Does "ما" in the Hadith, "The prayers from one to the next are an expiation for what is between them, as long as major sins are avoided," imply the condition of avoiding major sins between the prayers for the expiation of sins, and that not avoiding them also prevents the expiation of minor sins, contrary to the saying that prayer only expiates minor sins?

The issue boils down to a disagreement among the Sunnis. Some believe that avoiding major sins is a prerequisite for good deeds to expiate minor sins, while others hold that good deeds expiate minor sins even without avoiding major sins. An-Nawawi favored the view that the presence of major sins does not prevent the expiation of minor sins through prayer and similar acts, and that all sins are forgiven except for major sins, which are only forgiven through repentance or by the mercy and grace of Allah the Almighty.