The Messenger of Allah said: The five prayers, Friday to Friday, and Ramadan to Ramadan are expiations for what is between them, if the major sins are avoided.
Therefore, it is necessary for us to investigate which are the major sins so that Muslims can avoid them.
We found the scholars, may Allah have mercy on them, differed regarding them. It was said they are seven, citing the Prophet's saying: 'Avoid the seven destructive sins'.
He mentioned among them: associating partners with Allah, sorcery, unjust killing, consuming the wealth of an orphan, usury, fleeing from the battlefield, and falsely accusing chaste, unaware, believing women - agreed upon by scholars.
Ibn Abbas said: They are closer to seventy than to seven.
And by Allah, Ibn Abbas was correct. As for the Hadith, it does not limit the major sins.
And that which is derived and supported by evidence
is that whoever commits something of these major sins
which have prescribed punishment in this world, such as killing, fornication, and theft,
or there is a warning in the Hereafter of torment, anger, threat, or cursing of its doer on the tongue of our Prophet Muhammad,
then it is a major sin.
And it must be acknowledged that some major sins are more severe than others.
Do you not see that He counted associating partners with Allah among the major sins, even though its doer will remain eternally in the Fire and will never be forgiven?
Allah the Exalted said: 'Indeed, Allah does not forgive associating partners with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills.'
