How do I stop a persistent sin?
Ibn al-Qayyim wrote that the chain of sin has specific links, and you cannot break them all at once — but you can break one. Then the next. The classical prescription is as practical as it is spiritual.
10 passages from 7 books in the library
The classical prescription for breaking a persistent sin is gradual and practical: the chain of sin has specific links, and rather than shattering them all at once, you break one, then the next. In his Book of Repentance, al-Ghazali analyzed sins by gravity, noting that abstaining from the major sins is itself a foundation, and that established prayer and good works expiate what lies between them so long as the major sins are avoided. The work is both spiritual and disciplined — guarding the heart against what invites it back toward wrongdoing.
Drawn from the classical sources below — in the scholars' own words.
The classical approach.
These passages are drawn from 7 books by Imam al-Ghazali — part of the classical Sunni tradition that carries over a thousand years of reflection on the Qurʾān, the authentic Sunnah, and the consensus of the early community. Nothing below is a paraphrase. The words are the scholars' own, translated from the original Arabic manuscripts.
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"are not classified as major sins, considering they were not mentioned among the 17 major sins,"
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"major sins but not others. This too is possible if one believes that some major sins are more"
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"from major sins without minor ones is possible because it is known that major sins are more"
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"vague. If you say that testimony is only accepted from those who avoid major sins, and that abstaining"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"him. What he finds within himself could invite Satan to major sins of the heart and vile bodily"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"Death purifies and expiates them after abstaining from major sins and establishing obligations."
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"suspicion, and backbiting are among the major sins, and protecting them from these offenses"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"inclusive than sin. Both minor and major sins fall within this scope, as it is not limited"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"The hadith about prayers being expiation for what is between them, as long as major sins"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"God does not persist in major sins, and one who does not fear God cannot be trusted, nor"
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