Is God's promise of Paradise limited to those who have not wronged themselves with polytheism, such that it does not include Muslims who committed major polytheism and then repented, or apostatized and then repented?
The apostate's entry into the Fire and his eternal stay therein is conditioned upon his death while in a state of apostasy, for Allah states: ﴿And whoever among you reverts from his religion and dies while he is a disbeliever – then those have wasted their deeds in this world and the Hereafter, and those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally.﴾ [Al-Baqarah: 217].
As for one who repents from apostasy, Allah forgives him and admits him into Paradise, based on Allah's statement: ﴿How shall Allah guide a people who disbelieved after their belief and had witnessed that the Messenger is true and clear proofs had come to them? And Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people. Those – their recompense will be that upon them is the curse of Allah and the angels and the people, all together, abiding eternally therein. The punishment will not be lightened for them, nor will they be reprieved – Except for those who repent after that and correct themselves. For indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.﴾ [Al 'Imran: 86-89]. Ibn Kathir mentioned that these verses were revealed concerning those who apostatized then returned to faith, and Allah accepted their repentance and forgave them.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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