Man should not think that a minor sin to be a trivial thing not to worry about! However small a sin, its consequences might be very grave! When one commits minor sins, Shaytan emboldens and makes the person perpetuate sinful acts in the future. A time comes when the person thinks that the major sins too are trivial.

One should treat a sin as a sin, whether its small or minor. The Prophet of Allah (saw) has said, "Don't consider sin minor, eventhough they seem insignificant. Don't also rate your virtues high, no matter how significant they might be! The major sins can be condoned with Asthghfar (Craving mercy from Allah) but repetition of minor sins might render them major!"

He (saw) also said, "It is easier to avoid sinning than being penitent after committing them. A moment's emotion can become the cause of shame for long. Death does not leave any time for the person to make amends for his wrong acts."

Amir ul-Mu'mineen Ali (as) has said, "A thing, howsoever small, that can benefit a person on the Day of Reckoning, is not small. Similarly a small thing that can bring retribution to the person on the Day of Judgement cannot be termed small."

Imam Reza (as) said, "The minor sins are the way to commitment of the major sins! The person who commits minor sins, might indulge in major sins also! Even if Allah had not created the Heaven and the Hell, as incentive and disincentive respectively, for acts fair and foul, he would even then have made it mandatory for men to pray. His disobedience would even then be punishable because He has endowed man with lot of Blessings to thank about!"

Imam Muhammad Baqir (as) said, "One of the sins that may not be condoned is one saying, I wish there is no retribution for my sins other than this!"

Amir'ul-Mu'mineen Ali (as) said, "Forty sins of a person will remain hidden under forty curtains. Once he completes the forty sins, the curtains get torn and the angels responsible for recording the sins of men submit to Allah, All the curtains hiding the sins of the person have gone up! Allah asks them to hide the sins with their wings. The person continues to commit more sin and keeps bragging with his compatriots. The angels tell to Allah, 'O Allah! This person doesn't abstain from any type of sin! We feel ashamed of watching him commit sins!' Then Allah asks them to remove the cover of their wings. Amir'ul-Mu'mineen Ali (as) added, "Now the person starts showing antagonism to us, the Ahlulbayt, and Allah makes him the subject of ridicule on the earth and in the Heavens. The angels then tell to Allah, 'This creature of Your's was protected for long and is facing much more ridicule now!' Then Allah will say, 'If I had noticed any virtue in him, I wouldn't have asked you to lift the cover of your wings from his sins!'

Imam Sadiq (as) said, "When Allah wishes a person well, He involves him in severe hardship after he commits a sin. This hardship makes the person repent and do penance. If Allah finds no ray of virtue in the man, then He removes the desire for penitence and regret from the sinner's mind to remain in his own world of sin and abuse."

Allah says in His Holy Book, "We test them in a way that they don't feel that they are being tested. They indulge, more and more, in sins and We keep sending bounties to them (that they don't think of penitence for their sins)."

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There is a narration that says, "Whoever in this world fill their eyes with looking at Na Mahram. In Judgement Day, Allah will fill their eyes with nails made of fire. Until people are done with the calculation of their deeds. Then they will be taken to Hell."

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Someone asked Prophet (saw), 'There is someone who committed many sins when they hadn't converted to Islam yet. They weren't aware of their sins. But now, they're Muslim and have faith in Allah. Is Allah (swt) going to forgive their past sins?'

Prophet (saw) replied, 'If they spend the rest of their life being righteous, pure and good mannered. Allah will not punish them for their past sins. However, if they spend the rest of their life doing evil deeds and continue with their past sins. They'll be held responsible for all of their past sins.'

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In order to reach high spiritual rank. You don't only need praying and saying Dhikr but also not committing sins!

Sometimes Allah (swt) provides the tools for committing sins in front of his Servants to test them. Those who want to reach high spiritual rank should know that Allah will put them through difficult situations that can lead to sins and if they resist and stay strong. Then, they'll reach that high spiritual position.

Avoiding Sins

Avoiding sins does not mean that you won't be put into situations that will increase your chance of committing sins. It means that, for example you have a chance of committing a sin that no one knows of in private and gain lots of benefits by it. However, as difficult as it is, you stop and chose to not go after it since you know its haram!

The door to sins will be open for you but you should say, 'No'.

When you want to reach such high spiritual rank, sins will come to you repeatedly, from 1 to 100 sins. You have to be so strong to not commit them and go further away from them. The opportunity is provided, it is only between you and Allah. At this moment you should avoid sinning.

Signs of sincere people with such spiritual rank:

1. Having compassion towards Servants of Allah.

2. Submissions of body parts and limbs. When a Servant of Allah avoids sinning. Their hearts will become pure and as a result, rest of their body parts will also abide by Allah's commands.

3. Benevolent towards Servants of Allah. They're always helpful & kind towards others.

Story of Mohammad Ibin Sirin

His story is similar to Sheikh Rajab Ali's story.

He was a young handsome man who was the assistant of a mercer. He used to work in a shop. A woman was severely in love with him. She would always go to the shop to buy fabrics.

One day, she went to the shop and bought a lot of fabrics. Then she told the owner of the shop. 'Ask your assistant to bring them to my home.' Then she went home, to get ready.

Ibn Sirin grabbed the fabrics and heades towards her house. He knocked on the door. She said to him, 'Bring the fabrics inside my house.'

When he entered the house. She closed the door and got in front of him. She told him, 'If you don't listen to me. I'll scream and let everyone know you were the one who suggested this!'

Ibn Sirin thought with himself, this sinful opportunity is in front of me, what should I do. He decided to pray and ask Allah (swt) for help. He then pretended to agree with her and said, 'I'm going toilet to get ready.'

The toilets of his time weren't as clean as the ones today. After going there, he grabbed some (...) and smeared it all over his clothes, face and head. When he came out of toilet. The woman saw his handsome face tainted and he reeks of horrible smell. She opened the door with disgust and asked him to get out of her house.

He got out of her house and went towards a river and washed himself and his clothes. At that time, a mysterious man walked towards him and gave him very beautiful clothes. After wearing those clothes. He sprayed Ibn Sirin with perfume that had such amazing scent.

He then said to Ibn Sirin, "O Pious man, You fought with your Nafs while being afraid of Judgement Day and didn't disobey Allah. This was a test for you and we helped you overcome it. Be calm, from now on, your clothes will never get tainted and your good scent will stay with you forever."

After that Ibn Sirin's good scent never left him. He also gained the ability to interpret dreams.