The Seven Great Destructive Sins in Islam: A Comprehensive Guide

Understanding the Seven Major Sins and Their Consequences

It is reported on the authority of Abu Hurairah (may ALLĀH be pleased with him) that the Messenger of ALLĀH (ﷺ) said:

“Avoid the seven great destructive sins.”

They (the people!) asked, “O ALLĀH’s Messenger (ﷺ) ! What are they?”

He (ﷺ) said, "To join partners in worship with ALLĀH; to practice sorcery; to kill the life which ALLĀH has forbidden except for a just cause (according to Islamic law); to eat up usury (Ribā), to eat up the property of an orphan; to give one's back to the enemy and fleeing from the battle-field at the time of fighting and to accuse chaste women who never even think of anything touching chastity and are good believers.

{Al-Bukhārī #6857 and Muslim #89}

Because sins are the cause of loss and destruction, the Messenger of ALLĀH (ﷺ) has commanded his Ummah to avoid the following major sins which cause the destruction of their perpetrators in this life and in the Hereafter:

1⃣. Shirk (Associating partners with ALLĀH: This is because it ensnares a person in that which debases him – the worship of other created beings.

2⃣. Sorcery: This is because it leads to many sicknesses in society such as swindling of gullible people, superstition and ignorance, fraud and cheating people out of their money by lying and deception.

3⃣. Taking the life which ALLĀH has forbidden: This is because willful murder leads to a state of chaos and disorder and breakdown of law and order, causing the people to exist in a state of fear and insecurity.

4⃣. Devouring Usury (Ribā): This is because the presence of usury, ог interest in society causes loss of the peoples wealth and property, as greedy and unscupulous money- lenders rook people of their honestly earned money, growing fat at the expense of hard-working people, with no benefit to the society but only to themselves.

5⃣. Usurping the property of the orphan: This is because such behavour constitutes injustice against one who is a minor, without any who can help him or support him except ALLĀH.

6⃣. Running away from the enemy without cause or reason: This is because such an act of betrayal to one’s Muslim brothers, weakening their forces and breaking their morale.

7⃣. Unjustly accusing chaste women of adultery: This is because it destroys their reputations and results in loss of trust in them and sows doubts concerning the paternity of their children.

{Kitābu At-Tawheed Explained || Page 156-157}