إِثْمٌ
1.
[according to some, a verbal noun; see أَثِمَ: according to others, only a simple subst., signifying] A sin, a crime, a fault, an offence, or an act of disobedience, synonym ذَنْبٌ, (S, M, Msb, K,) for which one deserves punishment; differing from ذَنْبٌ inasmuch as this signifies both what is intentional and what is unintentional: (Kull:) or [so according to the M, but in the K “ and, ”] an unlawful deed: (M, K:) or a deed which retards from recompense: or, according to Fr, what is exclusive of the [punishment termed] حَدّ: according to Er-Rághib, it is a term of more general import than عُدَوانٌ: (TA:)
مَأْثَمٌ [which is originally a verbal noun of أَثِمَ] is synonym with إِثْمٌ; (T, * Mgh;) and so, too, is
أَثَامٌ, (Msb,) or
إِثَامٌ, signifying a deed retarding recompense: (TA:) the plural of إِثْمٌ is اثَامٌ: (M:) and the plural of
مَأْثَمٌ is مَاثِمُ. (T.)
2.
[Sometimes it is prefixed to a noun or pronoun denoting its object:
3.
and sometimes it means (assumed tropical:) The punishment of a sin &c.: see explanations of a passage in the Qur'an, 5:32, voce بَاءَ.]
4.
5.
[And for a like reason,] (assumed tropical:) Contention for stakes, or wagers, in a game of hazard; synonym قِمَارٌ; (M, K;) which is a man's destruction of his property. (M.) It is said in the Qur'an, 2:216, respecting wine and the game called المَيْسِر], قُلْ فِهِيمَا إِثْمٌ كَبِيرٌ وَ مَنَافِعُ
لِلنَّاسِ [Say thou, In them both are great sin and means of profit to men]: and Th says, when they contended in a game of this kind, and won, they gave food and alms, and these were means of profit. (M.)