Major Sins by Imam Shamsu ed-Deen Dhahabi

Allah, Most High recounts in His Book the story of Lut's people in several positions. Allah, the Almighty says, {When Our decree issued, We turned (the cities) upside down, and rained down on them brimstones hard as baked clay, spread, layer on layer, marked from thy Lord; nor are they ever far from those who do wrong!"} (Hud: 82-83)

This abode is not far from those who do wrong amongst our nation if they committed the same sin.

Therefore, the Prophet (pbuh) said, "What I fear most is that my nation may follow the crime of Lut's people.”1

The Prophet also said, "May Allah curse him who does what Lut's people did.”2

He said it twice.

It was related that the Prophet (pbuh) said, "Whoever is caught doing the crime of Lut's people, you should kill the one who sodomizes and the one who lets it be done to him.” 3

Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with hi) said, "Look for the highest building in the town, and then throw them down and stone them like the abode of Lut's people." There is a scholarly consensus that sodomy is among the major sins forbidden by Allah, {Of all creatures in the world, will ye approach males, and leave those whom Allah has created for you to be your mates? Nay, ye are a people transgressing (all limits!} A-Shu`ara: 165-166)

Allah, Most High, says, {And Lut, too, We gave Judgment and Knowledge, and We saved him from the town which practiced abominations: truly they were a people given to evil, a rebellious people.} (Al-Anbya': 74)

The town where those people lived was called Sodom. They used to practice the abominations mentioned by Allah in His Book. They used to commit sodomy; make sounded wind in their assembly and many other offensive practices.

He (pbuh) said, "Lesbianism is adultery between them." The Prophet (pbuh) said, "Four people entail Allah's wrath in night and day. " It was asked, "Who are they, Messenger of Allah?" He answered, "Effeminate men and masculine women, the adulterer of animals and sodomizers.”1

It is narrated that when two men start to commit sodomy, Allah's Throne vibrates fearing Allah's wrath.

The heavens almost fall on the earth but the angels hold their outskirts and recite Surat AI-Ikhlas until Allah's wrath reposes." The Prophet (pbuh) said, "On the Day of Judgment, there will be seven people who will be excluded from Allah's Mercy and purification. Allah will sentence them to enter the Hell-Fire with those who enter it: Those who commit sodomy, the one who commits masturbation, the one who approaches an animal from its anus, the one who approaches a woman from her anus, the one who marries a woman and her daughter altogether, the adulterer of his neighbor's wife and the one who brings harm to his neighbor until he accurse him.”2

It was narrated that, "there will be some people who will be assembled on the Day of Judgment with pregnant hands because of committing adultery. They used to make play of their genitals in the world." It was also narrated that, "Among the practices of Lut's people is playing with dice, competing by flying pigeons, entering the bathroom naked, cheating in measures and weights. O woe to those who do so.”3

Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "When a sodomite dies without making repentance, he will turn into a pig in his grave." The Prophet (pbuh) said, "Allah does not look to a man who commits sodomy with a man or a woman." 4

Abu Sa'id As-Su'luk said, "There will be some people who will be called sodomites in this Ummah (nation). They are of three kinds: some who just gaze, others who just shake hands, and the last who commit the abominable act.”5

Looking at a woman or a juvenile out of sexual excitement is adultery as mentioned in the following hadith:

"A man commits adultery with his eyes when he looks at a strange woman,' the adultery of the ears is listening to sexual dialogue, adultery of the tongue is talking about sex,' the adultery of the hand is to catch which is unlawful,' and the adultery of the feet is going towards a strange woman; the heart ardently desires adultery,' and the sexual organs confirm or contradict the act.”1

Therefore, the righteous men stress the necessity of keeping away from juveniles. AI-Hasan Ibn Zakwan said, "Do not be accustomed to sit with the wealthy men's kids since they are good looking like the virgin ladies. They might be more fascinating than women.”2

One of the earlier scholars also said, "I do not fear a beast of prey when attacking a devout young man.

I just fear a juvenile when sitting with him." More than that he said, 'A man should not sleep with a juvenile together." It is unlawful for a man as scholars argued, to stay alone with a juvenile in a house, a shop or a bathroom as in the case of men and women.

Among juveniles are those who may be more beautiful than women. He may be most fascinating. It is easy to justify what you do of evil with him than is with a woman. Therefore, such deep feelings are most likely unlawful. Numerous maxims of the early Muslims were postulated as warnings from keeping near of them.

Once, Sufyan Ath- Thawri entered a public bath and the a hand some boy entered after him. Sufyan said, "Get him out because when ever I see a woman I see a Devil but whenever I see a handsome boy I see a group of devils." A man visited Imam Ahmad accompanied with a handsome boy. Imam Ahmad said, "Who is that?" The man replied, "My nephew." Imam Ahmad said, "Do not come again with him. Nor should you walk with him lest the people who do not know you think something bad about you.

When the delegate of `Abdel-Qays came to the Prophet (pbuh) there was a handsome juvenile with them. The Prophet (pbuh) made him sit behind his back and said, "The trial of Dawud pertained to the gaze.”3

It was said that the look is message of adultery.

The Prophet (pbuh) said, "Eye-looking is a poisonous arrow of Satan and whoever gives it up for the sake of Allah, he will feel the joys of Worship which will persist until the Day of Judgement.”4

Khalid Ibn Al-Waleed (may Allah be pleased with him) related that one day he found a sodomite committing such practice. Then, Abu Bakr consulted the other Companions (may Allah bless them all `Ali Ibn Abi Talib said, "This sin was only done by Lut's people and we knew how they were punished by Allah, the Almighty. I think he should be burnt." Therefore, Abu Bakr sent a message to Khalid ordering him to bum the sodomite. Then Khalid burnt him. " 'Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "Whoever allows someone else to fornicate with him, he will be addicted by the appetite of woman and will be an accursed Satan in his grave until the day of Judgement.” It was related that Jesus, the son of Marry (pbuh), passed by a flaming fire burning a man when he was in a journey. Then, Jesus carried Some water to extinguish the fire. But, the fire turned into a boy and the man turned into fire. Surprisingly, Jesus said, "O Lord! May You return them back to life to ask them how they are? Allah then brought them to life. They were a man and a boy. Jesus asked them, "Who are you?" The man said, "O spirit of Allah, in the World I was afflicted by loving this boy and out of sexual excitement, I sodomized him. Later on when we died, we alternatively burned one another. This is Our torture until the Day of Judgement." We seek Allah's refuge from His torture and ask His pardon, and for well-being and guidance to What He loves and pleases.

Sodomy is also approaching a woman from the anus. This act is prohibited by Allah, the Almighty and His Messenger (pbuh). Allah, the Almighty says, {Your wives are as a tilth unto you so approach your tilth when or how ye will but do some good act for your souls be fore hand and fear Allah, and know that ye are to meet Him (in the Hereafter) and give (these) good tidings to those who believe.} (AI-Baqarah: 223)

A husband can make vaginal intercourse with his wife regardless of the posture he takes (whether it be from the front or back). The reason for the revelation of this Ayah is that Jews said in the lifetime of the Prophet (pbuh), "Whenever a man makes vaginal intercourse from the back, the child will be born cross-eyed. The Companions asked the Prophet (pbuh) about that. Accordingly, Allah revealed the aforementioned Ayah to refute them.”1

It was related that, "Accursed is he who approaches a woman from the anus or a fortuneteller. He who does such rejects what was revealed upon Muhammad." Thus, he who approaches a woman from her anus or during the menstruation period is accursed and entails such severe torture as is the fortuneteller.

Many ignorant people fall into such sins because of their poor knowledge. Abu Ad-Darda', therefore, said, "Be either a scholar, a disciple, a listener or one who loves knowledge otherwise you will perish." Therefore, we should repent to Allah for all our sins and faults, ask His pardon of our past ignorance, and soundness in what remains of our life span. O Allah! Grant us health and pardon in this world and the next.

You are the Most Merciful.