If Allah forgives all sins, why does He not forgive polytheism (shirk)?

- I do not understand the situation and the compatibility between az-Zumar 53 and an-Nisa 48.
- It is stated in az-Zumar 53 that Allah forgives all sins but in an-Nisa 48, Allah says ‘I never forgive shirk and I forgive the sins of whomever I wish’. - How should we understand this issue?

Dear Brother / Sister,

The verses in question are as follows:

“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.” (an-Nisa, 4/48)

“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.” (az-Zumar, 39/53)

- It is pointed out in the verse in an-Nisa that unbelief called shirk is outside the scope of forgiveness. The fact that the first addressees were polytheists (mushriks) makes the use of the term “shirk” more appropriate.

This concept here should be interpreted to include all kinds of unbelief.

What is meant by it is that those who die in this state of shirk / unbelief cannot be forgiven. Otherwise, they can be forgiven if they repent of all kinds of unbelief and shirk when they are in this world. As a matter of fact, the Companions were polytheists. Then, they became Muslims and great Companions...

This verse is aimed at curing the disease of heedlessness of those who do not care whether they enter the grave with belief or not, as if they are certain to enter the grave with belief.

- In the verse in az-Zumar, it is emphasized that those sinners who were not forgiven in the world are but who entered the grave with belief are within the scope of forgiveness.

It is not indicated that every sin will definitely be forgiven but that they are within the scope of forgiveness.

The meaning of the statement “Allah forgives all sins” is as follows:

Allah includes all the sins of those who enter the grave with belief in the scope of forgiveness. He forgives the sins of whomever He wishes, and no one can prevent it.

This verse is aimed at curing despair.

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