Watching pornography
Question:-
Is watching pornography considered as a major or minor sin? Please explain in detail!
Answer:-
Before defining a major and minor sin you should understand that a sin refers to perpetrating any act which is against the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala. Disobeying Allah Ta’ala is a serious matter, hence even a minor sin should not be considered as something trivial. In fact, disobeying Allah Ta’ala and opposing His commandments is a severe crime in all conditions. It is for this reason that Imaam-ul-Haramain and many others have stated that every form of disobedience of Allah Ta’ala is major. The difference between major and minor sins comes about when put in comparison against each other. Hadrat Abdullah Bin Abbas Radiallahu Anhu is reported to have said, “Every act that is prohibited in Islam is regarded as a major sin.”
In conclusion any sin categorized as minor in no way implies or means that a person can be complacent in regards to it, or regard it as trivial and overlook it. In fact, a minor sin boldly carried out without any concern becomes a major sin.
A certain pious person mentioned that minor and major sins can be likened to small and large scorpions, or a large piece of burning coal and a small piece of burning coal. A human being is unable to endure any form of difficulty resulting from any of them. It is for this reason that Muhammad Bin Ka’ab Qarzi has stated that the greatest form of worship is to discard sins. Fudhail Bin Ayaaz Rahimahullah has stated that according to the insignificance that you attach to sins is its seriousness in the court of Allah Ta’ala.
It is recorded in Musnad Ahmad that when a person sins, then even those that would previously praise him start speaking ill of him, and his friends become his enemies. In short, not being concerned of sins is the means of everlasting destruction.
What is a major sin?
That sin for which a Shari’ee punishment has been fixed in the world, or that sin for which words of curse have been used, or for which warnings of Jahannam have been mentioned is a major sin. Similarly, every sin that is equal or worse than a major sin in terms of (spreading) corruption and its evil consequence is also categorized as a major sin. Also, a minor sin that is carried out boldly or continuously becomes a major sin.
Someone mentioned before Ibn Abbas Radiallahu Anhu that there are 7 major sins. He said, “It is not 7, rather it is more appropriate if you stated that there are 700.” [Re:- Ma’ariful Quraan Pg. 385 – 387 Vol. 2]
From the above definitions it is clearly understood that watching porn is a major sin.
The worst form of punishment has been recorded for picture-making, and pornography is perhaps the most immoral and indecent type of picture-making ever found. Hence, the severity of the punishment in store for those that display themselves for such filth, and those that view it, is known to Allah Ta’ala alone. The fact that there is punishment promised for such an act in the Aakhirah indicates that this is a major sin.
Secondly, a normal picture is generally viewed and forgotten whereas it is possible that the picture of the woman seen on the screen remains for months and years with a person, even though a person may be in the company of his pure wife. Many people complain of such terrible consequences as a result of casting just a single glance at a Ghair-Mahram woman. A certain person through watching the News on television was attracted to the news reader to the extent that her picture was before him in Salaah, when reciting Quraan, when being intimate with his wife, etc. It is for this reason that the Hadith states that the evil glance is an arrow from the arrows of Shaytaan. You may have cast an evil glance once, or watched pornography just once, but the disastrous effect can sometimes remain for years, and perhaps lifelong, if not treated by a spiritual doctor. Hence, pornography completely destroys the spirituality of a person which then harms a person at the time of death. Therefore, even if it was not a major sin, no believer can ever risk viewing pornography. A person with a sound mind and Imaan will never be asking whether pornography is categorized as a major or minor sin, rather he would have a natural hatred for such filth and dirt.
Finally, all major sins do not have to be proven from Quraan and Hadith as understood from the above explanation. By persistently perpetrating a minor sin, it becomes major, or any sin that is worse than a major sin in its harm and consequence, is also major. We do hope that the above discussion answers the question/s on your mind. Any person involved in this sickness of viewing porn should immediately seek assistance from some spiritual guide and cleanse himself, or else it could eventually destroy the Dunya and Aakhirat of a person.
ALLAH TA’ALA KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Mufti Mohammed Desai
Date: 21 Jumad-al-Ula 1443 / 26 December 2021