How does persistence in sin necessitate the heart's immersion in polytheism, stemming from fear, hope, love, humility, and reliance upon other than Allah? Can examples of this be given? Does Ibn al-Qayyim's statement mean that the perpetrator of a major sin and the one persistent in a minor sin cannot achieve pure, salvific monotheism, and will they meet Allah as polytheists?

Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on him, stated that persistence in sin leads to the heart becoming attached to other than Allah, and this is a form of shirk (definition) (polytheism). Sin inherits humiliation, submission, and attachment, which contradicts the perfection of Tawhid (definition) (monotheism). The Tawhid that burns sins and protects from Hellfire is the pure Tawhid, free from the impurities of shirk, and it incites acts of obedience and abandonment of forbidden acts. One who persists in sin is not safe from minor or hidden shirk, which is the heart's attachment to other than Allah. This does not expel one from the faith, but it prevents one from achieving the pure Tawhid that completely saves one from Hellfire. For this reason, repentance and non-persistence in sin are necessary.