37/3. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4010 — Four Major Sins
Mentioning the Major Sins
Four Major Sins in Islam: Shirk, Parents, Murder and False Speech
Sunan an-Nasai : 4010
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4010
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الأَعْلَى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ح وَأَنْبَأَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا النَّضْرُ بْنُ شُمَيْلٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَنَسًا، يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " الْكَبَائِرُ الشِّرْكُ بِاللَّهِ وَعُقُوقُ الْوَالِدَيْنِ وَقَتْلُ النَّفْسِ وَقَوْلُ الزُّورِ " .
Anas Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah [SAW] said: The major sins are: Associating others with Allah (Shirk), disobeying one's parents, killing a soul (murder) and speaking falsely.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4010In-book reference : Book 37, Hadith 45English translation : Vol. 5, Book 37, Hadith 4015
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4010
This hadith names four major sins in direct and simple language. The Prophet lists associating others with Allah, disobeying one's parents, killing a soul and speaking falsely. The first concerns a person's duty to Allah. The second concerns treatment of parents. The third protects human life. The fourth protects truth and people from the harm caused by false words. Together, these major sins in Islam show that serious wrongdoing can appear in belief, family conduct, physical harm and speech. The narration does not rank all four or claim that no other major sins exist. It simply identifies these acts as major sins. A practical reading is to examine both actions and words: a person must avoid violence and falsehood while also guarding tawhid and showing proper conduct toward parents.
What we learn from this hadith
- Shirk is named as a major sin.
- Disobedience to parents is placed among grave acts.
- Murder is treated as a major violation of human life.
- False speech can be serious enough to be counted among major sins.
