65/25.2. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 4761 — The Biggest Sins in the Sight of Allah
The Statement of Allah the Exalted: "And those who invoke not any other ilāh (God) along with Allah, nor kill such person..." (V.25:68)
Major Sins in Islam: Shirk, Murder, and Adultery
Sahih Bukhari : 4761
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4761
حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي مَنْصُورٌ، وَسُلَيْمَانُ، عَنْ أَبِي وَائِلٍ، عَنْ أَبِي مَيْسَرَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ،. قَالَ وَحَدَّثَنِي وَاصِلٌ، عَنْ أَبِي وَائِلٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ ـ أَوْ سُئِلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ أَىُّ الذَّنْبِ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ قَالَ " أَنْ تَجْعَلَ لِلَّهِ نِدًّا وَهْوَ خَلَقَكَ ". قُلْتُ ثُمَّ أَىٌّ قَالَ " ثُمَّ أَنْ تَقْتُلَ وَلَدَكَ خَشْيَةَ أَنْ يَطْعَمَ مَعَكَ". قُلْتُ ثُمَّ أَىٌّ قَالَ " أَنْ تُزَانِيَ بِحَلِيلَةِ جَارِكَ ". قَالَ وَنَزَلَتْ هَذِهِ الآيَةُ تَصْدِيقًا لِقَوْلِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم {وَالَّذِينَ لاَ يَدْعُونَ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَهًا آخَرَ وَلاَ يَقْتُلُونَ النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ إِلاَّ بِالْحَقِّ وَلَا يَزْنُونَ}
`Abdullah Narrated from:
I or somebody, asked Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) "Which is the biggest sin in the Sight of Allah?" He said, "That you set up a rival (in worship) to Allah though He Alone created you." I asked, "What is next?" He said, "Then, that you kill your son, being afraid that he may share your meals with you." I asked, "What is next?" He said, "That you commit illegal sexual intercourse with the wife of your neighbor." Then the following Verse was revealed to confirm the statement of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ):"Those who invoke not with Allah, any other god, nor kill life as Allah has forbidden except for just cause, nor commit illegal sexual intercourse." (25.68)
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4761In-book reference : Book 65, Hadith 283USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 6, Book 60, Hadith 284
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4761
This hadith about major sins in Islam gives a clear order of serious wrongs mentioned in the text. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was asked which sin is greatest in Allah’s sight. He answered first with shirk: setting up a rival to Allah while He created you. Then he mentioned killing one’s child out of fear that the child may share food. Then he mentioned illegal sexual intercourse with the wife of a neighbor. The hadith also links this answer to the verse about not calling on another god with Allah, not killing a life Allah has forbidden, and not committing zina. Its message is direct: worship belongs to Allah alone, life is sacred, and family and neighbor rights must be protected.
What we learn from this hadith
- Shirk is named first because the hadith says it is the biggest sin.
- The life of a child must not be harmed out of fear of poverty or food.
- The wife of a neighbor carries a serious trust that must not be violated.
