Answer: Major sins are those actions which are explicitly prohibited by the Qur'an, Hadith of the Holy Prophet, and by the rulings of 12 divine Imams. These sins are considered
severe because they have specific punishments prescribed in the Qur'an or Hadith, and they typically involve severe wrongdoing or moral corruption. Major sins include but are not
limited to:
- Shirk (associating partners with Allah)
- Murder
- Adultery and fornication
- Theft
- Drinking alcohol
- Gambling
- Oppression or unjust treatment of others
- Not paying religious dues like Khums (a form of alms giving specific to Shia Islam) and Zakat
-Abandoning obligatory prayers and fasting without valid reason
Committing a major sin requires sincere repentance for forgiveness. Shia theology emphasizes the role of intention and the situation's context in evaluating the severity of the sin.
Minor Sins are those actions which are considered sinful but do not reach the level of major sins. These are typically actions that are frowned upon or discouraged but do not carry
specific severe earthly punishments or severe warnings in the scriptural texts. Minor sins can be expiated through good deeds, such as regular prayers, fasting, and acts of charity.
Examples of minor sins include:
- Lying in non-serious matters
- Backbiting without severe consequences
- Being rude or disrespectful without causing significant harm
- Minor acts of disobedience to parents
- Skipping recommended (Mustahabb) acts of worship
Both major and minor sins can be forgiven through the act of repentance (Tawbah), which also involves feeling sincere remorse, ceasing the sinful action, planning not to repeat the
sin, and seeking forgiveness through prayer and righteous deeds. In cases where other people are wronged, restitution is required.