INSISTENCE IN COMMITTING FORBIDDEN (HARÂM) ACTIONS

Intentional sinning is insistence in sinning, even if the sin committed is venial in quantity. Intentional sinning means sinning committed purposely, willingly, and decisively. Once a person has decided and committed a sin, he has already been insistent in doing so. However, a sin which has not been committed is not classified as an insistent sinning even though one may have decided to commit it continually. If a person decides to commit a sin continually and commits it and then repents and stops committing it, it will not be insistence. If he commits it again and then repents again, it will not be insistence. Nor will it be insistence to commit a sin several times within a day, making tawba after each time the sin is committed. However, the tawba has to be made with a remorseful and sorrowful heart and the sinner has to stop sinning and be resolved not to do so again. A lip-service tawba made without fulfilling these three conditions would be sheer mendacity. Insisting in committing venial sins is a grave sin. It is a graver sin than committing a grave sin once. When the sinner makes tawba, the grave sin will also be forgiven. Considering a venial sin as something unimportant is a grave sin. Bragging about committing a venial sin is a grave sin. It would also be a grave sin to look on a person who commits venial sins as a scholarly (’âlim) and pious (sâlih) person. One ought to shudder with the fear of Allâhu ta’âlâ and His torment even if the sin one commits is a venial one. It is grave sin if one is not ashamed of Allâhu ta’âlâ and does not think that He will punish.”