Al-Matalib al-'Aliyah 2927 — Explanation of the major sins

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Imran bin Husayn (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) asked (the Companions): "When you see a fornicator and a drinker of wine, what do you say about them?" They said: Allah and His Messenger know best. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "These acts are sheer indecencies, and (legal) punishment is prescribed for them. Shall I not tell you of the greatest of the major sins?" We said: Certainly, O Messenger of Allah! He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Associating partners with Allah, as Allah Almighty says: 'And whoever associates partners with Allah has certainly fabricated a tremendous sin' [Surah al-Nisa: 48]; and disobedience to parents. Then Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, said (mentioning them together with gratitude to Himself): 'Be grateful to Me and to your parents; to Me is the final return' [Surah Luqman: 14]." The narrator says: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) had been reclining, then he (peace and blessings be upon him) sat up (to stress the gravity of the matter) and, warning repeatedly, said: "Beware! False speech; take heed! Lying (is also among the greatest sins)."
Imam al-Harith recorded this hadith in his Musnad (Bughyat al-Bahith: 699); its narrators are thiqat (trustworthy), but its chain is munqati' (broken) because al-Hasan al-Basri did not hear from Imran bin Husayn (may Allah be pleased with him); however, the text of the hadith is reliable on the basis of other authentic supporting reports.