WikiIslam:Sandbox/Forgiveness

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In Islam, it is not very clear as to which sins Allah will forgive, and to which sins he will send you to hell for. Considering this religion judges its followers and offers rewards in Paradise or punishments in Hell according to the Judgement, one would expect the Qur'an to be a lot clearer in regards to which sins lead to Jahannam.

Here Allah says he forgives all sins:

"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."

Here is an instance of Allah forgiving shirk:

"... Yet they [the Israelites] worshipped the calf even after Clear Signs had come to them; even so We forgave them; and gave Moses manifest proofs of authority."

Here Allah says he does not forgive shirk but forgives everything else:

"Allah forgiveth not that partners should be set up with Him; but He forgiveth anything else, to whom He pleaseth; to set up partners with Allah is to devise a sin most heinous indeed."
"Allah forgiveth not (the sin of) joining other gods with Him; but He forgiveth whom He pleaseth other sins than this: one who joins other gods with Allah, Hath strayed far, far away (from the right)."

In several Sahih hadith, Allah does not forgive picture-makers:

Narrated Said bin Abu Al-Hasan: While I was with Ibn 'Abbas a man came and said, "O father of 'Abbas! My sustenance is from my manual profession and I make these pictures." Ibn 'Abbas said, "I will tell you only what I heard from Allah's Apostle . I heard him saying, ' Whoever makes a picture will be punished by Allah till he puts life in it, and he will never be able to put life in it.' " Hearing this, that man heaved a sigh and his face turned pale. Ibn 'Abbas said to him, "What a pity! If you insist on making pictures I advise you to make pictures of trees and any other unanimated objects."
We were with Masruq at the house of Yasar bin Numair. Masruq saw pictures on his terrace and said, "I heard 'Abdullah saying that he heard the Prophet saying, "The people who will receive the severest punishment from Allah will be the picture makers."

Here Allah is forgiving a bunch of people committing Shirk and Allah even substitutes their sins:

Those who invoke not, with Allah, any other god, nor slay such life as Allah has made sacred except for just cause, nor commit fornication; - and any that does this (not only) meets punishment. (But) the Penalty on the Day of Judgment will be doubled to him, and he will dwell therein in ignominy,- Unless he repents, believes, and works righteous deeds, for Allah will change the evil of such persons into good, and Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful, And whoever repents and does good has truly turned to Allah with an (acceptable) conversion

These verses speak of people who worship gods other than Allah and when they repent, believe, and work righteousness then Allah not only forgives them but he even substitutes their sins (sayyi'aat) with righteous credit (hasannat).

Here Allah says he forgives if done in ignorance followed by quick repentance:

"Allah accepts the repentance of those who do evil in ignorance and repent soon afterwards. To them will Allah turn in mercy. Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom"

Please note the term 'in ignorance'. This verse is in no way an excuse for the people mentioned previously in Verse 4:153.

Here Allah says people who partner with him will never exit hell:

And those who followed shall say: Had there been for us a return, then we would renounce them as they have renounced us. Thus will Allah show them their deeds to be intense regret to them, and they shall not come forth from the fire. Those who follow anything but Allah will never come out of the Fire.

Here Allah says he might accept repentance:

..reject Faith after they accepted it and bore witness that the Apostle was true and that Clear Signs had come unto them? But God guides not a people unjust. Of such the reward is that on them (rests) the curse of God, of His angels, and of all mankind; - In that will they dwell; nor will their penalty be lightened, nor respite be (their lot); - Except for those that repent (Even) after that, and make amends; for verily God is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. But those who reject Faith after they accepted it, and then go on adding to their defiance of Faith, - never will their repentance be accepted; for they are those who have (of set purpose) gone astray. As to those who reject Faith, and die rejecting, - never would be accepted from any such as much gold as the earth contains, though they should offer it for ransom. For such is (in store) a penalty grievous, and they will find no helpers.

So to conclude; Allah forgives all sins, then does not forgive Shirk, then apparently does forgive a bunch of people committing Shirk even though clear signals were given, then he only forgives Shirk if done in ignorance followed by quick repentance. Allah, a little confused? Of course one may say that Allah can do as he pleases, but his book, unfortunately is hardly clear from error.

...Truth stands out clear from Error...


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