Sahl ibn Sa‘d (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said:
"Beware of insignificant sins, for indeed, an example of insignificant sins is like a group of people who alighted at the bottom of a valley: one of them brought a stick, and another brought a stick, until they cooked their bread. Verily, insignificant sins, if one is held accountable for them, they perish him."
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) warned against taking minor sins lightly and committing them excessively, as their accumulation can lead to destruction. He gave an example of a group of people who alighted at the bottom of a valley; each brought a small stick until they gathered enough to cook their bread. Similarly, insignificant sins, if their perpetrator is called to account for them without having repented or been pardoned by Allah, can ultimately ruin him.
Lessons
The Prophet's practice of giving examples to make meanings clear and enhance the clarity.
Warning against belittling minor sins and urging the act of hastening to seek their expiation.
"Insignificant sins" may refer to several meanings: 1. Sins committed by a person, mistakenly thinking they are minor, while in reality, they are major sins in the sight of Allah Almighty. 2. Minor sins that a person commits without concern or repentance, accumulate until they ultimately lead to his destruction. 3. Minor sins that a person commits with indifference, which then cause him to fall into destructive major sins.
Explanation in Arabic
حذر النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم من التساهل في فعل صغائر الذنوب، والإكثار منها فإنها تهلك بمجموعها، وضرب مثلًا على ذلك بقوم نزلوا في بطن واد، فجاء كل واحد منهم بعُوْد صغير، حتى أنضجوا خُبزتهم بمجموع ما جمعوا من العيدان، وإن محقرات الذنوب متى يؤخذ بها صاحبها ولم يتب منها أو يعفو الله عنه أهلكته.
هدي النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم في ضرب الأمثال تقريبًا للفهم وزيادة في البيان.
التحذير من صغائر الذنوب المستحقرة، والحث على البِدار في تكفيرها.
محقرات الذنوب تحتمل معانيًا: الأول: ما يفعله العبد من الذنوب، متوهمًا أنه من صغارها، وهو من كبار الذنوب عند الله تعالى، والثاني: ما يفعله العبد من صغائر الذنوب، دون مبالاة بها، ولا توبة منها، فتجتمع عليه هذه الصغائر حتى تهلكه، والثالث: ما يفعله العبد من صغائر الذنوب، لا يبالي بها، فتكون سببًا لوقوعه في الكبائر المهلكة.
Scholars’ grades
Original grading term, without a named scholar: صحيح
