Major Sins by Shams al-Din al-Dhahabi
Major Sins by Shams al-Din al-Dhahabi
The author wrote it for various classes of readers, treating subjects that concern them and benefit them in their religion and worldly life, and bringing within their reach matters they may find hard to grasp in scholarly books written for specialist scholars and students of knowledge. In this book (Al-Kaba’ir – The Major Sins) he takes the path of the guiding preacher who seeks the reform of people and the correction of their beliefs and conduct. He presented his material in easy, understandable language and a clear, attractive style, avoiding complexity, excessive scrutiny and affectation. The book thus turned out to be beneficial, an alert to the heedless and the confused, a deterrent to the disobedient and the deviant, and a guide for those who wish to follow the path of Allah, truth and righteousness. We ask Allah for forgiveness and mercy
About the Author
Abu Abdullah Shams al-Din Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Uthman ibn Qaymaz al-Dhahabi was born in Kafr Batna, near the city of Damascus, on 3 Rabi‘ al-Akhir 673 AH, corresponding to October 1274 AD. He came from a noble family of Turkish origin that lived in Damascus before moving to the city of Mayyafariqin, one of the best-known cities of Diyar Bakr, and it seems that his great-grandfather Qaymaz spent his life in that city
About the Book
This book is one of the comprehensive works covering everything related to the major sins and the acts that lead to them. It contains seventy major sins and includes everything relating to them from hadiths, reports, and admonitory and heart-softening stories through the ages. The book also covers other indispensable topics, such as the explanation of the major sins, the most common causes that lead to committing them, and how to avoid them. The author explains that Muslims have a duty to be keen on knowing the major sins, especially in the present age, in which sins have multiplied, their causes have diversified, their doors have opened wide, and vice has spread
Therefore, every Muslim should avoid the major sins, for adhering to this guarantees them a good and happy life in this world and the Hereafter. Allah the Exalted says: “If you avoid the major sins which you are forbidden, We will remove from you your lesser misdeeds and admit you to a noble entrance,” and this indicates Allah’s explicit promise to whoever avoids the major sins that He will forgive his minor sins
Key topics
Associating partners with Allah the Exalted / Sodomy / Slandering chaste women / Causing harm through a will / Sacrificing to other than Allah / A ruler’s deceiving and oppressing his subjects / The man who condones indecency in his family (al-Dayyuth) / The corrupt judge