The Difference between the Remission of Sins and the Forgiveness of Sins

Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyah

Allah has mentioned the remission of sins and forgiveness together and separately
throughout the Quran. When they are mentioned together Allah says about His
servants who believe:
Our Lord! Forgive us our sins and remit from us our evil deeds, and make us die in
the state of righteousness along with Al-Abrar (those who are obedient to Allah and
follow strictly His Orders).[ Al-Imran 193]
And when Allah mentions these acts individually He says:
But those who believe and do righteous good deeds, and believe in that which is
sent down to Muhammad for it is the truth from their Lord, He will expiate from them
their sins, and will make good their state.[ Muhammad 2]
"Therein for them is every kind of fruit; and forgiveness from their Lord".[ Muhammad
15]
"Our Lord! Forgive us our sins and our transgressions (in keeping our duties to
You),[ Al-Imran 147]
There are four issues here: sins, evil deeds, forgiveness and remission. The intended
meaning for sins is major sins and the definition of evil deeds is minor sins. The proof
that evil deeds refers to minor sins is the verse where Allah says,:
" If you avoid the great sins which you are forbidden to do, We shall remit from you
your (small) sins, and admit you to a Noble Entrance (i.e. Paradise).[An-Nisa' 31] and
in Sahih Muslim on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (Radi Allahu anhu) The Prophet
(sallAllahu alayhi wa salam) said: " (maintaining) The five daily prayers, J umu'ah
to the next and Ramadhan until the next are a remission for whatever sins come in
between, so long as one does not commit any major sin. [233]
The word forgiveness is more complete than the remission. Therefore, it's used to
refer to major sins while remission is used for minor sins. Included in the word
remission is protection and removal against sins. When these words are mentioned
independently, the meaning for each one is found in the other. This is similar to the
verse, " He will expiate from them their sins" [ Muhammad 2].
Included in this verse are minor and major sins along with the protection and removal
of their evils. Even at times remission of sins comprises evil deeds. Allah says, " So
that Allah may remit from them the evil of what they did[ Az-Zumar 35]
There are three mighty rivers for major sinners in this world, if these rivers dont
cleanse them, those sinners will be cleanse in the Hell's river on the Day of Judgment.
1. The river of sincere repentance
2. The river of abundance with good deeds
3. The river of trials and afflictions
If Allah desires good for His slaves he enters him into one of the these three rivers, so
on the Day of Resurrection he arrives clean and is in no need for the fourth river of
cleansing .
Taken from Madarajus Saalikeen printed Darul Jeel Beirut vol1 page247-249
Translated by Abu Aaliyah Abdullah in Dwight Battle
Doha, Qatar 1434
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