Major Sins

The prophet said:

“Avoid the seven sins that doom a person to Hell.” We said: What are they, O Messenger of Allah? He said: “Associating others with Allah (shirk); witchcraft; killing a soul whom Allah has forbidden us to kill, except in cases dictated by Islamic law; consuming orphans’ wealth; consuming riba; fleeing from the battlefield; and slandering chaste, innocent women.” 

[narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim, in as-Sahihayn]

Shirk (Associating others with Allah).

"Those who avoid the major sins and immoralities, only [committing] slight ones. Indeed, your Lord is vast in forgiveness. He was most Knowing of you when He produced you from the earth and when you were fetuses in the wombs of your mothers. So do not claim yourselves to be pure; He is most Knowing of who fears Him." 

[Qur'an: Surah an-Najm (The Star) 53, verse 32]

"And it was already revealed to you and to those before you that if you should associate [anything] with Allah, your work would surely become worthless, and you would surely be among the losers."

[Qur'an: Surah Az-Zumar (The Groups) 39, verse 65]

Practising magic - sorcery

"...It was not Sulaiman who disbelieved, but the devils disbelieved, teaching people magic and that which was revealed yo the two angels at Babylon, Harut and Marut. But the two angels do not teach anyone unless they say, 'We are a trial, so do not disbelieve [by practising magic].' And [yet] they learn from that by which they cause separation between a man and his wife. But they do not harm anyone through it except by permission of Allah. And the people learn what harms them and does not benefit them. But the children of Israel certainly knew whoever purchased the magic would not have in the Hereafter any share. And wretched is that for which they sold themselves, if they only knew."

[Qur'an: surah Al-Baqarah (The Cow) 2, verse 102]

'Ali Ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "A fortuneteller is a sorcerer, a sorcerer is a disbeliever."

Murder - killing another human being.

"But whoever kills a believer intentionally - his recompense is Hell, wherein he will abide eternally, and Allah has become angry with him and has cursed him and has prepared for him a great punishment."

[Qur'an: surah An-Nisa (The Women) 4, verse 93]

"The major sins are worshipping others with Allah, showing disrespect to parents, killing a human being, and breaking one's oath."

[Hadith Reported by Bukhari and Muslim]

Wrongfully consuming an orphans property

"Indeed, those who devour the property of orphans unjustly are only consuming into their bellies fire. And they will be burned in a Blaze.

[Qur'an: Surah An-Nisa (The Women) 4, verse 10]

Accepting Usury (Interest - Riba)

"Those who consume interest cannot stand [on the Day of Resurrection] except as one stands who is being beaten by Satan into insanity. That is because they say, 'Trade is [just] like interest.' But Allah has permitted trade and has forbidden interest." 

[Qur'an: Surah Al-Baqarah (The Cow) 2, verse 275]

"O you who believed, do not consume usury, doubled and multiplied, but fear Allah that you may be successful."

[Qur'an: Surah Ali Imran (The Family of Imran) 3, verse 130]

Slandering chaste women

Accusing innocent believing women of adultery is one of the major sins in Islam. The one who Slandering chaste will go to hell.

Allah, may He be exalted, says in the holy Quran: “And those who accuse chaste women, and then do not produce four witnesses-lash them with eighty lashes and do not accept from them testimony ever after. And those are defiantly disobedient.”

[Qur'an: Surah an-Nur (The Light) 24, verse 4].

Fleeing from the battlefield

"And whoever turns his back to them on such a day, unless swerving [as a strategy] for war or joining [another] company, has certainly returned with anger [upon him] from Allah, and his refuge is Hell - wretched is the destination."

[Qur'an: Surah An-anfal (The Spoils of War) 8, verse 16]

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Not performing the prayer.

"So woe to those who pray [but] who are neglectful of their prayer."

[Qur'an: Surah Al-Ma'un (Small Kindness) 107, verses 4-5]

"Between a man and unbelief is the nonperformance of the prayer." 

[Sahih Muslim]

"[And asking them], What put them in Saqar (Hell Fire)? They will say, 'We were not of those who prayed, nor did we feed the poor. and we used to enter into vain discourse with those who engaged [in it], and we used to deny the Day of Recompense."

[Qur'an; Surah al-Mudathir (The One Enveloped) 74, verses 42-47]

The covenant between us and them consists of the Prayer; whoever leaves it [the prayer] has disbelieved. (Al-Ghazali)

Not paying Zakat.

"...Woe to those who associate others with Allah - those who do not give zakah, and in the Hereafter they are disbelievers."

[Qur'an: Surah Fussilat (Explained in Detail) 41, verses 6-7]

"And spend [in the way of Allah] from what We have provided you before death approaches one of you and he says, 'My Lord, if only You would delay me for a brief term so i would give charity and be among the righteous."

[Qur'an: Surah Al-Munafiqun (The hypocrites) 63, verse 10]

"The Day when it will be heated in the fire of Hell and seared therewith will be their foreheads, their flanks and their backs, [it will be said], 'This is what you hoarded for yourselves, so taste what you use to hoard."

[Qur'an: Surah At-Tawbah (The Repentance) 9, verse 35]

Breaking ones fast during Ramadan without a valid excuse.

"O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous."

[Qur'an: Surah Al-Baqarah (The Cow) 2, verse 183]

"Whoever breaks his fast during Ramadan without an excuse or illness, could not requite it by fasting a lifetime, were he to do so."

[Reported by Abu Dawud, at-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah]

Not performing Hajj when able to do so.

"...And [due] to Allah is a pilgrimage to the House - for whoever is able to find thereto a way."

[Qur'an: Surah Ali Imran (The Family of Imran) 3, verse 97]

"Whoever does not make pilgrimage or pay zakat will ask to be returned to life when dying...no one asks to be returned except the disbelievers."

Showing disrespect to your parents.

"And your Lord has decreed that you not worship except Him, and to parents, good treatment. Whether one or both of them reach old age [while] with you, say not to them [so much as], "uff," and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word. And lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy and say, "My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up [when I was] small."

[Qur'an: Surah Al-Isra (The Night Journey) 17, verse 23-24]

The Prophet (pbuh) said, "Shall I not tell you of the worst major sins? Worshipping others with Allah and showing disrespect to parents."

"Who deserves my service most after Allah?" The Prophet said, "Your mother." the man asked again, "And who is next?" The Prophet said, "Your mother." The man asked further, "Who next?" The Prophet replied, "Your mother." The man asked once more, "And who is next?" The Prophet (pbuh) said, "Your father and then the closer kins."

[Sahih Al-Bukhari]

Severing ties with your relatives.

"He who severe his family ties will not enter Paradise."

[Reported by Al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim]

Adultery (fornication)

"And do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse. Indeed, it is ever an immorality and evil as a way."

[Qur'an; Surah al-Isra (The Night Journey) 17, verse 32]

And those who do not invoke with Allah another deity or kill the soul which Allah has forbidden [to be killed], except by right, and do not commit unlawful sexual intercourse. And whoever should do that will meet a penalty. Multiplied for him is the punishment on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein humiliated. Except for those who repent, believe and do righteous work. For them Allah will replace their evil deeds with good. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful."

[Qur'an: Surah Al-Furqan (The Criterion) 25, verse 68-70]

Sodomy (Homosexuality)

"Do you approach males among the worlds, and leave what your Lord has created for you as mates? But you are a people transgressing."

[Qur'an: Surah Ash-Shu'ara (The Poets) 26, verses 165-166]

"Indeed, you approach men with desire, instead of women. rather, you are a transgressing people." 

[Qur'an: Surah Al-A'raf (The Heights) 7, verse 81]

• Lying about Allah and His prophet
• The leader who misleads his followers (the tyrant, the oppressor)

• Arrogance, pride, conceit, vanity and haughtiness

"Assuredly, Allah knows what they conceal and what they declare. Indeed, He does not like the arrogant."

[Qur'an: Surah An-Nahl (the Bees) 16, verse 23]

"Once a man was walking along in a new set of clothes, with a swagger to his step, pleased with himself, Allah cursed the earth to swallow him and he will keep sinking until the Last Day." 

[Reported by Al-Bukhari]

• Bearing false witness
• Drinking alcohol
• Gambling (Qimar)
• Accusing a woman of adultery
• Misappropriating spoils of war, Muslim funds or zakat

• Theft

"[As for] the thief, the male and the female, amputate their hands in recompense for what they committed as a deterrent [punishment] from Allah. And Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise."

[Qur'an: Surah Al-Maidah (The Table Spread with Food) 5, verse 38]

The Muslim Jurists viewed that a thief's repentance is not valid unless he gives back what he stole. In case he is bankrupt, he should ask the real owner of the stolen item to pardon him.

• Highwaymen who menace the road
• The engulfed oath
• Taking peoples property through falsehood
• Collecting taxes
• The consumption of haram
• Suicide

• Telling lies

"...And if he should be lying, then upon him is [the consequence of] his lie; but if he should be truthful, there will strike you some of what he promises you. Indeed, Allah does not guide one who is a transgressor or liar."

[Qur'an: Surah Ghafir (The Forgiver) 40, verse 28]

However lying leads to immorality and immorality leads to the Hell-Fire, and man is recorded with Allah as a liar as long as he lies.

[Al- Bukhari & Sahih Muslim]

• The dishonest judge
• Bribery
• Women imitating men and vice versa
• The pimp and the one who permits his wife to fornicate
• Marrying solely to return to the previous husband

• Not freeing oneself of all traces of urine

On the authority of Ibn 'Abbas (May Allah be pleases with them) who said that the Prophet (PBUH) passed by two graves and said, "The two are being tormented, and not for anything excessive: One of them did not free himself of traces of urine, while the other was a talebearer."

[Reported by Al-Bukhari]

"And your garments purify! And uncleanliness avoid."

[Qur'an: Surah Al-Mudathir (The One Enveloped) 74, verses 4-5]

• Showing off in good works
• Learning sacred knowledge for the sake of this world or concealing it
• Breach of faith
• Reminding recipients of ones charity to them
• Disbelieving in destiny

• Listening to peoples private conversations

"Whoever listens to people who are averse to his listening shall have molten lead poured into his ears on the Day of Judgement."

[Reported by Al-Bukhari]

"O you who believed, avoid much [negative] assumption. Indeed, some assumption is sin. And do not spy or backbite each other."

[Qur'an: Surah Al-Hujurat (The Dwellings) 49, verses 12]

• Cursing others

The Prophet (PBUH) said, "Cursing a believer is like killing him."

[Al-Bukhari]

"It is not the character of a believer to indulge in slandering, cursing or immoral talk."

[Reported At-Tirmidhi]

"When a servant curses something,  the curse rises up to the sky, where the doors of the sky shut it out, and then it falls back to earth, where the doors of the earth shut it out. Then it searches right and left and when it does not find anywhere to go, it comes back to the thing which was cursed, should it deserve it. If not, it returns upon the person who uttered it."

[Reported by Abu Dawud]

• The talebearer who stirs up enmity between people
• Breaking ones promise or pledge
• Believing fortune tellers and astrology
• A wife's rebellion against her husband
• Picture making
• Loudly lamenting for the dead or when afflicted with an adversity
• Excess against others
• Overburdening and arrogance against others
• Hurting ones neighbour
• Hurting or reviling Muslims
• harming the servants of Allah
• Dragging the hem of one's garment out of conceit
• Men wearing silk or gold
• Fleeing of the slave
• Slaughtering in other than Allah's name
• Falsely claiming someone is one's father
• Arguing, picking apart another's words, and quarrelling
• Withholding excess water from others
• Stinting when weighing or measuring out goods and similar merchandise
• Feeling secure from Allah's devising
• Despairing of mercy of Allah and losing of hope
• Forgoing the congregational prayer to pray alone without legal excuse
• Bringing loss to the bequest
• Deception and evil schemes
• Spying on the Muslims and revealing their weaknesses
• Disparaging the companions of the Prophet