Title:
Does Allah Forgive Shirk – Part – II
Article:
Following his original article, Mr. Katz has made the following addition on
the same page:
I just came across another verse in surat az-Zumar (39:53) where it is
stated in general terms:
Say: “O my Servants who have transgressed against their souls! Despair
not of the Mercy of Allah: for Allah forgives all sins: for He is
Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. — Sura 39:53
Taking this statement in its literal and absolute sense, it clearly
contradicts to the first two verses quoted above.
If my previous
explanation of the comparison of Al-Furqaan 25: 68 – 71 and Al-Nisaa
4: 48 and 116, is correctly understood, there should be absolutely no problem in
understanding the implication of the cited verse of Surah Al-Zumar.
Actually, if Mr. Katz had quoted the whole of the subject matter of Al-Zumar
39: 53 – 55, it would have been obvious that this verse is giving the same glad
tidings of forgiveness, as Al-Furqaan 25: 68 – 71, if a person repents
for his sins and corrects his behavior before the time that death over takes him
and thereby ends his test of life. Surah Al-Zumar 39: 53 – 54 read as:
Say: Servants of God, you that have sinned against your souls, do not
despair of God’s mercy, for God forgives all sins. It is He who is the
Forgiving One, the Merciful. Turn in penitence to your Lord, and submit to Him
before His scourge overtakes you; for then there will be none to help you.
Follow the best of what is revealed to you by your Lord before the scourge
suddenly takes you when you are heedless.
The words: “…before His scourge overtakes you; for then there will
be none to help you” and “…before the scourge suddenly takes
you when you are heedless” obviously imply — as was the case in the
cited verses of Al-Furqaan — that God shall forgive all sins if a person
repents and corrects himself before the time that death overtakes him. While the
implication of the cited verses of Al-Nisaa is that when the time of the
test of this life has expired, and death has overtaken a person, God may forgive
anyone for any sin except shirk. Whoever, knowingly, commits shirk and does not
repent or correct his actions, he shall never be forgiven.
It should also be of great interest for the reader to note that the above is
not only the teaching of the Qur’an, but the same was taught by all the prophets
of God. For instance, when Jesus (pbuh) said that:
“The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does
not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”
(Matthew 3: 10)
or that:
“Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into
the fire.” (Matthew 7: 19)
or that:
“As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at
the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will
weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They
will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and
gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 13: 40 – 42)
or that:
His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to
gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with
unquenchable fire.” (Luke 3: 17)
he was referring to the sinners who did not repent or correct their actions
during the time they were given to tread on the earth.
And when Jesus (pbuh) said that:
“And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but
the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.” (Matthew 12: 31)
[see Al-Nisaa 4: 48 and Al-Nisaa 4: 116]
or that:
I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven
them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven;
he is guilty of an eternal sin.” (Mark 3: 28 – 29) [see Al-Nisaa
4: 48 and Al-Nisaa 4: 116]
it actually implied that God may forgive all sins in the hereafter — even if
the sinner had not repented or corrected his behavior — but He shall never
forgive the person who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit and then dies without
repentance and correction.
While in the Psalms, when David (pbuh) said:
Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits– who forgives
all your sins and heals all your diseases (Psalms 103: 2 – 3) [see Al-Furqaan
25: 68 – 71 and Al-Zumar 39: 53]
it implied that God forgives “all sins” — without any exception —
after which a person repents and corrects his behavior.
I hope this explanation shall clarify the issue.
© Copyright October 1999. All Rights Reserved with the Author