Written by: Fadheelat Ash-Sheikh Abdul Salam bin Muhammad (may Allah preserve him)
"It is to set up a rival to Allah, while He is the One who created you."
Ibn Mas'ud asked, "Then what?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) replied, "To kill your child for fear that he will share your food."
Ibn Mas'ud then asked, "And then what?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "To commit adultery with your neighbor's wife." [Agreed upon]
"So do not attribute to Allah equals while you know (that there is nothing like Him)." [Surah Al-Baqarah: 22]
Shirk is such a serious sin that, while Allah may forgive other sins, He will not forgive shirk unless one repents:
"Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills." [Surah An-Nisa: 48]
Even the prophets were warned that if they committed shirk, all their deeds would be nullified:
"And it was already revealed to you and to those before you that if you should associate (anything) with Allah, your work would surely become worthless, and you would surely be among the losers." [Surah Az-Zumar: 65]
➋ After shirk, the next greatest sin is unjust killing, particularly the killing of one's own child out of fear of poverty. Allah has strongly condemned this act:
"And those who do not invoke any other god with Allah, nor kill a soul which Allah has forbidden to be killed, except by right, nor commit adultery." [Surah Al-Furqan: 68]
Killing one's own child due to fear that they will share one's food is a heinous sin. It involves doubting Allah's promise to provide for all:
"And do not kill your children for fear of poverty. We provide for them and for you." [Surah Al-Isra: 31]
This sin is compounded by three evils: the killing of an innocent child, the severing of family ties, and a lack of trust in Allah's promise.
➌ The next major sin is adultery, especially committing adultery with the wife of one’s neighbor. Allah has warned against approaching adultery:
"And do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse. Indeed, it is ever an immorality and is evil as a way." [Surah Al-Isra: 32]
Adultery with a neighbor's wife is even worse because it violates the rights of both a spouse and a neighbor. The neighbor has a right to be treated with respect, and it is a great betrayal to commit adultery with his wife, who should be under his protection. Such an act destroys trust, violates the sanctity of the home, and leads to the ruin of families.
➍ The term "tazani" in the Hadith implies mutual participation in the sin. The neighbor's wife would be consenting to this sin, and such an agreement adds further gravity to the crime. It destroys the marital bond and breaks the loyalty between husband and wife, often leading to the breakdown of the family.
➎ The term "Haleelah" (the lawful wife of your neighbor) is used to emphasize that this woman is lawful only for her husband, and not for anyone else. It serves as a reminder that committing adultery with someone else's wife is a gross violation of the sanctity of marriage.
In conclusion, these three sins—shirk, the unjust killing of a child, and adultery with a neighbor's wife—are among the gravest sins in Islam, each carrying severe spiritual and worldly consequences.
Hadith:
Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that he asked the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), "Which sin is the greatest?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) replied:"It is to set up a rival to Allah, while He is the One who created you."
Ibn Mas'ud asked, "Then what?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) replied, "To kill your child for fear that he will share your food."
Ibn Mas'ud then asked, "And then what?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "To commit adultery with your neighbor's wife." [Agreed upon]
Reference: [Bukhari 6861], [Muslim, Kitab Al-Iman 142]
Benefits:
➊ The greatest sin of all is associating partners with Allah (shirk). It is unbefitting for a person to make equals with Allah, who created them, while associating partners with those who created nothing. Allah says:"So do not attribute to Allah equals while you know (that there is nothing like Him)." [Surah Al-Baqarah: 22]
Shirk is such a serious sin that, while Allah may forgive other sins, He will not forgive shirk unless one repents:
"Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills." [Surah An-Nisa: 48]
Even the prophets were warned that if they committed shirk, all their deeds would be nullified:
"And it was already revealed to you and to those before you that if you should associate (anything) with Allah, your work would surely become worthless, and you would surely be among the losers." [Surah Az-Zumar: 65]
➋ After shirk, the next greatest sin is unjust killing, particularly the killing of one's own child out of fear of poverty. Allah has strongly condemned this act:
"And those who do not invoke any other god with Allah, nor kill a soul which Allah has forbidden to be killed, except by right, nor commit adultery." [Surah Al-Furqan: 68]
Killing one's own child due to fear that they will share one's food is a heinous sin. It involves doubting Allah's promise to provide for all:
"And do not kill your children for fear of poverty. We provide for them and for you." [Surah Al-Isra: 31]
This sin is compounded by three evils: the killing of an innocent child, the severing of family ties, and a lack of trust in Allah's promise.
➌ The next major sin is adultery, especially committing adultery with the wife of one’s neighbor. Allah has warned against approaching adultery:
"And do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse. Indeed, it is ever an immorality and is evil as a way." [Surah Al-Isra: 32]
Adultery with a neighbor's wife is even worse because it violates the rights of both a spouse and a neighbor. The neighbor has a right to be treated with respect, and it is a great betrayal to commit adultery with his wife, who should be under his protection. Such an act destroys trust, violates the sanctity of the home, and leads to the ruin of families.
➍ The term "tazani" in the Hadith implies mutual participation in the sin. The neighbor's wife would be consenting to this sin, and such an agreement adds further gravity to the crime. It destroys the marital bond and breaks the loyalty between husband and wife, often leading to the breakdown of the family.
➎ The term "Haleelah" (the lawful wife of your neighbor) is used to emphasize that this woman is lawful only for her husband, and not for anyone else. It serves as a reminder that committing adultery with someone else's wife is a gross violation of the sanctity of marriage.
In conclusion, these three sins—shirk, the unjust killing of a child, and adultery with a neighbor's wife—are among the gravest sins in Islam, each carrying severe spiritual and worldly consequences.