Clarification of Al-Furqaan 25: 68 - 70 and Al-Nisaa 4: 48, 116 

I was reading your response to Mr. Katz with regard to forgiveness of shirk. My concern is that your answer, though, removes the objection raised by Mr. Katz, but gives rise to another question. That is the referred verses of Al-Furqaan are in contradiction with the verses of Al-Nisaa (48 & 116) some other way. Since in Al-Furqaan three unforgivable crimes were mentioned but in Al-Nisaa it was only one. Which one of the two is correct?

Rehan Ahmad, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Reply

The referred verses of Surah Al-Furqaan (25: 68 – 70) read as:

"And those who invoke no other god besides Allah [the one God] and do not kill except for a just cause and who do not commit fornication. Whoever commits there sins shall meet the evil fruits [of his deeds], his punishment shall be [consistently] increased on the Day of Resurrection and in disgrace he shall abide for ever -- except for those who repent and believe and do good deeds. as for them God will change his sins to good deeds. And God is extremely forgiving, his mercy extends for ever."

What these verses state is that shirk, murder and fornication are crimes, which shall take a person to the everlasting punishment of Hellfire. These verses do not say, as you have stated, that shirk, murder and fornication are ‘three unforgivable’ crimes. On the contrary, these verses only state that those who are guilty of shirk, murder and fornication shall be punished in Hellfire forever. The obvious exception from the everlasting punishment – though not explicitly stated in words, in the verses – is that if these criminals are forgiven by God. Thus, the referred verses, in my opinion, imply that unless forgiven by God, those who are guilty of shirk, murder or fornication shall face the everlasting punishment of Hellfire. In the referred verses of Surah Al-Nisaa (4: 48, 116), this obvious exception has been explicitly renounced for those who are guilty of shirk. The two verses read as:

"God does not forgive that partners be associated to Him, besides that He may forgive any thing for whom He pleases. Whoever associates partners to God is indeed guilty of a very grave sin." (Al-Nisaa 4: 48)

and:

"God does not forgive that partners be associated to Him, besides that He may forgive any thing for whom He pleases. Whoever associates partners to God has indeed strayed far away [from the right path]." (Al-Nisaa 4: 116)

Thus, keeping both sets of verses (of Al-Furqaan as well as Al-Nisaa) in perspective, the complete implication would be:

Those who are guilty of shirk, murder or fornication, and then do not repent, shall face the everlasting punishment of hellfire, except that God shows mercy on them and forgives them. However God has declared that He would never show mercy on those who are guilty of shirk.

I really do not think the two sets of verses could be termed as contradictory, as one refers to (a part of) the law of punishments on the Day of Judgment and the other refers to (a part of) the principles of forgiveness (or the lack of it).

I hope this helps. In case any aspect of your question remains unanswered or inadequately answered, please feel free in writing back to me at your own convenience.

May the Almighty guide us all to the path of His liking.

My fondest regards to you and those around you.

The Learner