Sins

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From the government Bureau of Justice Statistics, about 17-18% of inmates said in 2004 they committed the offense to get money for drugs. Alcohol was a factor in between 19-37% of violent crimes between 1997-2008.

The verses describe intoxicants (among other sins) as abominations. The dictionary defines “abomination” as: abhorrent, disgusting, very bad. Some abominations mentioned in Quran:

[6:121] Do not eat from that upon which the name of GOD has not been mentioned, for it is an abomination. The devils inspire their allies to argue with you; if you obey them, you will be idol worshipers.

[7:80] Lot said to his people, “You commit such an abomination; no one in the world has done it before! [also: 27:54, 29:28]

[49:12] O you who believe, you shall avoid any suspicion, for even a little bit of suspicion is sinful. You shall not spy on one another, nor shall you backbite one another; this is as abominable as eating the flesh of your dead brother. You certainly abhor this. You shall observe GOD. GOD is Redeemer, Most Merciful.

[61:2] O you who believe, why do you say what you do not do? [61:3] Most abominable in the sight of GOD is that you say what you do not do.

[40:35] They argue against GOD’s revelations, without any basis.

This is a trait that is most abhorred by GOD and by those who believe. GOD thus seals the hearts of every arrogant tyrant.

Other gross offenses listed in the Quran include: concealing God’s revelations and guidance, being too arrogant and rejecting the revelations, persecuting someone who didn’t do anything wrong (33:58), and falsely accusing someone of adultery or gossiping about it (24:15, 23).

[2:159] Those who conceal our revelations and guidance, after proclaiming them for the people in the scripture, are condemned by GOD; they are condemned by all the condemners. [2:160] As for those who repent, reform, and proclaim, I redeem them. I am the Redeemer, Most Merciful.

[7:40] Surely, those who reject our revelations and are too arrogant to uphold them, the gates of the sky will never open for them, nor will they enter Paradise until the camel passes through the needle’s eye. We thus requite the guilty.

Another example of a gross sin is in:

[21:87] And Zan-Noon (Jonah, “the one with an ‘N’ in his name”), abandoned his mission in protest, thinking that we could not control him. He ended up imploring from the darkness (of the big fish’s belly): “There is no god other than You. Be You glorified. I have committed a gross sin.”

The righteous are described as avoiding gross sins (53:32, 42:37) except for minor offenses. We’re not sinless, and God in His mercy allows us to repent and reform. If we can refrain from the gross sins and follow God’s commands, God promises us an honorable admittance (4:31).

[53:32] They avoid gross sins and transgressions, except for minor offenses. Your Lord’s forgiveness is immense. He has been fully aware of you since He initiated you from the earth, and while you were embryos in your mothers’ bellies. Therefore, do not exalt yourselves; He is fully aware of the righteous.

[42:37] They avoid gross sins and vice, and when angered they forgive.

[4:31] If you refrain from committing the gross sins that are prohibited for you, we will remit your sins, and admit you an honorable admittance.

Faiz

References

Gross Sins and Transgressions,
https://masjidtucson.org/publications/books/sp/2008/mar/page3.html

Alcohol and Crime: Data from 2002 - 2008 https://www.bjs.gov/content/acf/ac_conclusion.cfm

Drugs and crime https://www.bjs.gov/content/dcf/duc.cfm

https://www.guttmacher.org/report/characteristics-us-abortion-patients-2008

https://www.guttmacher.org/infographic/2016/abortion-patients-are-disproportionately-poor-and-low-income