| Minor sins It is related by Ayesha that the Apostle of God said to her: “O Ayesha ! Take special care to guard yourself against sins that are regarded minor for even these will be brought to account by God.”
-Ibn-i-Maja and Baihaqi
Commentary.-Those who believe in the Hereafter and are heedful of the Judgement Day, generally, abstain from the major sins but where the minor sins are concerned even the devout and the God-fearing among them are inclined to be indifference, though these also constitute the violation of a God-given rule and we shall have to answer for them on the Last Day. We should, therefore, be on our guard against what may seem to be insignificant offences as well. In this Tradition, the Prophet has given the same advice to Hazrat Ayesha, and though it is addressed directly to her, it applies to all Muslim men and women. When the Prophet's own family is required to be careful in this respect, ordinary Muslims like ourselves cannot, obviously, afford to be negligent. Granting that the minor transgressions are unimportant, as compared to the major ones, it is not that these do not invite the displeasure of the Lord and can be ignored as trivial. The difference between them is the same as between a less poisonous and a more poisonous snake.
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