Major sins are those sins that are clearly forbidden in the Quran and Sunnah.
Allah said :
“If you avoid the major sins of what you have been forbidden to do, We will cancel out for you your (other) evil deeds and will admit you (to Paradise) with a noble entry.” (Surah Al Nisa’ 4:31)
“Those who avoid the greatest of sins and indecencies, and forgive when they are angry.” (Surah al Shura 42:37)
“Those who avoid the greatest sins and indecencies, except for oversights, (will find that) surely your Lord is ample in forgiveness.” (Surah Al Najm 53:32)
The Nabi said:
“The five [daily] prayers, Friday to Friday, and Ramadan to Ramadan make atonement for what has happened since the previous one when major sins have been avoided.” It is therefore very important to determine exactly what the greatest vices, technically called “the major sins” (Kaba’r), are, in order that Muslims should avoid them.”
It is clear from this, such major sins exist. Imam Al-Dhahabi compiled seventy major sins in his book Kitab al-Kaba’ir. This list is not exhaustive, so there may be more Major sins. The greatest major sin is Shirk.
- Associating partners with Allah
- Murder
- Practicing magic
- Neglecting the prayer
- Refusing to pay paying Zakat
- Not fasting on a Day of Ramadhan without a excuse
- Not performing Hajj when being able to do so
- Disobedience or disrespect to one’s Parents
- Shunning relatives
- Fornication and Adultery
- Homosexuality and Sodomy
- Riba (Giving and Receiving)
- Wrongfully consuming the wealth of the Orphan
- Lying against Allah and His Messenger
- Running away from the battlefield
- The Tyrant and Oppressive leader
- Pride and arrogance
- Giving false witness
- Drinking alcohol
- Gambling
- Slandering chaste women
- Stealing from the spoils of war
- Stealing
- Highway Robbery
- Deliberate false oath
- Injustice
- Illegal gain
- Acquiring wealth unlawfully
- Committing suicide
- Frequent lying
- Judging unjustly
- Giving and Taking bribes for judgement
- Woman’s imitating man and man’s imitating woman
- Being a cuckold – a man who knows and tolerates his wife’s infidelity
- Marrying a divorced woman in order to make her lawful for her previous husband
- Not protecting oneself from urine
- Showing-off
- Learning knowledge of the religion for the sake of this world and concealing that knowledge
- Betrayal of trust
- Reminding people of ones favours/charity
- Denying Allah’s Decree
- Listening to people’s private conversations
- Carrying tales
- Cursing
- Breaking contracts
- Believing in fortune-tellers and astrologers
- A wife disobeying her husband
- Making statues and pictures
- Lamenting, wailing, tearing the clothing, and doing other things of this sort when an affliction befalls
- Treating others unjustly
- Overbearing conduct toward the wife, the servant, the weak, and animals
- Offending one’s neighbour
- Offending and abusing Muslims
- Offending people and having an arrogant attitude toward them
- Trailing one’s garment in pride
- Wearing of silk and gold for the men
- A slave’s running away from his master
- Slaughtering an animal which has been dedicated to anyone other than Allah
- To knowingly ascribe one’s paternity to a father other than one’s own
- Arguing and disputing violently
- Holding off excess water to others
- Giving short in weight and measure
- Feeling secure from Allah’s devising
- Despairing in the mercy of Allah and having no hope
- Not praying in congregation but praying alone without an excuse
- Persistently missing Friday Prayers without any excuse
- Usurping the rights of the heir through bequests
- Deceiving and plotting evil
- Spying for the enemy of the Muslims
- Cursing and insulting any of the Companions of Allah’s Messenger.
How to seek forgiveness
It is possible to wipe away minor sins by performing good deeds or by giving charity, but in order to be forgiven for major sins, one must seek forgiveness directly from Allah. Own the act and ask Allah to forgive it. If it involves abusing others or taking their rights, then you must also seek forgiveness from them too.