5.4 Major and Minor Sins

Understanding Major and Minor Sins

Sin in Islam is any word, belief, or action that goes against the commands of Allah and the guidance of His Messenger ﷺ. All sins are serious because they represent disobedience to the Creator, yet the Qur’an and Sunnah teach that sins are not all the same in gravity. Some sins are greater than others, and this difference affects how we repent, how we avoid them, and how we look at ourselves and others.

Allah says that some people will be protected from the greatest sins if they stay away from them, even though they may still fall into smaller faults.

“If you avoid the major sins which you are forbidden, We will remove from you your lesser sins and admit you to a noble entrance.”
(Qur’an 4:31)

This verse establishes clearly that there are major sins and sins that are lesser in comparison.

The Concept of Major Sins (Kabāʾir)

Major sins, called kabāʾir in Arabic, are those acts of disobedience that are especially grave, have severe warnings in the Qur’an or Sunnah, and often involve the rights of Allah, the rights of people, or both. They damage a person’s heart, destroy families and societies, and if not repented from they can lead to punishment in the Hereafter.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“The five daily prayers, Friday to Friday, and Ramadan to Ramadan are an expiation for what is between them, so long as major sins are avoided.”
(Muslim)

This hadith shows that major sins are not automatically erased just by regular acts of worship. They require special and serious repentance.

How the Scholars Recognized a Major Sin

The early scholars, based on the Qur’an and Sunnah, explained that a sin is considered “major” when it is linked with things like a threat of punishment, a curse, Allah’s anger, or a specific legal punishment in this life.

Many of them mentioned that a sin is major if it meets one or more of the following descriptions.

1. Allah attaches to it a warning of punishment in the Hereafter, such as the Fire or a painful torment.
2. There is a specific legal punishment for it in Islamic law, such as for theft or adultery.
3. The sinner is described as having disbelieved if he considers such a sin lawful.
4. It is cursed directly in the Qur’an or authentic Sunnah, or Allah’s anger is mentioned about it.

Allah, for example, warns about murder:

“And whoever kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell, to abide therein, and Allah has become angry with him and has cursed him and has prepared for him a great punishment.”
(Qur’an 4:93)

In this verse we see explicit mention of Hell, Allah’s anger, a curse, and a “great punishment,” all of which indicate that this is not an ordinary sin but a major one.

Examples of Major Sins in the Qur’an and Sunnah

There is no single verse or hadith that lists all major sins in one place, but many are clearly identified. The Prophet ﷺ highlighted some of the gravest ones.

He ﷺ said:

“Avoid the seven destructive sins.”
It was said: “O Messenger of Allah, what are they?” He said:
“Associating partners with Allah, sorcery, killing a soul which Allah has forbidden except by right, consuming usury, consuming the property of an orphan, turning away on the day of battle, and slandering chaste, innocent, believing women.”
(Bukhari, Muslim)

In another narration, he linked major sins with “greatest” disobedience:

“Shall I not inform you of the greatest of the major sins?”
They said: “Yes, O Messenger of Allah.”
He said: “Associating partners with Allah, and disobedience to parents,” and he was reclining, then he sat up and said: “And false statement, and false testimony,” and he kept repeating it until we wished he would be quiet.
(Bukhari, Muslim)

From these and other texts, it is clear that some well known major sins include associating partners with Allah, murder, sorcery, severe disobedience to parents, consuming interest, unlawful sexual relations, theft, false witness, slander of chaste believers, and betrayal in matters of trust.

However, the exact number of major sins is not the main concern for a believer. What matters is understanding that they exist, recognizing examples, and being determined to avoid any sin that Allah has strongly warned against.

Why Major Sins Are So Serious

Major sins are serious because they reveal a deeper level of disregard for Allah’s commands. They often involve injustice against others or severe corruption in society. Some of their harmful effects include:

They darken the heart. Persistent major sins without repentance make it harder for a person to recognize right and wrong, and the heart becomes sealed from guidance.

They attract Allah’s anger. Allah mentions His anger and curse in connection with some of these sins, such as murder or turning away from His guidance after clear knowledge.

They can bring punishment even in this life. Societies that normalize major sins such as adultery, interest, or intoxication experience breakdown in families, injustice in finance, and spread of harm and violence.

They are not automatically forgiven by routine acts. Daily prayers and ordinary good deeds wipe away minor sins, but major sins need serious, conscious repentance and sometimes also the restoration of people’s rights.

The Concept of Minor Sins (Ṣaghāʾir)

Alongside major sins, there are sins that are less severe, known as minor sins or ṣaghāʾir. They are still acts of disobedience, but they do not meet the conditions of major sins and are not accompanied by the same level of threat.

Allah points to their existence when He says:

“Those who avoid the major sins and immoralities, except for small faults. Indeed, your Lord is vast in forgiveness.”
(Qur’an 53:32)

Minor sins are, for example, brief lapses in manners, small acts of heedlessness, or occasional slips in speech, as long as they do not cross into the territory of major sins, such as lying that harms someone’s reputation, or backbiting that destroys honor.

The Prophet ﷺ taught that the daily life of a believer includes unintentional mistakes and lapses, but he also taught that sincere prayer and other acts of worship can wipe them away when a person avoids major sins.

He ﷺ said:

“The five daily prayers and one Friday prayer to the next Friday, and one Ramadan to the next, are expiation for the sins that occur between them, so long as the major sins are avoided.”
(Muslim)

This hadith clarifies that when a believer is careful to avoid major sins, many smaller sins are forgiven by Allah through consistent worship.

Minor Does Not Mean Unimportant

Although they are “lesser” in comparison, minor sins are not trivial, and they should never be taken lightly. Small drops can fill a bucket. In the same way, repeated minor sins, or committing them boldly and without shame, can turn into something serious.

The Prophet ﷺ warned:

“Beware of sins that are belittled, for they will gather upon a man until they destroy him.”
(Ahmad)

So the believer never says, “This sin is small so it does not matter.” What matters is that it is disobedience to Allah. The difference is that Allah has promised generous forgiveness for those who avoid major sins, repent often, and do regular worship, and in that context many minor faults are wiped away.

When a Minor Sin Becomes Major

A helpful way to understand sin is to know that the labels “major” and “minor” do not only depend on the action itself. They are also affected by how the sinner behaves toward that action and toward Allah.

Scholars explained that a sin which is usually “minor” can become very serious in several situations.

First, when it is done repeatedly and regularly. A repeated small sin shows a settled habit of disobedience rather than a momentary lapse. The heart becomes attached to disobedience, and this makes the sin heavier in the sight of Allah.

Second, when it is done publicly and shamelessly. The Prophet ﷺ said:

“All of my Ummah will be forgiven except those who commit sins openly.”
(Bukhari, Muslim)

Public sin invites others to imitate it, spreads evil, and shows less fear of Allah, so the sin becomes more severe.

Third, when it is done proudly or with mockery. If someone sins and then boasts, laughs, or mocks the command of Allah, that reveals disrespect and a sick heart. The sin in that case is not just the outward act, but also arrogance and rebellion.

Fourth, when it is done by someone whose example is followed. For example, a teacher, parent, or leader who commits a sin may cause many others to follow them. The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Whoever initiates in Islam a bad practice will bear its sin and the sin of those who act upon it after him, without anything being diminished from their sins.”
(Muslim)

This kind of influence can transform a seemingly small act into a major source of harm.

For this reason, believers should not worry too much about classifying every action as “major” or “minor,” but should focus on feeling sincere regret for all sins, big or small, and on making repentance a continuous habit.

The Role of Tawbah in Erasing Major and Minor Sins

Allah opened the door of repentance for all sins, even the greatest and most destructive. No human sin is greater than Allah’s mercy.

Allah says:

“Say, ‘O My servants who have transgressed against themselves, do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.’”
(Qur’an 39:53)

This verse includes both major and minor sins. However, repentance from major sins must be serious and sincere.

The conditions of true repentance include four points when the sin is between the servant and Allah alone. First, the sin must be abandoned completely. Second, the sinner must feel genuine regret for having done it. Third, there must be a firm intention never to return to it. Fourth, if the sin involved the rights of other people, those rights must be restored or forgiven.

Once these conditions are met, the mercy of Allah is astonishing. He does not only erase the sin, but can even replace the sin with a good deed in a person’s record.

Allah says:

“Except for those who repent, believe, and do righteous deeds. For them Allah will replace their evil deeds with good. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful.”
(Qur’an 25:70)

This promise shows that no major sin, including even shirk before Islam, is permanent if a person repents before death. What turns sin into disaster is not its size, but the refusal to repent.

Balancing Fear of Sin and Hope in Allah

Understanding major and minor sins must lead to a balanced spiritual attitude. On one side, a Muslim fears falling into major sins and fears the accumulation of minor sins. On the other side, a Muslim does not despair, because Allah has promised forgiveness and mercy for those who repent and reform.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, if you did not sin, Allah would replace you with a people who would sin, then seek forgiveness from Allah, and He would forgive them.”
(Muslim)

This hadith does not encourage sin, but teaches that repentance and seeking forgiveness are part of being human and part of Allah’s plan. The believer is not perfect, but always returns to Allah.

In practical terms, this balance appears in several ways.

A believer studies what Allah has declared forbidden, especially the well known major sins, to avoid them. He or she takes care never to regard any sin, even minor, as trivial. At the same time, when a sin occurs, the believer does not remain in despair or give up, but rushes to ask forgiveness, makes sincere tawbah, and replaces bad deeds with good ones.

Allah teaches this hopeful attitude:

“And those who, when they commit an immoral act or wrong themselves, remember Allah and seek forgiveness for their sins, and who can forgive sins except Allah, and they do not persist in what they have done while they know.”
(Qur’an 3:135)

The key here is that they do not persist. They do not turn a slip into a way of life.

Protecting Oneself from Major and Minor Sins

While detailed rules of behavior are discussed throughout the course, certain principles directly help in protecting from all kinds of sins.

Keeping away from the doors that lead to sin. Every major sin has smaller steps and beginnings. For example, the major sin of adultery is protected against by lowering the gaze and avoiding situations of temptation. The major sin of theft is avoided by purifying the desire for unlawful wealth and avoiding suspicion or greed. Allah often commands us to stay away from the “approaches” to sin, not only the sin itself.

Regular worship as a shield. The Qur’an describes prayer as a protection from shameful and evil deeds. Allah says:

“Indeed, the prayer restrains from shameful and evil deeds.”
(Qur’an 29:45)

Daily remembrance, recitation of Qur’an, and attending the congregation soften the heart and keep it alive, which makes falling into major sin less likely and helps a person notice minor sins quickly.

Watching the company one keeps. A person’s companions either help them stay away from sin or draw them toward it. The Prophet ﷺ gave an example:

“The example of a good companion and a bad companion is that of the seller of musk and the blacksmith’s bellows...”
(Bukhari, Muslim)

The good companion lifts you up, the bad one drags you toward disobedience.

Staying humble and self aware. When a person feels secure from sin, that feeling itself is dangerous. Recognizing one’s weakness and always asking Allah for firmness is part of safety. The Prophet ﷺ used to say:

“O Turner of the hearts, keep my heart firm upon Your religion.”
(Tirmidhi)

This constant turning to Allah is one of the greatest protections against both major and minor sins.

Looking at Others’ Sins and One’s Own

Understanding major and minor sins also influences how a Muslim looks at other people. While a believer must recognize that some sins are more destructive than others, he or she is not allowed to feel superior over others or to decide who is saved or destroyed in the sight of Allah.

The Qur’an commands believers to help each other, not to gloat over each other’s mistakes:

“And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and transgression.”
(Qur’an 5:2)

If someone falls into a major sin, the duty is to advise them gently, remind them of Allah, and help them repent. The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Whoever conceals the fault of a Muslim, Allah will conceal his fault in this world and the Hereafter.”
(Muslim)

Meanwhile, a believer is strict with his own soul. He sees his own sins as great, even if they are “minor” in law, and he asks Allah to forgive him. But he sees others’ sins as a trial and an opportunity to help and to make duʿāʾ for them.

This approach prevents arrogance, hypocrisy, and despair. It keeps the focus where it belongs, on the greatness of Allah, the seriousness of disobedience, and the vastness of His mercy.