The Seven Major Destructive Sins in Islam

Do you know the 7 major sins in Islam? Every Muslim must know and avoid these major sins to protect themselves from severe punishment.

If you have ever committed any of these major sins in the past, repent sincerely to Allah ﷻ and resolve to never return to it. 

It was narrated by Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

“Avoid the seven sins that doom one to Hell…

…Associating others with Allah (Shirk), magic, killing a soul whom Allah has forbidden killing, consuming Interest (Riba), consuming the property of orphans, fleeing on the day of the march (to the battlefield), and slandering chaste women”

An-Nisai

1. Associating others with Allah (Shirk)

The Prophet ﷺ  said,

“It is hoped that Allah may forgive every sin, except in the case of one who dies a polytheist…”

Abu Dawud

“Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And he who associates others with Allah has certainly gone far astray.”

Quran 4:116

2. Taking a life unjustly

“….Whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land – it is as if he had slain mankind entirely. And whoever saves one – it is as if he had saved mankind entirely…”

Quran 5:32

3. Consuming Interest (Riba)

Allah’s Messengerﷺ cursed the accepter of interest and its payer, the one who records it as well as the two witnesses, and heﷺ said that they are all equal. (Musilm)

“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.”

Quran 2:275

4. Consuming the wealth of an Orphan

“And do not approach the property of an orphan, except in the way that is best, until he reaches maturity.”

Quran 17:34)

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

Quran 4:10

5. Fleeing The Battlefield

“O you who have believed, when you meet those who disbelieve advancing [for battle], do not turn to them your backs [in flight]. And whoever turns his back to them on such a day…has certainly returned with anger [upon him] from Allah, and his refuge is Hell – and wretched is the destination.”

Quran 8:15-16

6. Accusing a believing woman of Adultery

“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 the defiantly disobedient,”

“Except for those who repent thereafter and reform, for indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.”

Quran 24:4-5

7. Practicing Sihr (Magic)

And they followed [instead] what the devils had recited during the reign of Solomon. It was not Solomon who disbelieved, but the devils disbelieved, teaching people sihr and that which was revealed to 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 practicing sihr].” And [yet] they learn from them 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 that whoever purchased the sihr would not have in the Hereafter any share. And wretched is that for which they sold themselves, if they only knew.

Quran 2:102

Allah’s Messengerﷺ said, “Avoid the Mubiqat, i.e., shirk and witchcraft.”

Bukhari

May Allah protect us from these sins!