General Verses on Major Sins

The Quran distinguishes between major sins (kaba’ir) and minor sins, promising forgiveness for avoiding the former. For example:

• “If you avoid the major sins which you are forbidden, We will remove from you your lesser sins and admit you to a noble entrance [i.e., Paradise].” (Quran 4:31) 1
• “Those who avoid the major sins and immoralities, except the small faults – indeed, your Lord is vast in forgiveness…” (Quran 53:32) 6

Specific Major Sins and Associated Quranic Verses

Here are some of the major sins explicitly prohibited or highlighted in the Quran, along with relevant verses and their English translations. These are drawn from Islamic sources that compile such prohibitions. Note that the concept of “major sins” is often elaborated in Hadith, but the Quran provides the foundational warnings.

1. Shirk (Associating Partners with Allah)
   This is considered the greatest sin, unforgivable if not repented from.

• “Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And he who associates others with Allah has certainly fabricated a tremendous sin.” (Quran 4:48) 12
• “Verily, Allah forgives not (the sin of) setting up partners in worship with Him, but He forgives whom he pleases sins other than that.” (Quran 4:116) 11

1. Murder (Killing a Soul Unjustly)

• “…Whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land – it is as if he had slain mankind entirely. And whoever saves one – it is as if he had saved mankind entirely…” (Quran 5:32) 10
• “But whoever kills a believer intentionally – his recompense is Hell, wherein he will abide eternally.” (Quran 4:93) 11

1. Magic (Sihr/Sorcery)

• “It was not Solomon who disbelieved, but the devils disbelieved, teaching people magic and that which was revealed to the two angels at Babylon, Harut and Marut. But the two angels do not teach anyone unless they say, ‘We are a trial, so do not disbelieve [by practicing magic].’ …And the people learn what harms them and does not benefit them. But the Children of Israel certainly knew that whoever purchased the magic would not have in the Hereafter any share.” (Quran 2:102) 11
• “So when they threw, they bewitched the eyes of the people” (Quran 7:116) – This illustrates the deceptive nature of magic. 10

1. Consuming Riba (Usury/Interest)

• “Those who consume interest cannot stand [on the Day of Resurrection] except as one stands who is being beaten by Satan into insanity. That is because they say, ‘Trade is [just] like interest.’ But Allah has permitted trade and has forbidden interest.” (Quran 2:275) 10 12

1. Consuming the Wealth of Orphans Unjustly

• “Verily, those who unjustly eat up the property of orphans, they eat up only a fire into their bellies, and they will be burnt in the blazing Fire!” (Quran 4:10) 10 11
• “And give to the orphans their properties and do not substitute the defective [of your own] for the good [of theirs]. And do not consume their properties into your own. Indeed, that is ever a great sin.” (Quran 4:2) 12

1. Adultery (Zina)

• “And come not near to the unlawful sexual intercourse. Verily, it is a Fahishah [i.e., anything that transgresses its limits (a great sin)], and an evil way (that leads one to Hell unless Allah forgives him).” (Quran 17:32) 11

1. False Accusation of Adultery (Against Chaste Women)

• “And those who accuse chaste women and then do not produce four witnesses – lash them with eighty lashes and do not accept from them testimony ever after. And those are the defiantly disobedient, Except for those who repent thereafter and reform, for indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.” (Quran 24:4-5) 10 11

1. Fleeing from the Battlefield

• “O you who have believed, when you meet those who disbelieve advancing [for battle], do not turn to them your backs [in flight]. And whoever turns his back to them on such a day…has certainly returned with anger [upon him] from Allah, and his refuge is Hell – and wretched is the destination.” (Quran 8:15-16) 10 11

1. Theft

• “[As for] the thief, the male and the female, amputate their hands in recompense for what they committed as a deterrent [punishment] from Allah. And Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise.” (Quran 5:38) 11

1. Consuming Alcohol and Gambling
   • “O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone altars [to other than Allah], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful. Satan only wants to cause between you animosity and hatred through intoxicants and gambling and to avert you from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer. So will you desist?” (Quran 5:90-91) 11 12
2. Disrespect to Parents
   • “And your Lord has decreed that you not worship except Him, and to parents, good treatment. Whether one or both of them reach old age [while] with you, say not to them [so much as], ‘uff,’ and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word.” (Quran 17:23) 11
3. Severing Ties of Kinship
   • “Would you then, if you were given the authority, do mischief in the land, and sever your ties of kinship? Such are they whom Allah has cursed, so that He has made them deaf and blinded their sight.” (Quran 47:22-23) 11

These represent key examples; the full list of major sins in Islamic tradition often expands to 70 or more based on Hadith interpretations, but the above are directly rooted in Quranic prohibitions. Translations are approximate and can vary slightly by interpreter. For deeper study, consult reliable tafsir (exegeses) like those on Quran.com. 1