Allah the Exalted says in Surat al-Imran: Indeed, those who disbelieved after their faith, then increased in disbelief—
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Question: Allah the Exalted says in Surat al-Imran: [Al-Imran: 90],And Allah the Exalted says in another verse: [Al-Zumar: 53], so what is the meaning of these two verses, and how do we reconcile them? Does the first mean that there are sins for which repentance is not accepted from the one who commits them, no matter how much they try? Or is one of them abrogating the other, or how is that?
Answer: There is no contradiction between the two noble verses; because the first verse applies to the apostate who did not repent and died upon his apostasy[Ali 'Imran 3:90],Meaning: they did not repent but rather continued in their disbelief until they died, so their repentance will not be accepted even if they repent at the time of death, by the saying of Allah the Exalted: [Al-Nisa: 18],And by His saying, Exalted is He: [Al-Baqarah: 217],In conclusion: The first verse is about the one who apostatized from the religion and continued in his apostasy and did not repent except at the time of death,And at the point of death, as in the hadith: Sahih Ibn Hibban 7:22 ،Meaning: as long as his soul has not reached the throat; at that point, no repentance is accepted from him.
As for the other verse:[Az-Zumar 39:53], so this is about the one who repents before the arrival of death, for Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, will accept his repentance, and by this it becomes clear that there is no contradiction between the two noble verses.
Question: Is there a sin for which repentance is not accepted from its doer?
Answer: The correct view is that there is no sin for which repentance is not accepted from its doer, for Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, accepts the repentance of the disbeliever if he repents,Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Anfal: 38].
And the one who associates partners with Allah, if he repents, even though shirk is the greatest of sins, if he repents from it, Allah will accept his repentance.
So, according to the correct of the scholars' statements, there is no sin from which repentance is not accepted.
Indeed, those who reject the message after their belief and then increase in disbelief - never will their [claimed] repentance be accepted, and they are the ones astray.
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بَعْدَ إِيمَانِهِمْ ثُمَّ ازْدَادُوا كُفْرًا لَنْ تُقْبَلَ تَوْبَتُهُمْ وَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الضَّالُّونَSay, "O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins.
قُلْ يَاعِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَى أَنْفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا مِنْ رَحْمَةِ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًاAnswer: There is no contradiction between the two noble verses; because the first verse applies to the apostate who did not repent and died upon his apostasy
Indeed, those who reject the message after their belief and then increase in disbelief
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بَعْدَ إِيمَانِهِمْ ثُمَّ ازْدَادُوا كُفْرًاBut repentance is not [accepted] of those who [continue to] do evil deeds up until, when death comes to one of them, he says, "Indeed, I have repented now,"
وَلَيْسَتِ التَّوْبَةُ لِلَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ السَّيِّئَاتِ حَتَّى إِذَا حَضَرَ أَحَدَهُمُ الْمَوْتُ قَالَ إِنِّي تُبْتُ الْآنَAnd whoever of you reverts from his religion [to disbelief] and dies while he is a disbeliever - for those, their deeds have become worthless in this world and the Hereafter, and those are the companions of the Fire, they will abide therein eternally.
وَمَنْ يَرْتَدِدْ مِنْكُمْ عَنْ دِينِهِ فَيَمُتْ وَهُوَ كَافِرٌ فَأُولَئِكَ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَالُهُمْ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ وَأُولَئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَIndeed, Allah the Exalted accepts the repentance of the servant as long as he does not reach the throat.
إن الله تعالى يقبل توبة العبد ما لم يغرغرAs for the other verse:
O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah
يَاعِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَى أَنْفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا مِنْ رَحْمَةِ اللَّهِQuestion: Is there a sin for which repentance is not accepted from its doer?
Answer: The correct view is that there is no sin for which repentance is not accepted from its doer, for Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, accepts the repentance of the disbeliever if he repents,Allah the Exalted said:
Say to those who have disbelieved [that] if they cease, what has previously occurred will be forgiven for them. But if they return [to hostility] - then the precedent of the former [rebellious] peoples has already taken place.
قُلْ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا إِنْ يَنْتَهُوا يُغْفَرْ لَهُمْ مَا قَدْ سَلَفَ وَإِنْ يَعُودُوا فَقَدْ مَضَتْ سُنَّةُ الْأَوَّلِينَAnd the one who associates partners with Allah, if he repents, even though shirk is the greatest of sins, if he repents from it, Allah will accept his repentance.
So, according to the correct of the scholars' statements, there is no sin from which repentance is not accepted.