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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Greater Sins Volume 3 The Forty-fourth Greater Sin: Intrigue, Deception and Breaking Covenants The forty-fourth sin which will be punished by damnation in Hell is intrigue, deception and failure to observe covenants etc. In the book al-Kāfi, Book of Imān and Kufr, six traditions are mentioned under the chapter, ‘Intrigue, Deception and Breaking covenants.’ Here we shall quote two of them.

Hazrat Amir ul-Mu’minīn (a.s.) says, “If the punishment for intrigue and deception had not been Hell, I would have been the greatest plotter (of intrigue) among the people.” [^1] He (a.s.) also said, “Indeed, breaking covenants, sinfulness, misappropriation; all of them are punished by Hell.”[^2] Wasa’il ul-Shia records a prophetic tradition saying that we must never cheat or deceive Muslims. According to Jibrīl (a.s.) a cheater and deceiver belongs to Hell.

Then the Messenger of Allah (S) says, “One who cheats a Muslim or misappropriates his property is not from us.” Other traditions on the topic are also mentioned in the books, Wasa’il ul-Shia and Mustadrak ul-Wasa’il .

When people suggested to Amir ul-Mu’minīn (a.s.) that he should allow Muawiyah the post of governor till he (‘Ali) was Caliph so that there would be no danger from Muawiyah, ‘Ali (a.s.) said, “Those who deceive, cheat and break covenants; all of them belong to Hell.”[^3] Meanings of Intrigue, Cheating and Breaking Covenant Breaking Covenants has been dealt with in detail in the chapter of the Twenty-first Greater Sin.

Intrigue and cheating both mean to do some evil to a person in such a way that he is not able to understand. That is a person apparently does good to another but in reality works to his detriment. Or the person pretends to love and have regard for another but in reality bears enmity and malice for him in his heart. Or the person acts as if he has nothing to do with another but as soon as he gets the chance he causes harm.

Cheating and deception are hypocritical, two-coloured, double crossing acts, with an outward show of goodness but concealed evil. Cheating and deception can be practised with regard to Allah (S.w.T.), His Messenger (S) and the Imam (a.s.) and secondly, with respect to the people. Cheating and Tricking with Allah (S.w.T.) The worst type of cheating is that which the hypocrites do against Allah (S.w.T.).

These people make an outward appearance of accepting Islam and having Imān but inwardly they conceal their kufr.