We were in the company of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) that he observed: Should I not inform you about the most grievous of the grave sins? (The Holy Prophet) repeated it three times, and then said: Associating anyone with Allah, disobedience to parents, false testimony or false utterance. The Prophet was reclining, then he sat up, and he repeated it so many times that we wished that he should become silent.
The Book of Faith - Sahih Muslim 87
This narration from Sahih Muslim contains profound warnings about major sins that threaten one's faith and spiritual standing.
Scholarly Commentary on the Major Sins
The Prophet's repetition and physical movement from reclining to sitting demonstrates the gravity of these sins. Scholars note this emphasizes their severity and the need for Muslims to take serious heed.
Shirk (associating partners with Allah) is mentioned first as it is the only unforgivable sin if one dies upon it. It contradicts the very foundation of Tawhid (monotheism).
Disobedience to parents follows as it represents ingratitude to those through whom Allah granted us existence, mirroring ingratitude toward the Creator.
False testimony and false utterance destroy social trust, pervert justice, and corrupt society. Scholars include all forms of lying under this category when done with serious consequences.
Spiritual Implications
Classical commentators explain that these sins are "major" because they violate fundamental rights: the rights of Allah, the rights of parents, and the rights of fellow human beings.
The Companions' wish for the Prophet to stop repeating indicates how deeply his warnings affected them, teaching us that true believers should feel similar distress when hearing about grave sins.