The Meaning of Illa- Al-Lammam

Question :

What is the explanation of this verse:
"Except the small faults (Illa Al-Lammam)."

Answer:

Allah Almighty says:
"And to Allah belongs all that in the heavens and all that is in the earth, that He may require those who do evil with that which they have done, and reward those who do good, with what is best (in paradise). Those who avoid great sins and Al-Fawahish (illegal sexual intercourse, etc.) except the small faults (Illa Al-Lammam) verily, your Lord is of vast forgiveness.

The question here deals with:

"Except the small faults (Illal-Lammam).

The scholars of Tafsir have differed over the meaning of this phrase. but two of their opinions are closest to the correct meaning:

1) It means those small sins that a person perpetrates, such as looking at some unlawful things or listening to what is unlawful. This opinion is reported to be held by Ibn 'Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, and a group of the Salaf. whose view is based on this verse:
"If you avoid the great sins which you are forbidden to do, We shall remit from you your (small) sins, and admit you to a Noble Entrance (i.e., Paradise)."

As a mercy from Allah Almighty, He Almighty promised to forgive the believers for small sins if they avoid the major ones, and if they do not persist in committing the small ones. But what are the major sins? Probably the best definition is those sins that are punishable in this world such as theft, fornication, false accusations of chaste people, and alcohol consumption and those sins for which is promised punishment in the Hereafter, either with Allah's Anger, with a curse, or with the Fire - sins which include usury, backbiting, slandering, and cursing.

What also points to the smaller sins of the believer being forgiven if he stays away from the major sins, is the saying of the Prophet ﷺ :
"Indeed, Allah has written for the son of Adam his share of Zina, and he will most certainly reach that share; the Zina of the eye is to see, Zina of the tongue is to talk, Zina of the ear is to hear, Zina of the hand is to take without justification, Zina fornication of the leg is in taking steps. The soul wishes and desires the private part confirms all of that or denies it."

Among the evidences indicating that we should be wary of both great and small sins, and of continually perpetrating them, there is the following saying Allâh Almighty:
"And those who, when they have committed Fahishah (illegal sexual intercourse etc.) and wronged themselves with evil, remember Allah and ask forgiveness for their sins and who can forgive sins besides Allah- and do not persist in what wrong they have done, while they know. For such, the reward is Forgiveness from their Lord, and Gardens with rivers flowing underneath (paradise), wherein they shall abide forever. How excellent is this reward for the doers (of good),"

2) It means all sins that man commits and later repents to Allâh from, such as is in the preceding verse:
"And those who, when they have committed Fahishah (illegal sexual intercourse etc.).

Allah Almighty says:
"And all of you beg Allah to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful."

And the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said :
"All of the children of Adam make mistakes, and the best of the mistaken are the repentant."

Every person makes mistakes and commits sins, but by Allah's mercy, sincere repentance obliterates past mistakes. Sincere repentance consists of three essential elements: (1) feeling remorse for the sin, (2) ceasing to do that sin, (3) resolving sincerely not to return to that sin, because one fears Allah Almighty, glorifies Him Almighty, and hopes for His forgive- ness.

If a sin has to do with the rights of man. such as stealing, physically assaulting, or backbiting then there is an additional step that has to be made: one must return the rights to the people he wronged, or he must seek a pardon from them.

In the case of backbiting, however, one may be uneasy about seeking pardon, because if he informs people of what evil he said about them, a greater harm may result. In this case, it is enough for him to supplicate for them and to speak about their good qualities and good deeds when they are not present, especially in situations or places where he had previously spoken badly of them. So if he fears that more harm a greater sense of enmity or bitterness will occur by informing them of what he said about them, he doesn't have to tell them and seek their pardon.

I ask Allâh to guide us all to success, to protect us all from evil, and to make us all steadfast in the religion, and grant us safety from all things that bring about His anger. Indeed, He Almighty is Most Generous.

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