Alhamdulillah, it’s Ramadan, and the devils have been chained, InshaAllah allowing us to see more clearly the traps we may have fallen into.
Once we’re clear of doubt, and practicing the faith as best we can, what does Satan throw at us next?
There is one major sin that Allah azza wa jall will never forgive. As He says in Surah Al Nisa, 48:
Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And he who associates others with Allah has certainly fabricated a tremendous sin.
إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَغْفِرُ أَن يُشْرَكَ بِهِ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَن يَشَاءُ ۚ وَمَن يُشْرِكْ بِاللَّهِ فَقَدِ افْتَرَىٰ إِثْمًا عَظِيمًا
The absolute worst of the major sins is that of Shirk, or associating partners in your worship of God. Allah subhanau wa ta’ala is the only Creator, the only Sustainer, the only Provider, the only Judge. Why should we turn to anyone or anything else to worship Him? Why would you ask a rock for help, when the Helper is a prayer away?
But so many people do. It’s partly, it seems, that we’re not worthy to ask God for help, and that we try to go through something or someone that’s seen as more pious or closer to Him than we are.
And We have already created man and know what his soul whispers to him, and We are closer to him than [his] jugular vein
وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنسَانَ وَنَعْلَمُ مَا تُوَسْوِسُ بِهِ نَفْسُهُ ۖ وَنَحْنُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ حَبْلِ الْوَرِيدِ
So no. Allah is right here with all of us, and we don’t need to ask anyone or anything for anything.
As an aside, I’ve heard or read all kinds of largely benign activities—voting; concerts & movies; photography, for example—described as Shirk. Shirk is always and only the act of associating partners in your worship of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala. Before I went and voted for Bernie Sanders in the primary back in March or whenever it was, I made dua that Allah grant us better leaders than we deserve. Feeling the Bern isn’t shirk. And going to a concert or film might be disliked, but unless I’m going there with the intent to worship the musicians or actors, neither are shirk. And taking a picture of my darling, adorable wife, as much as I love and cherish her, isn’t shirk, because I worship Allah alone, without any partners.
Beyond that, depending on who you ask, there are another set of Major sins, things that Allah azza wa jall might forgive, might allow us into heaven even after committing them, maybe after a period in Hell to burn out our sins. Audhu Billah!
In addition to Shirk, Allah expressly forbids a number of things in the Quran:
- Murder of a believer
- Murder, in general, and zina (all sorts of unlawful sexual activity)
- ‘eating’ up the property of orphans and others under your protection
- transgressing the limits (especially as regards distributing inheritance)
- usury
And when asked, the Prophet, peace be upon him, listed:
- shirk
- sorcery
- murder
- usury
- eating the orphan’s wealth
- running away from battle
- accusing chaste women of adultery
And, in a separate narration:
- shirk
- murder
- being undutiful to one’s parents
- making false utterances.
(Allah forgive me for anything I’ve left out or missed.)
Other sources extend these to 70 different things that Allah or His messenger, peace be upon him, banned completely or discouraged. Allah forgive me, my eyes are getting tired and this is getting long enough.
Pretty much, if you focus on your prayer, fast the month of Ramadan and any other chances you get, and don’t be a jerk, you can pretty much avoid all of the things listed above, and all the things listed in the 70 sins. Most all of it is pretty obvious jerk-type stuff to do (and by ‘jerk’ I mean both a polite term for a more common expression, and Steve Martin’s character in the Jerk…), yet people do it all every day, left and right.
To be honest, I’ve lied before, sure, and there were occasions in my past where I didn’t do right by my parent. May Allah forgive me, and protect me from further error. But murder, usury, fornication and adultery, stealing from orphans, and misappropriating inheritances are things I can’t even imagine taking part in. Yet I know loads of people who have (except for murder… I don’t know many murderers, at all), both from the time before I accepted Islam, and after.
If you’re sleeping around, or plotting to murder someone, or considering taking a bit from that orphan’s fund, please reconsider now, put your face on the ground, and seek protection from the devils and beg for guidance. It’s not worth it, I promise you. You can wait for a life partner. The world will be a worse place without them. Allah will provide all the funds you need, InshaAllah.
I know only a few people are going to read this (I have some stats running on this blog…) and so I know my words aren’t going to reach very far. I don’t know how to warn everyone else, but I think everybody pretty much knows all the stuff above is wrong. Maybe not. Allahu Alim.
May Allah protect us from displeasing him, and guide us to be better slaves to Him alone, ameen.
