Quran Provides Basis for Differentiating Major, Minor Sins: Scholar
Iranian Quran commentator Mohammad Ali Ansari elaborated on the Quranic basis and deeper meaning behind the classification of sins into “major” (kabirah) and “minor” (saghirah), saying the distinction lies in their spiritual consequences rather than their legal severity.
Speaking during an online session held on Sunday on the topic of “Major and Minor Sins,” Ansari said the concept is firmly rooted in the Quran. “The division of sins into major and minor has a Quranic foundation,” he noted, citing verse 31 of Surah An-Nisa: “If you avoid the major sins that you are forbidden, We will absolve you of your misdeeds and admit you to a noble abode.”
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He explained, however, that when viewed from the standpoint of disobeying divine law, this classification loses its meaning. “Every sin, insofar as it involves violating the laws and commands of God, is significant and grave. From this angle, all sins are serious,” he said.
Ansari emphasized that the differentiation becomes meaningful when considering the spiritual distance a sin creates between the believer and God. “The first basis of this division lies in the nature and effect of sin—it distances the soul from the Divine,” he said. “Unlike obedience, which brings nearness, sin pushes us away. Some sins take you a step away; others separate you by miles. Some may create distance for a day; others, for a lifetime.”
Quoting Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (AS), Ansari added: “There is nothing more corrupting to the heart than sin. The heart engages in sin until it dominates and turns the heart upside down.”
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He pointed out that the destructive impact of sins varies widely. “At times, a sharp tongue wounds a heart. At others, a greater injustice occurs, such as usurping someone’s rights—or, even worse, committing murder. The classification into major and minor sins is best understood as a spectrum of spiritual damage,” he said.
The Quranic scholar also reflected on the terminology used to describe sins in Islamic texts, noting that each word reveals a different aspect of moral failure. “The term khata implies a misstep. Ithm denotes a fall, as sin causes moral decline. Dhanb refers to consequences that trail the act, and sayyi’ah comes from ‘suu,’ meaning harm, as sin causes suffering to both God’s creation and the sinner.”
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