Is this hadith authentic?

This hadith is graded Sahih. Sahih hadiths are considered the most authentic grade in hadith classification.

Which collection is this hadith from?

This hadith is from Sunan Abu Dawud, which contains 5,276 hadiths across 43 books. It is hadith number 2311 in the Book of Divorce (Kitab Al-Talaq).

I searched for a different number — is this the right hadith?

Hadith numbering varies across editions and translations (USC-MSA, Dar as-Salam, Fath al-Bari, and others). If you followed a link citing a different number but landed here, you may have been redirected to the canonical version in our library. If you were looking for a different hadith entirely, use the search bar to find it by text.

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#2310

#2311

Sunan Abu Dawud

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Sunan Abu Dawud #2311

Q: What is Sunan Abu Dawud 2311 about?

This hadith from Sunan Abu Dawud (Book of Divorce (Kitab Al-Talaq)) states: "‘Abd Allaah (bin Masud) said “I asked Apostle of Allaah(ﷺ) which sin is the gravest?” He replied “That you associate someone with Allaah, while He has created you”. I again asked “Which then?” He repl…"

Divorce (Kitab Al-Talaq)

Sahih

The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ كَثِيرٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، عَنْ أَبِي وَائِلٍ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ شُرَحْبِيلَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَىُّ الذَّنْبِ أَعْظَمُ قَالَ ‏"‏ أَنْ تَجْعَلَ لِلَّهِ نِدًّا وَهُوَ خَلَقَكَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ ثُمَّ أَىٌّ قَالَ ‏"‏ أَنْ تَقْتُلَ وَلَدَكَ مَخَافَةَ أَنْ يَأْكُلَ مَعَكَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ قُلْتُ ثُمَّ أَىٌّ قَالَ ‏"‏ أَنْ تُزَانِيَ حَلِيلَةَ جَارِكَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ وَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى تَصْدِيقَ قَوْلِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏{‏ وَالَّذِينَ لاَ يَدْعُونَ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَهًا آخَرَ وَلاَ يَقْتُلُونَ النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ إِلاَّ بِالْحَقِّ وَلاَ يَزْنُونَ ‏}‏ الآيَةَ ‏.‏

‘Abd Allaah (bin Masud) said “I asked Apostle of Allaah(ﷺ) which sin is the gravest?” He replied “That you associate someone with Allaah, while He has created you”. I again asked “Which then?” He replied “That you commit adultery with the wife of your neighbor.” Allaah then revealed the following Qur’anic verse in support of the statement of the Prophet (ﷺ) “Those who invoke not with Allaah any other god nor slay such life as Allaah has made sacred except for just cause nor commit fornication.”

Context

In this hadith, 'Abd Allah (bin Masud) asks the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) about the gravest sins. The Prophet (ﷺ) identifies associating partners with Allah as the most severe sin, followed by killing one's child out of fear of poverty, and committing adultery with a neighbor's wife. This highlights the seriousness of these actions and their moral implications, emphasizing the importance of faithfulness and respect within the community.

Modern Application

Today, this hadith serves as a reminder to uphold ethical values and maintain integrity in our relationships. It encourages individuals to reflect on their actions and the potential harm they may cause to others, fostering a community built on trust and respect.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Sin and Major Sins because it addresses the severity of certain actions that violate fundamental moral principles.

Sin Major Sins

Related Ayahs

سُورَةُ النِّسَاءِ

An-Nisaa (The Women)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

2 ayahs

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَغْفِرُ أَن يُشْرَكَ بِهِۦ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَمَن يُشْرِكْ بِٱللَّهِ فَقَدِ ٱفْتَرَىٰٓ إِثْمًا عَظِيمًا

Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And he who associates others with Allah has certainly fabricated a tremendous sin.

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَغْفِرُ أَن يُشْرَكَ بِهِۦ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَمَن يُشْرِكْ بِٱللَّهِ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ ضَلَٰلًۢا بَعِيدًا

Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And he who associates others with Allah has certainly gone far astray.

سُورَةُ الفُرۡقَانِ

Al-Furqaan (The Criterion)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

وَٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَدْعُونَ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَٰهًا ءَاخَرَ وَلَا يَقْتُلُونَ ٱلنَّفْسَ ٱلَّتِى حَرَّمَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَّا بِٱلْحَقِّ وَلَا يَزْنُونَ ۚ وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَٰلِكَ يَلْقَ أَثَامًۭا

And those who do not invoke with Allah another deity or kill the soul which Allah has forbidden [to be killed], except by right, and do not commit unlawful sexual intercourse. And whoever should do that will meet a penalty.

سُورَةُ الأَعۡرَافِ

Al-A'raaf (The Heights)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

قُلْ إِنَّمَا حَرَّمَ رَبِّىَ ٱلْفَوَٰحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ وَٱلْإِثْمَ وَٱلْبَغْىَ بِغَيْرِ ٱلْحَقِّ وَأَن تُشْرِكُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ مَا لَمْ يُنَزِّلْ بِهِۦ سُلْطَٰنًۭا وَأَن تَقُولُوا۟ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

Say, "My Lord has only forbidden immoralities - what is apparent of them and what is concealed - and sin, and oppression without right, and that you associate with Allah that for which He has not sent down authority, and that you say about Allah that which you do not know."

سُورَةُ المُمۡتَحنَةِ

Al-Mumtahana (She that is to be examined)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ إِذَا جَآءَكَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنَٰتُ يُبَايِعْنَكَ عَلَىٰٓ أَن لَّا يُشْرِكْنَ بِٱللَّهِ شَيْـًۭٔا وَلَا يَسْرِقْنَ وَلَا يَزْنِينَ وَلَا يَقْتُلْنَ أَوْلَٰدَهُنَّ وَلَا يَأْتِينَ بِبُهْتَٰنٍۢ يَفْتَرِينَهُۥ بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِنَّ وَأَرْجُلِهِنَّ وَلَا يَعْصِينَكَ فِى مَعْرُوفٍۢ ۙ فَبَايِعْهُنَّ وَٱسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُنَّ ٱللَّهَ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ

O Prophet, when the believing women come to you pledging to you that they will not associate anything with Allah, nor will they steal, nor will they commit unlawful sexual intercourse, nor will they kill their children, nor will they bring forth a slander they have invented between their arms and legs, nor will they disobey you in what is right - then accept their pledge and ask forgiveness for them of Allah. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.

Common Words

129 total84 unique20 repeated

ٱلله7x

ولا7x

لا5x

ما5x

يشرك4x

بٱلله4x

إن3x

أن3x

به3x

ذلك3x

ومن3x

يغفر2x

ويغفر2x

دون2x

لمن2x

يشاء2x

فقد2x

حرم2x

وأن2x

على2x

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About Sunan Abu Dawud

This hadith is #2311 from Sunan Abu Dawud, in the Book of Divorce (Kitab Al-Talaq). It is graded Sahih.

Browse all Sunan Abu Dawud All Hadith Collections

Sunan Abu Dawud #2311

Context

Modern Application

Topics

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Common Words

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About Sunan Abu Dawud

About This Hadith