Major Sins by Imam Shamsu ed-Deen Dhahabi

Allah, the Almighty said, {And those who annoy believing men and women undeservedly, bear (on themselves) a calumny and a glaring sin.} (AI-Ahzab: 58)

{O ye who believe! Let not some men among you laugh at others: it may be that the (latter) are better than the (former): nor let some women laugh at others: it may be that the (latter) are better than the (former):

nor defame nor be sarcastic to each other, nor call each other by (offensive) nick names: ill-seeming is a name connecting wickedness, (to be used of one) after he has believed: and those who do not desist are (indeed) doing wrong.} (AI-Hujurat: 11)

Allah, the Almighty also said, {And spy not on each other, nor speak ill of each other... } (AI-Hujurat: 12)

The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said, "On the Day of Judgment, the worst status will be for the one whom the people exclude because they fear his evil conduct.” 1

The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) also said, "O servants of Allah! Allah the Almighty has forbidden oppression against anyone except the one who tale bears about the dignity of his brother. This is the one who committed injustice against himself or destroyed himself.”2

In another hadith, it is reported that, "The whole of a Muslim is sanctified for another Muslim with regards to his blood, his property and his honor.”3

The Prophet (pbuh) said, "The Muslim is the brother of the Muslim. He does not oppress him, hang back from him, coming to his and or belittle him, it is sufficiently wicked for someone to demean his fellow Muslim.”4

He (pbuh) also said, "Insulting the Muslim is wickedness and fighting him is unbelief'. On the authority of Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) who said," The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) was asked, "O Messenger of Allah, so and so spends her nights praying, and her days fasting, she does so and so and gives in charity but there is something in her tongue that maliciously injures her neighbors. He replied, there is no good in her, she will go to Hell.”1

In another narration, it is reported that, "Mention the good deeds of your dead and keep a way from their bad deeds.”2

The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said, "When I was taken up in the ascent (Mi'raj), I passed by people with fingernails of copper who were scratching their faces and chests with them. I asked who are they, Gabriel? And he said, "They are those who slandered others (ate people's flesh) and attacked their reputations.”3

Intimidation against instigation amongst the believers, animals and all kinds of beasts: the Prophet (pbuh) is reported to have said, "Satan has despaired of ever being worshipped in the land of the Arabs, but he is still hoping to instigate them against each other.”4

Therefore, whoever instigates the sons of Adam against each other and spreads amongst them what causes them harm, he is a tale bearer and he is among the people of the Satan who are the worst of creatures.

The Prophet (pbuh) is reported to have said, "Will I tell you about the worst amongst you? The companions replied, 'Yes, Messenger of Allah.' He said," The worst amongst you are the talebearers, who instigate the friends against each other and who seek hardship for the innocent.”5

In an authenticated hadith, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) is reported to have said, "The talebearer will never enter Paradise.”6

The talebearer is the one who transfers speech among people or between two friends in a way that harms them or makes their hearts alienated towards each other. He said, such and such said about you so and so and did so and so, unless it will be of a benefit or in his interests such as warning him against an evil which may happen or is expected.

As for instigating animals, beasts or birds against each other, it is not allowed such as bickering among cocks, bullfights among rams and instigating dogs against each other.

The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) prohibited such actions and whoever does it, he disobeys Allah and his Messenger. Making the heart of the wife alienated towards her husband, or a servant towards his master, also comes under such evil doing. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) is reported to have said, "Whoever instigates the wife against her husband or a slave against his master is a cursed person." We seek refuge in Allah from such doing.”1

Invitation to make reconciliation amongst people Allah, the Almighty said, {In most of their secret talks there is no good: but if one exhorts to a deed of charity or goodness or reconciliation between people (secrecy is permissible): to him who does this, seeking the good pleasure of Allah, we shall soon give a reward of the highest (value)} (An-Nisa': 114)

Concerning this verse, Mujahid said, "This is general between all people. Allah means that there is no good in secret talks of the people except in acts of goodness and this is what meant by Allah's saying, "But if one exhorts to a deed of charity... " Ibn 'Abbas said, what is meant is that maintaining relations with one's kinship and observing Allah's worship. All charitable acts are called good because they are realized by the mind. "Or a conciliation between people." This is encouraged by the Messenger of Allah. He (pbuh) said to Abu Ayub Al-Ansari," Would I lead you to a charity which is better for you than the red camels.' He said, 'Yes, Messenger of Allah.' The Prophet said, "Reconcile between people when they are quarreling with each other and bring them near each other when their relationship breaks down (by ceasing relations) with each other.”2

Umm Habibah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) to have said, "All the speech of Adam's sons are counted against them except enjoining good, forbidding evil, or remembering Allah, the Almighty.”3

It is also reported that a man said to Sufyan, what a harsh speech this is! Sufyan said, "Didn't your hear to Allah's saying {In most of their secret talks there is no goods but if one exhorts to a deed of charity or goodness} This is typically applied to such speech.4

Thereafter Allah, the Almighty indicated that these acts will avail only the one who seeks the Pleasure of Allah and He said, "We shall soon give him a reward of the highest (value)" i.e. an endless reward.

In the hadith, it is reported that, "The liar is not the one who reconciles between people, encouraging good or saying something good.”5

Umm Kulthum said, "I heard the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) permitting something of what the people say, except in three cases, war, reconciling between people and talks between the man and his wife and vice versa.

Sahl Ibn Sa'd AI-Sa'idi (may Allah be pleased with him) said that, "The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) was told that there is an enmity between the people of Banu 'Amr Ibn 'Awf Thereupon, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) went out along with some of his companions to reconcile between them.”1

Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) said that, "The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said that, "Nothing is better than walking to prayer, reconciling between people, or permissible conduct among Muslims.”2

The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said that, "Whoever reconciles between two people, Allah will set his affairs in order, will give him with every word he has uttered a reward of freeing a neck slave and he will return having all his previous sins forgiven.”3