خِلَافًا لِلْمُعْتَزِلَةِ
Contrary to the Muʿtazilah.
On the Muʿtazilī account described here, a major sinner who dies without repentance deserves punishment that is not simply removed through intercession. Intercession is instead generally associated with increased rewards or ranks for the obedient and repentant.
The Sunni reasoning distinguishes deserving punishment from actually receiving it: an offense may warrant punishment, yet Allah may pardon it, including through an accepted intercessory plea.