Question:
Qur’an 45:23: “O Prophetﷺ , have you seen the one who takes his own desire as his god? Though he had knowledge, Allahﷻ left him astray because of his sin. Allahﷻ sealed his hearing and heart and placed a covering over his sight. After that, who can guide him? Will you not reflect?” Then he asks: All humans sin due to desire. Allahﷻ says in the Qur’an that, He forgives all sins except shirk (associating partners with Him). So according to 45:23, does every sin become like shirk? Isn’t this contradictory?
Answer:
The issue is misunderstanding the verse. First, verses 23–26 must be read together because they are connected. The topic starts at 45:23 and continues to 45:26.
The correct translation is: “Have you seen the one who takes his desire as his god? Allahﷻ knowingly let him go astray. He sealed his hearing and heart and placed a covering over his sight. Who can guide him after Allahﷻ?”
It does not mean “though he had knowledge.” It means Allahﷻ knowingly allowed him to go astray — meaning he deserved it.
Sealing the heart, hearing, and sight describes a total disbeliever — someone who rejects truth entirely, denies resurrection, says there is no afterlife, claims only time causes death, and challenges Allahﷻ to bring back their forefathers to prove resurrection.
This is not about someone who commits small sins due to desire. If someone tells a lie, do we say Allahﷻ has sealed his heart and ears permanently? No. That description applies to a total rejecter of faith.
So this verse speaks about someone who fully rejects faith, denies resurrection, and follows desire as ultimate authority. Such a person includes shirk and total disbelief. It does not apply to ordinary sinful believers.
Therefore, there is no contradiction between 45:23 and the verses that say Allahﷻ forgives all sins except shirk.