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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Greater Sins Volume 2 The Twenty-Ninth Greater Sin: Helping the Oppressors The twenty-ninth sin, that is classified as a Greater Sin is ‘Helping the oppressors’.

Fazl Ibn Shazān has narrated from Imam Riďa (a.s.) that he said concerning the Greater Sins: “And helping the oppressors and bending (leaning) towards them.” In the narration of Amash from Imam Sadiq (a.s.) the following is mentioned, “Not helping the oppressed people is a Greater Sin.” In other words helping the oppressors is also a Greater Sin.

Imam Musa Ibn Ja’far (a.s.) says: “To participate in the activities of the oppressors and to endeavour to achieve their evil objectives and to help them is equal to infidelity and to knowingly lean towards them is a Greater Sin and deserves Hell.”[^1] The Holy Prophet (S) similarly says: “On the night of ascension (Miraj), I saw the following inscription on the doors of Hell, ‘DO NOT BE A HELPER OF THE OPPRESSORS.’”[^2] It means that if one does not wish to enter Hell he must refrain from co-operating with the oppressors.

Moreover, this is a sin that is promised Divine punishment by the Almighty in the Holy Qur’an. “And do not incline to those who are unjust, lest the fire touch you, and you have no guardians besides Allah, then you shall not be helped.” (Surah Hūd 11:113) According to Tafsīr Minhaj us-Sādiqīn ‘do not incline’ means we must not have the slightest inclination towards the oppressors. Hence we must not treat them honourably nor mix with them freely nor express our affections for them.

We must not be greedy of their gifts, nor should we praise them and obey their orders. When such are the prohibitions against the oppressors, it is obvious that then it cannot be lawful to help them and co-operate with them in oppression.

The Messenger of Allah (S) remarks, “One who prays for the long life of an oppressor is as if he likes the opposition of Allah on the Earth.”[^3] There is an interesting incident in the book Rawzātul Jannat concerning the author of Maqasikul Ahkam, Sayyid Muhammad. Once the Sayyid and another respected teacher, Shaykh, planned a pilgrimage to the Holy tomb of Imam Riďa (a.s.) at Mashad, but when they learned that Shah Abbas Safavi was staying at Mashad they decided to cancel their visit.