The Quran

الَّذينَ يَجتَنِبونَ كَبائِرَ الإِثمِ وَالفَواحِشَ إِلَّا اللَّمَمَ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ واسِعُ المَغفِرَةِ ۚ هُوَ أَعلَمُ بِكُم إِذ أَنشَأَكُم مِنَ الأَرضِ وَإِذ أَنتُم أَجِنَّةٌ في بُطونِ أُمَّهاتِكُم ۖ فَلا تُزَكّوا أَنفُسَكُم ۖ هُوَ أَعلَمُ بِمَنِ اتَّقىٰ

Ali Unal

Those who avoid the major sins and indecent, shameful deeds (which are, in fact, included in the major sins), only falling into small faults,¹ – surely your Lord is of extensive forgiveness. He knows you well when He originates you from (the particles of) earth, and when you are hidden (fetuses) in the wombs of your mothers. So do not hold yourselves pure (sinless; it is vain self-justification). He knows best him who keeps from disobedience to God in reverence for Him and piety.

For the major sins, see sūrah 2: 194, note 140; sūrah 4: 31, note 11; and for the indecent, shameful deeds, see sūrah 4: 25, note 9. Indecent acts, such as illegal sexual intercourse and homosexuality are, in fact, included in the major sins. They are mentioned separately because God especially warns us against them. In order to better understand this verse and the meaning of small faults, it should be considered together or in the light of the verse: They are also the ones who, when they have committed a shameful deed or wronged themselves (through any kind of sinful act to bring harm to themselves), immediately remember God and implore Him to forgive their sins – for who will forgive sins save God? – and do not persist knowingly in whatever (evil) they have committed (3: 135).