"I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, which sin is the most grievous?' He said: 'Setting up a rival to Allah while it is He that has created you.' I said: 'Then what?' He said: 'Killing your child for fear that he may eat with you.' I said: 'Then what?' He said: 'Committing adultery with your neighbor's wife.'"
Hadith Text
"I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, which sin is the most grievous?' He said: 'Setting up a rival to Allah while it is He that has created you.' I said: 'Then what?' He said: 'Killing your child for fear that he may eat with you.' I said: 'Then what?' He said: 'Committing adultery with your neighbor's wife.'"
Source Reference
Sunan an-Nasa'i 4013 | The Book of Fighting [The Prohibition of Bloodshed]
Scholarly Commentary
This profound hadith establishes a hierarchy of major sins, beginning with the gravest offense against Allah's divine rights. Shirk (associating partners with Allah) constitutes the ultimate transgression as it violates the fundamental principle of Tawhid (divine unity).
The second sin—killing one's child due to poverty—demonstrates the sanctity of life and the trust placed in parents. This was a pre-Islamic practice condemned by Islam, emphasizing that sustenance comes solely from Allah.
Adultery with a neighbor's wife combines multiple violations: breaking marital trusts, dishonoring neighborhood rights, and corrupting social foundations. The specific mention of "neighbor" highlights the additional sin of betraying community trust.
Legal and Spiritual Implications
This hierarchy illustrates Islam's comprehensive moral framework, balancing rights of Allah with rights of creation. The sequence shows that sins against Allah precede those against humans, yet human rights remain sacred.
The Prophet's gradual revelation through the companion's repeated questioning demonstrates pedagogical wisdom, allowing each sin's gravity to be fully contemplated before proceeding to the next.