70 Major Sins
70 Major Sins
The major sins are those acts which have been forbidden by Allah in the Quran and
by His Messenger (SAW) in the Sunnah (practise of the Prophet), and which have
been made clear by the actions of of the first righteous generation of Muslims, the
Companions of the Prophet (SAW).
If you avoid the major (part) of what you have been forbidden (to do), We
will cancel out for you your (other) evil deeds and will admit you (to
Paradise) with a noble entry. (al-Nisa 4:31)
Thus by this verse, Allah Most High has guaranteed the Garden of Paradise to those
who avoid the major sins. And Allah Most High also says:
Those who avoid the greatest of sins and indecencies, and forgive when
they are angry (al-Shra 42:37) Those who avoid the greatest sins and
indecencies, except for oversights, (will find that) surely your Lord is ample
in forgiveness. (Al-Najm 53:32)
The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: "The five [daily] prayers, Friday to Friday, and
Ramadan to Ramadan make atonement for what has happened since the previous
one when major sins have been avoided." It is therefore very important to determine
exactly what the greatest vices, technically called "the major sins" (Kaba'ir), are, in
order that Muslims should avoid them.
There is some difference of opinion among scholars in this regard. Some say these
major sins are seven, and in support of their position they quote the tradition: "Avoid
the seven noxious things"- and after having said this, the propeht (SAW) mentioned
them: "associating anything with Allah; magic; killing one whom Allah has declared
inviolate without a just case, consuming the property of an orphan, devouring usury,
turning back when the army advances, and slandering chaste women who are
believers but indiscreet." (Bukhari and Muslim)
'Abdullah ibn 'Abbas said: "Seventy is closer to their number than seven," and indeed
that is correct. The above tradition does not limit the major sins to those mentioned
in it. Rather, it points to the type of sins which fall into the category of "major." These
include those crimes which call for a prescribed punishment (HADD; plural, HUDUD),
such as theft, fornication or adultery (ZINA), and murder; those prohibited acts for
which a warning of a severe punishment in the Next is given in the Qur'an or the
tradition; and also those deeds which are cursed by our Prophet (SAW). These are all
major sins.
Of course, there is a gradation among them, since some are more serious than
others. We see that the Prophet (SAW) has included SHIRK (associating someone or
something with Allah) among them, and from the text of the Qur'an we know that a
person who commits SHIRK will not his sin be forgiven and will remain in Hell
forever.
Source: The Major Sins Al-Kaba'r By Muhammad bin 'Uthman Adh-Dhahabi, rendered
into English by Mohammad Moinuddin Siddiqui
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O Allah, Lord of Jibril, Mika'il and Israfil, Creator of the heavens and the earth, Knower
of the unseen and the seen, You will judge between Your servants concerning that
wherein they differ. Guide me with regard to that wherein there is dispute concerning
the truth by Your leave, for You guide whomsoever You will to the straight path.