1/37. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 86a — The Gravest Sins in Islam
Clarifying that Shirk is the worst of sins, and the worst sins after Shirk
Gravest Sins in Islam Hadith: Shirk, Killing, and Zina
Sahih Muslim : 86a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 86a
حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَإِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ إِسْحَاقُ أَخْبَرَنَا جَرِيرٌ، وَقَالَ، عُثْمَانُ حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، عَنْ أَبِي وَائِلٍ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ شُرَحْبِيلَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ سَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَىُّ الذَّنْبِ أَعْظَمُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ قَالَ " أَنْ تَجْعَلَ لِلَّهِ نِدًّا وَهُوَ خَلَقَكَ " . قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ إِنَّ ذَلِكَ لَعَظِيمٌ . قَالَ قُلْتُ ثُمَّ أَىٌّ قَالَ " ثُمَّ أَنْ تَقْتُلَ وَلَدَكَ مَخَافَةَ أَنْ يَطْعَمَ مَعَكَ " . قَالَ قُلْتُ ثُمَّ أَىٌّ قَالَ " ثُمَّ أَنْ تُزَانِيَ حَلِيلَةَ جَارِكَ " .
`Abdullah Narrated from:
I asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ): Which sin is the gravest in the eye of Allah? He (the Holy Prophet) replied: That you associate a partner with Allah (despite the fact) that He has created you. He (the reporter) said: I told him (the, Holy Prophet): Verily it is indeed grave.He (the reporter) said: I asked him what the next (gravest sin) was. He (the Holy Prophet) replied: That you kill your child out of fear that he shall join you in food. He (the reporter) said: I asked (him) what the next (gravest sin) was. He (the Holy Prophet) observed: Then (the next gravest sin) is that you commit adultery with the wife of your neighbour.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 86aIn-book reference : Book 1, Hadith 163USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 1, Hadith 156
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 86a
This Hadith answers the question: which sin is gravest in the sight of Allah? The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم first mentioned associating a partner with Allah, even though Allah created the person. Then he mentioned killing one's child out of fear that the child would share one's food. Then he mentioned adultery with the wife of one's neighbor. The main search phrase is gravest sins in Islam hadith. The wording is very specific, so the explanation should stay specific too. It is not a general list of every major sin. It gives three grave sins in the order stated: shirk, killing a child for fear of provision, and violating a neighbor's marriage.
What we learn from this hadith
- Associating a partner with Allah is named first in this answer.
- Killing a child out of fear of sharing food is described as a grave sin.
- Adultery with a neighbor's wife is named as another grave sin.
- The Hadith teaches respect for Allah's right, life, and neighborly trust.
