Why does the inquirer feel intense fear of certain sins, such as consuming ill-gotten wealth, while not feeling the same degree of fear of God regarding negligence in prayer or idle talk, and why does he not feel the gravity of all sins to the same extent?

Sins vary, some are minor and some are major, and some major sins are greater than others. Abandoning prayer is one of the greatest major sins. A Muslim must beware of all sins, especially major ones, and this is achieved by knowing the degrees and ranks of sins. Knowledge of Allah's Names and Attributes deters a Muslim from sins, for being mindful that Allah observes him and sees his actions makes him fear defying his Lord with disobedience. The more a servant increases in knowledge of Allah's Attributes, the more his fear of sins and his caution against them increase.