persisting in a minor sin makes it a major sin

[Hassan Al Zahrani]

Al-Nawawi said: The scholars said that persisting in a minor sin makes it a major sin. It was narrated from 'Umar, Ibn 'Abbaas, and others that there is no major sin with prayers for forgiveness and no minor sin if one persists in it. What this means is that a major sin may be erased by praying for forgiveness, but a minor sin may become a major sin if one persists in it.