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Fatwa CenterDying without repenting from minor Shirk
Question
Does Allah forgive minor Shirk (polytheism) if a believer dies with this sin unrepeated?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
Scholars held different views regarding whether the Muslim who commits minor Shirk and dies without repenting might be forgiven if Allah wills it or if remains unforgiven, like major Shirk.
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, may Allah have mercy on him, was asked, “Do the words of Allah in the following verse include minor Shirk: {Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him...} [Quran 4:48]?”
He replied:
“The scholars held different opinions regarding this topic. Some of them said that it includes all kinds of Shirk, even minor Shirk, such as swearing by other than Allah; Allah will not forgive it. However, with regard to major sins, such as drinking alcohol and adultery, they are subject to the will of Allah; if Allah wills, He will forgive them, and if He wills, He will punish for them. Shaykhul-Islam (Ibn Taymiyyah) expressed different views in this regard. On one occasion, he said that Allah does not forgive Shirk even if it is minor, and on another occasion, he said that what Allah does not forgive is the major Shirk only. In any case, we must beware of Shirk altogether, because the general meaning may include minor shirk as well. The verse: {Allah does not forgive association with Him...} [Quran 4:48] has a general indication.” [Majmoo’ Fataawa Ash-Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (2/203)]
Allah knows best.
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