The first step towards righteousness

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

The first step towards righteousness is by leaving off evil and the paths leading towards it.

The Evil actions are:

1. Every action which opposes the Book of Allaah تعالى or the Sunnah of His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم is evil. Example: Shirk, Kufr, Hypocrisy, Bid`ah.

2. Every action which has been prohibited in the Book of Allaah تعالى or the Sunnah of His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم is evil. Example: Gambling, consuming intoxicants, pigs and dead animals.

3. Every action which has been cursed in the Book of Allaah تعالى or the Sunnah of His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم is evil. Example: dealing in Ribaa (usurious transactions), hiding knowledge, accusing a chaste woman of immoral acts, tattooing.

4. Every action which has been threatened with punishment - in this world or the Hereafter - in the Book of Allaah تعالى or the Sunnah of His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم is evil. Example: causing mischief on earth, turning away from Allaah’s remembrance.

5. Every action which has Hadd (legal punishment) prescribed in the Book of Allaah تعالى or the Sunnah of His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم is evil. Example: illegal sexual intercourse, theft.

6. Every action which distances a person from Allaah تعالى or the Sunnah of His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم is evil. Example: listening to music, watching movies, engaging in idle talks.

7. Every action which is HATED by Allaah تعالى or His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم is evil. Example: oppression, pride, being ungratefulness to Allaah تعالى.

8. Every action supplicated against by the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم is evil. Example: not sending Salaah upon the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم when his name is mentioned, not benefiting from the month of Ramadhaan, and being disobedient to the parents.

9. Every action from which the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم distanced himself by saying: “I am free of him…” or “…he is not from me” or “…he is not from us”, is evil. Example: “The one who deceives is not of me.” [Saheeh Muslim]

10. Every action which is not legislated in the Deen, but a person still does it expecting a reward from Allaah or thinks that it is a religious duty, is evil. Example: Bid`ah of celebrating the Prophet’s birthday, wiping the neck while making Wudhu.

[A lot of sins like Shirk, Kufr will qualify for all the above categories, but were not repeated for the sake of brevity]