Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "When an adulterer commits illegal sexual intercourse, then he is not a believer at the time he is doing it; and when somebody drinks an alcoholic drink, then he is not believer at the time of drinking, and when a thief steals, he is not a believer at the time when he is stealing; and when a robber robs and the people look at him, then he is not a believer at the time of doing it." Abu Huraira in another narration, narrated the same from the Prophet (ﷺ) with the exclusion of robbery.
Limits and Punishments set by Allah (Hudood)
Sahih al-Bukhari - Hadith 6772
Hadith Text
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "When an adulterer commits illegal sexual intercourse, then he is not a believer at the time he is doing it; and when somebody drinks an alcoholic drink, then he is not believer at the time of drinking, and when a thief steals, he is not a believer at the time when he is stealing; and when a robber robs and the people look at him, then he is not a believer at the time of doing it." Abu Huraira in another narration, narrated the same from the Prophet (ﷺ) with the exclusion of robbery.
Scholarly Commentary
This hadith addresses the gravity of major sins and their effect on faith. The phrase "he is not a believer" does not mean complete apostasy from Islam, but rather indicates a severe deficiency in faith (iman) at the moment of committing these prohibited acts. The believer's faith should prevent them from such transgressions against Allah's boundaries.
The four major sins mentioned - adultery, alcohol consumption, theft, and armed robbery - represent violations of both individual morality and social order. The exclusion of robbery in one narration shows the careful transmission of prophetic traditions, where narrators sometimes reported what they specifically heard.
Scholars explain that this teaching serves as a powerful deterrent, emphasizing that true faith must manifest in righteous actions. When one willfully violates Allah's clear prohibitions, their faith is effectively suspended during that act, though they remain within the fold of Islam unless they deny the prohibition itself.
Legal and Spiritual Implications
This hadith establishes that major sins temporarily negate the perfection of faith, though not one's identity as a Muslim. The hudood punishments for these crimes serve both as purification for the sinner and protection for society.
The spiritual lesson is that faith and action are inseparable - true belief necessarily produces avoidance of major sins. This teaching encourages constant vigilance over one's actions and reinforces the concept that Islam is both belief and practice.