In the name of Allah the Most Gracious the Most Merciful

Are sins performed in Makkah multiplied? 

By Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih al-’Uthaymeen may Allah have mercy on him 

Question: Are sins performed in Makkah multiplied? If so, how are they multiplied?

Answer: Sins are not multiplied in Makkah from the aspect of quantity; however they are multiplied from the aspect of its punishment being more severe and painful. The evidence that shows sins are not multiplied in quantity is the statement of Allah, the Most High:

مَن جَآءَ بِٱلۡحَسَنَةِ فَلَهُ ۥ عَشۡرُ أَمۡثَالِهَا‌ۖ وَمَن جَآءَ بِٱلسَّيِّئَةِ فَلَا يُجۡزَىٰٓ إِلَّا مِثۡلَهَا وَهُمۡ لَا يُظۡلَمُونَ

“Whoever brings a good deed shall have ten times the like thereof to his credit, and whoever brings an evil deed shall have only the recompense of the like thereof, and they will not be wronged.” [al-An’aam: 160]

And this was a Makki verse (revealed before the Hijra of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him) because it is in the chapter al-An’aam.

However performing sins in Makkah is as Allah said,

نُّذِقۡهُ مِنۡ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ۬

“…We shall cause to taste from a painful torment.” [al-Hajj: 25] *

Meaning, the punishments for those who perform sins in Makkah are more severe than the punishments for those who perform sins outside of Makkah.

*The entire verse:

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَيَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱلۡمَسۡجِدِ ٱلۡحَرَامِ ٱلَّذِى جَعَلۡنَـٰهُ لِلنَّاسِ سَوَآءً ٱلۡعَـٰكِفُ فِيهِ وَٱلۡبَادِ‌ۚ وَمَن يُرِدۡ فِيهِ بِإِلۡحَادِۭ بِظُلۡمٍ۬ نُّذِقۡهُ مِنۡ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ۬

“Verily! those who disbelieved and hinder (men) from the Path of Allâh, and from Al-Masjid-al-Harâm (at Makkah) which We have made (open) to (all) men, the dweller in it and the visitor from the country are equal there [as regards its sanctity and pilgrimage (Hajj and ‘Umrah)]. And whoever inclines to evil actions therein or to do wrong, We shall cause him to taste from a painful torment.”

Source: Silsilah Liqaa’aat al-Baab al-Maftooh: #58

Translated by: Abu Awzaa’ee AbdusSalaam

الفقير الى الله