What is a sin?

A sin is an action that is in contradiction with the will and pleasure of Allah. Sins darken a human’s soul, preventing them from attaining perfection and gaining closeness to Allah. Allah has commanded us to perform certain actions and forbidden us from performing...

Is it correct to say that sins are ranked according to their effects? For example, lying is a major sin and a liar is said to be an enemy of Allah; however, if a sin is trivial in nature, is it possible that it is not considered a major sin and that one who commits such a sin is not an enemy of Allah?

Brief Answer: Yes, sins are ranked according to their effects. According to Qurʾān and ḥadīth, there are several situations in which minor sins are considered as major sins. When this occurs, the minor sins will have the same consequences and punishments as major...