The sin of shirk (polytheism/idol-worshipping) can also be forgiven, but only in the condition that one repents for this sin before his or her death.
This is mentioned in Surah Al-Zumar (The Groups) in verse 53 which says that all sins can be forgiven, and obviously the word "all" includes the sin of shirk as well. However, we don't stop reading right there; we have to continue reading in order to understand the full context of such a statement. When we do that, we see that "Allah forgives all sins" is immediately followed by another sentence which tells us to turn to our Lord in repentance "before the Penalty comes on you; after that you shall not be helped." And the penalty refers to the time of trials and punishments after death. So the Quran, in this particular verse, ties forgiveness of all sins with repentance (before death) by mentioning the two of them one after another as in the following:
"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. Turn to your Lord (in repentance) and bow to His (Will), before the Penalty comes on you: after that you shall not be helped. And follow the best of (the courses) revealed to you from your Lord, before the Penalty comes on you - of a sudden while you perceive not!" (Surah 39, Verses 53-55).
And when Allah says, "Allah forgives not (the sin of) joining other gods with Him; but He forgives whom He pleases other sins than this" (Surah 4:116), that is not a contradiction because that just means that the sin of shirk will not be forgiven unless we sincerely repent for that particular sin before we die (per Surah 39:54), but every other sin may be forgiven depending on Allah's will.
Furthermore, the entire surah itself was being addressed mainly to the Quraish, who did believe in Allah but they believed in other gods as well (which is shirk), so they were not Muslims. The surah is offering a hope to those groups by telling them that your shirk will be forgiven if and only if you repent before death overtakes you, before the penalty comes to you. So there is still a chance for forgiveness.
http://www.islamicstudies.info/tafheem.php?sura=39
So, basically:
Without repentance, Allah may forgive whatever sins that He wishes, but He does not forgive shirk. But with repentance, He forgives all sins including shirk.
It's not that difficult to understand.
This is mentioned in Surah Al-Zumar (The Groups) in verse 53 which says that all sins can be forgiven, and obviously the word "all" includes the sin of shirk as well. However, we don't stop reading right there; we have to continue reading in order to understand the full context of such a statement. When we do that, we see that "Allah forgives all sins" is immediately followed by another sentence which tells us to turn to our Lord in repentance "before the Penalty comes on you; after that you shall not be helped." And the penalty refers to the time of trials and punishments after death. So the Quran, in this particular verse, ties forgiveness of all sins with repentance (before death) by mentioning the two of them one after another as in the following:
"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. Turn to your Lord (in repentance) and bow to His (Will), before the Penalty comes on you: after that you shall not be helped. And follow the best of (the courses) revealed to you from your Lord, before the Penalty comes on you - of a sudden while you perceive not!" (Surah 39, Verses 53-55).
And when Allah says, "Allah forgives not (the sin of) joining other gods with Him; but He forgives whom He pleases other sins than this" (Surah 4:116), that is not a contradiction because that just means that the sin of shirk will not be forgiven unless we sincerely repent for that particular sin before we die (per Surah 39:54), but every other sin may be forgiven depending on Allah's will.
Furthermore, the entire surah itself was being addressed mainly to the Quraish, who did believe in Allah but they believed in other gods as well (which is shirk), so they were not Muslims. The surah is offering a hope to those groups by telling them that your shirk will be forgiven if and only if you repent before death overtakes you, before the penalty comes to you. So there is still a chance for forgiveness.
Quote:The entire Surah is a most eloquent and effective address which was given some time before the emigration to Habash, in an environment filled with tyranny and persecution, ill-will and antagonism, at Makkah. It is a sermon whose addressees mainly are the unbelieving Quraish, although here and there the believers also have been addressed. In it the real aim of the invitation of Muhammad (upon whom be Allah's peace and blessings) had been enunciated, which is this: Man should adopt Allah's servitude sincerely, and should not pollute his God worship with the service of any other.
http://www.islamicstudies.info/tafheem.php?sura=39
So, basically:
Without repentance, Allah may forgive whatever sins that He wishes, but He does not forgive shirk. But with repentance, He forgives all sins including shirk.
It's not that difficult to understand.
