7 major sins in Islam: السَّبْعَ الْمُوبِقَاتِ

Prophet Muhammad sallalahu alaihe wa sallam asked us to avoid the 7 major sins.

The 7 deadly sins in Islam

Hadith on 7 major sins

It was narrated from ‘Ubaid bin ‘Umair that :His father – who was one of the Companions of the Prophet [SAW] – told him: “A man said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, what are the major sins?’ He said: ‘They are seven; the most grievous of which are associating others with Allah, killing a soul unlawfully and fleeing (from the battlefield) on the day of the march.’ ( Sunan an-Nasa’i 4012)

It comes in another hadith-

Suhaib narrated that he heard Abu Hurairah and Abu Sa’eed say:”The Messenger of Allah addressed us one day and said: ‘By the One in Whose hand is my sould’ three times then he lowered his head, and each of us lowered his head, weeping, and we did not know what he had sworn that oath about. Then he raised his head with joy on his face, and that was dearer to us than red camels. Then he said: ‘There is no one who offers the five (daily) prayers, fasts Ramadan, pays Zakah and avoid the seven major sins, but the gates of Paradise will be opened to him, and it will be said to him: Enter in peace.”‘

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «اجْتَنِبُوا السَّبْعَ الْمُوبِقَاتِ قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَمَا هُنَّ قَالَ الشِّرْكُ بِاللَّهِ وَالسِّحْرُ وَقَتْلُ النَّفْسِ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ وَأَكْلُ الرِّبَا وَأَكْلُ مَالِ الْيَتِيمِ وَالتَّوَلِّي يَوْمَ الزَّحْفِ وَقَذْفُ الْمُحْصَنَاتِ الْمُؤْمِنَاتِ الْغَافِلَاتِ»  مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيْهِ 

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “Avoid the seven noxious things.” When his hearers asked, “What are they, messenger of God?” he replied, “Associating anything with God, magic, killing one whom God has declared inviolate without a just cause, devouring usury, consuming the property of an orphan, turning back when the army advances, and slandering chaste women who are believers but indiscreet.”(Bukhari and Muslim.)Mishkat

So What are the 7 Deadly sins in Islam?

7 major sins in Islam explanation

Please note that these are not the only 7 Major sins, there are other major sins which have been mentioned by the scholars in other books. The following major sins are explanation of the above hadith.

1. Shirk

“Verily, whosoever sets up partners in worship with Allah, then Allah has forbidden Paradise for him, and the Fire will be his abode. And for the Zalimun (polytheists and wrongdoers) there are no helpers.” [al-Maidah 5:72]

“And indeed it has been revealed to you (O Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him)), as it was to those (Allah’s messengers) before you: “If you join others in worship with Allah, (then) surely (all) your deeds will be in vain, and you will certainly be among the losers.” [az-Zumar 39:65]

“It is not for the Mushrikun (polytheists, idolaters, pagans, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah), to maintain the Mosques of Allah (i.e. to pray and worship Allah therein, to look after their cleanliness and their building, etc.), while they witness against their own selves of disbelief. The works of such are in vain and in Fire shall they abide.” [at-Tawbah 9:17] 

2. Magic

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said: “The Messenger of Allah [SAW] said: ‘Whoever ties a know and blows on it, he has practiced magic; and whoever practices magic, he has committed Shirk; and whoever hangs up something (as an amulet) will be entrusted to it.’“Sunan an-Nasa’i 4079

3. Killing

“And whoever kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell to abide therein, and the Wrath and the Curse of Allah are upon him, and a great punishment is prepared for him.” [an-Nisa 4:93] 

4. Consuming Interest- Riba

“Allah has permitted trading and forbidden Riba.” [al-Baqarah 2:275]

“O you who believe! Fear Allah and give up what remains (due to you) from Riba (from now onward) if you are (really) believers. And if you do not do it, then take a notice of war from Allah and His Messenger.” [al-Baqarah 2:278]

Riba is of 2 types : We have written a detailed article on 2 types of Riba

5. Consuming orphans’ wealth

Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas:When Allah, Most High, revealed the verses: “Come not nigh to the orphan’s property except to improve it”. And “Those who unjustly eat up the property of orphans”, everyone who had an orphan with him went and separated his food from his (orphan’s) food, and his drink from his drink, and began to detain the remaining food which he (the orphan) himself ate or spoiled.

This fell heavy on them, and they mentioned this to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). So Allah, Most High, revealed the verse: “They ask thee concerning orphans. Say: The best thing to do is what is for their good; if ye mix their affairs with yours, they are your brethren.” Then they mixed their food with his food and their drink with his drink.(Sunan Abi Dawud 2871)

6. Fleeing from battle field

And whoever turns his back to them on such a day, unless maneuvering for battle or intending to join a company, then he truly has incurred Wrath from Allah and his abode is Hell, and what an evil journey’s end.(al-Anfal 8:16)

7. Slandering a chaste woman

And those who accuse chaste women, and produce not four witnesses, flog them with eighty stripes, and reject their testimony forever. They indeed are the rebellious. Except those who repent thereafter and do righteous deeds; (for such) verily, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.[an-Nur 24:4].

Also read- Slander of Aisha ra

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