Understanding Sin and Repentance in Islam

Many of us commit sins we do not recognize.

Therefore, some

students of knowledge, or some who are keen on worship,

say, "I do not know of any sin

of my own."

This is due to their lack of knowledge of religious texts.

We may do things that are sins without realizing it.

They may be minor sins, such as harming certain beasts and animals.

Indeed, insects may not be

killed.

We have been forbidden from killing certain insects outright,

except when they cause harm.

Ants may not be killed.

It is forbidden to kill them.

The Prophet, peace be upon him, prohibited killing five creatures

unless they are harmful and attacking, including ants and shrikes,

frogs, and other animals.

A person may commit sins,

yet due to ignorance of God's law, the Almighty

and Majestic, he does not think of them as sins.

That sin may be related to the heart,

such as spite and envy,

and similar matters involving the acts of the heart,

while he is unaware that they are sins.

In fact, Satan may come to him

and dress that sin in the garb of religion.

Satan dresses envy in the garb of religion.

So- and- so envies another and speaks of it in the name of religion,

though it is not religion.

So-and-so says, "Do not marry her," out of envy, and lies about her.

He thinks it is religion, but it is not religion.

This is how matters related to the actions of the heart are.

Such as envy, hatred, and love,

loyalty, and other matters related to the heart.

Thus, among the things scholars have pointed out

is that a person seeks Allah's forgiveness,

the Almighty and Majestic, for a sin he remembers

and for a sin he does not remember, whether he knew of it or not.

He may have known of it, then forgotten it,

or he may not have known that he had committed this sin.

When that person comes to you— and I am often asked this question— saying,

"I do not know that I

committed a sin for a long time," we say that the answer to this is

your ignorance,

for you do not know

what has occurred from you,

and you are unaware of the actions of

your heart and the actions of your limbs.

Many scholars have affirmed that prophets may commit minor sins.

We do not say they do commit them.

"May" when used with the present tense indicates rarity, but they may

commit minor sins.

But the prophets of Allah, the Almighty and Majestic,

are infallible and do not commit polytheism.

They are infallible and do not commit major sins.

May God's blessings and peace be upon him,

for God has protected them. But these minor sins may

be committed by some prophets,

may God's blessings and peace be upon them.

So no one is safe from these sins except

one whom Almighty God has mercy on

and protects from that sin.

The matter of repentance is important.