Can a person who commits a lot of sins be called an unbeliever? When the word “deniers” is used, I generally understand those who deny the existence of Allah. Can it be understood in another sense, for instance, as a sinner?

The words deniers, mushriks and munafiqs are used in the Quran all the time for the people of Hell... For instance, "those who accept deities other than Allah", "those who deny Allah". What does a denier, a mushrik (polytheist) and a munafiq (hypocrite) mean? For instance, some people do not accept deities other than Allah, do not deny Allah but they commit sins; are their states different? Can those who commit a lot of sins be unbelievers? That is, when the word deniers is used, I generally understand those who deny the existence of Allah – I have not read the whole Quran; I say as far as I understand... Can it be understood in another sense, for instance, as a sinner person?

Dear Brother / Sister,

Those who commit sins but who believe in Allah and His true religion are different from deniers, unbelievers, hypocrites and polytheists. They are not included in these groups even if they commit sins. They can only be called fasiqs. Even if they burn in Hell, they will not stay there forever. A person who has committed a lot of sins cannot be called an unbeliever. However, there is a way that goes to unbelief in each sin.

The statement "there is a way that goes to unbelief in each sin," expresses an important reality. A person who keeps committing sins gets used to that sin and cannot give it up. This habit leads him to bigger spiritual dangers day by day. He starts to believe that this sin will not have an otherworldly penalty and he even goes too far as to believe that Hell should not exist. That is, that seed of sin that settles in the heart can turn to a tree of oleander – God forbid. (see Badiuzzaman, Lem'alar, p. 7; Mesnevî-i Nuriye, p. 115)

It is necessary for a person to abandon this sin that necessitates repentance and to pull himself together so as not to be exposed to such a danger and not to be deceived by the hatred of Satan.

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