Abstract:

Human is the only being in the universe that has reason and will. Sometimes, with these two features, he deliberately or unknowingly acts against the rules set by Allah. Almighty Allah informs in the Qur'ān that He forgives those who turn to Him with a sincere heart, and punishes those who persist in their sins. After the Prophet, many political and social events, up to bloodshed, took place among the believers. In the last few centuries, it can be said that the sensitivity of Muslims towards sins has decreased along with the acceleration of secularisation. This situation necessitated reconsidering the issues such as the types of sins committed by people, which sins will be forgiven without repentance, and the effect of intercession on the sinful in the Hereafter. The subject of sin has been discussed by Muʿtazilah, Shiʿah and Ahl al-Sunnah scholars. One of these scholars is Abu al-Qāsim ʿUmar b. Muhammad al-Zamakhsharī (d. 538/1144). He discussed the issue of sin and made original evaluations. While explaining the subject of sin, he gave importance to reason besides the transmission, and also touched on how the subject was understood in the period up to his own time. Al-Zamakhsharī divided sin into two as major and minor, then touched on the relationship between sin and repentance, and whether intercession will occur for those who die without repentance. In this article, al-Zamakhsharī's approach to the subject of sin will be evaluated, and the reason for his sensitive behaviour on this issue will be tried to be revealed.

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