If Shirk Is the Greatest Sin in Islam, Can Other Sins Be Taken Lightly?

By New Age Islam Staff Writer 22 August 2025 Shirk, Murder, and Adultery: Explaining Major Sins from an Islamic Perspective ----- In Islam, shirk (polytheism) is the gravest sin, punishable by eternal Hellfire in the Hereafter if unrepented (Quran 4:48), but in this world, polytheists who honour peace agreements are not fought, and sincere repentance can earn Allah’s forgiveness. In contrast, crimes violating human rights, such as fornication, rape, murder, and molestation, incur severe worldly punishments like lashing, stoning, execution, or exile when proven through credible evidence, as prescribed by the Quran and Sunnah, to ensure a pure and safe society. Unlike shirk, where punishment is primarily in the Hereafter, these crimes demand strict worldly accountability, and merely claiming repentance does not exempt offenders from consequences. ------ A question on the Quora website grabbed everyone's attention: "What is illogical in Islam?" The question sparked a heated debate. Some defended Islam, others criticized it, and then Abdul Qadir stepped in, presenting his view openly. He shared that a person named Raihan stated that shirk, worshipping or praying to anyone other than Allah, is considered such a grave sin in Islam that even crimes like adultery, murder, and child abuse are deemed lesser in comparison. This statement intensified the discussion further. Abdul Qadir explained that this opinion isn’t exactly new. In many religious circles, especially in South Asia, people often repeat this idea and point to Surah An-Nisa, verse 48, from the Quran, which says that shirk—associating partners with Allah—is an unforgivable sin. But then Abdul Qadir opened up, speaking from the heart. He said, “I’ve thought about this a lot and discussed it with several scholars, but honestly, the idea that shirk is worse than horrific crimes like murder, adultery, or child abuse… it just doesn’t sit right with me. My mind can’t accept it.” He argued, “Sure, believe in Tawhid (the oneness of Allah) and hold Allah above all else, but that belief shouldn’t be an excuse to downplay the seriousness of crimes against humanity.” The conversation didn’t stop there. The topic of forgiveness came up too. A well-known Islamic website mentioned that if someone sincerely repents and abandons shirk to worship only Allah, all their past sins can be forgiven. Abdul Qadir wasn’t convinced. He questioned, “So, does that mean people who commit terrible crimes can just declare Tawhid and be forgiven? If that’s the case, isn’t that basically encouraging criminals?” He gave an example of certain groups in Pakistan involved in crimes like child abuse, yet they’re devout in their religious rituals. “They think going to the mosque, praying, and professing Tawhid will erase their sins. Where’s the justice in that?” Then Abdul Qadir laid it out plainly: “Some might call my view un-Islamic, but to me, things like genocide, murder, adultery, and child abuse… these are far worse crimes than praying to someone other than Allah.” He also pointed out that about 77% of the world’s population doesn’t worship Allah. They follow other religions or no religion at all. “Is it fair to label them all as sinners just because of their beliefs? That’s something I’ve never been able to wrap my head around.” In the end, Abdul Qadir brought up Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s point that the Quran’s interpretation should align with today’s realities. He said, “In today’s world, crimes like murder, adultery, and child abuse are seen as the worst sins, and that’s beyond religion. If Allah has an issue with someone’s beliefs, that’s between them and Allah—humans don’t get to judge.” He warned that misusing Quranic verses is dangerous because some people use them as a shield to hide their crimes. “Religious texts should never be twisted to justify or cover up crimes against humanity.” Mr. Abdul Qadir referred to a Q&A website where a question related to this topic was answered. The questioner asked: In Surah An-Nur, verse 3, Allah Almighty says: "The fornicator does not marry except a fornicatress or a polytheist, and none marries the fornicatress except a fornicator or a polytheist, and that has been made unlawful for the believers." The question is: Please clarify the meaning of the word "أَوْ" (or) in this verse. Does it imply that fornication (zina) is equivalent to polytheism (shirk), since "أَوْ" is a conjunction that suggests equality or similarity? Additionally, as Allah protected Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) from fornication, as mentioned in Surah Yusuf, verse 38: "And I have followed the religion of my fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It was not for us to associate anything with Allah. That is from the favour of Allah upon us and upon the people, but most of the people are not grateful." Here, Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) is said to have equated fornication with polytheism because the women demanded that he comply with their desire for fornication (God forbid). Then, Prophet Yusuf said, "It was not for us to associate anything with Allah," meaning it is not permissible for us to associate partners with Allah. Some people conclude from this that fornication is equivalent to polytheism. Furthermore, the reason for Prophet Yusuf’s imprisonment was not theft, murder, disobedience to the king, or violation of the laws of that time, but rather the women’s demand for him to fulfil their illicit desires (God forbid, and I seek forgiveness from Allah). So, based on these two verses, can it be said that fornication is equivalent to polytheism in the sight of Allah? Please clarify this matter. May Allah reward you abundantly. (End of question) Answer All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family, and his companions. A Muslim must not delve into interpreting the Quran without relying on the explanations of scholars or the principles of the Arabic language, in which the Quran was revealed. It should be understood that the word "أَوْ" (or) generally indicates a choice between two things, but it has several other meanings as well, as mentioned by the commentators of Alfiyyah and Ibn Hisham in his books Al-Mughni and Awḍaḥ al-Masālik. However, these meanings do not include equality or equivalence. Thus, the use of "أَوْ" does not imply that the two things mentioned are equal. For example, if someone says to another, "Take one dirham or one dinar from my wealth," no one would assume that a dirham and a dinar are equal in value. Similarly, from Allah’s statement in the Quran: "Then [it is] either keeping [her] in an acceptable manner or releasing [her] with good treatment" (Al-Baqarah: 229), it would not be understood that "keeping" and "releasing" are equivalent. We have clarified in our previous fatwas that the meaning of the verse in Surah An-Nur is that a fornicator will only be willing to marry a fornicatress or someone even worse, such as a polytheist woman. As for the claim that polytheism (Shirk) and fornication (Zina) are equal, this is refuted by the hadith narrated by Ibn Mas‘ud (may Allah be pleased with him) in Sahihayn (Bukhari and Muslim). He said: I asked the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), "Which sin is the greatest?" He replied, "That you set up a rival to Allah while He is the One who created you." I asked, "Then what?" He said, "That you kill your child out of fear that he will share your food." I asked, "Then what?" He said, "That you commit fornication with your neighbour’s wife." Thus, in this hadith, fornication is clearly ranked as a lesser sin than polytheism. Even clearer is the hadith narrated by Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) in Sahihayn, where the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Gabriel came to me and gave me the glad tidings that whoever dies from my Ummah without associating anything with Allah will enter Paradise." I asked, "Even if he committed fornication or theft?" He replied, "Even if he committed fornication or theft." Imam Nawawi, in his commentary on Sahih Muslim, has cited a scholarly consensus that those who commit major sins such as fornication, theft, murder, or other major sins (excluding polytheism) do not become disbelievers because of these sins. Rather, they remain believers, though with deficient faith. End of Quote After reflecting on all these points, it’s clear to me that misunderstandings about the relationship between worldly punishments and those in the Hereafter can create doubts and unnecessary confusion in a person’s mind. Without a doubt, polytheism (Shirk) is the gravest of all sins, as explicitly stated in the Quran and Sunnah. However, this sin primarily pertains to violating the rights of Allah, and its punishment is reserved for the Hereafter. In this world, every individual has the freedom to choose: they can either accept faith or reject it. In the Hereafter, each person will be rewarded or punished based on their belief or disbelief. In contrast, sins like fornication (Zina), murder, and genocide relate to the rights of people (Huquq Al-Ibad). If someone, even a Muslim, commits these crimes, Islamic law in this world prescribes severe punishments, which are clearly detailed in the Quran and Sunnah. To understand this distinction clearly, let’s dive into the following points. The Reality of Major Sins and Their Punishments in Islam Islam is a complete way of life that ensures success in both this world and the Hereafter. The Quran and Sunnah make it abundantly clear that there are numerous major sins. Some of the most prominent ones include fornication, murder, molestation of children or adults, lying, betrayal, theft, breach of trust, backbiting, neglecting prayer, misguidance, and the greatest sin of all: polytheism (Shirk) and disbelief (Kufr). All of these are considered major sins, but among them, shirk is the most severe and unforgivable sin if a person dies without repenting. The Quran explicitly states: "Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills." (An-Nisa: 48) This means Allah will not forgive shirk, but He may forgive other sins for whomever He pleases. However, this does not mean that grave sins like fornication, murder, or child molestation are insignificant or can be taken lightly. The Strictest Punishments in This World: Fornication, Murder, and Molestation It’s crucial to understand that, from a worldly perspective, Islam prescribes stricter punishments for crimes like fornication, murder, and child molestation than it does for polytheism. While shirk is the gravest sin in the Hereafter, leading to eternal punishment in Hellfire if one dies without repentance, worldly crimes require severe penalties to prevent their occurrence and protect society. 1. Rape (Zina bil-Jabr) Rape is one of the most heinous crimes in Islam. The Quran prescribes a general punishment for fornication: "The [unmarried] woman or [unmarried] man found guilty of sexual intercourse—lash each one of them with a hundred lashes." (An-Nur: 2) If rape is proven through credible witnesses or strong evidence, the punishment escalates: a married offender faces stoning (rajm), an unmarried offender receives 100 lashes, and since rape involves coercion, additional discretionary punishments (such as execution or exile) may be imposed to ensure societal safety. 2. Intentional Murder The Quran states: "But whoever kills a believer intentionally—his recompense is Hell, wherein he will abide eternally, and Allah has become angry with him and has cursed him and has prepared for him a great punishment." (An-Nisa: 93) In this world, the heirs of the victim have the right to demand retribution (Qisas, i.e., execution of the murderer) or accept blood money (Diyah) and forgive the offender. If forgiveness is not granted, the murderer faces the death penalty. 3. Child Molestation (Paedophilia) Molestation of children is not only considered fornication but also a form of spreading corruption on earth (Fasad Fil-Ard). The Quran says: "The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and strive upon earth [to cause] corruption is none but that they be killed or crucified or that their hands and feet be cut off from opposite sides or that they be exiled from the land." (Al-Ma’idah: 33) Thus, depending on the judge’s ruling, the punishment for this crime may include execution, crucifixion, or severe discretionary penalties to cleanse society of such filth. Conclusion In Islam, shirk (polytheism) is the gravest sin, punishable by eternal Hellfire in the Hereafter if unrepented (Quran 4:48), but in this world, polytheists who honour peace agreements are not fought, and sincere repentance can earn Allah’s forgiveness. In contrast, crimes violating human rights, such as fornication, rape, murder, and molestation, incur severe worldly punishments like lashing, stoning, execution, or exile when proven through credible evidence, as prescribed by the Quran and Sunnah, to ensure a pure and safe society. Unlike shirk, where punishment is primarily in the Hereafter, these crimes demand strict worldly accountability, and merely claiming repentance does not exempt offenders from consequences. May Allah grant us all the ability to understand the truth! 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