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[Note: This article explains the Quranic Term “ithmun”
which is frequently (and inadequately) translated as
“sin” by many translators of the Quran]
Allah has forbidden:
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Things and deeds which tend to
undermine one’s active physical and mental strengths;
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Things and deeds which tend to
exhaust the vigour and vitality of one’s self;
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Deeds which gradually and insidiously
impair one’s personality;
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Deeds which slow one down in the walk
of life;
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Deeds which enervate, incapacitate or
devitalize human potential;
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Deeds which might retard man’s
personal development;
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Deeds which, as human weaknesses,
might stand in the way of achieving sublime objectives
Allah has used the term “ithmun”
in the Quran to identify the quintessence of such deeds. The
word “ithmun” comes from the word “Aathimatun”
which the Arabs, at the time of the Revelation, used to
describe a she-camel that was tardy, weary, jaded, fatigued
and slow in going.
The word “ithmun” also implies
“lack of benefaction” and may also be used to signify:
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Any malign deed or thing
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Anything harmful in nature or
influence
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Anything devoid of goodness
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Anything that keeps one from
achieving goodness
[See the use of word “ithmuun”
versus “birrun” in 5:2 and 58:9].
Allah not only forbids wrongdoings which
are committed against others (although these may indirectly
harm one’s own self or personality) but also those things
and deeds which can directly harm only one’s own self
[compare Quranic terms ithmun & udwaan].
Someone may think that drinking alcohol is OK as long as one
is not causing any harm to others but Allah has forbidden
drinking alcohol in the Quran because it has malignant
effect (ithmun) on one’s own physical and
metaphysical health. Allah says in the Quran that
intoxicants and ways of obtaining easy money, such as
gambling, although have some benign aspects but their
overall malignant effect (ithmun) is far greater than
their possible benefit [2:219].
31-01-2007
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