How did God forgive Abraham for his polytheism with the stars, sun, and moon, and make him a prophet, when the Quran clarifies that God does not forgive polytheism with Him?

There is a difference of opinion regarding the interpretation of the verses concerning Abraham's observation of the sun, moon, and stars. The scholar Siddiq Hassan Khan Al-Qannuji, in "Fath Al-Bayan," summarized these interpretations as follows: either it was said to establish proof against his people, or it was an act of denial on his part, or it meant, "And you say: This is my Lord," or "This is the proof of my Lord."

The Sunnis believe that prophets are infallible from major sins, and Abraham (peace be upon him) never associated partners with Allah, as Allah the Almighty says: "Indeed, I have turned my face toward He who created the heavens and the earth, inclining toward truth, and I am not of those who associate others with Allah." (Quran 6:79), and "Then We revealed to you, [O Muhammad], to follow the religion of Abraham, incliding toward truth; and he was not of those who associate others with Allah." (Quran 16:123), and "Indeed, Abraham was a [single] nation, obedient to Allah, inclining toward truth, and he was not of those who associated others with Allah." (Quran 16:120).