Sin

In a religious context, sin is an act of transgression against divine law. In Islamic ethics, Muslims see sin as anything that goes against the commands of Allah (God).

99852

Islam . Hijab . Sin . Conversion to Islam . Art

As a recent convert to Islam I have started wearing the Hijab. However, there are pictures of mine out there, without the Hijab, that were taken earlier. Is that counted as a sin?

Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answered 2 weeks ago

You should try your best to get your previous pictures ( with out Hijab) and keep them away from public display. If you could not get all of them, you will not be responsible about them as you were not a Muslim when the photos were displayed. Now when you are a Muslim, it is not sin on you as it is out of your ability to remove it.

Wassalam.

Islam . Hijab . Sin . Conversion to Islam . Art

As a recent convert to Islam I have started wearing the Hijab. However, there are pictures of mine out there, without the Hijab, that were taken earlier. Is that counted as a sin?

Zaid Alsalami, Shaykh Dr Zaid Alsalami is an Iraqi born scholar, raised in Australia. He obtained a BA from Al-Mustafa University, Qom, and an MA from the Islamic College in London. He also obtained a PhD from... Answered 2 weeks ago

Bishimi ta'ala

Congratulations on adorning the attire of Islam and wearing hijab. In regards to previous images of you without hijab, no, it is not considered a sin. What you are able to do is for your comfort and peace of mind, if you have access to these images, ask them to be kindly removed, and hopefully they will comply.

With prayers for your success.

96160

Salah (Prayers) . Sin . Divine Love

I recently started praying, but I don't really look forward to prayers. It is also difficult for me to give up certain sins. How do I become truly religious and start loving Allah, the daily prayers, the Quran and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)?

When you have started praying after a gap, it means that you have returned to your Creator who is showering on you every bounty that you are enjoying, whether you know it or you don’t know it. Those who pray to Allah are the faithful people who do not face the Bounty with bad action. And those who don’t pray to Allah are the people who react to the good by bad. That is why those who don’t pray to Allah will be facing very terrible punishment. In fact we find in Quran ( Sura 74, Verse42) that when some Muslim sinners will be sent to the hell fire, the people of fire will ask them : What did bring you to the hell fire. They will reply : We were not performing “Salah “Lam Na Kuminal Musalleen”. A prophetic Hadeeth says that the difference between us “Believers” and the non-believers is performing Salah. Anyone who does not believe in Salah has become non-believer. Performing Salah is not an option but it is must on every human being who respects himself and respects his intellect. When you think about your relationship with Allah, you will see that like the oxygen in your breathing is the main reason for your body to remain alive. Salah/Namaz/Prayers is the oxygen for your soul and spirit to remain real human being. While you pray Salah, always remember that you are talking to Allah directly, so keep your heart most humble and remember your sinful acts to seek forgiveness. When we pray Salah, it is recommended that we pray as if this is our last Salah in our life because we are not sure that we may be or not be alive till the next time of Salah.
We need to focus on the quality of our Salah, as it is not only standing and facing the Qibla and doing Qiyam, Ruku and Sojood, but we need to keep our heart dedicated and oriented towards Allah (S.W.T.) during Salah.
Real Salah with heart, intention, with sincerity will definitely change your life in a very big manner. The Ulama say that those who perform Salah on time with sincerity and concentration, their life will change in a great way to the best of Life. All your concerns and your question about leaving a sinful acts will be automatically solved if you focus on your Salah and try to keep your Salah with quality, with heart, with dedication, with real orientation and talk to Allah in your Salah as if you are talking to someone in front of you. Your proper and sincere and dedicated Salah will make you love Allah more, and love the Prophet and Alhlulbayt more and become a very good human being. Focus on your Salah it is the key after your proper faith . Your dedicated Salah is the key to successful life here and hereafter.
Wassalam.

96227

Masturbation . Sin . Husband . Wife . Video Game

Why is masturbation considered a major sin and what are the references for it? Are there any exceptions? Is it allowed between a husband and wife, who are prevented from being together by circumstances outside their control, privately over live video?

Seyed Ali Shobayri, Seyed Ali Shobayri is of mixed Iranian and Scottish descent who found the path of the Ahlul Bayt (a) by his own research. He holds a BA in Islamic Studies from Middlesex University through the... Answered 4 weeks ago

Bismillah,

Asalamu Alaykom,

According to the narrations, masturbation is a sin and is compared to doing zina with oneself.

We have an example of when Imam Ali (as) had to discipline someone for doing so:

“Once a person was caught masturbating and was brought to Imam 'Ali. The Imam punished him by beating his hands until they turned red; then he made an arrangement for his marriage on government's expenses.

(Wasa'il, vol. 14, p. 267; vol. 18, pp. 574-5)”

Some non Muslim doctors and teachers may try to encourage such acts and say they are ‘healthy’ but such advice which contradicts the divine teachings is worthless.

Masturbation is usually associated with haram acts such as pornography and can turn into an unhealthy addiction which affects one both physically and psychologically.

A Muslim should try their upmost to have self control and dignity. Therefore, seeking marriage whether permanent or temporary is necessary to protect one’s private parts.

A husband or wife may mutually stimulate each other’s private parts; for example, the wife masturbating the husband and vice-versa. If they are away from each other then they cannot use their own hands for such an action until being together.

May Allah swt grant you success

96073

Forgiveness . Sin . Repentance (Tawbah)

I have been unable to pray for a long time. I have been sinning and, although I repented a lot, but I keep doing them again to a point where I am too ashamed to ask for forgiveness. Is there a way out?

Forgiveness Gate is open for all the believers in Allah who committed sinful acts as far as they did not reach to dying situation. Allah (SWT) loves those who repent and sincerely decide not to continue sinning and seek forgiveness. The Hadeeth Qudsi reported the Allah says: I love those who repent their sins and leave and my love is more to the young person who sincerely repents his sins and decides not to commit is again.

There is no question of feeling ashamed as far as you are really repenting and sincerely doing your best to make up what you have missed.

Do your best to fulfill the obligatory worship and trust the Allah is The Most Merciful and The Best Forgiver.

Those who are not sure and don't care for leaving the sinful acts and making up the missed worship should feel ashamed.

May Allah (SWT) protect all of us from any sinful act.

'Wassalam.

97778

Zina . Forgiveness . Future . Spouse . Sin . Repentance (Tawbah)

I have committed Zina in the past and have repented and asked for forgiveness. Is there anything else I can do to ensure I am forgiven? Am I also required to tell my future spouse about my sin?

Bishimi ta'ala

I will not lecture you about God's comparison and mercy, as you must be well aware of how the Almighty forgives all sins, and cleans our slates once we turn to Him with sincere repentance.

It is forgetting the past that you must be focusing on, and how you are able to develop a level of piety that you will enter into a new phase in your life, based on religious devotion and spiritual growth. That will not just ensure you've been forgiven, but also keep you on the straight path.

Your sin is between you and Allah ta'ala, and you must not reveal it to anybody. From a shar'i perspective, you do not need to tell your future spouse your previous sin.

Once you have changed your ways and sincerely forgiven, and became more religiously active and aware, then you live your life normally, and think positively for the future, not allowing the past to define who you are.

With prayers for your success.

97727

Animals . Food . Sin

How is violence and non-violence defined in Islam? How does the violent killing of animals for food not amount to a sin?

Zoheir Ali Esmail, Shaykh Zoheir Ali Esmail has a Bsc in Accounting and Finance from the LSE in London, and an MA in Islamic Studies from Middlesex University. He studied Arabic at Damascus University and holds a PhD... Answered 1 month ago

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. Violence is not tantamount to sin in Islam and so the slaughtering of animals, fishing, eating lawful eggs, the picking of not fully ripened fruits and the uprooting of vegetables for the sake of sustenance is not considered sinful.

May you always be successful

97116

Masturbation . Habit . Sin

I am 14 yrs old and a victim to masturbation. I have been sinning for two years and unable to find a solution. I have tried multiple ways to stop but always ended up failing. How should I stop this sinful habit?

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. Masturbation is a very difficult habit to kick and it is only with a lot of effort, difficulty and time that a person will be able to fully rid themselves of it. As such do not despair in a number of ways failing. You just have to keep trying those ways and different ways and keep praying to succeed. There are many others in a similar position to you and yet others who have been successful. So it is possible to stop. The best solution is marriage, however, marriage may not be a solution entirely. It will primarily be an act of will power in the end, so don't leave it until marriage.

May you be successful and don't give up

96563

Murder . Sin . Forgiveness

I was told at a young age that the victim of murder has all his sins forgiven. Is this true? If so, does it also apply to non-Muslims who may get murdered such as while resisting a robbery?

Every victim will be compensated by Allah, The Most Merciful. We do not have details of how much he will be compensated. It depends on many factors which are best known to Allah. A pious believer who was victimised because of his true faith will be compensated much more than a person who was victimised for a worldly reason or a non believer who spent his life in sins. After all, Allah is The absolute Just and The most Merciful.

'Wassalam.

96599

Zina . Qur'an . Salah (Prayers) . Sin

I find myself repeatedly committing Zina despite reading the Quran and being regular with my prayers. I really don't know why I cannot stop sinning. What should I do?

When you feel the urge or desire to commit such major sin, go to your kitchen and fire a flame and try to keep your hands near the flame and see how much you can tolerate being near the flame. Think seriously that committing major sin leads to hellfire which is much more painful and burning than your kitchen fire.

Are you ready to follow a desire which leads you to hellfire that you can never tolerate for even a second?

Wassalam.

96607

Injustice . Sin . Sabr (Patience)

If a person is sinful does their patience count and have any merit when some injustice is done to them?

Patience in front of injustice is always very good. Every patient will get the reward of it depending on his intention and amount if his suffering. Allah says in Quran : Verily, the patient person get their reward with out counting. (Sura 39, Verse 10).

Wassalam.

95563

Sin . Children . Repentance (Tawbah)

I had a child out of wedlock but I have repented and I feel like I am closer to God than I was before and I try to do good. Will I still be questioned about my sin?

Bismihi ta'ala

If you have repented a sincere repentance, then of course the Almighty would have forgiven you. Allah ta'ala has described Himself as the All-compassionate, the All-merciful, and also al-Ghafur, or the All-forgiving.

You should also strive towards obtaining higher levels of spirituality and perform righteous deeds to keep yourself on the right path, and also be a positive role model for the child as well. Try to nurture him/her in a noble way, introducing them to Islamic principles and the teachings of Ahlul Bayt (a.s.).

With prayers for your success.