بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Seven Destructive Sins

Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (RA) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Avoid the seven destructive and ruinous sins.”
The Companions asked: “O Messenger of Allah, what are those seven?”
He ﷺ said: “Associating partners with Allah (in His worship, attributes, or actions), practicing sorcery, killing a person unjustly, consuming interest (riba), consuming the wealth of an orphan, fleeing from the battlefield during jihad, and accusing chaste, innocent believing women of adultery.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim)

Just as physicians and doctors, on the basis of their research, knowledge, and experience, explain the properties of things found in this world—such as medicines and foods—stating that a particular thing has a certain effect and is beneficial or harmful for a specific illness, similarly the Prophets (peace be upon them), on the basis of the knowledge granted to them by Allah, explain the nature and consequences of human beliefs, actions, and morals.

They clarify that certain true beliefs, righteous deeds, and noble qualities lead to the pleasure of Allah, the blessings of Paradise in the Hereafter, and peace of heart and soul in this world; while false beliefs, oppression, and sinful actions lead to the curse of Allah, the punishment of Hell in the Hereafter, and various forms of unrest and evil in worldly life.

The difference, however, is that the research and conclusions of physicians and doctors may contain errors, and sometimes mistakes do occur. But the knowledge of the Prophets is based on divine revelation from Allah—the Creator and the All-Knowing. In it, there is no possibility of error, mistake, or doubt.

Yet it is astonishing that people readily use medicines prescribed by doctors without questioning them and consider it necessary to follow their instructions about precautions, seeing this as a demand of reason. No patient is considered justified in saying that he will only take medicine after fully understanding the philosophy behind its effectiveness.

But when the Book of Allah, the Noble Qur’an, and His Messenger ﷺ declare that interest (riba) is a grave major sin, a cause of Allah’s curse and wrath, destructive for faith, and a source of severe punishment in the Hereafter, many people—even among those who consider themselves rational and believing—do not find this sufficient. Instead, they insist on understanding its “philosophy” and attempt to find some middle way.