𝐃𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐡 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐤=𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐨𝐫 𝐧𝐨𝐭?
Mohamad Mostafa Nassar
Twitter:@NassarMohamadMR
Question:
Does Allah really forgive Shirk= joining partners with him or not? Is there Contradiction between Quran (4:48), Quran (4:153), Quran (39:53), Quran (47:34), Quran (4:116), Quran (7:36), Quran (4:168-169)?
The following Noble Quranic verses Quran (4:48), Quran (4:153),Quran (39:53), Quran (47:34), Quran (4:116), Quran (7:36), Quran (4:168-169) superficially appears to be contradictory let us read and the answer is below:
“Surely, Allah does not forgive that a partner is ascribed to Him, and He forgives anything short of that for whomsoever He wills. Whoever ascribes a partner to Allah commits a terrible sin”. Quran (4:48)
“The People of the Book demand that you ˹O Prophet˺ bring down for them a revelation in writing from heaven.1 They demanded what is even greater than this from Moses, saying, “Make Allah visible to us!” So, a thunderbolt struck them for their wrongdoing.Then they took the calf for worship after receiving clear signs. Still, we forgave them for that ˹after their repentance˺ and gave Moses compelling proof.” Quran (4:153)?
“Say, ˹O Prophet, that Allah says, ˺ “O My servants who have exceeded the limits against their souls! Do not lose hope in Allah’s mercy, for Allah certainly forgives all sins.1 He is indeed the All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” Quran (39:53)?
“Surely those who disbelieve, hinder ˹others˺ from the Way of Allah, and then die as disbelievers; Allah will never forgive them.” Quran (47:34)
“Surely Allah does not forgive associating ˹others˺ with Him ˹in worship˺,1 but forgives anything else of whoever He wills. Indeed, whoever associates ˹others˺ with Allah has clearly gone far astray.” Quran (4:116)
“But those who receive Our revelations with denial and arrogance will be the residents of the Fire. They will be there forever.” Quran (7:36)
“Those who disbelieve and wrong themselves—surely Allah will neither forgive them nor guide them to any path, except that of Hell, to stay there for ever and ever. And that is easy for Allah.” Quran (4:168-169)
Answer:
The answer is really that simple: A truth seeker would be able to understand, from the above-mentioned Noble Quranic verses in the question, that when Allah Exalted, He states that He will NOT forgive shirk= polytheism =joining partners with Allah.
This means that Allah will NOT forgive shirk=joining partners with him for anyone who DIES on Shirk=polytheism Without repenting from Shirk=polytheism=joining partners with Allah.
While the other above-mentioned Noble Quranic verses states that Allah forgives all sins including forgiving Shirk=polytheism=joining partners with Allah for anyone. This means anyone who repents during his life and before dying on Shirk=polytheism=joining partners with Allah.
Notice Allah says he “forgives what is besides that”–that means any sin is potentially forgivable. Praise to Allah
So, what happens if you’re Muslim, and you commit an act of shirk? Does it destroy all your good deeds? Are you doomed to enter hellfire; may Allah protect us all from that?
“Allah does not forgive [shirk]” means Allah will not forgive the person if he doesn’t repent. Repentance wipes out every sin, without exception. Many companions (may Allah be pleased with all of them) were mushrikun (polytheists) when they accepted Islam.
The point is, if you commit shirk and die without repenting, Allah will not forgive you. If you fornicate, drink alcohol, consume interest, steal, and you repent afterward, Allah will forgive you inshaAllah.
If you don’t repent from those sins and you die, Allah may forgive you. With shirk, if you die with it unrepented, Allah will not forgive you.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) sought refuge from shirk and taught us a wonderful du’a to protect ourselves:
Allahumma innee ‘aoothu bika an ushrika bika shaiann wa anaa a’lamu, wa astaghfiruka limaa laa a’lamu.
Translation: O Allah, I seek refuge in You lest I associate anything with You knowingly, and I seek Your forgiveness for what I know not.
Source: The collection of Ahmad. You can find the du’a in Fortress of a Muslim. You can find more details more in the comments inshā’allāh.
May Allah protect us all from the evil of shirk and allow us to live and die as true Muslims.
Question
Will Allah forgive someone who commits shirk? How can he strengthen his faith?
I would like to know if Allah will forgive somebody who has done shirk knowingly but wants to change his ways for good forever pls it is very important and another thing how such a person can be forgiven and know that he is forgiven and how can a person increase his iman.
And do the things that are halal and avoid haram plus be void of psychological problems because I have a lot of hems and they bring a lot of confusion and anger and lead me astray.
Answer
Praise be to Allah.
Allah has told us that he will forgive all sins for the one who repents to Him. He says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Say: ‘O ‘Ibaadi (My slaves) who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah, verily, Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft‑Forgiving, Most Merciful’”
Quran [al-Zumar 39:53]
This includes all sins, even shirk. Whoever repents, Allah will accept his repentance.
With regard repentance from shirk in particular and the acceptance thereof, Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And those who invoke not any other ilaah (God) along with Allah, nor kill such person as Allah has forbidden, except for just cause, nor commit illegal sexual intercourse and whoever does this shall receive the punishment.
69. The torment will be doubled to him on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein in disgrace.
70. Except those who repent and believe (in Islamic Monotheism), and do righteous deeds; for those, Allah will change their sins into good deeds, and Allah is Oft‑Forgiving, Most Merciful”
Quran [al-Furqan 25:68-70]
Allah mentions the kufr and shirk of the Christians, then calls them to repent. He says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Surely, disbelievers are those who said: “Allah is the third of the three (in a Trinity).” But there is no Ilaah (God) (none who has the right to be worshipped) but One Ilaah (God —Allah).
And if they cease not from what they say, verily, a painful torment will befall on the disbelievers among them.
74. Will they not turn with repentance to Allah and ask His forgiveness? For Allah is Oft‑Forgiving, Most Merciful”
Quran [al-Ma’idah 5:73-74]
No matter how great the sin, the forgiveness, generosity, and kindness of Allah is greater.
All you have to do is to turn to Allah, regret what you did and resolve not to do it again. Then receive the glad tidings of the bounty and mercy of Allah, for Islam wipes out whatever sins came before it.
As the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said to ‘Amr ibn al-‘Aas (may Allah be pleased with him):
“O ‘Amr, do you not know that Islam wipes out whatever came before it.” Narrated by Muslim, 121; Ahmad, 17861.
And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The one who repents from sin is like one who did not sin.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi and classed as Hasan by al-Albani.
If a person repents to Allah, Allah accepts his repentance and forgives him. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And He it is Who accepts repentance from His slaves, and forgives sins”
Quran [al-Shoora 42:25]
“And verily, I am indeed forgiving to him who repents, believes (in My Oneness, and associates none in worship with Me) and does righteous good deeds, and then remains constant in doing them (till his death)”
Quran [Ta-Ha 20:82]
We have to think well of our Lord and hope that He will accept our repentance, for Allah says, “I am as My slave thinks I am.” A hadeeth Qudsi (attributed directly to Allah Exalted He as the speaker and told us by our beloved Prophet Muhammed) narrated by al-Bukhari, 7066; Muslim, 2675.
According to Ahmad with a sahih isnad: “I am as My slave thinks I am, so let him think whatever he wants.”
Regarding strengthening your faith, this may be done in many ways, such as the following:
1 – Remembering Allah a great deal, reading His Book and sending a great deal of blessings upon His Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).
2 – Regularly offering the obligatory prayers on time and offering a lot of naafil=voluntary Sunnah prayers, so that one may attain the love and support of Allah as it says in the hadeeth:
“Whosoever shows enmity to someone devoted to Me, I shall be at war with him. My servant draws not near to Me with anything more loved by Me than the religious duties I have enjoined upon him, and My servant continues to draw near to Me with supererogatory works so that I shall love him.
When I love him, I am his hearing with which he hears, his seeing with which he sees, his hand with which he strikes and his foot with which he walks.
Were he to ask [something] of Me, I would surely give it to him, and were he to ask Me for refuge, I would surely grant him it.” Narrated by al-Bukhari, 6137.
3 – Keeping company with good people who will help you to worship and obey Allah and discourage you from disobeying Him.
4 – Reading biographies of righteous people among the scholars, ascetics (zaahids), devoted worshippers and those who repented.
5 – Keeping away from everything that reminds you of sin and calls you to it.
In general, faith is increased by doing acts of worship and keeping away from haram=forbidden things.
We ask Allah to help you and to accept your repentance, and to guide your heart.
Allah knows best.