In most of the cases man is aware of what is right and what is wrong. This knowledge is embedded in man's nature and he shall be answerable to God on the Day of Judgment for ignoring this knowledge and opting for a path that was contrary to this knowledge. It is correct that in most of the referred kind of cases, a deviation does not generally result directly in depriving others of their right. However, I am sure you would agree that it does, undoubtedly, result in granting ourselves something, which, rightfully, is not ours. Seen from this perspective, this may very easily amount to no less injustice than depriving others of their rights. We know that through cheating in exams and other such instances, we try to get something, which we do not rightfully deserve and, thereby, indirectly deprive someone of what he/she deserved. As far as how big a sin such, apparently, small deviations are, I believe that even though such deviations may not seem to be very significant, yet the affects of each of such deviations can be extremely hazardous: When a person knowingly avoids to adhere to what is right, his conscience initially pinches and dissuades him from it. However, if a person persistently turns a deaf ear to the calls of his conscience and silences it, then even the awareness of 'evil' in the heart of that person is influenced. This, in turn, opens the doors for bigger and more significant deviations from the path of 'good' for that person. This process may ultimately lead to the complete extinction of the awareness as well as the spirit of adherence to 'good' in that person. According to the Qur'an, God only opens the doors of bigger piety for those, who prove themselves trustworthy with their existing level of knowledge and awareness. Regarding those, who persisted in the rejection of the call of the Messenger, the Qur'an ( Al-Mutaffifeen 83: 14) says: Their hearts have been rusted because of what they have been doing. That is, they do not believe in the call of the messenger, because of their deviations from what they already knew to be 'right'. This consistent deviation from the path of 'good' has rendered them incapacitated, from accepting the Truth of God, revealed upon Muhammad (pbuh). The Prophet is reported to have said: When a man commits a small sin, it leaves a black mark on his heart. If, subsequently, the man sincerely repents and resolves to correct himself, then this mark is cleared and once again leaves his heart shining bright. But if the man keeps indulging in the sin, the black mark can ultimately completely encompass his heart. ( Tirmidhi , Kitaab al-Tafseer , Narrative No. 3257) Keeping the foregoing explanation in perspective, I would not recommend indulging in anything - however insignificant it may apparently seem to be - which we know to be wrong. Our desire to earn the eternal bliss of paradise should stop us from all wrong and should prompt us to do all good, even if we have to bear a huge cost for our choice, during the life of this world. Moiz Amjad November 5, 2001 [1] i.e. a big sin, in retribution of which, the sinner may be put to the everlasting agony of Hellfire. Answer published by Moiz Amjad