✍ Source: Khutbāt Hāfiz Muhammad Ishāq Zāhid
The purpose of this article is to elaborate on seven deadly sins from which the Prophet ﷺ specifically warned his Ummah. These sins lead to destruction both in this world and the Hereafter. They are:
➊ Shirk (associating partners with Allah)
➋ Siḥr (magic)
➌ Unjust killing
➍ Consuming usury (interest)
➎ Devouring the wealth of orphans
➏ Fleeing from the battlefield
➐ Slandering chaste believing women
Each sin will be explained with its Sharʿī definition, harmful effects, and rulings from the Qur’an and Sunnah, so that Muslims may avoid these sins and turn toward the obedience of Allah and His Messenger ﷺ.
((اجتنبوا السبع الموبقات))
"Avoid the seven destructive sins."
The companions asked:
(وما هن يا رسول الله؟)
"O Messenger of Allah! What are they?"
The Prophet ﷺ replied:
➊ ((الشرك بالله)) — Associating partners with Allah
➋ ((والسحر)) — Magic
➌ ((وقتل النفس التي حرم الله إلا بالحق)) — Killing an innocent soul
➍ ((وأكل الربا)) — Consuming usury (interest)
➎ ((وأكل مال اليتيم)) — Devouring the wealth of an orphan
➏ ((والتولي يوم الزحف)) — Fleeing from the battlefield
➐ ((وقذف المحصنات الغافلات المؤمنات)) — Slandering chaste, innocent, believing women
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 2766, 5764, 6857 | Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 89
Definition:
Shirk is to ascribe partners to Allah in His lordship, worship, or divine attributes. Examples include:
◈ Believing anyone else controls the universe
◈ Worshipping others through prostration, supplication, or sacrifice
◈ Calling upon others in times of hardship
◈ Fearing or hoping from others in ways exclusive to Allah
These are forms of major shirk, which invalidate all good deeds.
﴿إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَغْفِرُ أَنْ يُشْرَكَ بِهِ...﴾
"Indeed, Allah does not forgive associating partners with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills."
Surah an-Nisā’: 116
﴿إِنَّهُ مَنْ يُشْرِكْ بِاللَّهِ فَقَدْ حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ الْجَنَّةَ...﴾
"Whoever associates partners with Allah, Allah has made Paradise forbidden for him."
Surah al-Mā’idah: 72
Definition (According to Scholars):
◈ Imām al-Zuhrī: Magic is to alter the reality of a thing.
◈ Ibn Manẓūr: The magician presents things contrary to reality.
◈ Ibn Qudāmah: It includes knot-tying, incantations, and acts that affect the heart, body, or mind.
Reality of Magic:
Magic is a pact with Shayṭān, where the magician performs kufr or shirk in exchange for demonic help.
Magic Has Real Effects:
Even the Prophet ﷺ was once affected by magic, as authentically reported.
‘A’ishah رضي الله عنها narrated that Labīd ibn Aʿṣam cast a spell on the Prophet ﷺ using hair, a comb, and date fibers, which was later revealed to him by two angels.
﴿... وَلَكِنَّ الشَّيَاطِينَ كَفَرُوا يُعَلِّمُونَ النَّاسَ السِّحْرَ...﴾
"It was not Sulaimān who disbelieved, but the devils disbelieved, teaching people magic... causing division between husband and wife."
Surah al-Baqarah: 102
Sanctity of Life in Islam:
Human life is sacred. Taking an innocent life is a major sin with severe consequences.
﴿وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ...﴾
"Do not kill the soul which Allah has made sacred, except with due right."
Surah al-Isrā’: 33 | al-Anʿām: 151
✔ Three Cases Where Blood Is Permissible:
➊ A married adulterer
➋ A murderer
➌ An apostate
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 6878 | Muslim: 1676
✔ Farewell Sermon:
"Your blood and wealth are sacred... like this day, this month, and this city."
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1218
✔ Punishment for Murder:
﴿... فَجَزَاؤُهُ جَهَنَّمُ...﴾
"His recompense is Hell, Allah’s wrath and curse, and a great punishment."
Surah an-Nisā’: 93
✔ Hadith:
"When two Muslims face each other with swords, both the killer and the killed are in Hell."
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 2888
✔ Killing a Non-Muslim Citizen:
"Whoever kills a Muʿāhad (non-Muslim under Muslim protection) will not even smell the fragrance of Paradise."
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 3166
Definition:
Ribā (interest) is among the most severely condemned sins in the Qur’an and Sunnah. All forms of dealing with ribā—whether giving, taking, writing, or witnessing—are sinful.
﴿... وَأَحَلَّ اللَّهُ الْبَيْعَ وَحَرَّمَ الرِّبَا﴾
"Allah has permitted trade and forbidden usury."
Surah al-Baqarah: 275
﴿... لَا تَأْكُلُوا الرِّبَا أَضْعَافًا مُّضَاعَفَةً﴾
"Do not consume usury, doubled and multiplied."
Surah Āl ʿImrān: 130
﴿... فَأْذَنُوا بِحَرْبٍ مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ﴾
"Then be informed of a war from Allah and His Messenger."
Surah al-Baqarah: 279
﴿يَمْحَقُ اللَّهُ الرِّبَا وَيُرْبِي الصَّدَقَاتِ﴾
"Allah destroys interest and increases charity."
Surah al-Baqarah: 276
✔ Wealth with Ribā Decreases Ultimately:
"Whoever increases his wealth with ribā, it will eventually lead to loss."
Sunan Ibn Mājah: 2279
✔ The Prophet’s Curse:
"Allah cursed the one who consumes interest, gives it, writes it, and witnesses it."
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1598
Definition:
An orphan is a minor whose father has passed away. Islam emphasizes the protection of orphans’ rights and property.
﴿وَآتُوا الْيَتَامَىٰ أَمْوَالَهُمْ...﴾
"Give orphans their wealth and do not substitute good with bad, nor consume it unjustly."
Surah an-Nisā’: 2
﴿إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَأْكُلُونَ أَمْوَالَ الْيَتَامَى ظُلْمًا...﴾
"Those who unjustly consume the wealth of orphans are only filling their bellies with fire."
Surah an-Nisā’: 10
﴿وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا مَالَ الْيَتِيمِ...﴾
"Do not approach the property of the orphan except in a way that is best."
Surah al-Anʿām: 152
✔ If a guardian is poor, he may consume a reasonable portion.
Surah an-Nisā’: 6
Turning back during battle—except for strategy or regrouping—is a major sin.
﴿... فَلَا تُوَلُّوهُمُ الْأَدْبَارَ﴾
"Do not turn your backs to the disbelievers in battle."
Surah al-Anfāl: 15
﴿وَمَن يُوَلِّهِمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ دُبُرَهُ...﴾
"Whoever turns back, except for strategy or joining troops, has earned Allah’s anger."
Surah al-Anfāl: 16
Consequences:
✦ Encourages enemy
✦ Breaks morale
✦ Betrays collective interest
✦ Invites Allah’s wrath
This is the seventh destructive sin—accusing innocent, modest, believing women of adultery.
﴿وَالَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ الْمُحْصَنَاتِ... فَاجْلِدُوهُمْ ثَمَانِينَ جَلْدَةً...﴾
"Those who accuse chaste women and do not bring four witnesses—lash them with eighty lashes."
Surah an-Nūr: 4
﴿إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ الْمُحْصَنَاتِ... لُعِنُوا فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ...﴾
"Indeed, those who accuse believing chaste women are cursed in this world and the Hereafter."
Surah an-Nūr: 23
The Prophet ﷺ said:
((وهل يكب الناس في النار على وجوههم إلا حصائد ألسنتهم؟))
"Is there anything that drags people into Hellfire on their faces more than the harvest of their tongues?"
Sunan al-Tirmidhī
We must:
✔ Purify our creed from shirk
✔ Avoid all forms of magic
✔ Respect the sanctity of life and honor
✔ Steer clear of interest-based systems
✔ Protect the property of orphans
✔ Stand firm in defense of Islam
✔ Guard our speech against slander, lies, and false accusations
May Allah protect us from these destructive sins, forgive our past mistakes, and grant us true repentance. Āmīn.
❖ Objective of This Article
The purpose of this article is to elaborate on seven deadly sins from which the Prophet ﷺ specifically warned his Ummah. These sins lead to destruction both in this world and the Hereafter. They are:
➊ Shirk (associating partners with Allah)
➋ Siḥr (magic)
➌ Unjust killing
➍ Consuming usury (interest)
➎ Devouring the wealth of orphans
➏ Fleeing from the battlefield
➐ Slandering chaste believing women
Each sin will be explained with its Sharʿī definition, harmful effects, and rulings from the Qur’an and Sunnah, so that Muslims may avoid these sins and turn toward the obedience of Allah and His Messenger ﷺ.
❖ The Hadith on the Seven Destructive Sins
Narrated by Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه:
((اجتنبوا السبع الموبقات))
"Avoid the seven destructive sins."
The companions asked:
(وما هن يا رسول الله؟)
"O Messenger of Allah! What are they?"
The Prophet ﷺ replied:
➊ ((الشرك بالله)) — Associating partners with Allah
➋ ((والسحر)) — Magic
➌ ((وقتل النفس التي حرم الله إلا بالحق)) — Killing an innocent soul
➍ ((وأكل الربا)) — Consuming usury (interest)
➎ ((وأكل مال اليتيم)) — Devouring the wealth of an orphan
➏ ((والتولي يوم الزحف)) — Fleeing from the battlefield
➐ ((وقذف المحصنات الغافلات المؤمنات)) — Slandering chaste, innocent, believing women
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 2766, 5764, 6857 | Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 89➊ Shirk – Associating Partners with Allah
Definition:
Shirk is to ascribe partners to Allah in His lordship, worship, or divine attributes. Examples include:
◈ Believing anyone else controls the universe
◈ Worshipping others through prostration, supplication, or sacrifice
◈ Calling upon others in times of hardship
◈ Fearing or hoping from others in ways exclusive to Allah
These are forms of major shirk, which invalidate all good deeds.
❖ Qur’anic Verses
﴿إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَغْفِرُ أَنْ يُشْرَكَ بِهِ...﴾
"Indeed, Allah does not forgive associating partners with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills."
Surah an-Nisā’: 116﴿إِنَّهُ مَنْ يُشْرِكْ بِاللَّهِ فَقَدْ حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ الْجَنَّةَ...﴾
"Whoever associates partners with Allah, Allah has made Paradise forbidden for him."
Surah al-Mā’idah: 72➋ Siḥr – Magic
Definition (According to Scholars):
◈ Imām al-Zuhrī: Magic is to alter the reality of a thing.
◈ Ibn Manẓūr: The magician presents things contrary to reality.
◈ Ibn Qudāmah: It includes knot-tying, incantations, and acts that affect the heart, body, or mind.
Reality of Magic:
Magic is a pact with Shayṭān, where the magician performs kufr or shirk in exchange for demonic help.
Magic Has Real Effects:
Even the Prophet ﷺ was once affected by magic, as authentically reported.
❖ Hadith Summary (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 5763 / Muslim 2189):
‘A’ishah رضي الله عنها narrated that Labīd ibn Aʿṣam cast a spell on the Prophet ﷺ using hair, a comb, and date fibers, which was later revealed to him by two angels.
❖ Qur’anic Verse
﴿... وَلَكِنَّ الشَّيَاطِينَ كَفَرُوا يُعَلِّمُونَ النَّاسَ السِّحْرَ...﴾
"It was not Sulaimān who disbelieved, but the devils disbelieved, teaching people magic... causing division between husband and wife."
Surah al-Baqarah: 102➌ Unjust Killing
Sanctity of Life in Islam:
Human life is sacred. Taking an innocent life is a major sin with severe consequences.
❖ Qur’anic Verses
﴿وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ...﴾
"Do not kill the soul which Allah has made sacred, except with due right."
Surah al-Isrā’: 33 | al-Anʿām: 151❖ Hadith
✔ Three Cases Where Blood Is Permissible:
➊ A married adulterer
➋ A murderer
➌ An apostate
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 6878 | Muslim: 1676✔ Farewell Sermon:
"Your blood and wealth are sacred... like this day, this month, and this city."
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1218✔ Punishment for Murder:
﴿... فَجَزَاؤُهُ جَهَنَّمُ...﴾
"His recompense is Hell, Allah’s wrath and curse, and a great punishment."
Surah an-Nisā’: 93✔ Hadith:
"When two Muslims face each other with swords, both the killer and the killed are in Hell."
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 2888✔ Killing a Non-Muslim Citizen:
"Whoever kills a Muʿāhad (non-Muslim under Muslim protection) will not even smell the fragrance of Paradise."
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 3166➍ Consuming Usury (Ribā)
Definition:
Ribā (interest) is among the most severely condemned sins in the Qur’an and Sunnah. All forms of dealing with ribā—whether giving, taking, writing, or witnessing—are sinful.
❖ Qur’anic Verses
﴿... وَأَحَلَّ اللَّهُ الْبَيْعَ وَحَرَّمَ الرِّبَا﴾
"Allah has permitted trade and forbidden usury."
Surah al-Baqarah: 275﴿... لَا تَأْكُلُوا الرِّبَا أَضْعَافًا مُّضَاعَفَةً﴾
"Do not consume usury, doubled and multiplied."
Surah Āl ʿImrān: 130﴿... فَأْذَنُوا بِحَرْبٍ مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ﴾
"Then be informed of a war from Allah and His Messenger."
Surah al-Baqarah: 279﴿يَمْحَقُ اللَّهُ الرِّبَا وَيُرْبِي الصَّدَقَاتِ﴾
"Allah destroys interest and increases charity."
Surah al-Baqarah: 276❖ Hadith
✔ Wealth with Ribā Decreases Ultimately:
"Whoever increases his wealth with ribā, it will eventually lead to loss."
Sunan Ibn Mājah: 2279✔ The Prophet’s Curse:
"Allah cursed the one who consumes interest, gives it, writes it, and witnesses it."
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1598➎ Devouring the Wealth of Orphans
Definition:
An orphan is a minor whose father has passed away. Islam emphasizes the protection of orphans’ rights and property.
❖ Qur’anic Verses
﴿وَآتُوا الْيَتَامَىٰ أَمْوَالَهُمْ...﴾
"Give orphans their wealth and do not substitute good with bad, nor consume it unjustly."
Surah an-Nisā’: 2﴿إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَأْكُلُونَ أَمْوَالَ الْيَتَامَى ظُلْمًا...﴾
"Those who unjustly consume the wealth of orphans are only filling their bellies with fire."
Surah an-Nisā’: 10﴿وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا مَالَ الْيَتِيمِ...﴾
"Do not approach the property of the orphan except in a way that is best."
Surah al-Anʿām: 152✔ If a guardian is poor, he may consume a reasonable portion.
Surah an-Nisā’: 6➏ Fleeing from the Battlefield
Turning back during battle—except for strategy or regrouping—is a major sin.
❖ Qur’anic Verses
﴿... فَلَا تُوَلُّوهُمُ الْأَدْبَارَ﴾
"Do not turn your backs to the disbelievers in battle."
Surah al-Anfāl: 15﴿وَمَن يُوَلِّهِمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ دُبُرَهُ...﴾
"Whoever turns back, except for strategy or joining troops, has earned Allah’s anger."
Surah al-Anfāl: 16Consequences:
✦ Encourages enemy
✦ Breaks morale
✦ Betrays collective interest
✦ Invites Allah’s wrath
➐ Slandering Chaste Believing Women
This is the seventh destructive sin—accusing innocent, modest, believing women of adultery.
❖ Qur’anic Punishment
﴿وَالَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ الْمُحْصَنَاتِ... فَاجْلِدُوهُمْ ثَمَانِينَ جَلْدَةً...﴾
"Those who accuse chaste women and do not bring four witnesses—lash them with eighty lashes."
Surah an-Nūr: 4﴿إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ الْمُحْصَنَاتِ... لُعِنُوا فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ...﴾
"Indeed, those who accuse believing chaste women are cursed in this world and the Hereafter."
Surah an-Nūr: 23❖ Guarding the Tongue
The Prophet ﷺ said:
((وهل يكب الناس في النار على وجوههم إلا حصائد ألسنتهم؟))
"Is there anything that drags people into Hellfire on their faces more than the harvest of their tongues?"
Sunan al-Tirmidhī❖ Conclusion
We must:
✔ Purify our creed from shirk
✔ Avoid all forms of magic
✔ Respect the sanctity of life and honor
✔ Steer clear of interest-based systems
✔ Protect the property of orphans
✔ Stand firm in defense of Islam
✔ Guard our speech against slander, lies, and false accusations
May Allah protect us from these destructive sins, forgive our past mistakes, and grant us true repentance. Āmīn.
