Sins are of various types and categories:

For instance, we can categorize sins based on their severity into minor and major sins.

We can also categorize them based on whom they are against, such as sins related to Allāh’s rights and sins related to people’s rights.

Another categorization is based on the intention behind the act, dividing them into unintentional sins and intentional sins, and so on.

One important categorization is based on whether the sin affects only the individual or extends to others.

An “intransitive sin” is one where the individual alone is involved without being incited by others, such as neglecting prayer, not paying zakāh, or hitting someone. This type of sin is intransitive and it is what the ḥadīth refers to.

On the other hand, “transitive sins” are those where a person commits a sin that others then follow, imitating or copying them. This is the type of sin addressed in the saying: “Whoever calls to misguidance will bear the sin of those who follow him, without it detracting from their sins in the least.” [Narrated by Muslim].

Another similar ḥadīth is: “No soul is killed unjustly but the first son of Adam bears a part of the responsibility for its blood, for he was the first to establish the practice of killing.” [Narrated by Muslim].

Another similar ḥadīth is: “Whoever introduces a bad practice in Islam will bear the burden of it and the burden of those who act upon it after him, without it detracting from their burdens in the least.” [Narrated by Muslim].

In all these cases, the sin is not only committed by the individual but extends to others. Therefore, it incurs two types of sins: the sin of the act itself, which is intransitive, and the sin of being followed, which is transitive. This imitation can be by one person, adding an additional sin, or by many people, multiplying the sin accordingly.

Fatwa issued by Dr. Khālid Naṣr