Are Some Sins More Severe than Others?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel

Question

I wanted to know if all evil deeds/sins have equal weight. For someone who talks to a non-mahram man daily online but talks decently with nothing inappropriate and no pics/vm/vc of her is a sin equal to someone who goes out with non-mahram men in real life and has physical contact with them. And in the first case, is it a minor sin? Will it be forgiven by the suggested tasbih, which forgives all minor sins?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question and concern to get closer to Allah Most High and a step in the right direction.

All evil deeds and actions do not have equal weight; some are more severe than others.

As we aspire to be true and sincere believers, we must leave all kinds of disobedience manifest and hidden.

No Man Should Be Alone with a Woman

It was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbas (Allah be pleased with him) that he heard the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) say: “No man should be alone with a woman unless there is a mahram present.” [Bukhari]

Although a man and woman talking to each other might not come under this, it would be disallowed due to temptation and likelihood of sin unless it is for a greater religious purpose, such as asking questions of scholars, or it is for a legitimate worldly purpose, in which case the conversation should be only as much as is needed, without unnecessary talk.

This is a little of what can be mentioned regarding this great verse: “Leave sin, both manifest and hidden.” [Quran, 6:120]. One has to be careful that one not only leaves disobedience manifest and hidden but also abandons the thought that some sins are lesser than others, as we don’t know what can create the displeasure of Allah Most High; it could be a minor sin, too.

The first step on the path to Allah is to leave the thing that calls you to turn away from the path to Allah or that holds you back on the path to Allah, which is what the essence of sin is.

First Action After Sin, Repentance, then Followed with Good Action!

If a person falls into sin, it should be followed with sincere repentance, asking forgiveness from Allah Most High, and following it up with good actions.

Good Deeds Remove Bad Deeds from the Record

‘Abdullah Ibn Mas‘ud (Allah be pleased with him) reported that a man kissed a woman, came to the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), and mentioned it to him. The verse was revealed, “Perform prayer at the two ends of the day and in the first hours of the night. Verily, good deeds remove evil deeds.” [Quran, 11:114] The man said, “O Messenger of Allah, is it for me only?” The Prophet said, “It is for all who act upon it from my nation.” [Bukhari; Muslim]

May Allah make us of those who rush to Him and draw close to Him. Amin.

I would like you to go through the valuable answers and links below. You will receive guidance and direction in sha Allah.

Related:

• Leaving Sins, Both Manifest and Hidden.
• Purification of the Heart for Youth: Diseases of the Heart and Their Cure.
• The Path of Muhammad: Birgivi’s Manual of Taqwa Explained.
• Purification of the Heart by Hamza Yusuf.
• Prayer of Repentance: Salat al-Tawba.
• Supplication for Forgiveness of Sins and Shortcomings: Quranic Supplications 22

Why not begin your search for knowledge by signing up for a course: Dhahabi’s The Major Sins Explained: Avoiding the Pitfalls to Attain Salvation?

May Allah (Most High) give you ease and relief from the illness.

I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally trained scholar who has studied in the UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan, and Turkey. He started his early education in the UK. He went on to complete the hifz of the Quran in India, then enrolled in an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied the secular and ‘Aalimiyya sciences. He then traveled to Karachi, Pakistan. He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for several years. He has taught hifz of the Quran, Tajwid, Fiqh, and many other Islamic sciences to children and adults onsite and online extensively in the UK and Ireland. He taught at a local Islamic seminary for 12 years in the UK, where he was a librarian and a teacher of Islamic sciences. He currently resides in the UK with his wife. His interest is a love of books and gardening.