Ibn Al-Qayyim رحمه الله said in Madarij Al-Salikeen,
Wherever the word ذُنُوب (sin) is mentioned in the Quran what is intended from it are the major sins. And wherever ﺴﻴﺌﺎﺕ are mentioned in the Quran what is intended from it are the minor sins (or misdeeds).
Upon reflection of the verses of the Quran we find:
That the phrase ﺍﻟﻤﻐﻔﺮﺓ (forgiveness) is paired with ذُنُوب (major sins)
And that phrase ﺍﻟﺘﻜﻔﻴﺮ (concealment, removal) is paired with ﺴﻴﺌﺎﺕ (minor sins or misdeeds)
Allah says,
“ رَبَّنَا فَاغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَكَفِّرْ عَنَّا سَيِّئَاتِنَا “
“Our Lord, so forgive us our sins and remove from us our misdeeds “
And that is because the word ﺍﻟﻤﻐﻔﺮﺓ denotes protection and safety and the word ﺍﻟﺘﻜﻔﻴﺮ denotes concealing and removal. And the proof that ﺍﻟﺴﻴﺌﺎﺕ are the minors sins and that ﺍﻟﺘﻜﻔﻴﺮ (removal and concealment)
إِن تَجْتَنِبُوا كَبَائِرَ مَا تُنْهَوْنَ عَنْهُ نُكَفِّرْ عَنكُمْ سَيِّئَاتِكُمْ وَنُدْخِلْكُم مُّدْخَلًا كَرِيمًا
“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 [into Paradise]”
{Surah An Nisa 4: Verse 31}
? Ya Allah forgive our major and minor sins and enter us in Jannatul firdous al alaa through your mercy without any hisaab – ameen ya rabbi.
