It is reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
“Avoid (committing) the seven destructive (sins): worshiping others along with Allah, witchcraft [1], killing a person whom Allah has forbidden to kill, except by right(cause), usury [2], eating up the property of an orphan, fleeing on the day of a battle [3] and the accusation of adultery on chaste believing women who do not even think about such things. ”
اجتنبوا السبع الموبقات: الشرك بالله والسحر وقتل النفس التي حرم الله إلا بالحق وأكل الربا وأكل مال اليتيم والتولي يوم الزحف وقذف المحصنات المؤمنات الغافلات» . (صحيح) … [ق د ن] عن أبي هريرة. إرواء الغليل 1202 و2365)
This hadith was narrated by al-Bukhari (2766), Muslim (89), Abu Daud (2874), al-Nasai (6/257) from the words of Abu Hurayra, may Allah be pleased with him.
The hadith is authentic. See Sahih al-Jami ‘as-saghir (144), Mishkatul-Masabih (52), Irvaul-galil (1202, 1335, 2365).
[1] Witchcraft is the casting of spells, tying knots, etc. that affects the souls and bodies of people, causing illness and death, separating husband from wife, etc. The sorcerer (sahir) is the one who turns to the shaitans from among the Jinns through the manifestation of unbelief and vile deeds that please them. The purpose of this is that they help him in his witchcraft. He also declares knowledge of the innermost, leads many through witchcraft to death, separates lovers, arouses sympathies or antipathies and changes the mindset of people. See “Kaulul-mufid” (98). Hafiz al-Zahabi wrote in his book about great sins: “You can see how many lost people enter witchcraft, believing that it is simply forbidden, and not even realizing that it is unbelief!” See al-Kabair 45.
[2] This does not mean a specific person, but people in general, who can be killed only in certain cases, for which there are appropriate instructions in the Shariah.
[3] In other words, fleeing from the battlefield.
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Benefits derived from this hadith:
1. An indication of the prohibition of polytheism and the fact that it is the greatest of sins.
2. Indication of the prohibition of witchcraft and the fact that it refers to mortal sins (sins done knowingly about their consequences) and leads a person out of Islam.
3. Indication of the forbidden killing of a soul without a right.
4. An indication that the soul is allowed to be killed only by the right granted by the Sharia, for example, as a punishment in the form of retribution for a killed person, or apostasy or committing adultery by those who were previously married, the execution of which is the exclusive prerogative of the ruler of Muslims.
5. An indication of the prohibition of recklessness (usury) and its great danger.
6. Indication of the prohibition of encroachment on the property of an orphan.
7. Indication of the prohibition of flight from the battlefield. 8. Indication of the prohibition on charges of adultery or sodomy.
Khadeeja