Moslem doctors define sin as "a conscious act of a responsible being
against known law." They divide sin into "great" and "little" sins.
Some say there are seven great sins: idolatry, murder, false charges of
adultery, wasting the substance of orphans, taking interest on money,
desertion from Jihad, and disobedience to parents. Mohammed himself
said, "The greatest of sins before God is that you call another like
unto the God who created you, or that you murder your child from an idea
that he or she will eat your victuals, or that you commit adultery with
your neighbor's wife."
All sins except great ones are easily forgiven, as God is merciful and
clement. What Allah (God) allows is not sin. What Allah or his Prophet
forbids is sin, even should he forbid what seems right to the conscience.
It is as great an offense to pray with unwashed hands as to tell a lie,
and pious Moslems who nightly break the seventh commandment will shrink
from a tin of English meat for fear they will be defiled by eating
swine's flesh. Oh, what ignorance! The false prophet Mohammed said:
"One cent of usury which a man takes for his money is more grievous
than thirty-six fornications, and whosoever has done so is worthy of
hell-fire. Allah is merciful in winking at the sins of his favorites
(the prophets and those who fight his battles), but is a quick avenger
of all infidels and idolaters."