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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Greater Sins Volume 2 The Twenty-Fifth Greater Sin: Consumption of Harām The twenty-fifth Greater Sin is Consumption of Harām. In the Qur’anic ayat ‘Akal al-soht’ is translated as eating of what is unlawfully acquired. Hence the word “eat” is not restricted to consumption of edibles but includes the use of any and every article, which has been acquired unlawfully or by illegal means.

Consumption of Harām is listed as greater sin in the Holy Qur’an and the tradition of Imam Riďa (a.s.) from the book Uyūn al-Akhbar ar-Riďa and the tradition of Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s.) as related by Amash. In the following ayat of Surah al-Mā’ida: “And you will see many of them striving with one another to hasten in sin and exceeding the limits, and their eating of what is unlawfully acquired; certainly evil is that which they do.

Why do not the learned men and doctors of law prohibit them from their speaking of what is sinful and their eating of what is unlawfully acquired? Certainly evil is that which they work.” (Surah al-Mā’ida 5:62-63) In this ayat Soht refers to the acquirement as well as use of anything acquired unlawfully. The dictionary meaning of ‘Soht’ is ‘to be finished’ or ‘to be lost’. The thing that becomes ‘Soht’ is that which is finished off or used up.

The use of this word signifies that unlawfully acquired things do not have any ‘barakat’ and will not benefit the possessor in any way. It should be evident that this unlawful practice would include usurping another’s property, taking interest and all activities that are undertaken using the money obtained by illegal means. The use of article brought with such money is also unlawful.

Sayyid Abu A’lā Maududi writes in his book Islam and the Economic Problems: “Islam permits the people to obtain their livelihood in any way they choose. They have their freedom to choose their occupation and obtain the necessities of life, but Islam does not allow them to earn in a manner that is harmful for society. It should also not endanger the social equilibrium.

Islamic laws not only prohibit the consumption of wine and intoxicants and gambling, but also prohibit any action that causes these sinful things to come into being. For example to undertake cultivation of grapes for wine making, to manufacture wine, to transport, to buy or sell wine, to give it and to use it; all these are Harām too. Islam does not consider free-sex to be a human activity. Islam has prohibited dancing.