The major sins are those acts which have been forbidden by Allah in the Quran and by His Messenger (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) in the Sunnah (practise of the Prophet), and which have been made clear by the actions of of the first righteous generation of Muslims, the Companions of the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) There is some difference of opinion among scholars in this regard. Some say these major sins are seven, and in support of their position they quote the tradition: ‘Avoid the seven noxious things’- and after having said this, the prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) mentioned them: ‘associating anything with Allah; magic; killing one whom Allah has declared inviolate without a just case, consuming the property of an orphan, devouring usury, turning back when the army advances, and slandering chaste women who are believers but indiscreet.’ (Bukhari and Muslim) ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas said: ‘Seventy is closer to their number than seven,’ and in this book Imam ad-Dhahabi goes through the 70 Major Sins Supported by the Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam).