Major Sins, Doctrinal Deviance, and Innovations in Islam
Compiled by: Tauheed.com – [Link to Complete Book]
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله and other esteemed scholars have defined major sins as:
"A sin for which a legal punishment (ḥadd) is prescribed in this world, or a severe warning is given, or a curse or anger is mentioned in this world or the Hereafter, or for which a severe punishment in the Hereafter is threatened."
✿ Major sins cannot be forgiven through:
✿ True repentance (tawbah) and sincere istighfār are required for their forgiveness.
✿ If the sin relates to the rights of others, then:
➤ Repentance alone is not enough
➤ The right must be returned or the person must be pardoned.
Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrated:
"If anyone has wronged his brother in anything—be it in honor or anything else—let him make amends today before a Day comes when there will be no dinar or dirham. If he has good deeds, they will be taken to settle the score; and if he has none, the sins of the wronged person will be placed upon him."
(Al-Bukhari: 2449)
Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrated:
"Do you know who is the truly bankrupt? The one who comes on the Day of Judgment with prayer, fasting, and zakat but has also insulted, slandered, or hit someone. His good deeds will be given to his victims. If his deeds run out before justice is served, their sins will be placed on him. Then he will be thrown into Hell."
(Muslim: 2581)
◈ Anas رضي الله عنه narrated:
"My intercession is for those among my Ummah who commit major sins."
(Al-Tirmidhi: 2435)
◈ ʿImrān bin Ḥuṣayn رضي الله عنه narrated:
"A group will be brought out of Hell through Muhammad's intercession and admitted to Paradise. They will be called 'the people of Hell.'"
(Al-Bukhari: 6566)
◈ Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrated:
"The one who has the most right to my intercession is the one who says 'Lā ilāha illallāh' sincerely from his heart."
(Al-Bukhari: 6570)
Among the most severe forms of major sin is doctrinal corruption, which arises from the deviant beliefs of misguided sects, such as:
Allah ﷻ says:
"وَلِلَّـهِ الْأَسْمَاءُ الْحُسْنَىٰ فَادْعُوهُ بِهَا..." ﴿الأعراف: 180﴾
"And to Allah belong the best names, so invoke Him by them, and leave those who deviate concerning His names. They will be recompensed for what they used to do."
◈ Muʿāwiyah bin al-Ḥakam رضي الله عنه narrated:
The Prophet ﷺ asked a slave girl: "Where is Allah?" She replied: "Above the heavens." He asked: "Who am I?" She replied: "You are the Messenger of Allah." He said: "Set her free, for she is a believer."
(Muslim: 537)
➤ The Qur’an mentions Allah’s rising (istiwā’) over the Throne in seven places.
➤ Allah says:
"قَالَ يَا إِبْلِيسُ مَا مَنَعَكَ أَن تَسْجُدَ لِمَا خَلَقْتُ بِيَدَيَّ" ﴿ص: 75﴾
"O Iblīs, what prevented you from prostrating to the one I created with My two hands?"
✔ Belief in attributes like Hand, Face, Eyes of Allah is obligatory.
✔ One must neither distort nor liken them to creation.
✔ Tafsīrs like 'Tafhīm al-Qurʾān' by Sayyid Maududi include incorrect taʾwīlāt (interpretations):
These are, according to the Salaf, forms of doctrinal deviation (fisq iʿtiqādī) and misguidance.
Allah ﷻ says:
"الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ..." ﴿المائدة: 3﴾
"This day I have perfected your religion for you and completed My favor upon you."
➤ Islam is complete.
➤ Any addition is prohibited.
➤ The religion is tawqīfī (based solely on evidence from Qur’an and Sunnah).
① Doctrinal Innovations — like the beliefs of deviant sects
② Worship-based Innovations — such as:
✿ Mawlid (celebration of Prophet’s birth)
✿ Specific 15th Shaʿbān rituals
✿ Group dhikr practices
◈ ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها narrated:
"Whoever introduces something new in this religion which is not part of it, it will be rejected."
(Al-Bukhari: 2697; Muslim: 1718)
◈ Jābir bin ʿAbdullah رضي الله عنه narrated:
"The worst of affairs are newly invented matters in religion. Every bidʿah is misguidance."
(Muslim: 867)
◈ Anas bin Mālik رضي الله عنه narrated:
"Whoever initiates a bidʿah in Madinah or shelters a bidʿah-doer — upon him is the curse of Allah, the angels, and all mankind. None of his obligatory or voluntary deeds will be accepted on the Day of Judgment."
(Al-Bukhari: 1867; Muslim: 1366)
Compiled by: Tauheed.com – [Link to Complete Book]
❖ Major Sins (Kaba'ir): A Complete Sharʿī Definition
Definition of Major Sins
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله and other esteemed scholars have defined major sins as:
"A sin for which a legal punishment (ḥadd) is prescribed in this world, or a severe warning is given, or a curse or anger is mentioned in this world or the Hereafter, or for which a severe punishment in the Hereafter is threatened."
❖ How Major Sins Are Forgiven
✿ Major sins cannot be forgiven through:
- Prayer
- Fasting in Ramadan
- Night prayers (Qiyām al-Layl)
- ʿUmrah
✿ True repentance (tawbah) and sincere istighfār are required for their forgiveness.
✿ If the sin relates to the rights of others, then:
➤ Repentance alone is not enough
➤ The right must be returned or the person must be pardoned.
Hadith on Fulfilling the Rights of Others
Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrated:
"If anyone has wronged his brother in anything—be it in honor or anything else—let him make amends today before a Day comes when there will be no dinar or dirham. If he has good deeds, they will be taken to settle the score; and if he has none, the sins of the wronged person will be placed upon him."
(Al-Bukhari: 2449)
The True Bankrupt
Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrated:
"Do you know who is the truly bankrupt? The one who comes on the Day of Judgment with prayer, fasting, and zakat but has also insulted, slandered, or hit someone. His good deeds will be given to his victims. If his deeds run out before justice is served, their sins will be placed on him. Then he will be thrown into Hell."
(Muslim: 2581)
❖ Punishment for Major Sins
- Punishment for major sins depends on Allah’s Will.
➤ He may forgive and admit the person into Paradise.
➤ Or He may punish, but not eternally.
➤ Eventually, the person will be saved. - The Prophet’s ﷺ intercession (shafāʿah) will help major sinners exit Hell.
Hadiths on Intercession
◈ Anas رضي الله عنه narrated:
"My intercession is for those among my Ummah who commit major sins."
(Al-Tirmidhi: 2435)
◈ ʿImrān bin Ḥuṣayn رضي الله عنه narrated:
"A group will be brought out of Hell through Muhammad's intercession and admitted to Paradise. They will be called 'the people of Hell.'"
(Al-Bukhari: 6566)
◈ Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrated:
"The one who has the most right to my intercession is the one who says 'Lā ilāha illallāh' sincerely from his heart."
(Al-Bukhari: 6570)
❖ Doctrinal Deviation (Fisq Iʿtiqādī): The Most Dangerous Form of Sin
Among the most severe forms of major sin is doctrinal corruption, which arises from the deviant beliefs of misguided sects, such as:
- Khawārij
- Qadariyyah
- Murjiʾah
Deviations in Allah’s Names and Attributes
Allah ﷻ says:
"وَلِلَّـهِ الْأَسْمَاءُ الْحُسْنَىٰ فَادْعُوهُ بِهَا..." ﴿الأعراف: 180﴾
"And to Allah belong the best names, so invoke Him by them, and leave those who deviate concerning His names. They will be recompensed for what they used to do."
Authentic Belief in Allah's Attributes
◈ Muʿāwiyah bin al-Ḥakam رضي الله عنه narrated:
The Prophet ﷺ asked a slave girl: "Where is Allah?" She replied: "Above the heavens." He asked: "Who am I?" She replied: "You are the Messenger of Allah." He said: "Set her free, for she is a believer."
(Muslim: 537)
➤ The Qur’an mentions Allah’s rising (istiwā’) over the Throne in seven places.
➤ Allah says:
"قَالَ يَا إِبْلِيسُ مَا مَنَعَكَ أَن تَسْجُدَ لِمَا خَلَقْتُ بِيَدَيَّ" ﴿ص: 75﴾
"O Iblīs, what prevented you from prostrating to the one I created with My two hands?"
Position of the Salaf al-Ṣāliḥīn
✔ Belief in attributes like Hand, Face, Eyes of Allah is obligatory.
✔ One must neither distort nor liken them to creation.
✔ Tafsīrs like 'Tafhīm al-Qurʾān' by Sayyid Maududi include incorrect taʾwīlāt (interpretations):
- Arsh (Throne) interpreted as realm of authority or divine manifestations
- "Two Hands" explained as two qualities of creation
- "Rūḥ" interpreted as a reflection of divine attributes
These are, according to the Salaf, forms of doctrinal deviation (fisq iʿtiqādī) and misguidance.
❖ Bidʿah (Innovation): Introducing New Matters in the Religion
Only Allah Has the Right to Legislate
Allah ﷻ says:
"الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ..." ﴿المائدة: 3﴾
"This day I have perfected your religion for you and completed My favor upon you."
➤ Islam is complete.
➤ Any addition is prohibited.
➤ The religion is tawqīfī (based solely on evidence from Qur’an and Sunnah).
Types of Bidʿah
① Doctrinal Innovations — like the beliefs of deviant sects
② Worship-based Innovations — such as:
✿ Mawlid (celebration of Prophet’s birth)
✿ Specific 15th Shaʿbān rituals
✿ Group dhikr practices
Why Bidʿah Is Worse Than Zina or Theft
- A sinner knows he is sinning and may repent.
- An innovator thinks his innovation is part of the religion, hence doesn’t repent — except those whom Allah wills.
Hadiths on Bidʿah
◈ ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها narrated:
"Whoever introduces something new in this religion which is not part of it, it will be rejected."
(Al-Bukhari: 2697; Muslim: 1718)
◈ Jābir bin ʿAbdullah رضي الله عنه narrated:
"The worst of affairs are newly invented matters in religion. Every bidʿah is misguidance."
(Muslim: 867)
◈ Anas bin Mālik رضي الله عنه narrated:
"Whoever initiates a bidʿah in Madinah or shelters a bidʿah-doer — upon him is the curse of Allah, the angels, and all mankind. None of his obligatory or voluntary deeds will be accepted on the Day of Judgment."
(Al-Bukhari: 1867; Muslim: 1366)
