Are all sins forgivable?

In the comprehensive and merciful school of Islam, the answer to the question of whether all sins are forgivable is accompanied by immense divine hope and compassion. The Holy Quran, the word of God, opens a window of hope for sinful servants, emphasizing that God’s mercy precedes His wrath. The general principle is that, yes, almost all sins are forgivable with sincere repentance and turning back to God. This is one of the most beautiful and encouraging aspects of Islam, allowing individuals, regardless of the magnitude of their sins, to always choose the path of return and purification. God has addressed this topic in numerous verses, inviting His servants to repentance. For example, in Surah Az-Zumar, verse 53, He states: "Say, 'O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by committing sins]! Do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.'" This verse clearly indicates that the scope of divine forgiveness is vast and encompasses all sins, provided that the servant returns to the Lord with remorse and a firm resolve. However, within this vast mercy, there is one crucial exception explicitly stated in the Holy Quran: associating partners with God (Shirk). Shirk means attributing partners to God in worship or in His essence and attributes. This is considered the greatest sin in Islam because it undermines the fundamental pillar of Tawhid (Oneness of God), which is the foundation of the religion. In Surah An-Nisa, verses 48 and 116, Allah states: "Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills." These verses clearly state that Shirk is the only sin that, if an individual dies upon it without repentance, will not be forgiven. However, even Shirk, if the individual repents from it during their lifetime and returns to Tawhid, is forgivable. The key point here is "repentance before death." The doors of divine mercy remain open until the last moment, and there is a path back even for the greatest sinners, provided they sincerely and wholeheartedly turn to God. In addition to Shirk, there is another category of sins that differ from those solely between the servant and God: sins that involve the rights of other people (Huquq al-Nas). These are sins that infringe upon the rights of others, such as injustice, backbiting, slander, theft, or causing harm to others' property, life, or honor. Forgiveness of such sins, in addition to repentance and remorse from the servant, requires that the rights of the people be fulfilled or the consent of the rightful owner be obtained. For instance, if someone has stolen property, they must return it to its owner or seek their forgiveness. If someone has backbitten, they must seek forgiveness from that person (if it does not lead to greater mischief) or seek Allah's forgiveness for them and perform good deeds. Although Allah is the Most Merciful of the merciful, He does not forgive Huquq al-Nas without the consent of the rightful owner, as this is a matter of divine justice, and upholding the rights of His servants is of utmost importance to Him. This highlights the great significance of human interactions and the observance of social justice in Islam. Repentance (Tawbah), meaning turning away from sin towards obedience to God, has conditions that must be met for the repentance to be real and accepted. These conditions include: genuine regret for the sin committed, immediate cessation of that sin, and a firm resolve not to return to it in the future. If the sin involves Huquq al-Nas, making amends for the rights is an additional necessary condition. This process of repentance not only cleanses one from sins but also leads to spiritual purification, growth, and inner peace for the individual. Repentance is not a one-time event in life; rather, whenever a person makes a mistake, the doors of repentance are open to them, and they can rectify their path by returning to God. This demonstrates that Islam is not a religion of despair but a religion of hope, mercy, and repeated opportunities for correction and return. Therefore, the answer to this question is very clear: Yes, almost all sins are forgivable with sincere repentance and adherence to its conditions, except for Shirk, which, if an individual dies upon it without repentance, is not forgiven. This truth should always be a source of hope and motivation to return to perfection and purity and prevent individuals from despair.