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What is meant by "Maharim Allah" (the sacred prohibitions of Allah)? Does violating them include zina (unlawful sexual intercourse), and what are its consequences in this world and the Hereafter? Does it include not lowering one’s gaze, or a woman not observing hijab (the Islamic veil), or marital infidelity? Is it a general term that encompasses all sins and neglecting acts of worship?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

"Maharim Allah" (God's prohibitions) refers to everything Allah Almighty has forbidden, whether minor or major sins, such as adultery, usury, injustice, backbiting, breaking covenants, and severing what Allah has commanded to be joined. It encompasses all types of disobedience. It has been mentioned in prophetic hadiths to indicate the boundaries of Allah that must not be transgressed. As for the hadith, "Be wary of the prohibitions, and you will be the most devoted of people," its meaning is to avoid everything Allah has forbidden so that a Muslim becomes one of the most devoted people; it has no relation to the maharim (unmarriageable kin) in the context of marriage.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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