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“Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills.” (Qur’an 4:48)
Say, “O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.” (Qur’an 39:53)
“Turn to your Lord ˹in repentance˺, and ˹fully˺ submit to Him before the punishment reaches you, ˹for˺ then you can no longer be helped (Quran 39:54).
So are these text in contradiction with one another or are these text addressing two different audiences?
It is not sound exegesis (tafsir) to just pick out these two verses as a contradiction without looking at the context, and who is being addressed, as well as other verses in the Qur’an that address the same topic. This will allow one to have a better grasp of the subject before they reach a conclusion.
This article will lay out the Ibadi position as clearly stated in the Qur’an in contradistinction to the misguidance of the Sunni position.
So first let us look at the Sunni position in regard to their misunderstanding.
“Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills.” (Qur’an 4:48)
“Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And he who associates others with Allah has certainly gone far astray.” (Qur’an 4:116)
So they (those who call themselves Sunni) want to say that Allah (swt) is forgiving all the sins except shirk. Everything is forgiven without any tauba (except the shirk)
This is totally in error. They (those who call themselves Sunni) are in major doctrinal error on this issue!
What one will really see that instead of representing the teachings of the Qur’an and the belief of the early Muslims, (those who call themselves Sunni) are in fact propagating the views of the Murji’ah sect.
A key tenet of belief of the Murji’ah sect is the belief that Muslims who commit major sins and die without repentance are still considered Muslim and eligible for paradise.
“But He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills.”
This key part of the text of Qur’an 4:116 & Qur’an 4:48 is what is used to justify the idea that Allah (swt) is either random, capricious or whimsical in his approach to forgiving sins. We seek protection in Allah (swt) from this!
We say that Allah (swt) is not whimsical, capricious or random in the approach to forgiving sins and the Qur’an lays out clearly the approach to reconciliation to Allah (swt).
“But the Jews and the Christians say, “We are the children of Allah and His beloved.” Say, “Then why does He punish you for your sins?” Rather, you are human beings from among those He has created. He forgives whom He wills, and He punishes whom He wills. And to Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them, and to Him is the [final] destination.” (Qur’an 5:18)
“Then why does Allah punish you for your sins?”
If Allah (swt) punishes people who commit no sin where is the justice?
If we understand that Allah (swt) at random, capriciously selects this group or this one for forgiveness and not that one you also have to ask where is the justice?
Yet, Allah (swt) is just!
“Paradise is not [obtained] by your wishful thinking nor by that of the People of the Scripture. Whoever does a wrong will be recompensed for it, and he will not find besides Allah a protector or a helper.” (Qur’an 4:123)
“And whoever does righteous deeds, whether male or female, while being a believer – those will enter Paradise and will not be wronged, [even as much as] the speck on a date seed.(Qur’an 4:124)
So let us go back to the clause in the two verses: Qur’an 4:116 & Qur’an 4:48
“But He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills.”
How is this will known to us?
Let the Qur’an speak!
“And those who do not invoke with Allah another deity or kill the soul which Allah has forbidden [to be killed], except by right, and do not commit unlawful sexual intercourse. And whoever should do that will meet a penalty. Multiplied for him is the punishment on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein humiliated -Except for those who repent, believe and do righteous work. For them Allah will replace their evil deeds with good. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful.” (Qur’an 25:68-70)
The above verse is very clear that shirk can be forgiven “Except for those who repent“. However, the major point of the above verse is that shirk and other big sins(killing someone unlawfully, committing illicit sexual intercourse) are forgiven by tauba (repentance) and follow this up with righteous actions.
So whoever does shirk, or kills another person without right, or commits unlawful sexual intercourse all of them will meet the penalty (which means hellfire). So that point is crystal clear.
Now, the only point in dispute is rather or not those who enter the hellfire remain therein eternally or only a short period of time.
This is discussed at length here:
Other examples of Allah (swt) forgiving shirk.
“Indeed, those who took the calf [for worship] will obtain anger from their Lord and humiliation in the life of this world, and thus do We recompense the inventors [of falsehood] But those who committed misdeeds and then repented after them and believed – indeed your Lord, thereafter, is Forgiving and Merciful.” (Qur’an 7:152-153)
˹after their repentance˺ < didn’t think we would notice but we did.
“But He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills.”
“Anyways what are you guys trying to deduce from this? That one can do whatever non shirk sins they want and they can still be forgiven?” – brother Abdullah
What he means by is that are The Ahl Sunnah suggesting that a person can do what ever sins they want (rape, molestation, murder) just short of shirk and they will be forgiven without repentance and reformation?
“Whom he wills” is a reference to those who repent.
We have already given a text from the Qur’an that clearly proves this. (Qur’an 25:68-70)
You also have the following:
“Those who avoid the major sins and immoralities, only [committing] slight ones. Indeed, your Lord is vast in forgiveness. He was most knowing of you when He produced you from the earth and when you were fetuses in the wombs of your mothers. So do not claim yourselves to be pure; He is most knowing of who fears Him.” (Qur’an 53:32)
“IF (but) eschew the evilest of the things which you are forbidden to do, We shall expel out of ( Saiyiatikum) YOU ALL THE EVIL IN YOU, and admit you to a gate of great honor.” -(Qur’an 4:31)
Even this above verse some of the translators have tried to manipulate it in accordance with their i’tiqad.
Please see the article here:
“Turn to your Lord, and submit to Him before the punishment reaches you, then you will not be helped.” (Qur’an 39:54)
“And follow the best of what was revealed to you from your Lord before the punishment comes upon you suddenly while you do not perceive.” “Lest a soul should say, “Oh [how great is] my regret over what I neglected in regard to Allah and that I was among the mockers.” “Or [lest] it say, “If only Allah had guided me, I would have been among the righteous. Or [lest] it say when it sees the punishment, “If only I had another turn so I could be among the doers of good.” “But yes, there had come to you My verses, but you denied them and were arrogant, and you were among the disbelievers”. (Qur’an 39:55-59)
Qur’an 4:48=Those who were given the Scripture (Ahl Kitab)
The forgiveness for their shirk is by embracing Islam!
“O you who were given the Scripture, believe in what We have sent down, confirming that which is with you, before We obliterate faces and turn them toward their backs or curse them as We cursed the sabbath-breakers. And ever is the decree of Allah accomplished. Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And he who associates others with Allah has certainly fabricated a tremendous sin. Have you not seen those who claim themselves to be pure? Rather, Allah purifies whom He wills, and injustice is not done to them, [even] as much as a thread [inside a date seed]. Look how they invent about Allah untruth, and sufficient is that as a manifest sin. Have you not seen those who were given a portion of the Scripture, who believe in superstition and false objects of worship and say about the disbelievers, “These are better guided than the believers as to the way”? (Qur’an 4:47-4:51)
The context is in relation to the people of the book. Some of them believed in superstition, worship of false objects etc. They deviated from the true pure monotheism as given to them in their scripture.
Qur’an 4:48 is a warning to them = Those who were given the Scripture
Qur’an 39:53 = “my servants”
Say, “O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.” (Qur’an 39:53)
This verse is already addressed to those who believe in Islam.
Our quick witted brother Abdullah has correctly noted:
“Also I’ve seen a lot of Sunnis use this verse (Qur’an 4:48) which was revealed against “disbelievers” as apply it to the believers. So are they Khawarij?”
What he means is that The Ahl Sunnah take a verse that is directed towards the disbelievers and apply it to the believers! They say that is a quality of the khawarij and yet they do it themselves!
“No, it doesn’t, your understanding of this verse (Qur’an 4:48) is ignoring the verse in Zumar (Qur’an 39:53) which says, “Allah forgives **all sins** and shirk is a sin.” Abdullah
Shaykh Ahmed Al Khalili elaborates more here:
“As for the second place, it is preceded by His saying: “If anyone contends with the Messenger even after the guidance has been plainly conveyed to him, and follows a path other than that becoming to men to faith, We shall leave him in the path He has chosen, and land him in hell. What an evil refuge!” (Qur’an 4:115).” -Shaykh Al Khalili
“So, interpreting it to mean other than what I have mentioned of its tafsir, will take it out from its context. His saying, Exalted is He: ‘Allah forgives not that partners should be set up with Him’ (Qur’an 4:48) is an affirmation carrying the meaning of being the reason for His saying:
“If anyone contends with the Messenger even after the guidance has been plainly conveyed to him, and follows a path other than that becoming to men of faith, We shall leave him in the path He has chosen, and land him in hell. What an evil refuge!” (Qur’an 4:115)
“And His saying , ‘And He forgives anything else, to whom He pleases‘, is a promise to those mushriks who embrace Islam of forgiveness for all their past sins, after what has preceded it of warning to those who persist in their shirk. From this, the reason clearly emerges of repeating the wording of the verse another time with no difference other than the end-rhyme. At first occurrence it is repeated by His saying, Exalted is He! ” -Shaykh Ahmed Al Khalili
“The second is that His saying ‘and He forgives anything else, to whom He pleases‘, (Qur’an 4:48) does not in any way indicate forgiveness of the people who commit major sins other than shirk, irrespective of their persistence in them.” -Shaykh Ahmed Al Khalili
To elaborate on this point. Do not think that if you do major sins without seeking repentance or without reforming yourself that you will be forgiven.
“This verse has come in two places in al-Nisa’ in the context of specifying the entering into Islam of those who did not accept Islam. In the first place it is preceded by His saying: “Exalted Is He: “O People of the Book, believe in what We have revealed confirming what was with you, before We destroy the countenances so as to confound or to curse them as We cursed the Sabbath-breakers. And the decision of Allah must be carried out.” (Qur’an 4:47) -Shaykh Ahmed Al Khalili
“Then it is followed by His saying: ‘Allah does not forgive that partners be set up with Him’ and He forgives anything else, to whom He pleases.’ (Qur’an 4:48).” -Shaykh Ahmed Al Khalili
“It is understood from this context that the meaning of the verse is that Allah does not forgive whomever remains in his shirk, not turning from it to tawhid, even if he repents from the rest of his sins. For the repentance of the mushrik is not otherwise than by tawhid which is the basis of all good deeds, the axis of all virtue, just as shirk is the matrix of sinning.” -Shaykh Ahmed Al Khalili
“And His saying, ‘And He forgives anything else, to whom He pleases’. i.e. whatever is other than shirk, that is, all the disobediences of the mushriks other than their shirk, for whoever He wills to guide to repentance from his shirk. That is because…….” -Shaykh Ahmed Al Khalili
QUESTIONS FOR SUNNI MUSLIMS.
Also, you as a (Sunni) saying that if a Muslim commits shirk than there is absolutely no chance of forgiveness? That is harsh!
That concept is against the verse , “Allah forgives all sins.” (Qur’an 39:53)
This will also be an obstacle to the verse: “Never give up hope of Allah’s soothing mercy; in fact none despairs of Allah’s soothing mercy except the ungrateful disbelievers.” (Qur’an 12:87)
How do you expect one not to despair of Allah’s mercy since they won’t be forgiven? In the process of giving up on Allah’s mercy they drown further in despair and darkness!
Also, the concept of an unforgivable sin is a Christian concept!
Jesus said, “I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this life or in the life to come” (Matthew 12:31-32)
This is not an Islamic concept.
OR…
Are we to believe that you as a Sunni understand this verse to mean that you can do any sin imaginable and even if you do not repent Allah (swt) will still forgive you (by spending a little time in hellfire) unless it is shirk and than you are sealed forever?
How do you reconcile your perspective with the following?
Safwan ibn ‘Assal reported: The Messenger of Allah (saw) said,
“Verily, towards the Western sun is an open gate the length of which is seventy years of travel, It will continue to be open for repentance until the sun rises from there. When the sun rises from there, the faith of any soul will not benefit it had it not had faith earlier or earned goodness from its faith.”
Source: (https://sunnah.com/ibnmajah:4070)
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Whoever repents before the sun rises from the west, Allah will accept his repentance.”
Source: (https://sunnah.com/muslim:2703)
Further proofs that Allah (swt) forgives the sin of shirk are from logic (mantiq) and text (nass)
- A person who commits shirk by being devoted to things other than Allah (swt) has their sin of shirk forgiven by embracing Islam.
The proof for that is this:
“Say to those who have disbelieved [that] if they cease, what has previously occurred will be forgiven for them. But if they return [to hostility] – then the precedent of the former [rebellious] peoples has already taken place.” (Qur’an 8:38)
It would make no sense to call those who are involved in being devoted other than Allah (O you who were given the Scripture) to forgiveness if they can find no forgiveness?!
The forgiveness for their shirk is by embracing Islam! When they take the shahada testification of faith all their previous sins are forgiven (including shirk).
This is what (Qur’an 4:48) is in reference to.
“They take their priests and their anchorites to be their lords in derogation of Allah, and (they take as their Lord) Christ the son of Mary; yet they were commanded to worship Allah alone: there is no god but He. Exalted is He above whatever they associate (yush’rikuna) with Him.” (Qur’an 9:31)
2. If the believing Muslim slips and commits shirk they will have no recourse to salvation. This cannot be the case.
This cannot be the case because the verse clearly states that Allah (swt) “forgives all sins” (Qur’an 39:53).
Yet, if you even as a Muslim have slipped by consulting psychics, astrologist, and put your faith and trust in them to divine your future you must repent, rectify yourself and flee to Allah’s mercy and forgiveness.
This is true of any act of shirk that Muslims fall into.
The key is sincere repentance. If you do not repent and you do not make effort to reform than there is no sincerity.
Alas , if the position is that if Muslims slip, fall into shirk and there is no hope for them what motive is there now for them to be moral in this life?
Indeed their hearts will darken and Allah (swt) knows best!
Allah (swt) will forgive any sin. Those who were given the Scripture have their sin of shirk removed by embracing Islam and by staying the course. The one born and raised as a Muslim has their sin of shirk removed by sincere repentance and reformation.
REPENTENCE:
“And of no effect is the repentance of those who continue to do evil deeds until death faces one of them and he says: “Now I repent; ”nor of those who die while they are ungrateful disbelievers. For them We have prepared a painful torment.” (Qur’an 4:18)
“The ˹true˺ servants of the Most Compassionate are those who walk on the earth humbly, and when the foolish address them ˹improperly˺, they only respond with peace. They are˺ those who spend ˹a good portion of˺ the night, prostrating themselves and standing before their Lord. ˹They are˺ those who pray, “Our Lord! Keep the punishment of Hell away from us, for its punishment is indeed unrelenting. It is certainly an evil place to settle and reside.” ˹They are˺ those who spend neither wastefully nor stingily, but moderately in between. ˹They are˺ those who do not invoke any other god besides Allah, nor take a ˹human˺ life—made sacred by Allah—except with ˹legal˺ right, nor commit fornication. And whoever does ˹any of˺ this will face the penalty. Their punishment will be multiplied on the Day of Resurrection, and they will remain in humiliation forever, except those who repent, believe, and do good deeds, they are the ones whose evil deeds Allah will change into good deeds. For Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful. And whoever repents and does good has truly turned to Allah properly.” (Qur’an 25:63-71)
For further reading:
Analyzing the hadith of the get out of jail free card.
The proof from the Qur’an and the Sunnah: Those who do major sins are in a state of Kufr.
The refutation of those who claim that heaven is not only for Muslims (but others also).
Islam is the only path for salvation.
To read more and to be upon the truth in your creed (aqidah) we invite you to read:
May Allah (swt) Guide the Ummah.
May Allah (swt) Forgive the Ummah.
Prima Quran 