Question
What is the difference between kabirah and saghirah sins?
Answer
It is quite clear that evil deeds, from the perspective of their effects, can range from extremely significant to trivial. The extremely significant or the big sins are called the Kabirah sins – derived from the Arabic noun ‘Kabir’, implying ‘big’. On the other hand, the less significant or the small sins are termed as Saghirah sins – derived from the Arabic noun ‘Saghir’, implying small.
The respective effects of the two kinds of sins are different both from the standpoint of the life of this world as well as the hereafter. Thus, committing a Kabirah sin has much more significant and stronger implications on the spiritual cleansing of the person committing such a sin and is, therefore, followed by a much stricter accountability in the hereafter as compared to Saghirah sins.
I hope this helps.
Regards,
Moiz Amjad
December 15, 2001