Islam teaches that the only sin God does not forgive if a person dies without repenting is Shirk, which is the association of partners with God (Allah).
Shirk is considered the greatest sin in Islam because it fundamentally undermines the concept of God's absolute oneness (Tawhid), which is the core of the Islamic faith. Associating partners with God can take various forms, including:
- Idolatry: Worshipping idols or other created beings as deities.
- Attributing divine qualities to others: Believing that someone other than God possesses attributes that belong solely to Him, such as ultimate power, knowledge of the unseen, or the ability to create.
- Seeking help from others besides God: Relying on other beings for help that should only be sought from God.
Repentance (Tawbah) is key. Islam emphasizes that God is the Most Merciful, and He is willing to forgive all sins, including Shirk, if a person sincerely repents before death. This repentance must involve:
- Acknowledging the sin: Recognizing that Shirk is wrong and harmful.
- Regret: Feeling sincere remorse for having committed the sin.
- Abandonment: Ceasing the act of Shirk immediately.
- Resolution: Making a firm commitment not to return to the sin.
- Making amends: If possible, attempting to correct any harm caused by the sin (e.g., misleading others).
Other sins: All other sins besides Shirk, such as theft, lying, adultery, and murder, are forgivable by God if the person sincerely repents. Furthermore, God may choose to forgive some sins even without repentance, as forgiveness is ultimately His prerogative. However, repentance is strongly encouraged for all sins.
In summary, while Islam emphasizes God's immense mercy and willingness to forgive, Shirk stands out as the only unforgivable sin if committed until death without sincere repentance.
