Quran Garden

Imagine the man who killed Hamza, the Prophet’s beloved uncle, standing before Muhammad, terrified that his sins were too huge to ever be forgiven. This is the story of Wahsh?, a man facing the weight of murder, adultery, and disbelief—and how a single revelation changed everything. Could God’s mercy really cover even the worst mistakes? Let's explore together. 

Session 633

Chapter 4

Verse 48

a continuation

Surely, God does not forgive that a partner be associated with Him, but He forgives everything short of it to whomsoever He wills.  Whoever associates any partner with God has indeed concocted a most heinous sin. (Chapter 4:Verse 48)

Ibn' Abb?s, may God be pleased with him, narrated that Wahsh?, the man who killed our beloved ?amzah –the Prophet's uncle- in the battle of U?ud, came to Muhammad, peace be upon him, and said, "O Muhammad, I come to you seeking protection, so grant me refuge  until I hear the words of Allah." The Messenger of Allah said, "I had hoped to run into you without protection, but since you have come seeking refuge, you are under my protection until you hear the words of Allah." Wahsh? said: "I have associated partners with God, killed a soul God forbade, and committed adultery; will God accept my repentance?" The messenger remained silent.  At that moment Allah revealed the following Ayat,

Those who never invoke any other deity besides God, nor take a life, which God has made sacred, except in the pursuit of justice, nor commit adultery.  Whoever does these things will face the penalties: their torment will be doubled on the Day of Resurrection, and they will remain in torment, disgraced.  Except for those who repent, believe, and do good deeds, God will change the evil deeds of such people into good ones.  He is most forgiving, most merciful. (25:68-70)

So our beloved Muhammad recited them.  Wahsh? thought and replied, "I see a condition for forgiveness.  Perhaps my deeds will not be good enough to earn God's pardon.  As I am under your protection, I will await more words of Allah." Later, the following verse was revealed,  

Surely, God does not forgive that a partner be associated with Him, but He forgives everything short of it to whomsoever He wills.  Whoever associates any partner with God has indeed concocted a most heinous sin. (Chapter 4:Verse 48)

Prophet Muhammad called for Wahsh? and recited the verse.  Wahsh? said: "I am afraid I may not be among those God wills forgiveness for.  I would like to stay under your protection until I hear the words of God." Then the following was revealed,

Say, "My servants who have harmed yourselves by your own excess, do not despair of God's mercy.  God forgives all sins: He is truly the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful." (39:53)

Wahsi's face lit up.  He said: "Yes!  Now I see no limit to God's mercy.  I bear witness that there is no God but God and you, Muhammad, are His messenger." 

Your relationship with Allah is grounded in kindness, mercy, and countless opportunities to return to Him. Allah views your sins as temporary missteps -moments of weakness- not as your true self, as long as you sincerely turn back to Him.  When God imposes punishments for sin and crime, He shows that people can make mistakes and fall into wrongdoing.  But He also makes it clear that there is always a way back.  Even Wahsh? was shown that God's mercy was wide open to him.  One of the most beautiful parts of Allah's forgiveness is that it is pure.  When He forgives you, He gives you a clean slate and a pure, fresh start.  He does not remind you of your past, shame you for it, or label you by your sins forever.  That is what true forgiveness really means.

You and I should take this lesson to heart.  Suppose you know someone who committed theft, sincerely repented to God, and returned the stolen property to the person wronged.  Once that individual has repented before the Lord and reconciled with society, the sin is forgiven.  From that moment on, you should never label this person as "the thief" or shame them in public or private.  If the Almighty, the One who set the law and has the power to punish, forgives a person, then who are you to keep bringing it up again or define the person by their past mistakes?

Moreover, whenever remorse stings this person for a past sin, a good deed is added to their slate.  Allah replaces their evil deeds with good ones.  Thus, it is not up to you or me to despise such people.  Instead, we should celebrate their repentance.

This brings us back to the verse.  God says, "Whoever associates any partner with God has indeed concocted a most heinous sin." To "concot" is to fabricate a deliberate lie.  That is different from a mere mistake.  Sometimes people say things they honestly think are true, only to find later that they are false.  For example, your friend might tell you, "Peter came to visit you yesterday," because someone told him so, he saw guests' shoes outside your house, and assumed it was Peter, even though no visit actually happened.  In that case, your friend was mistaken, not intentionally lying.

Claiming partners for God is fundamentally different.  It is deliberately speaking falsehood about the Lord.  God calls this the "most heinous sin" because it contradicts the innate sense of truth and natural instinct every human is born with.  Saying such statements goes against the very essence of human nature.  Such wrongdoing can appear in actions, words, or beliefs.  By calling it "most heinous," we also understand that some sins are less severe than others.  This sin, however, is the worst because it violates the central truth upon which all existence rests: there is no god but Allah.  Monotheistic creed has been the foundation of all divine messages, from Adam, peace be upon him, onward.

Here is another simple way to look at God's oneness.  Allah has repeatedly declared loud and clear: "God bears witness that there is no god but Him." Either this is true, and thus the matter ends, or it is not.  If this is not the truth, then we ask: where are the true gods?  Didn't they hear the challenge?  Why did they remain silent as Allah took away the universe from them and said: I alone am the Creator?  If these gods did not hear Allah's challenge, then they are not fit to be gods.  And if they heard but did not act, then again, they are not suited to be gods.  Where are their miracles that surpass God's?  Thus, the case of lordship and deity belongs to God alone until a plaintiff comes forward to contradict Him.  Till then, the statement "there is no god but Him" remains the ultimate truth supported by ample evidence, prophets, messengers, and heavenly books.