And the words “remembrance of Allah” would then imply that...

And the words “remembrance of Allah” would then imply that forgiveness and repentance can be achieved only if the sinner remembers Allah (S.w.T.) and turns his attention towards Him with a sincere heart. Merely chanting ‘Istighfar’ in a mechanical way will not avail him. The phrase, “and (who) do not knowingly persist in what they have done,” clearly indicates that forgiveness is only for those who do not repeat the sins.

The consequences of committing a sin repeatedly is that the sinner develops a disregard for Divine commandments and gradually reaches a stage when he thinks them to be unimportant. Under these conditions he has no desire to submit himself to the will and pleasure of Allah (S.w.T.) and remembrance of Allah (S.w.T.) does not affect him. However, this occurs only when one persists in sins intentionally. That’s why the word ‘knowingly’ is used.

The Greatest Sin Hazrat Amir ul-Mu’minīn ‘Ali (a.s.) says, “Beware of persistence on sins, for it is the greatest of the greater sins and a serious crime.”[^3] Imam (a.s.) has also said, “The greatest sin is one that the doer repeats again and again.”[^4] He (a.s.) also says, “Persistence in sins is the Greatest sin.” Muhaqqiq Khwansari (a.r.) explains the above statement of Amir ul-Mu’minīn ‘Ali (a.s.) in the following words: It is clear from these that the magnitude of a sin increases until its repetition and persistence in sin is a greater sin than all the greater sins.

Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s.) has also quoted the following tradition: “I swear by Allah! Worship and obedience of one who persists in sin is not accepted.” What does Persistence Mean? There is unanimity among scholars that persistently committing a smaller sin makes it a greater sin. A widely accepted view is that persistence is that a person commits a sin, is not repentant, and continues to indulge in it.

For example wearing gold or silver (which is Harām for men but is not a confirmed greater sin in Islam) or to look at Non-mahram or to enter another’s house without permission. The Martyr writes in Qawaid that, persistence is not restricted to committing one particular sin repeatedly but it also includes committing different types of lesser sins like a person may wear gold or silk; look at Non-mahram or shake hands with her or embrace her, and not be repentant for any of these acts.

According to some scholars committing a lesser sin with the intention of repeating it again makes it a greater sin.