This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Abu Hamza Abdul Khaliq Siddiqi's book Sahih Fazail-e-Amaal.
Imam Muslim, may Allah have mercy on him, narrated from Sayyiduna Nawas ibn Sam'an, may Allah be pleased with him, that he asked the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, about sin, and he said:
الإثم ما حاك فى صدرك وكرهت أن يطلع عليه الناس .
"A sin is that which causes discomfort in your heart, and you do not like that people should come to know about it."
Reference: Sahih Muslim, Book of Virtue and Maintaining Ties of Kinship, Hadith No: 6516.
Whether a sin is apparent or hidden, it is obligatory to abandon it completely. Those who repent from sins, Allah Almighty transforms their sins into good deeds. Allah Almighty says:
﴿إِلَّا مَن تَابَ وَآمَنَ وَعَمِلَ عَمَلًا صَالِحًا فَأُولَٰئِكَ يُبَدِّلُ اللَّهُ سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ حَسَنَاتٍ ۗ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا﴾
"But whoever repents and believes and does righteousness, then indeed, Allah will replace their evil deeds with good. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful."
Reference: (25-Al-Furqan:70)
[To learn the topic of sin in complete detail, study our book "Sin and Repentance".]
Those who avoid sins are deserving of Allah's forgiveness and mercy. Allah Almighty says:
﴿فَمَنْ خَافَ مِن مُّوصٍ جَنَفًا أَوْ إِثْمًا فَأَصْلَحَ بَيْنَهُمْ فَلَا إِثْمَ عَلَيْهِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ﴾
"But if one fears from the testator (some) bias or sin, then (there is) no sin upon him if he makes reconciliation between the parties. Indeed, Allah is ever Forgiving and Merciful."
Reference: (2-Al-Baqarah:182)
Allah Almighty and His Messenger ﷺ have made clear every action that leads to Paradise and every action that causes entry into Hell. They have encouraged and warned regarding this. Undoubtedly, the person who disobeys the Lord will enter Hell. Disobedience to the Lord occurs through sins, which are major and minor. Avoidance of major sins, which include disbelief, polytheism, sorcery, fortune-telling, disobedience to parents, murder, etc., is a means of entering Paradise. In fact, there are some major sins that if avoided alone, by the grace of Allah Almighty, one is admitted to Paradise. For example, polytheism. If a person, despite shortcomings in other matters, does not associate partners with Allah, then by His grace, he will enter Paradise.
﴿إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَغْفِرُ أَن يُشْرَكَ بِهِ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَن يَشَاءُ﴾
“Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills.”
Reference: (4-An-Nisa:48)
He further said:
﴿ وَذَرُوا ظَاهِرَ الْإِثْمِ وَبَاطِنَهُ ۚ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَكْسِبُونَ الْإِثْمَ سَيُجْزَوْنَ بِمَا كَانُوا يَقْتَرِفُونَ﴾
“And turn away from all sins, open and hidden. Indeed, those who commit sin will soon be recompensed for what they used to do.”
Reference: (6-Al-An'am:120)
Similarly, if one avoids other major sins besides polytheism, Allah Almighty bestows His grace and mercy upon him. Even if some mistakes or slips occur, Allah Almighty will forgive him.
As the Divine command states:
﴿إِن تَجْتَنِبُوا كَبَائِرَ مَا تُنْهَوْنَ عَنْهُ نُكَفِّرْ عَنكُمْ سَيِّئَاتِكُمْ وَنُدْخِلْكُم مُّدْخَلًا كَرِيمًا﴾
“If you avoid the major sins which you are forbidden, We will remove from you your lesser sins and admit you to a noble entrance.”
Reference: (4-An-Nisa:31)
