Major Sins & Sincere Repentance (6)

CHAPTER TWO

MAJOR SINS OF THE PRESENT WORLD

     This is so much for the great sinners of the past. We must remember that the punishments for these sins are mentioned in the Qur'an as a warning to us. It says in Su'rat AI-Baqarah (Chapter 2 Verse 66), "So We made this punishment an example to their own and to their succeeding generations and a lesson to those who are AI-Muttaqu'n (the pious) (66)." (Study the Noble Qur‘an — Word-for-Word).

فَجَعَلۡنَـٰهَا نَكَـٰلاً۬ لِّمَا بَيۡنَ يَدَيۡہَا وَمَا خَلۡفَهَا وَمَوۡعِظَةً۬ لِّلۡمُتَّقِينَ ( (66

     Allah assures us in the Holy Qur'an that the fate of non- believers, polytheists, hypocrites, as well as those Muslims who die before repenting of their sins, will be Hell-Fire. Lucky are those who always lead a clean life, fearing and worshipping God, and free from major sins. As for minor sins, these are not so difficult to be pardoned. The Holy Qur'an says in Su'rat An-Najm (Chapter 53 Verse 32), "Those who avoid great sins and Al-Fawa'hish (illegal sexual intercourse) except the small faults, - verily your Lord is of vast forgiveness....... (32)." (Study the Noble Qur'an — Word-for-Word).

ٱلَّذِينَ يَجۡتَنِبُونَ كَبَـٰٓٮِٕرَ ٱلۡإِثۡمِ وَٱلۡفَوَٲحِشَ إِلَّا ٱللَّمَمَ‌ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ وَٲسِعُ ٱلۡمَغۡفِرَةِ‌ۚ (32))

     Islam views man as a traveller in this life and his permanent home is in the next life. We are here for a short period and we cannot take anything with us from this life except our belief in one God and our good deeds. As travellers on this journey, we must understand that the purpose of life is that Allah wants to test us. We are perpetually being tested with all sorts of earthly temptations; in a way, resembling the way Adam was tested with the forbidden tree. Allah the Almighty says in Su'rat Adh-Dhariyat (Chapter 51 Verse 56), "And (Allah) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone) (56)." (Study the Noble Qur'an — Word-f0r-Word).

وَمَا خَلَقۡتُ ٱلۡجِنَّ وَٱلۡإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعۡبُدُونِ (56(

     It also says in Su'rat Al-Mulk (Chapter 67 Verse 2), "Who has created death and life that He may test you which one of you is best in deed, and He is the All-Mighty, the Oft Forgiving (2))."Study the Noble Qur'an — Word-for-Word).

ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلۡمَوۡتَ وَٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ لِيَبۡلُوَكُمۡ أَيُّكُمۡ أَحۡسَنُ عَمَلاً۬‌ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡغَفُورُ (2)

     These trials of good and evil are intended to evoke our higher spiritual qualities. Yet, we are unable to benefit from these tests unless we do our best to have complete trust in God and patiently accept what He has destined for us. All deeds, good and bad, big and small are recorded for us as evidence on the Day of Judgment. Allah tells us in the Qur'an in Su'rat Al-Zalzalat (Chapter 99 Verses 7-8) "So whosoever does good equal to the weight of an atom (or small ant) shall see it (7). And whosoever does evil equal to the weight of an atom (or a small ant) shall see it (8)." (Study the Noble Qur'an — Word-for-Word)

فَمَن يَعۡمَلۡ مِثۡقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ خَيۡرً۬ا يَرَهُ ۥ (7) وَمَن يَعۡمَلۡ مِثۡقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ۬ شَرًّ۬ا يَرَهُ ۥ (8)

     Allah also tells us in Su'rat AI-Kahf (Chapter 18 Verse 49), "And the Book (one's Record) will be placed, and you will see the Mujrimu'n, fearful of that which is therein. They will say: ‘Woe to us! What sort of Book is this that leaves neither a small thing nor a big thing, but has recorded it with numbers!‘ And they will find all that they did, placed before them, and your Lord treats no one with injustice (49)." (Study the Noble Qur'an — Word-for-Word).

وَوُضِعَ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبُ فَتَرَى ٱلۡمُجۡرِمِينَ مُشۡفِقِينَ مِمَّا فِيهِ وَيَقُولُونَ يَـٰوَيۡلَتَنَا مَالِ هَـٰذَا ٱلۡڪِتَـٰبِ لَا يُغَادِرُ صَغِيرَةً۬ وَلَا كَبِيرَةً إِلَّآ أَحۡصَٮٰهَا‌ۚ وَوَجَدُواْ مَا عَمِلُواْ حَاضِرً۬ا‌ۗ وَلَا يَظۡلِمُ رَبُّكَ أَحَدً۬ا ((49

Sometimes sinners are punished here on earth, before their death. Sometimes they are not punished until on the Day of Judgement. And sometimes they receive punishment both here and in the next world.

THE MAJOR SINS

     We talked earlier about some major sins which were committed in the past and are explained in the Holy Qur'an, as a warning to us. Some sins were mentioned, while at the same time explaining their methods of repentance. For some others, however, no method of repentance is mentioned in the Qur’an. Nevertheless, the door for repentance is always open. Allah the Almighty tells us in Su'rat Az-Zumar (Chapter 39 Verses 53-58), "Say-‘O lba'di (My slaves) who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah, Verily, Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft- Forgiving, Most-Merciful (53). And turn in repentance and in obedience with true faith (Islamic Monotheism) to your Lord and submit to Him (in Islam) before the torment comes upon you, (and) then you will not be helped (54). And follow the best of that which is sent to you from your Lord (i.e. this Qur'an, do what it orders you to do and keep away from what it forbids), before the torment comes on you suddenly while you perceive not! (55). Lest a person should say: ‘Alas! My grief that I was undutiful to Allah (i.e. I have not done what Allah has ordered me to do), and l was indeed among those who mocked (at the truth! — i.e. none has the right to be worshipped but Allah), the Qur'an, and Muhammad and at the faithful believers‘ (56). Or (lest) he should say: ‘If only Allah had guided me, I should indeed have been among the Muttaqu'n (the pious)‘ (57). Or (lest) he should say when he sees the torment: ‘If only l had another chance (to return to the world), then l should indeed be among Muhsinu'n (good-doers)' (58). (Study the Noble Qur'an — Word-for-Word).

قُلۡ يَـٰعِبَادِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسۡرَفُواْ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمۡ لَا تَقۡنَطُواْ مِن رَّحۡمَةِ ٱللَّهِ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَغۡفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ ٱلۡغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ (53) وَأَنِيبُوٓاْ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُمۡ وَأَسۡلِمُواْ لَهُ ۥ مِن قَبۡلِ أَن يَأۡتِيَكُمُ ٱلۡعَذَابُ ثُمَّ لَا تُنصَرُونَ (54) وَٱتَّبِعُوٓاْ أَحۡسَنَ مَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيۡكُم مِّن رَّبِّڪُم مِّن قَبۡلِ أَن يَأۡتِيَڪُمُ ٱلۡعَذَابُ بَغۡتَةً۬ وَأَنتُمۡ لَا تَشۡعُرُونَ (55) أَن تَقُولَ نَفۡسٌ۬ يَـٰحَسۡرَتَىٰ عَلَىٰ مَا فَرَّطتُ فِى جَنۢبِ ٱللَّهِ وَإِن كُنتُ لَمِنَ ٱلسَّـٰخِرِينَ (56) أَوۡ تَقُولَ لَوۡ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ هَدَٮٰنِى لَڪُنتُ مِنَ ٱلۡمُتَّقِينَ (57) أَوۡ تَقُولَ حِينَ تَرَى ٱلۡعَذَابَ لَوۡ أَنَّ لِى ڪَرَّةً۬ فَأَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ (58)

     The major sins are those acts which we have been forbidden by Allah in the Qur'an and by His Messenger's Sayings and Sunnah (practice of the Prophet), and which have been made clear by the actions of the first righteous generation of Muslims, the Companions of the Prophet, peace be on them all.

The following is a Prophet's Hadith narrated by Tirmidhi, "Allah the Almighty has said, 'O son of Adam, so long as you call upon Me and ask of Me, I shall forgive you for what you have done, and l shall not mind. O son of Adam, were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky and were you then to ask forgiveness of Me, I would forgive you. O son of Adam, were you to come to Me with sins nearly as great as the earth and were you then to face Me, ascribing no partner to Me, I would bring you forgiveness nearly as great as it'."

     The Messenger of Allah also said, "The five (daily) prayers, Friday to Friday, Ramadhan to Ramadhan make atonement for what has happened since the previous one when major sins are avoided." It is therefore very important to determine exactly what the greatest evil deeds are, technically called ‘the major sins‘ (kaba'ir), in order that Muslims should avoid them.

     In the following pages, we shall try to show what these major sins are (at least some of them), and then we will endeavour to find out how best one can do in the way of asking forgiveness from God. But we must always bear in mind that forgiveness and non-forgiveness is entirely upon Allah. He judges as He likes and His judgement is final. He is Merciful to whom He wills and condemns whom He wills. It says in Su'rat Ad-Dukha’n (Chapter 44 Verses 40-42), “Verily, the Day of Judgement (when Allah will judge between the creatures) is the time appointed for all of them (40). The Day when a ‘Maula’ (a near relative) cannot avail a Maula (a near relative) in aught, and no help can they receive (41), except him whom Allah has mercy. Verily, He is the All-Mighty, the Most-Merciful (42)." (Study the Noble Qur'an — Word-for-Word).

إِنَّ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡفَصۡلِ مِيقَـٰتُهُمۡ أَجۡمَعِينَ (40) يَوۡمَ لَا يُغۡنِى مَوۡلًى عَن مَّوۡلً۬ى شَيۡـًٔ۬ا وَلَا هُمۡ يُنصَرُونَ (41) إِلَّا مَن رَّحِمَ ٱللَّهُ‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ (42)

     Allah also tells us in Su'rat Al-Imra'n (Chapter 3 Verse 135), "And those who, when they have committed Fa'hisha (illegal sexual intercourse) or wronged themselves with evil, remember Allah and ask forgiveness for their sins; - and none can forgive sins but Allah - and do not persist in what (wrong) they have done, while they know (135)." (Study the Noble Qur'an — Word-for-Word).

وَٱلَّذِينَ إِذَا فَعَلُواْ فَـٰحِشَةً أَوۡ ظَلَمُوٓاْ أَنفُسَہُمۡ ذَكَرُواْ ٱللَّهَ فَٱسۡتَغۡفَرُواْ لِذُنُوبِهِمۡ وَمَن يَغۡفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ وَلَمۡ يُصِرُّواْ عَلَىٰ مَا فَعَلُواْ وَهُمۡ يَعۡلَمُونَ (135)

     While discussing the various sins, we must realize that they fall into different categories depending on the one to whom wrong has been done. For example, there are sins which are direct between man and his Creator. Hopefully, all man needs is forgiveness from Him. On the other hand, there are other sins which affect other human beings. Repentance of such sins may not be a simple process. Unfortunately, the majority of sins in our daily life are those which affect other human beings, such as stealing, unfair judgement to people, adultery and saying something that may cause harm to other people.

     Equally, it is important to know that sins do also fall into other two major categories depending on the gravity they hold. There are major sins and minor sins. But because a sin, whatever may be, is a disobedience to Allah, must be avoided by the Muslim. A strong stress which has been put on the major sins is simply because of their more negative results religiously and socially. As for minor sin, the Qur'an - as quoted before - clearly states that they are pardonable. Yet this is further conditioned with the avoidance of major ones. Finally, the Prophetic tradition clarifies the subject that the very act of perpetuating the minor sins is also regarded to be a major sin. The wisdom behind that can be found in the fact that any perpetuation of the minor sins will eventually lead to the committing of major ones. Hence is the tradition: "There is neither minor sin with perpetuation of it; nor there is major one with repentance of it".

     Allah says in Su'rat An-Najm (Chapter 53 Verse 32), "Those who avoid great sins and AI-Fawa‘hish (illegal sexual intercourse), except the small faults, verily, your Lord is of vast forgiveness....(32). (Study the Noble Qur'an — Word-for-Word).

ٱلَّذِينَ يَجۡتَنِبُونَ كَبَـٰٓٮِٕرَ ٱلۡإِثۡمِ وَٱلۡفَوَٲحِشَ إِلَّا ٱللَّمَمَ‌ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ وَٲسِعُ ٱلۡمَغۡفِرَةِ‌ۚ ....32))

The following are details of some of the major sins:-

Atheism

     Unlike those who worship idols or those who associate other things or other beings with God, atheists do not believe in any god, nor do they believe in the Day of Judgement. Atheism is, in fact, the absence of belief in deities. There are those who believe that NATURE controls everything! But the acceptance of this idea of ‘refuting the existence of the Creator‘, entirely depends on the concept of nature itself. The inquiry into what nature really is, has always been a philosophical phenomenon that reminds me of what my teacher named Sayyid Omar bin Abdullah, once told us during a religion class. He said that people call Allah by different names; some choose to call him God, while others prefer to call Him Buddha, Rama or Nature.

     Atheists believe that Nature is the source of life and causes it to come to an end. They also believe that it controls the equilibrium of the Universe - i.e. the stars to move at a set speed and at specific distances among one another, according to their size and gravity. It is the nature that causes the sun to rise from the east and set in the west. Nature controls the seasons, the heat and the cold or causes the rain to fall. If Nature does all this, then this is certainly God (Allah), called by another name, as said before by Sayyid Omar.

     Thus the sin, which these people who believe in Nature commit, is their continuing renunciation of God, the Creator, and insisting on wrongly identifying Him as another entity. For the real concept of God is not more than the invisible, overwhelming, creative power that is free from the limitation of both space and time. While discussing the concept of what God is, it should be born in mind that differences in technical terms do not mean differences in the reality itself. In other words, reality is not affected by different names men apply thereto. Consider, for instance, if the Qur'an is referred to by some as the Qur'an and others call it Furqan, yet others call it the Book; this difference in terminologies does not nullify the reality of the existence of the Qur'an. Typically, the existence of the One Creator is not affected by the various names invented by men as long as the very reality exists.

Evolution

     I would like, at this point, to say a word on the theory of Evolution. The fundamental difference between religion and atheism is that the former believes in spiritualism while the latter believes in materialism or nature. To believe in Evolution is being materialistic, which simply means, ‘denying the existence of God‘.

     Evolutionists claim that life in its primeval form started on the earth as a single living cell from inanimate substances and the effects of the law of chance in Nature. Considering human biology, some scientists explain: ‘There is enough information in one human DNA molecule to fill 1,000 books; it is hard to imagine that this could be a product of the law of chance! The following statement is quoted from the book, ‘Why Darwinism is incompatible with the Qur'an', by Harun Yahya. (Quote): "Researchers who carried out experiments by bringing together the gases that made-up the Earth's initial atmosphere, as well as the appropriate atmospheric conditions, have been unable to 'produce' even the smallest block of life, the protein. Since they have failed to bring about a living organism despite all the technology and scientific knowledge available to them, it is naturally irrational to claim that a blind chance could have succeeded." (End of quote).

     While evolution also claims that life began with a single cell, it later grew ever more complex, and assumed an ever-greater variety until human beings were produced.

     Dr. Ray D. Strand in his book, "What Your Doctor Doesn't Know About Nutritional Medicine May Be Killing You," has this to say about the Theory of Evolution: (Quote) "As I reflect on the complex nature of this repair system and the functions of cell, I know beyond doubt this is no random act of nature. During my first year of medical school, I studied the anatomy and function of the eye. As I observed the intricacy of the structure, I realized that this object could never have been the result of accidental chance and random selection. The retina itself is made up of twelve intricate layers of billions of specialized cells. The rods and cones in the retina gather the light waves and send these messages to the brain. Our brain interprets these impulses and creates our vision in vivid, moving, full colour. Just take a moment to look out your nearest window and simply marvel at the gift of sight. This is no accident - it is an ingenious creation" (page 34). He goes on to say on page 35: "Biochemical researchers are now able to study the inner workings and complexities of each cell in our body. The cell is not simply a shell that contains a soft consistent gel, as many early evolutionists believed. It is instead filled with as sophisticated structures, genetic codes, and transport systems that support life by their elaborate biochemical reactions. (End of quote).

     According to Harun Yahya in his book ‘Why Darwinism is Incompatible with the Qur'an,' the modern theory of evolution (neo-Darwinism) now proposes two more mechanisms which developed from the recent discoveries in genetics. These are:-

• Natural selection: It means that the strong and those who can adapt to changing natural conditions, such as severe cold or heat, survive the struggle for life, while the rest are eliminated and disappear. In other words it is the survival of the fittest.
• Mutations: This is defined as errors in living things‘ genes that arise either as the result of external influences, such as radiation or faults in DNA.

Harun Yahya points out in the same book page 40 - (Quote): "…….mutations cannot develop living things; rather, they always harm living things. They showed that mutations were not biological changes that could contribute something to evolution. This, they say, contradicts the evolutionists‘ claim. They claim that some 4,500 supposedly hereditary genetic diseases actually were caused by mutations." (End of quote).

     Another point of interest concerning the Evolution theory is the study of fossils. Although the study of fossils is so much advanced, there has been no evidence to support the theory of evolution. Let us consider the emergence of fish, which evolutionists say evolved from invertebrate, such as the starfish or marine worms. Despite the many fish and invertebrates fossils found by scientists, no fossil of any transitional form that might confirm their claim has ever been found. (Fish fossils go back to 530 million years - Harun Yahya.) In fact not one fossil in any transitional form has ever been found. Throughout history, fish have existed as fish, birds as birds and human beings as human beings.

     Therefore, to believe in evolution is to defy God and His creation of man such as Adam. It is simply violating Islam, and indeed, all religions of the world! This is purely Atheism!

     Atheists, like pagans or idol worshippers, are transgressors or unbelievers and are, therefore, doomed for the Hell Fire! It says in the Qur’an, Su'rat Al-Anam (Chapter 6 Verse 29-30), "And they said: ‘there is no (other life) but our (present) life of this world, and never shall we be resurrected (on the Day of Resurrection)’ (29). If you could but see when they will be held brought and made to stand) in front of their Lord! He will say: ‘ls not this (Resurrection and the taking of the accounts) the truth? They will say: ‘Yes, by our Lord!‘ He will then say: ‘So taste you the torment because you used not to believe’ (3O).” (Study the Noble Qur'an —Word-for-Word).

وَقَالُوٓاْ إِنۡ هِىَ إِلَّا حَيَاتُنَا ٱلدُّنۡيَا وَمَا نَحۡنُ بِمَبۡعُوثِينَ (29) وَلَوۡ تَرَىٰٓ إِذۡ وُقِفُواْ عَلَىٰ رَبِّہِمۡ‌ۚ قَالَ أَلَيۡسَ هَـٰذَا بِٱلۡحَقِّ‌ۚ قَالُواْ بَلَىٰ وَرَبِّنَا‌ۚ قَالَ فَذُوقُواْ ٱلۡعَذَابَ بِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَكۡفُرُونَ (30)

     It also says in Su’rat Al-Naba' (Chapter 78 Verse 40), "Verily, We have warned you of a near torment — the Day when man will see that (the deeds) which his hands have sent forth, and the disbeliever will say, Woe to me! Would that I were dust! (40))." Study the Noble Qur'an —Word-for-Word).

إِنَّآ أَنذَرۡنَـٰكُمۡ عَذَابً۬ا قَرِيبً۬ا يَوۡمَ يَنظُرُ ٱلۡمَرۡءُ مَا قَدَّمَتۡ يَدَاهُ وَيَقُولُ ٱلۡكَافِرُ يَـٰلَيۡتَنِى كُنتُ تُرَٲبَۢا (40)

Associating Anyone with Allah

     Another sin, equally serious compared to Atheism, is ‘Associating anything with God‘. Unless man repents of it, this is a sin which Allah will not forgive. It says in the Holy Qur’an, Su'rat An-Nisaa (Chapter 4 Verse 116) Verily, Allah forgives not (the sin of) setting up partners (in worship) with Him, but He forgives whom He wills, sins other than that, and whoever sets up partners in worship with Allah, has indeed strayed far away (16)." (Study the Noble Qur'an — Word-for-Word).

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَغۡفِرُ أَن يُشۡرَكَ بِهِۦ وَيَغۡفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَٲلِكَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ‌ۚ وَمَن يُشۡرِكۡ بِٱللَّهِ فَقَدۡ ضَلَّ ضَلَـٰلاَۢ بَعِيدًا ((116

     Associating something or someone with God actually means: people who worship such things as the three idols of the pagan Arabs, Al-Lat, Al-‘Uzza and Mana't, or the worship of the sun, fire or the belief that some prophets of Allah are gods. Practising witchcraft and consulting fortune-tellers is also associating someone with Allah (shirk(.

     One of the most serious deviations from the teachings in Torah and the Bible, for example, is the belief that ’Uzayr and Jesus’ are sons of God. It says in the Qur'an Su'rat At-Towba (Chapter 9 Verse 30-31), “And the Jews say: 'Uzair (Ezra) is the son of Allah, and the Christians say: ‘Messiah is the son of Allah. That is their saying with their mouths, resembling the saying of those who disbelieve aforetime. Allah's Curse be on them, how they are deluded away from the truth! (30).They (Jews and Christians) take their rabbis and their monks to be their lords besides Allah, and (they also took as their Lord) Messiah, son of Maryam (Mary), while they (Jews and Christians) were commanded to worship none but the One Ila'h (God — Allah) La’ ila'ha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He). Praise and glory be to Him (far above is He) from having the partners they associate (with Him)) (31).” Study the Noble Qur'an — Word-for-Word.(

وَقَالَتِ ٱلۡيَهُودُ عُزَيۡرٌ ٱبۡنُ ٱللَّهِ وَقَالَتِ ٱلنَّصَـٰرَى ٱلۡمَسِيحُ ٱبۡنُ ٱللَّهِ‌ۖ ذَٲلِكَ قَوۡلُهُم بِأَفۡوَٲهِهِمۡ‌ۖ يُضَـٰهِـُٔونَ قَوۡلَ ٱلَّذِينَ ڪَفَرُواْ مِن قَبۡلُ‌ۚ قَـٰتَلَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ‌ۚ أَنَّىٰ يُؤۡفَڪُونَ (30) ٱتَّخَذُوٓاْ أَحۡبَارَهُمۡ وَرُهۡبَـٰنَهُمۡ أَرۡبَابً۬ا مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱلۡمَسِيحَ ٱبۡنَ مَرۡيَمَ وَمَآ أُمِرُوٓاْ إِلَّا لِيَعۡبُدُوٓاْ إِلَـٰهً۬ا وَٲحِدً۬ا‌ۖ لَّآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ‌ۚ سُبۡحَـٰنَهُ ۥ عَمَّا يُشۡرِڪُونَ (31)

     (To quote Sayyid Mawdudi, he said: 1.The above verse does not suggest that all Jews were guilty of this deification. It only points to the erroneous Jewish concept of God which resulted in the appearance of certain groups within the Jewish community itself who held Ezra to be the son of God. Note: 2. ’The unbelievers of old’ refers to the Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Persians and others who had gone astray. Influenced by their thoughts and superstitions, both the Jews and Christians invented false doctrines — (End of quote).

Resisting the establishment of Islam

     We have seen in the Holy Qur’an the fate of those who either resisted the establishment of Islam in the past or were guilty of spreading disorder in the domain of Islam. It says in Su'rat Al-Anfal (Chapter 8 Verse 36), "verily, those who disbelieve spend their wealth to hinder (men) from the path of Allah, and so will they continue to spend it; but in the end it will become an anguish for them. Then they will be overcome. And those who disbelieve will be gathered unto Hell! (36)/' (Study the Noble Qur‘an — Word-for-Word.(

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ يُنفِقُونَ أَمۡوَٲلَهُمۡ لِيَصُدُّواْ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ‌ۚ فَسَيُنفِقُونَهَا ثُمَّ تَكُونُ عَلَيۡهِمۡ حَسۡرَةً۬ ثُمَّ يُغۡلَبُونَ‌ۗ وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓاْ إِلَىٰ جَهَنَّمَ يُحۡشَرُونَ (36(

     These people, even if they pretend to be believers are, in reality, not different from the atheists or those who associate other things or other beings with God. They were not content with just rejecting the call to the Truth but also stood in vehement opposition and with hostility to it sparing no efforts in obstructing people from following the way of God. They created doubts, spread misgivings, sowed the seeds of distrust in order to frustrate the mission of the Prophet, peace be on him.

Repentance for the Atheists or associating something or someone with God

     All these sins may be considered as sins which are direct between man and his Creator, as long as no harm is caused to other beings. The Holy Qur'an says in Su'rat Muhammad (Chapter47  Verse 34), "Verily, those who disbelieve, and hinder (men) from the path of Allah (i.e. Islam); then die while they are disbelievers — Allah will not forgive them (34)". (Study the Noble Qur'an — Word-for-Word).

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَصَدُّواْ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ثُمَّ مَاتُواْ وَهُمۡ كُفَّارٌ۬ فَلَن يَغۡفِرَ ٱللَّهُ لَهُمۡ ((34

     Moreover, any good deeds which are done by those who disbelieve are of no benefit to them after death. The Qur'an says, in Su'rat Ibrahim (Abraham) (Chapter 14 Versel8), "The parable of those who disbelieved in their Lord is that their works are as ashes, on which the wind blows furiously on a stormy day; they shall not be able to get aught of what they have earned. That is the straying, far away (from the Right Path) (18)." (Study the Noble Qur'an — Word-for-Word.(

مَّثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ بِرَبِّهِمۡ‌ۖ أَعۡمَـٰلُهُمۡ كَرَمَادٍ ٱشۡتَدَّتۡ بِهِ ٱلرِّيحُ فِى يَوۡمٍ عَاصِفٍ۬‌ۖ لَّا يَقۡدِرُونَ مِمَّا ڪَسَبُواْ عَلَىٰ شَىۡءٍ۬‌ۚ ذَٲلِكَ هُوَ ٱلضَّلَـٰلُ ٱلۡبَعِيدُ ((18

     Allah also says in Su'rat Al-Baqarah (Chapter 2 verse 161), "Verily, those who disbelieve and die while they are disbelievers, it is they on whom is the Curse of Allah and of the angels and of mankind, combined (161)." (Study the Noble Qur'an — Word-for-Word).

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَمَاتُواْ وَهُمۡ كُفَّارٌ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ عَلَيۡہِمۡ لَعۡنَةُ ٱللَّهِ وَٱلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕكَةِ وَٱلنَّاسِ أَجۡمَعِينَ ((161

     But the Quran also tells them in Su'rat Al-Qasas (Chapter 28 Verse 67): "But as for him who repented, believed and deed righteous deeds, then he will be among those who are successful" (67). (Study the Noble Qur'an — Word-for-Word).

فَأَمَّا مَن تَابَ وَءَامَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَـٰلِحً۬ا فَعَسَىٰٓ أَن يَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُفۡلِحِينَ (67(

     In short, if these people are to achieve salvation, they must come into the fold of Islam. So in order for them to become Muslims, they ought to do the following:-

• Denounce everything unlawful according to Qur'an that they believed in before.
• Observe the Six Pillars of Faith.
• Observe the Five Pillars of Islam.
• Obey everything ordered by Allah, in the Qur'an, and the Prophet in his authentic traditions.

     Once they comply with these conditions, they have nothing to fear on the Day of Judgement. Allah says in the Qur'an with regard to disbelievers, in Su'rat Al-Anfaal' (Chapter 8 Verse 38), "Say to those who have disbelieved, if they cease (from disbelief), their past will be forgiven. But if they return (thereto), then the examples of those (punished) before them have already preceded (as a warning) (38)." (Study the Noble Qur'an —- Word—f0r-Word).

قُل لِّلَّذِينَ ڪَفَرُوٓاْ إِن يَنتَهُواْ يُغۡفَرۡ لَهُم مَّا قَدۡ سَلَفَ وَإِن يَعُودُواْ فَقَدۡ مَضَتۡ سُنَّتُ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ (38(

     The Saying of the Prophet also says, "Islam wipes out whatever came before it." (Narrated by Muslim.(

Reference:

Major Sins & Sincere Repentance, by Abdullah Amor Al-Marhuby, pg: 83-104.