: to bring peace between two disputing peoples)

31) Being a dishonest or unfair judge

32) Bribery

33) Transvestism (women imitating men, men imitating women)

34) Pimping and/or cuckoldry

35) A thrice-divorced woman marrying a new man, solely to divorce him to cheat the system and make remarriage with her original husband permissible

36) not keeping oneself clean from traces of urine

37) Showing off, flaunting, boasting

38) Learning religious knowledge only to conceal it

39) breach of faith / trust

40) reminding recipient's of your favors / charity to them

41) disbelieving in the Destiny prescribed by God

42) Eavesdropping on private conversations

43) Being a talebearer to sow discord amongst people

44) Cursing others without reason

45) breaking one's promise or pledge

46) Visiting fortunetellers, astrologers, or similar people / information

47) A wife rebelling against her husband

48) making an image of a sentient being other than plants

49) Loudly lamenting for the dead, after their death or when faced with adversity

50) excess retribution against others (disproportionate)

51) overburdening others or having arrogance towards them

52) hurting a neighbour

53) hurting or reviling a Muslim (or Muslims)

54) Harming the servants of Allah

55) Dragging the hem of one's garment out of pride

56) men wearing silk or gold

57) A slave fleeing without permission from owner

58) Slaughtering animal in other than Allah's name

59) Falsely claiming lineage to one other than your Biological father, or claiming one is your father other than your Biological father

60) Excessive arguing, picking apart their words, and quarrelling - especially over petty issues

61) withholding excess water

62) stinting in business, especially when selling

63) feeling safe from the plan / wrath of God, especially as a sinner

64) Despairing away from the mercy of God and losing hope

65) Forgoing the congregational prayer without excuse

66) Missing Friday Jummah 3 times without reason

67) Illegitimately usurping the rights of the rightful heir via bequest, fraud, or incorrect wills

68) Deception and Conspiring

69) Spying on Muslims, revealing their sins, faults, weaknesses when not permissible to do so

70) Disparaging the companions of the Prophet Muhammad.

• Outline of Islam
• Glossary of Islam
• Index of Islam-related articles
• Islamic views on piety
• Gheebah