Chapter on Recognizing the Major Sins for Which Allah {swt}, the Almighty, Has Threatened with Hellfire

"Indeed, the major sins are seven, revealed concerning us and made permissible against us. The first of them is associating partners with Allah (swt), the Almighty, the killing of a soul 'which Allah (swt) has forbidden' (Almighty and Majestic), consuming the wealth of an orphan, disobedience to parents, accusing a chaste woman, fleeing from the battlefield, and denying our (Ahlulbayt (as)) right. As for associating partners with Allah (swt), the Almighty, Allah (swt) has revealed regarding us what He (swt) has revealed, and the Messenger of Allah (swt) (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) has spoken about us what He (sw) has spoken. But they denied Allah (swt) and denied His Messenger (sw), thus associating partners with Allah (swt). And as for the killing of a soul 'which Allah has forbidden', Indeed, they killed Imam Hussain ibn Ali (as) and his companions. As for consuming the wealth of the orphan, they took away our (Ahlulbayt (as)) rightful share of the spoils that Allah (swt), the Almighty and Majestic, had assigned to us and gave it to others instead of us. As for disobedience to parents, Allah (swt), the Blessed and Exalted, revealed this in His (swt) Book, saying: 'The Prophet is closer to the believers than their own selves, and his wives are their mothers' (Surah Al-Ahzab 33:6). Yet, they disobeyed the Messenger of Allah (swt) (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) concerning his progeny, and they disobeyed their mother Khadijah through her children. As for accusing a chaste woman, they accused Sayyida Fatimah {s.a} from their pulpits. As for fleeing from the battlefield, they pledged allegiance to the Commander of the Faithful (as) willingly, without coercion, but they abandoned Him (as) and betrayed Him (as). As for denying Our (Ahlulbayt (as)) right, this is they do without dispute."

I heard my father Imam Musa ibn Jafar Al-Kadhim (as) say: 'Amr ibn 'Ubayd al-Basri entered upon Abu Abdullah (as). When he greeted him and sat down, he recited the verse: "Those who avoid the major sins" (Surah Al-Shura 42:37), then he stopped. Imam (as) said to him: "What has made you stop?" He replied: "I wish to know the major sins from the Book of Allah (swt), the Almighty and Majestic." Imam (as) said: "Yes, O 'Amr, the greatest of the major sins is associating partners with Allah (swt). Allah (swt), the Blessed and Exalted, says: 'Indeed, Allah does not forgive associating partners with Him' (Surah An-Nisa 4:48). And Allah (swt), the Almighty and Majestic, says: 'Indeed, whoever associates partners with Allah, then Allah has forbidden Paradise for him, and his abode is the Fire, and there are no helpers for the wrongdoers' (Surah Al-Ma'idah 5:72). After that is despairing of the mercy of Allah (swt) - for Allah (swt), the Almighty and Majestic, says: 'Indeed, no one despairs of the mercy of Allah except the disbelieving people' (Surah Yusuf 12:87). Then, feeling secure from the plan of Allah (swt), for Allah (swt), the Exalted, says: 'None feels secure from the plan of Allah except the losing people' (Surah Al-A'raf 7:99). Among them is disobedience to parents, for Allah (swt), the Almighty and Majestic, has made the disobedient one arrogant and wretched, as He (swt) says in His (swt) Book: 'And dutiful to my mother, and He did not make me an arrogant wretched one' (Surah Maryam 19:32)." And the killing of a soul 'which Allah has forbidden, except by right' (Surah Al-Isra 17:33), for Allah (swt), the Almighty and Majestic, says: 'And whoever kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell, wherein he will abide eternally...' (Surah An-Nisa 4:93) until the end of the verse. And accusing chaste women, for Allah (swt), the Almighty and Majestic, says: 'Indeed, those who accuse chaste, unaware, believing women are cursed in this world and the Hereafter, and for them is a great punishment' (Surah An-Nur 24:23). And consuming the wealth of the orphan unjustly, for Allah (swt), the Almighty and Majestic, says: 'Indeed, those who consume the wealth of orphans unjustly are only filling their bellies with fire, and they will be burned in a Blaze' (Surah An-Nisa 4:10). And fleeing from the battlefield, for Allah (swt), the Almighty and Majestic, says: 'And whoever turns his back to them on that day, unless maneuvering for battle or joining another company, has certainly drawn upon himself the wrath of Allah, and his refuge is Hell-and wretched is the destination' (Surah Al-Anfal 8:16). And consuming usury, for Allah (swt), the Exalted, says: 'Those who consume usury will not stand except as one stands who is being beaten by Satan into insanity' (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:275). And Allah (swt), the Almighty and Majestic, says: 'O you who have believed, fear Allah and give up what remains [due to you] of usury, if you should be believers. But if you do not, then be informed of a war from Allah and His Messenger...' (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:278-279). And sorcery, for Allah (swt), the Almighty and Majestic, says: 'And they certainly knew that whoever purchased it would have no share in the Hereafter...' (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:102). And fornication, for Allah (swt), the Almighty and Majestic, says: 'And whoever does that shall meet a penalty. The punishment will be doubled for him on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein humiliated-except for those who repent and believe...' (Surah Al-Furqan 25:68-70). And the false oath (al-yamin al-ghamus), for Allah (swt), the Almighty and Majestic, says: 'Indeed, those who exchange the covenant of Allah and their oaths for a small price will have no share in the Hereafter...' (Surah Aal-e-Imran 3:77). And misappropriation (ghulul), for Allah (swt), the Exalted, says: 'And whoever misappropriates [an item], he will bring forth what he misappropriated on the Day of Resurrection...' (Surah Aal-e-Imran 3:161)." And withholding the obligatory Zakat, for Allah (swt), the Almighty and Majestic, says: 'On the Day when it will be heated in the fire of Hell and their foreheads, their sides, and their backs will be branded with it: This is what you hoarded for yourselves, so taste what you used to hoard' (Surah At-Tawbah 9:35). And false testimony and concealing testimony, for Allah (swt), the Almighty and Majestic, says: 'And whoever conceals it, his heart is sinful' (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:283). And drinking intoxicants, for Allah (swt), the Almighty and Majestic, has equated it with the worship of idols. And deliberately abandoning prayer or anything that Allah (swt), the Almighty and Majestic, has made obligatory, for the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said: 'Whoever deliberately abandons prayer has indeed removed himself from the protection of Allah, the Almighty and Majestic, and the protection of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him and his family).' And breaking covenants and severing family ties (swt), for Allah, the Almighty and Majestic, says: 'For them is the curse, and for them is the worst home' (Surah Ar-Ra'd 13:25). Then 'Amr ibn 'Ubayd left, crying loudly and saying, 'Perished is the one who speaks based on his own opinion and disputes with you (Imam (as)) in virtue and knowledge!'"