What are the major sins (Kaba'ir) in Islam?
Quick Answer
Major sins include shirk, murder, adultery, riba, abandoning prayer, drinking alcohol, false testimony, and disobedience to parents. They require sincere repentance and may have specific worldly consequences.
Detailed Answer
Major sins (kaba'ir) are sins for which Allah has prescribed a specific punishment in the Quran/Sunnah, or which involve a curse, or are explicitly described as 'major.'
The Prophet ﷺ mentioned the seven destructive sins (Sahih Bukhari 2766): 1. Shirk (associating partners with Allah) 2. Sihr (witchcraft, magic) 3. Killing a soul Allah has forbidden 4. Consuming riba (interest) 5. Consuming the wealth of orphans 6. Fleeing the battlefield 7. Falsely accusing chaste women
Other major sins listed in Quran/Hadith: - Adultery and fornication (zina) - Sodomy - Drinking alcohol - Theft - Bearing false witness - Disobedience to parents (uquq al-walidayn) - Cutting family ties - Suicide - Abandoning the five daily prayers - Not paying zakah - Backbiting (ghibah) and slander - False oaths
Repentance from major sins: The door of repentance is always open. Genuine tawbah requires: 1. Stopping the sin immediately 2. Sincere regret 3. Firm resolution not to return 4. If it involves others' rights — restoring or seeking forgiveness
Quran 39:53: 'Do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins.'
Sources
- Quran 4:31, 39:53
- Sahih Bukhari 2766
Disclaimer: This answer is educational guidance based on authentic sources. For binding rulings on personal matters, please consult a qualified Islamic scholar.