Exegesis of the saying of Allah the Exalted: (Those who avoid major sins and shameful deeds, except for minor lapses)
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Exegesis of His saying, the Exalted: (Those who avoid major sins and shameful deeds, except for minor lapses)
Then He mentioned some of their characteristics,So he said: [Surah al-Najm: 32] (Those who avoid) meaning: they stay away from them. The staying away is called *ijtinab* (avoidance) because a person falls on one side, and the one from whom he stays away falls on the other side, so they stay away and do not connect with major sins and shameful deeds. (Except for minor lapses) Major sins are the major ones; because (major sins) is the plural of major sin. Some scholars counted them, and some scholars defined them, and the correct approach is the definition,Meaning: that they are defined and not counted. As for those who defined them, it appears—may Allah know best—that they intended them as examples,For example: if a person says they are: associating partners with Allah, sorcery, killing the soul that Allah has forbidden except by right, turning back on the day of battle, falsely accusing chaste believing women of fornication, consuming usury or interest, and consuming the orphan's wealth. These are seven,If a person says: these are the major sins,The meaning of His saying: that they are limited to these, since it is possible to interpret his statement as being by way of example only.
As for those who defined them—Meaning: they established a criterion for them—So they stated regarding its definition: every sin for which Allah has established a curse, or anger, or displeasure, or disavowal, or something similar, is a major sin. And I saw that some of them, including Shaykh al-Islam (may Allah have mercy on him), said: Every sin for which a specific punishment has been established, either in this world or in the Hereafter, is a major sin. Accordingly, fornication has a punishment, which is flogging or stoning to death. Theft is a major sin. Highway robbery is a major sin. Undutifulness to parents is a major sin, and so on. Whenever you see a sin for which the Lawgiver has established a specific punishment, it is a major sin.
As for the sin for which there is only a prohibition, it is a minor sin. For example, a man looking at a non-mahram woman with desire is not a major sin; it is a minor sin among the minor sins. But if a person persists in it and it becomes his habit, it becomes a major sin due to the persistence, not due to the act itself. A woman making a phone call for the sake of pleasure is forbidden, but it is not a major sin. However, if a person persists in it and his only concern is to keep the phone busy with these women and talk to them, it becomes a major sin. So, persisting in a minor sin makes it a major sin in terms of the persistence; because his persistence in the minor sin indicates his negligence toward Allah (Mighty and Majestic), and that he does not care about what Allah has forbidden.
Therefore, the major sins are: Every sin for which the Lawgiver has established a specific punishment, either in this world or in the Hereafter. As for what He has forbidden and remained silent about, without mentioning a specific punishment for it, but it falls under the general prohibition, this is a minor sin. But if one persists in minor sins, they become major sins in terms of the persistence.
And his statement: (And shameful deeds) These are the greatest of the major sins; because among the major sins, some are shameful, considered extremely ugly, and greatly detested, and some are less so.For example: Fornication is a shameful deed,Allah the Exalted said: [Surah al-Isra: 32] and sodomy is a greater shameful deed than fornication;Because Allah said regarding zina: [Surah al-Isra: 32] And Lut said to his people: [Surah al-A'raf: 80] So he used the definite article (al) indicating ugliness, and that it is comprehensive of all types of shameful deeds.
Marrying prohibited relatives is a shameful deed,Allah said: [Surah al-Nisa: 22] so it is more severe than fornication,Meaning: if a person commits fornication with a woman who is not a mahram to him, and with his wife's mother, for example, the second act becomes greater, more severe, and more heinous,Therefore, the stronger opinion among the scholars' views is: that whoever commits fornication with a woman from his prohibited relatives, even if he is not married, is stoned to death,Meaning: fornication with prohibited relatives does not involve flogging; it involves only stoning to death; because Allah distinguished between fornication and marrying prohibited relatives,Marrying those with whom marriage is forbidden is described with two descriptions: [Surah al-Nisa: 22] and fornication He described with one description, which is: [Surah al-Isra: 32] .
And the Sunnah came to distinguish between them—Meaning: between the one who commits fornication with a woman from his prohibited relatives or with a woman who is not a mahram to him—so it established the punishment for the former as death in all cases, even if he has not married, and even if he is not a previously married man; because this is the greatest—may Allah protect us from it—a person committing fornication with his mother, or his sister, or his wife's mother, or his wife's daughter with whom he has had intercourse. This is a great shameful deed.
Therefore: (They avoid major sins and shameful deeds) We said: shameful deeds are the greatest of the major sins.
But do we take from this verse that major sins differ and shameful deeds differ? Yes, we take from the verse that they differ; because major sins are a description, and the greater they are, the more severe the major sin becomes, and the same applies to shameful deeds. For this reason, you heard [Surah al-Nisa: 22] .
[Surah al-Isra: 32] [Surah al-A'raf: 80] Allah distinguished between them, although they are all shameful deeds, but some are greater than others.
[Surah al-Najm: 32] It was said: it is a connected exception,And it was said: it is a disconnected exception; because *al-lamm* is the small amount,So does the meaning: except for the small amount of major sins,Meaning: that they commit the small amount of major sins,Or the meaning: except for the minor sins among the sins? If we say the first, the exception is connected, and if we say the second, the exception is disconnected, and (except) means: but. The second meaning is closer in terms of classification; because Allah mentioned major sins, shameful deeds, and minor sins,And on this basis, the meaning is: (Except for minor lapses) meaning: except that these who do good commit minor sins, and minor sins—praise be to Allah—are expiated by good deeds,Allah the Exalted said: [Surah al-Nisa: 31] And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) informed: (That the five daily prayers, from Friday to Friday, and from Ramadan to Ramadan, are expiations for what is between them, provided that major sins are avoided) And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: (The lesser pilgrimage to the lesser pilgrimage is an expiation for what is between them) And accordingly, the meaning is: that minor sins occur and are expiated either by avoiding major sins, or by avoiding major sins combined with performing these great good deeds: the five daily prayers, from Friday to Friday, and from Ramadan to Ramadan.
In summary: That minor sins are expiated for a person if he avoids major sins, and if he is good in the five daily prayers, Friday prayer, and Ramadan.
Allah the Exalted said: [Surah al-Najm: 32] In this phrase is a reference to the saying: (Except for minor lapses) meaning: that *al-lamm* falls within the breadth of the forgiveness of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), so Allah forgives it,And forgiveness: it is covering the sin along with passing over it, that Allah covers your sin and passes over it. And covering the sin is not sufficient; rather, it must be passed over,And the evidence for this is two things: linguistically,And the auditory: As for the linguistic aspect: because forgiveness is derived from *al-mighfar*;And the forgiveness: it is what is placed on the head during battle and is called a helmet, and is called a *baydah*, placed on the head in order to protect against arrows,This which is placed on the head combines two things: protection and covering. So, forgiveness must involve covering and protection.
As for the auditory: So it is the saying of Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He) when He is alone with His believing servant on the Day of Resurrection and confronts him with his sins and he acknowledges them, He says: (I have covered it for you in this world, and I forgive it for you today) So this indicates that protection from sins and not being held accountable are part of forgiveness.
We ask Allah the Exalted to forgive us and you for what has passed of our sins and what has remained, for He is capable of all things.
Then He mentioned some of their characteristics,So he said:
Those who avoid the major sins and immoralities, only [committing] slight ones
الَّذِينَ يَجْتَنِبُونَ كَبَائِرَ الْأِثْمِ وَالْفَوَاحِشَ إِلَّا اللَّمَمَAs for those who defined them—Meaning: they established a criterion for them—So they stated regarding its definition: every sin for which Allah has established a curse, or anger, or displeasure, or disavowal, or something similar, is a major sin. And I saw that some of them, including Shaykh al-Islam (may Allah have mercy on him), said: Every sin for which a specific punishment has been established, either in this world or in the Hereafter, is a major sin. Accordingly, fornication has a punishment, which is flogging or stoning to death. Theft is a major sin. Highway robbery is a major sin. Undutifulness to parents is a major sin, and so on. Whenever you see a sin for which the Lawgiver has established a specific punishment, it is a major sin.
As for the sin for which there is only a prohibition, it is a minor sin. For example, a man looking at a non-mahram woman with desire is not a major sin; it is a minor sin among the minor sins. But if a person persists in it and it becomes his habit, it becomes a major sin due to the persistence, not due to the act itself. A woman making a phone call for the sake of pleasure is forbidden, but it is not a major sin. However, if a person persists in it and his only concern is to keep the phone busy with these women and talk to them, it becomes a major sin. So, persisting in a minor sin makes it a major sin in terms of the persistence; because his persistence in the minor sin indicates his negligence toward Allah (Mighty and Majestic), and that he does not care about what Allah has forbidden.
Therefore, the major sins are: Every sin for which the Lawgiver has established a specific punishment, either in this world or in the Hereafter. As for what He has forbidden and remained silent about, without mentioning a specific punishment for it, but it falls under the general prohibition, this is a minor sin. But if one persists in minor sins, they become major sins in terms of the persistence.
And his statement: (And shameful deeds) These are the greatest of the major sins; because among the major sins, some are shameful, considered extremely ugly, and greatly detested, and some are less so.For example: Fornication is a shameful deed,Allah the Exalted said:
And do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse. Indeed, it is ever an immorality
وَلا تَقْرَبُوا الزِّنَى إِنَّهُ كَانَ فَاحِشَةًAnd do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse. Indeed, it is ever an immorality
وَلا تَقْرَبُوا الزِّنَى إِنَّهُ كَانَ فَاحِشَةًWill you commit the immorality?
أَتَأْتُونَ الْفَاحِشَةَMarrying prohibited relatives is a shameful deed,Allah said:
And do not marry those [women] whom your fathers married, except what has already occurred. Indeed, it was an immorality and hateful [to Allah] and was evil as a way.
وَلا تَنْكِحُوا مَا نَكَحَ آبَاؤُكُمْ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ إِلَّا مَا قَدْ سَلَفَ إِنَّهُ كَانَ فَاحِشَةً وَمَقْتاً وَسَاءَ سَبِيلاًIndeed, it was an immorality and hateful
إِنَّهُ كَانَ فَاحِشَةً وَمَقْتاًIndeed, it was an immorality
إِنَّهُ كَانَ فَاحِشَةًAnd the Sunnah came to distinguish between them—Meaning: between the one who commits fornication with a woman from his prohibited relatives or with a woman who is not a mahram to him—so it established the punishment for the former as death in all cases, even if he has not married, and even if he is not a previously married man; because this is the greatest—may Allah protect us from it—a person committing fornication with his mother, or his sister, or his wife's mother, or his wife's daughter with whom he has had intercourse. This is a great shameful deed.
Therefore: (They avoid major sins and shameful deeds) We said: shameful deeds are the greatest of the major sins.
But do we take from this verse that major sins differ and shameful deeds differ? Yes, we take from the verse that they differ; because major sins are a description, and the greater they are, the more severe the major sin becomes, and the same applies to shameful deeds. For this reason, you heard
And do not marry those [women] whom your fathers married, except what has already occurred. Indeed, it was an immorality and hateful
وَلا تَنْكِحُوا مَا نَكَحَ آبَاؤُكُمْ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ إِلَّا مَا قَدْ سَلَفَ إِنَّهُ كَانَ فَاحِشَةً وَمَقْتاًAnd do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse. Indeed, it is ever an immorality
وَلا تَقْرَبُوا الزِّنَى إِنَّهُ كَانَ فَاحِشَةًDo you commit such immorality as no one has preceded you with from among the worlds?
أَتَأْتُونَ الْفَاحِشَةَ مَا سَبَقَكُمْ بِهَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ مِنَ الْعَالَمِينَexcept for the minor sins
إِلَّا اللَّمَمَIf you avoid the major sins which you are forbidden, We will remove from you your lesser sins
إِنْ تَجْتَنِبُوا كَبَائِرَ مَا تُنْهَوْنَ عَنْهُ نُكَفِّرْ عَنْكُمْ سَيِّئَاتِكُمْIn summary: That minor sins are expiated for a person if he avoids major sins, and if he is good in the five daily prayers, Friday prayer, and Ramadan.
Allah the Exalted said:
Indeed, your Lord is vast in forgiveness
إِنَّ رَبَّكَ وَاسِعُ الْمَغْفِرَةِAs for the auditory: So it is the saying of Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He) when He is alone with His believing servant on the Day of Resurrection and confronts him with his sins and he acknowledges them, He says: (I have covered it for you in this world, and I forgive it for you today) So this indicates that protection from sins and not being held accountable are part of forgiveness.
We ask Allah the Exalted to forgive us and you for what has passed of our sins and what has remained, for He is capable of all things.