Prophet Muhammad ﷺ has listed seven actions and warn the believers to avoid these destroyers of faith. This Hadith is quoted in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: Book (#1) of Faith - كتاب الإيمان as Hadith number # 262 as under:
It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Avoid the seven destroyers." He was asked: "What are they, O Messenger of Allah?" He ﷺ said: "Associating others with Allah (Shirk); witchcraft; killing a soul whom Allah has forbidden us to kill, except for a right that is due; consuming orphans' wealth; consuming Riba; fleeing from the battlefield; and slandering chaste, innocent women."
Arabic Text:
حَدَّثَنِي هَارُونُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ الْأَيْلِيُّ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ بِلَالٍ عَنْ ثَوْرِ بْنِ زَيْدٍ عَنْ أَبِي الْغَيْثِ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ اجْتَنِبُوا السَّبْعَ الْمُوبِقَاتِ قِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَمَا هُنَّ قَالَ الشِّرْكُ بِاللَّهِ وَالسِّحْرُ وَقَتْلُ النَّفْسِ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ وَأَكْلُ مَالِ الْيَتِيمِ وَأَكْلُ الرِّبَا وَالتَّوَلِّي يَوْمَ الزَّحْفِ وَقَذْفُ الْمُحْصِنَاتِ الْغَافِلَاتِ الْمُؤْمِنَاتِ.
Now let us take a self-appraisal of ourselves and see how many times we have been guilty of losing our faith. Let us take a rundown of each:
- Associating others with Allah (Shirk): Although, most of the believers think that they believe in Oneness of Allah, yet they visit graves of the dead, though very pious in their lives, and move them to be intercessors between them and Allah and pray for forgiveness. There are umpteen number of anecdotes on social media in which graves of once worldly saints are visited and prostrated as an act of bowing, while it is strictly forbidden to prostrate anyone other than Allah, the One and Only Sustainer and Giver. Remember wishing Merry Christmas to Christians also falls under the category of shirk because as per Christian belief on this day Jesus Christ, the son of God and even later God as part of the Trinity concept, was born. So, by wishing them merry Christmas we may inadvertently be committing shirk.
- Practicing witchcraft: Witchcraft is often taken as a means to fulfill one's wishes and cast overshadow and evil spell on others. Surah 113. Al Falak mentions women and witches casting spells and even the very personality of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was many a time targeted by the witches to have him refrained from his mission of spreading Islam. It is therefore strictly forbidden to learn and practice the art of witchcraft.
- Killing a soul whom Allah has forbidden us to kill: "This is a statement of the sanctity of life which is found in every religion and moral code." Killing of a human is one of the biggest destroyers of faith, for giving and taking life is the exclusive domain of Allah, the Almighty. We, more often than not, read news of Muslims killing others on family disputes and petty things. One who kills a soul, whether Muslim or otherwise, is this liable to destroy his faith as he commits a crime so strictly forbidden. This means that human life, which has been declared inviolable by God, can only be destroyed for just cause. As for what is meant by 'just cause', we ought to remember that three cases are embodied in the Qur'an whereas two additional cases have been stated by the Prophet (peace be on him). The cases mentioned by the Qur'an are the following:
- (1) That a man is convicted of deliberate homicide and thus the claim of retaliation is established against him.
- (2) That someone resists the establishment of the true faith so that fighting against him might become necessary.
- (3) That someone is guilty of spreading disorder in the Domain of Islam and strives to overthrow the Islamic order of government.
- The two cases mentioned in the Hadith are:
- (1) That a person commits illegitimate sexual intercourse even after marriage.
- (2) That a Muslim is guilty of apostasy and rebellion against the Muslim body-politic.
Except for these five reasons, slaying a human being is not permissible, regardless of whether he is a believer, a protected non-Muslim (dhimmi) or an ordinary unbeliever.
- Consuming orphans' wealth: The wealth of orphans kept in the custody of someone, till the orphans attain adulthood, is a very sacred responsibility. Yet we see guardians depriving the orphans of their due share or even not giving a penny at all on flimsy excuses. Do you think such a deceitful person reserves any right to retain his faith?
- Consuming Riba: Consummation of Riba or interest is one of the major evils mentioned in Qur'an. People have been robbed of their possessions for paying intertest over interest on a loan they have obtained. Men engaged in this business are heartless and do not care to deprive a person of his possessions in the name of payment of interest. There are many studies going on consummation of riba by banks. Even the Islamic banking still falls short of laying down practical steps to abolish riba.
- Fleeing from the battlefield: Fighting in the name of Allah has been ordained for all Muslims so as to preserve the religion of Islam. So, when an enemy threatens Muslims, it is the sacred duty of all able-bodied Muslims to defend against the enemy and face martyrdom, rather than turning back and fleeing the battlefield. Those who do so endanger their faith.
- Slandering chaste, innocent women: Islam places a lot of emphasis on the women, for dignity and honour of chaste women once tarnished cannot be easily restored. Therefore, Muslims should be very careful in passing any derogatory remark about a sister in Islam in particular or for that matter any woman in general.
- Slander indicates mentioning hidden weak points and faults of the others so that if they hear, they will be disturbed. These points are either concerned with religious, moral, spiritual and social aspects, or with corporeal aspects, including face, body's limbs, corporal powers, and actions and behaviours, or his attachments, such as wife, child, and or his clothing, house, etc.
Thus, be respectful to women and let us not commit sin by saying even a passing remark about a sister in Islam which may disturb her or portray her as a bad woman in the society. Slander lowers the reputation of a Muslim sister and damages her honour.
Let us then, my brothers and sisters in Islam, be weary of these seven destroyers of faith and refrain from committing any of these in any degree or magnitude, lest we endanger our Eeman and faith.
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door.
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.
May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.
Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.
Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.
Please refer to our reference page: Sunnah and Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to know more about sunnah of Prophet of Allah. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.
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