How can lustful looking be a grave sin (kabirah), while kissing and touching without fornication are minor sins (lamam), unless committed persistently? And is there a contradiction between the verse: "If you avoid the major sins which you are forbidden, We will remove from you your lesser sins," and the verse: "Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills"? And is what is meant by "what is less than that" grave sins?
Forbidden looking, in principle, is a minor sin, unless it is accompanied by lust and fear of temptation, in which case it becomes a major sin. Scholars have agreed on dividing sins into minor and major, based on evidence from the Quran and Sunnah, and that avoiding major sins atones for minor ones. As for sins less than polytheism (shirk), for those who do not repent from them, they are subject to Allah's will.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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