Chapter on Recognizing the Major Sins for Which Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Almighty, Has Threatened with Hellfire

Ibrahim ibn Hashim narrated from Amr ibn Uthman, from Ahmad ibn Isma'il al-Katib, from his father, who said: Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir عليه السلام entered the Sacred Mosque (Masjid al-Haram), and some people said: "Why don't you send one of you to ask him a question?" So a young man from among them approached him and asked: "O uncle, what is the greatest of the major sins?" Imam عليه السلام replied: "Drinking alcohol." The young man returned and informed them. They said to him (the boy): "Go back to him." They persisted until he returned to Imam عليه السلام and asked again. The Imam عليه السلام said: "Did I not already tell you, O son of my brother, that it is drinking alcohol? Indeed, drinking alcohol leads its drinker to adultery, theft, the killing of a soul which Allah سبحانه وتعالى has forbidden, and associating partners with Allah سبحانه وتعالى. The consequences of alcohol surpass every sin, just as its tree rises above all other trees."