It is related by
Ayesha that the Apostle of God said to her: “O Ayesha ! Take special
care to guard yourself against sins that are regarded minor for even
these will be brought to account by God.”
-Ibn-i-Maja
and Baihaqi
Commentary.-Those who believe in the Hereafter and are heedful of the
Judgement Day, generally, abstain from the major sins but where the
minor sins are concerned even the devout and the God-fearing among them
are inclined to be indifference, though these also constitute the violation
of a God-given rule and we shall have to answer for them on the Last
Day. We should, therefore, be on our guard against what may seem to
be insignificant offences as well. In this Tradition, the Prophet has
given the same advice to Hazrat Ayesha, and though it is addressed directly
to her, it applies to all Muslim men and women. When the Prophet’s
own family is required to be careful in this respect, ordinary Muslims
like ourselves cannot, obviously, afford to be negligent. Granting that
the minor transgressions are unimportant, as compared to the major ones,
it is not that these do not invite the displeasure of the Lord and can
be ignored as trivial. The difference between them is the same as between
a less poisonous and a more poisonous snake.