The Ruling on Minor Shirk

Question : Honorable Shaykh, may Allah reward you. If a person dies having committed minor shirk (associating partners with Allah), refuge in Allah, does he fall under the verse of Allah the Exalted , or is his ruling in the Hereafter the same as that of the people of major sins? May Allah preserve him. His ruling in the Hereafter is the same as that of the people of major sins.

Answer : It is well known that Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, said . Shaykh al-Islam (may Allah have mercy on him) holds that minor shirk is not forgiven, such as swearing by other than Allah or saying, "If it were not for Allah and so-and-so," or the like. He says that this is not forgiven, but if the shirk is not major, the person is punished according to the measure of his sin, and then his final abode is Paradise. This is the apparent meaning of the noble verse .
And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said . So, applying the verse to this, we say that this person committed shirk by his oath, so that specific act is not forgiven for him. However, regarding his entry into Paradise, his final abode must be Paradise, as long as the shirk is less than major shirk. This is the strongest of the opinions on this matter. Some scholars have said that the phrase of Allah the Exalted refers to major shirk, and that minor shirk is subject to Allah's will. Thus, Allah the Exalted may will to pardon its perpetrator and not punish him for it.