Will Shirk Ever Be Forgiven by Shaykh Ḥasan Ṣomālī

Question:

Answer:

If a person dies upon major shirk, Allāh will not forgive them, and in the hereafter (the Ākhirah), they will be in the Hellfire for eternity, forever. May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) protect us all from that, and may He grant us all Paradise. There are many proofs for that in the Qur’ān, such as the saying of Allāh (عز وجل):

إِنَّهُۥ مَن يُشْرِكْ بِٱللَّهِ فَقَدْ حَرَّمَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ ٱلْجَنَّةَ وَمَأْوَىٰهُ ٱلنَّارُ ۖ وَمَا لِلظَّـٰلِمِينَ مِنْ أَنصَارٍ 
“Verily, whosoever commits Shirk (sets up partners in worship with Allāh), then Allāh has forbidden Paradise for him, and the Fire will be his abode. And for the wrong-doers, there are no helpers.” [Sūrah Al-Mā’idah 5: 72]
 
Likewise, Allāh says,

 إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَغْفِرُ أَن يُشْرَكَ بِهِۦ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ 
“Verily, Allāh forgives not that partners should be set up with Him (in worship), but He forgives except that (anything else) to whom He wills…” [Al-Nisā’ 4: 48]

If a person dies upon major shirk, Allāh will not forgive them. However, if a person repents with sincere repentance from shirk while they are living, then Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) accepts repentance for all sins. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said,

التَّائِبُ مِنْ الذَّنْبِ كَمَنْ لَا ذَنْبَ لَهُ
“The one who repents from a sin is like the one who has no sin”. [Ibn Mājah 4250]

We find evidence in the Qurān that proves that the one who repents from shirk with sincere repentance, Allāh will accept their repentance and forgive them. From these poofs and evidences are the sayings of Allāh:

 وَالَّذِينَ لَا يَدْعُونَ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَٰهًا آخَرَ وَلَا يَقْتُلُونَ النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ وَلَا يَزْنُونَ ۚ وَمَنْ يَفْعَلْ ذَٰلِكَ يَلْقَ أَثَامًا ﴿٦٨﴾ يُضَاعَفْ لَهُ الْعَذَابُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَيَخْلُدْ فِيهِ مُهَانًا ﴿٦٩﴾  إِلَّا مَنْ تَابَ وَآمَنَ وَعَمِلَ عَمَلًا صَالِحًا فَأُولَٰئِكَ يُبَدِّلُ اللَّهُ سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ حَسَنَاتٍ ۗ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَحِيمًا ﴿٧٠﴾ وَمَنْ تَابَ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا فَإِنَّهُ يَتُوبُ إِلَى اللَّهِ مَتَابًا ﴿٧١ 

 “And those who invoke not any other ilāh (god) along with Allāh, nor kill a person that Allāh has forbidden, except for just cause, nor commit illegal sexual intercourse. And whoever does this shall receive a punishment. The torment will be doubled for him on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein in disgrace. Except those who repent and believe, and do righteous deeds; for those, Allāh will change their sins into good deeds, and Allāh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. And whosoever repents and does righteous good deeds; then verily, he repents towards Allāh with true repentance.” [Sūrah Al-Furqān 25: 68-71]

So, if a person repents from shirk while they are living, with sincere repentance, Allāh will forgive them, and if they die upon Tawḥīd, then they are guaranteed Paradise. May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) bless us all with Paradise and save us all from the Hellfire.