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Saud bin Abdul Aziz al-Khalaf

al-Mabahith al-Aqadiyya al-Mutaalliqa bil-Kabair wa Murtakibiha fi al-Dunya

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الجامعة الاسلامية بالمدينة المنورة

al-Mabahith al-Aqadiyya al-Mutaalliqa bil-Kabair wa Murtakibiha fi al-Dunya (Creedal Inquiries Concerning Major Sins and Their Perpetrator in This World) is a theological study by Saud bin Abdul Aziz al-Khalaf examining the Sunni theological rulings regarding major sins and those who commit them in the earthly life.

Overview and Structure

The work gathers scholarly positions on the theological rulings concerning perpetrators of major sins in the worldly life (al-dunya), distinguishing these creedal aspects from non-creedal and eschatological matters. The book is organized into an introduction, two main chapters, and a conclusion:

  • Chapter One: On the Major Sin (fi al-kabira), comprising five sections:
    1. The definition of a major sin.
    2. The classification of sins into minor and major.
    3. Scriptural texts concerning major sins.
    4. The enumeration of major sins.
    5. God's hatred of sins.
  • Chapter Two: The Creedal Inquiries Concerning the Perpetrator of Major Sins in This World, comprising seven sections:
    1. The diminution of faith for the committer of sins.
    2. The designation and naming of the perpetrator of major sins.
    3. Scholarly explanations of texts negating faith from the major sinner, describing him as having disbelief (kufr), or stating "he is not of us."
    4. Cursing the perpetrator of a major sin.
    5. The shunning (hajr) of transgressors.
    6. The ruling on rebellion against a sinful ruler.
    7. Repentance (tawba).

Key Conclusions

The conclusion outlines several key findings drawn from Sunni scholarly consensus and historical discussions:

  • Scholars differed in phrasing the definition of a major sin despite agreeing on its substance; the most well-supported definition is any sin concluded by God or His Messenger with a prescribed threat, punishment in this world or the hereafter, a curse, or divine wrath.
  • The number of major sins is not restricted to a fixed count, but is rather identified by definition and descriptive criteria.
  • Early Sunni authorities held consensus that the faith of a major sinner diminishes according to the severity of the sin, and they agreed that committing a major sin does not expel a Muslim from the fold of faith into disbelief (takfir).
  • Early scholars differed regarding the specific title applied to the major sinner: some permitted calling him a believer on the basis of his baseline entry into faith, while others designated him as a Muslim or a believer deficient in faith.
  • On the question of specifically cursing a major sinner, some scholars permitted it, whereas the majority prohibited doing so.

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