37/3. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4009 — Major Sins and the Path to Paradise
Mentioning the Major Sins
Major Sins in Islam: Worship, Salah, Zakah and Three Warnings
Sunan an-Nasai : 4009
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4009
أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا بَقِيَّةُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي بَحِيرُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ، عَنْ خَالِدِ بْنِ مَعْدَانَ، أَنَّ أَبَا رُهْمٍ السَّمَعِيَّ، حَدَّثَهُمْ أَنَّ أَبَا أَيُّوبَ الأَنْصَارِيَّ حَدَّثَهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " مَنْ جَاءَ يَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ وَلاَ يُشْرِكُ بِهِ شَيْئًا وَيُقِيمُ الصَّلاَةَ وَيُؤْتِي الزَّكَاةَ وَيَجْتَنِبُ الْكَبَائِرَ كَانَ لَهُ الْجَنَّةُ " . فَسَأَلُوهُ عَنِ الْكَبَائِرِ فَقَالَ " الإِشْرَاكُ بِاللَّهِ وَقَتْلُ النَّفْسِ الْمُسْلِمَةِ وَالْفِرَارُ يَوْمَ الزَّحْفِ " .
Abu Ayyub Al-Ansari Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah [SAW] said: "Whoever comes worshipping Allah and not associating anything with Him, establishing Salah, paying Zakah and avoiding major sins, Paradise will be his." They asked him about major sins and he said: "Associating others with Allah, killing a Muslim soul, and fleeing (from the battlefield) on the day of the march."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4009In-book reference : Book 37, Hadith 44English translation : Vol. 5, Book 37, Hadith 4014
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4009
This hadith gives a clear picture of faithful practice and major sins in Islam. The Prophet says that a person who comes worshipping Allah without associating anything with Him, establishes Salah, pays Zakah and avoids major sins will have Paradise. When people ask what the major sins are, he names associating partners with Allah, killing a Muslim soul and fleeing on the day of battle. The hadith brings belief, worship, financial duty and moral restraint together. It does not present faith as words alone. Worship of Allah is joined with prayer, Zakah and avoiding grave wrongdoing. The promise in the narration belongs to the conditions it states, so it should not be separated from them. The practical focus is to guard tawhid, keep the required acts named here and stay far from the serious sins listed.
What we learn from this hadith
- Worshipping Allah without shirk is the first condition named in the hadith.
- Establishing Salah and paying Zakah are joined with avoiding major sins.
- The hadith lists shirk, killing a Muslim soul and fleeing battle among major sins.
- The promise of Paradise is presented together with belief, worship and restraint.
