Allah the Exalted said: “Indeed, good deeds remove bad deeds.” What is meant by the good deeds that remove the bad deeds of one who disobeys Allah?

Question:
He says: Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success, regarding His saying (Glorified and Exalted is He): What is meant by the good deeds that one who has disobeyed Allah with all his limbs performs so that his evil deeds may be removed?

Answer:
Major sins are not expiated except through repentance; expiation applies only to minor sins. “Indeed, good deeds remove bad deeds” refers to minor sins, and this applies to the five daily prayers. This is because a man came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)—this is the occasion for the revelation of the verse—when a man came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and informed him that he had done everything with a woman who was not lawful for him except intercourse. He asked if there was any repentance for him. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) remained silent until this verse was revealed to him: “And establish prayer at the two ends of the day and in the approaching hours of the night. Indeed, good deeds remove bad deeds. That is a reminder for those who understand.” This means minor sins.
The man said: “Is this for me specifically, O Messenger of Allah, or for the people in general?” He said: “Rather, it is for the people in general.” So the five daily prayers expiate minor sins from Allah. As in the hadith which indicates that the expiation is for minor sins. As for major sins, they are not expiated except through repentance. Yes.