24. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from ‘Abd al-‘Azim ibn ‘Abd Allah al-Hassani who has said the following:

“Abu Ja’far narrated to me saying, ‘I heard my father saying, “I heard my father, Musa ibn Ja’far saying, ‘Once ‘Amr ibn ‘Ubayd came to see Abu ‘Abdillah and when he offered the greeting of peace and took his seat he read the following verse of the Holy Quran, “Those who stay away from grave (major) sins and indecency . . .” (53:32) and stopped reading further. Abu ‘Abd Allah asked, ‘What made you stop reading further?’ He said, T like to know the major sins from the book of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy.’ The Imam said, ‘O ‘Amr, the biggest of the major sins is to consider things as partners of Allah. Allah says, ‘Whoever considers things as partners of Allah must know that Allah has forbidden their entering into paradise.’ Thereafter is to despair of the mercy of Allah; Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, says, ‘No one despairs from the mercy of Allah except the unbelievers.’ (12:87) Another of the major sins is to feel safe from the punishment of Allah; Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, says, “No one disregards the punishment of Allah except the losing people.” (7:99) Of the major sins is to disregard maintaining good relations with parents; Allah, the Most Glorious, has considered such a person oppressive and hard-hearted. (19:4) Another of the major sins is murdering, for no good reason, a person that Allah has made unlawful to murder; Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has said, ‘The punishment for one who purposely slays a believer will be to live in hell fire forever.’ (4:93) Accusing a married women of committing indecent acts is a major sin; Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has said, ‘They are condemned in this world and in the next life and for them there is a great punishment.’ (24:23) Consuming the property of the orphans as Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has said, ‘They eat fire in their belly and they will feel the heat of a blazing fire.’ (4:10) Running away from the enemy in the battlefield; Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, says, ‘. . . whoever would turn back at that time, except for strategic reasons or to join another band (8:15) will incur the wrath of Allah and will dwell in hell, a terrible dwelling.’ (8:16) Consuming unlawful interest in trade is among the major sins; Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, says, ‘Those who take unlawful interest will stand before Allah (on the Day of Judgment) as those who suffer from a mental imbalance because of Satan’s touch.’ (2:275) Another major sin is performing magic: Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, says, ‘. . . They knew very well that one who engaged in witchcraft will have no reward in the life hereafter. . . .’ (2:102) Fornication is a major sin; Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, says, ‘. . . those who commit fornication have committed a sin (25:68) and on the Day of Judgment their torment will be double. They will suffer forever in disgrace.’ (25:69) False oath for an unlawful purpose is a major sin; Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, says, ‘Those who sell their covenant with Allah and their promises for a small price will have no share in the life hereafter. . . .’ (3:77) Treachery in dealing with property seized from the enemy in battle; Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, says, ‘A treacherous person will be brought before Allah on the Day of Judgment with his treacherous deeds. . . .’ (3:161) Not to pay al-Zakat, obligatory (charity) is a major sin; Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, says, ‘. . . their treasures will be heated by the fire of hell and pressed against their foreheads, sides and backs. . . .’ (9:35) To present false testimony and to hide a testimony is a major sin; Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, says, ‘Do not refuse to testify to what you bore witness. Whoever does so has committed a sin. . . .’ (2:283) Drinking wine is a major sin; Allah, The Most Majestic, the Most High has prohibited it as He has prohibited the worship of idols and disregarding intentionally to perform prayers or anything that Allah has made obligatory; the messenger of Allah has said, ‘Those who disregard, intentionally, the prayer Allah and His Messenger will have no responsibility toward such people. Disregarding one’s promise and covenant and disregard of maintaining good relations with relatives are among the major sins; Allah, The Most Majestic, the Most High says, ‘These . . . will have Allah’s condemnation and will face the most terrible end.’ (13:25) “The narrator has said that ‘Amr left sobbing and saying, ‘Destroyed is one who speaks of his opinion (in religious issues) and opposes you (Imam) in the matters of excellence and knowledge.’”