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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Greater Sins Volume 2 The Twenty-Eighth Greater Sin: Becoming A’Arāb after Hijrat The twenty-eighth sin, which is labelled as a Greater Sin, is to become A’arāb (Bedouin, gypsy etc) after Hijrat (migration). It is recorded in Usūl al-Kāfi under the chapter of Greater Sins that according to the Sahih of Ibn Mahbūb when he wrote a letter to Imam Musa Ibn Ja’far (a.s.) he (a.s.) replied and this sin was included among the Greater Sins.

Moreover, Muhammad bin Muslim has quoted Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s.) and stated that he (a.s.) has included this sin among the greater ones. The book of ‘Ali (a.s.) also includes this sin in the list of Greater Sins. Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s.) says: “Becoming A’arāb after Hijrat and polytheism is one and the same (sin).”[^1] What does ‘becoming A’arāb after Hijrat’ mean? A’arāb refers to the nomadic Arabs or Bedouins who are absolutely ignorant of religion and rituals connected with faith.

Hijrat signifies the migration of these desert Arabs to the Muslim centre, their acceptance of Islam at the hands of the Holy Prophet (S) or his rightful successor, and their consequent adherence to faith, and adherence to religious rules and regulations. Becoming A’arāb after Hijrat is the condition when a desert Bedouin before acquiring the necessary knowledge of religion turns back to his ignorant ways.

In the early period of Islam it was incumbent upon them to migrate towards the Holy Prophet (S) in order to learn whatever was necessary for being a Muslim. Similarly it was prohibited for Muslims to stay in an area populated mostly with unbelievers; where it was not possible for them to pray and fast and perform other religious duties.

‘Why don’t you migrate?’ It is recorded in Tafsīr Minhaj us-Sādiqīn that there were some people among the Muslims like Qays bin Walīd, who were outwardly Muslims and had recited the confession of La ilāha illallah but inspite of this and their ability to do so, they did not accompany the Muslims in their Hijrat from Mecca to Madinah, and when the Quraish of Mecca marched to attack the Muslims in the battle of Badr these people joined them and were ultimately killed at the hands of the Muslims.

A Qur’anic verse was revealed on this occasion: “Surely (as for) those whom the angels cause to die while they are unjust to their souls, they shall say: In what state were you? They shall say: We were weak in the earth.