Paradise if believers avoid major sins
📖Sunan an-Nasa’i 4009
Abu Ayyub reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Whoever comes worshiping Allah without associating anything with Him, performing the prayer, giving the charity, and avoiding the major sins, he will have Paradise.” They asked, “O Messenger of Allah, what are the major sins?” The Prophet ﷺ said, “Idolatry against Allah, taking a Muslim’s life, and fleeing on the day of battle.”
Description:
This hadith outlines the path to Paradise through core Islamic duties and avoidance of major sins. The Prophet ﷺ identifies major sins that destroy the soul and society: shirk (idolatry), unjust killing of a Muslim, and cowardice in jihad. But Islam upholds the sanctity of all innocent life, not just Muslim lives.
To emphasize this universal principle, consider another hadith:
📖Sahih al-Bukhari 3166
The Prophet ﷺ said: Whoever kills a person who has a treaty with the Muslims will not smell the fragrance of Paradise, even though its fragrance is found for a distance of forty years.”
This refers to non-Muslims under protection (like dhimmi, or any non-Muslim civilian not in battle).
📖Quran 5:32
Whoever kills a soul- unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land – it is as if he had slain all mankind. And whoever saves one—it is as if he had saved all mankind.”
This verse uses the word (nafsan) – a general term for any human being, not just Muslims.
So Why Did the First Hadith Specify “Muslim Life”?
Because:
- That hadith was addressing a Muslim audience, warning them not to kill their own brothers in faith.
- But it doesn’t exclude the sinfulness of killing any innocent non-Muslim.
- Islamic teachings as a whole prohibit unjust killing – regardless of religion.