\u00a0Performance of the Obligatory Religious Duties: <\/strong>The Greater Sin is to omit or not to perform any single obligatory religious duty which has been made obligatory. It is mentioned in the Sahifa of Abdul Az\u012bm which quotes traditions from Imam Jawad, Imam Ri\u010fa, Imam Kadhim and Imam Sadiq (a.s.) that to forgo any act which is made incumbent upon us by Allah (S.w.T.) is a greater sin.<\/p>\n The Messenger of Allah (S) said, \u201cOne who omits Prayer intentionally has indeed gone out of the refuge (beyond the pale) of Allah (S.w.T.) and His Messenger (S)\u201d. Corruption and a terrible chastisement<\/strong><\/span> What are Wajib\u0101t (Obligatory Acts)?<\/strong><\/span> \n
\nImam Sadiq (a.s.) says that neglecting a divine command is infidelity as mentioned in the following words of the Almighty, \u201cDo you then believe in a part of the Book and disbelieve in the other? What then is the reward of such among you as do this but disgrace in the life of this world and on the day of resurrection they shall be sent back to the most grievous chastisement and Allah is not at all heedless of what you do.\u201d (Surah al-Baqarah 2: 85)
\nImam (a.s.) said, \u201cAllah has considered as infidels those who neglect His commands. He refers to them as believers but does not accept their belief and did not consider it beneficial for them. Rather He says that their recompense in this world is disgrace and in the Hereafter is a terrible punishment.\u201d
\nIn addition to this Imam (a.s.) also said, \u201cThe Almighty shall not cast a glance of Mercy upon one who leaves a Wajib duty or commits a greater sin. And He shall not cleanse him of his sins.\u201d
\nThe narrator asked in surprise, \u201cDoes Allah (really ) not look at this person with mercy?\u201d
\nImam (a.s.) replied, \u201cThis is because he has become a polytheist assigning a partner.\u201d
\n\u201cDid he (really) become a polytheists?\u201d asked the narrator in astonishment.
\nImam (a.s.) continued, \u201cThis is because Allah has issued a command and Shaitan had issued another (that is Shaitan Commanded not to do what Allah had ordered). This person neglected Allah\u2019s command and accepted the order of Shaitan (that is he left a Wajib and performed a Har\u0101m act)
\nThus this person shall abide in the seventh layer where abide the hypocrites of Hell with Shaitan because he had obeyed the latter.\u201d (Wasa\u2019il ul-Shia, Vol. 1 page 25)
\nThe words of Imam (a.s.) imply that polytheism here denotes polytheism in obedience as mentioned previously in the discussion of Polytheism.<\/p>\n
\nThe Qur\u2019anic ayats (verses) that have warned against opposition to Divine commands and decreed punishment for the same includes the ayat of Surah an-N\u016br: \u201c\u2026therefore let those beware who go against His order lest a trial afflict them or there befall them a painful chastisement.\u201d (Surah an-N\u016br 24: 63)
\nAccording to commentators of Qur\u2019an the word, \u201ctrial\u201d denotes worldly afflictions and \u201cpainful chastisement\u201d as associated with the Hereafter. It is also possible that both of them signify both types of afflictions, worldly as well as in the Hereafter. Many traditions emphasize the absolute necessity of fulfilling obligatory religious duties. One such tradition is as follows: The Messenger of Allah (S) states, \u201cOn the night of Miraj Allah the Almighty said, \u201cNo slave can gain proximity to Me without fulfilling the duties that I made incumbent on him?\u201d (al-K\u0101fi Vol. 2, page 82)
\nThe Holy Prophet (S) also says, \u201cAct upon the obligatory acts so that you become the most pious among men.\u201d (al-K\u0101fi Vol. 2 page 83)<\/p>\n
\nAny action that is commanded by Allah (S.w.T.), the performance of which carries rewards and its neglect is assured punishment is a Wajib. There are many Wajib\u0101t of the Almighty but the most important of them on which is based the foundation of Islam are five: Prayer, Fast, Hajj, Zakat and Wil\u0101yat, Some traditions refer to these as the pillars of faith and the codes of Islam. The compiler of Wasa\u2019il ul-Shia has mentioned some of these traditions and then remarked, \u201cAmr bil Ma\u2019r\u016bf and Nahy Anil Munkar is a form of Jihad and Jihad comes under Wil\u0101yat.\u201d
\nAs indicated in the traditions since Khums is the substitute for the rights of Sadat, it is a part of Wil\u0101yat too. In this way the pillars of faith or the branches of religion number ten:
\n1. Prayer
\n2. Fast
\n3. Hajj
\n4. Zakat
\n5. Khums
\n6. Jihad
\n7. Amr bil Ma\u2019r\u016bf
\n8. Nahy Anil Munkar
\n9. Tawalla
\n10. Tabarra.<\/strong><\/p>\n