Aslam

embellishments. This condition is called Fana fillah.

WHEN A MINOR SIN TURNED INTO A MAJOR SIN ?

(1) The first cause is that any minor sin if done repeatedly turns into a major sin. It is therefore said : If a minor sin is committed repeatedly, it does not remain a minor sin. If a major sin is committed and then there is repentance for it, it does not remain a major sin. In short, if a person commits a major sin and then refrains from it and does not do it again, it is expected to be forgiven more than a minor sin which he commits repeatedly. For instance, if water falls repeatedly on a stone, there falls a sign therein but if once only water is flown on it there will be no sign thereon. For this reason the Prophet, said : A good deed though trifling is good if done always. Anything small, if done repeatedly, brings good, and anything great, if not done always, is less beneficial to the progress of soul and its purity. Similarly a minor sin done repetadely turns into a major sin and its influence to blacken a soul is great. A great •sinner first of all commits minor sins and then jumps into a major sin. A fornicator rarely commits fornication without doing some deeds of love. A person rarely kills a man without first cherishing ha tred and enmi ty for him. So before every major sin, minor sins are committed. If minor sins are committed throughout life, they c?nnot be expected to be forgiven, but if a major sin is committed suddenly, it is expected to be forgiven.

Vol-IV THE BOOK OF CONSTRUCTIVE VIRTUES 35

(2) The second cause is to belittle sin. When a person thinks a sin great, he humbles himself before the Merciful. When he humbles himself, he becomes great. The influence of sin then does not fall in his heart to a great extent. If a sin is thought as insignificant, it is understood that the sin has cemented love with the heart and for this reason its influence on heart is great. Hadis : A beliver considers a sin hanging like a rock on his head, while a hypocrite considers a sin trifling like a bee which passes over his nose.' A beliver takes sin as great and think also a minor sin as great.
God sent revelation to a certain Prophet : Don't see the trifling nature of a present but look to the nobility of the giver of the present.
Don't think sin as small but look whom you are opposing by this sin. An Aref said from this angle of vision : There is no minor sin.
Every opposition to God is a great sin. ;A certain companion said to his successors : You commit such sins which are thinner than your eye-lash but we regarded them as causes of ruin at the time of the Prophet. The companions regarded the minor sins as great. For this reason, the ignorant people do not think a minor fault as sin, while the learned consider it as a major sin. This matter bypasses a blind man but not one having eyes.