Beyond Shirk: Causing Hardship to Fellow Muslims Is Among the Worst Sins

Causing hardship to fellow Muslims is not merely a reprehensible act, but is considered one of the worst sins after associating partners with Allah SWT. In the book Nashaihul Ibad, Syekh Muhammad Nawawi al-Banteni cited several hadiths explaining that the most virtuous deeds are faith in Allah and doing good to Muslims, while the worst deeds are shirk (polytheism) and causing suffering to Muslims. Therefore, Islam teaches its followers to safeguard the safety, honour, and property of fellow Muslims and to consistently bring benefit to others. Syekh Nawawi al-Banteni quoted the sayings of Prophet Muhammad SAW, as well as the words of the Prophet’s companions and the tabi’in. The Prophet Muhammad SAW said, “Two matters are the most virtuous and nothing surpasses their virtue: faith in Allah and doing good to Muslims.” The Prophet SAW also said, “Whoever wakes up in the morning with the intention of not committing injustice against anyone, his past sins will be forgiven by Allah. Whoever wakes up with the intention of helping an oppressed person and fulfilling the needs of a Muslim, he will receive a reward equivalent to that of an accepted Hajj.” The Prophet SAW further stated, “The person most beloved by Allah SWT is the one most beneficial to others, and the most virtuous deed is to make a believer’s heart happy by removing hunger, easing a difficulty, or settling his debt. Two matters have no equal in their evil: associating partners with Allah and causing suffering to Muslims.” The hadith explains that the person loved by Allah SWT is one who performs two deeds: being useful to others and bringing happiness to a believer’s heart. Meanwhile, the two most evil deeds are shirk and causing hardship to Muslims. The book Nashaihul Ibad explains that causing hardship to a Muslim can include threatening their life and property. All that Allah commands fundamentally contains two principles: glorifying Allah and showing compassion to His creation.