Forgiveness except for the Enormities

Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “The five prescribed prayers, and from one Friday prayer to another entail forgiveness (are kaffara) for what is between them as long as you do not commit the enormities (kaba’ir).” [Sahih Muslim]

This hadith gives us an indication of the importance of the five daily prayers (salah) as well as the Friday (Jumah) prayer by telling us the enormous reward associated with them. They wipe out all the minor sins that one commits in between the prayers. The major sins (kaba’ir) are not included in this automatic kaffara. So it makes sense that we learn what these enormities (kaba’ir) are, that we may avoid them.

Imam Dhahabi, in his book Kitab al-Kaba’ir (Book of Enormities), defines an enormity as any sin entailing either:
1) a threat of punishment in the Hereafter explicitly mentioned by the Quran or hadith,
2) a prescribed legal penalty (Hadd), or
3) being accursed by Allah or His Messenger (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam).

May Allah by His Mercy enable us to avoid all of these. Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) says:

“If you avoid the enormities (kaba’ir) of what you have been forbidden, We shall acquit you of your wrongdoings and admit you to a gracious place to enter.” [Quran 4:31]