Page 103 - World Religions I - Islam

(Council) 42:40
• In Islam sin is divided into two main categories:5
o Dhanb (pl. dhunub), or faults. Sinful thoughts do not constitute sin if they are not put into action.
 Dhunub include shortcomings, limitations, and mistakes.
 The consequences of dhunub are sanctions in this life than punishments in the life hereafter.
 The remedy for dhanb is to remove it.
o Ithm (pl. athmam), or willful transgressions.
 Athmam include immorality, transgressions, wickedness, depravity, and shirk (ascribing a
partner to God).
 The consequences of athmam are more serious and incur punishments in the life hereafter.
 The remedy for ithm is to repent and seek God's forgiveness.
• The Hadith also classifies sins into Greater and Lesser Sins, some of which are implied by the Qur'an.
o Greater Sins (al-Kaba'ir) include polytheism, witchcraft, unlawful murder, spending the money of
orphans, usury, fleeing from battle, abusing the helpless, and slandering faithful women.

Salvation
The Qur'an teaches that the main way back to Allah is through faith, genuine repentance (tawbah, "to return"), begging for
forgiveness (istighfar), and personal atonement (a'mal, "good works").

• The necessity of belief.
o Mercy and deliverance is only available to believers.
 "In the end We deliver Our messengers and those who believe. Thus is it fitting on Our part that
We should deliver those who believe!" - Yunus (Jonah) 10:103
 "He it is Who sends blessings on you, as do His angels, that He may bring you out from the
depths of darkness into light: and He is full of mercy to the believers. " - Al-Ahzab (The Clans)
33:43
 "That is because Allah is the Protector of those who believe, but those who reject Allah have no
protector." - Muhammad 47:11
 "And guard yourselves against the fire which has been prepared for the unbelievers." - Al-Imran
(The Family of Imran) 3:131
o Aside from believing in the six Doctrines of Islam, belief in-and obedience to-Muhammad is listed as
utmost in importance.
 "And obey Allah and the Messenger; that ye may obtain mercy." - Al-Imran (The Family of Imran)
3:132
 "He who obeys the Messenger, obeys Allah. But if any turn away, We have not sent thee to
watch over their (evil deeds)." - An-Nisa' (Women) 4:80
 "Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger, and beware (of evil); if ye do turn back, know ye that it is
Our Messenger's duty to proclaim (the message) in the clearest manner." - Al-Ma'idah (The Table
Spread) 5:92
 "It is not fitting for a Believer, man or woman, when a matter has been decided by Allah and His
Messenger to have any option about their decision; if any one disobeys Allah and His Messenger,
he is indeed on a clearly wrong path." - Al-Ahzab (The Clans) 33:36
o 5. "If any man of the people of the Scriptures believes in his own prophet and then believes in me too,
he will (also) get a double reward." - Al-Bukhari 7:62:20 See also the following Surahs: 4:13- 14, 59; 9:29;
24:51, 54, 62-63; 58:8.

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