Question:
During Ramadan, certain people will not be forgiven even on the Night of Decree (Laylatul Qadr). It mentions four types of people who will not be forgiven:
- One who mistreats parents
- One addicted to alcohol
- One who breaks family ties
- One who harbors hatred toward another Muslim without valid reason
He asks whether such a hadith exists.?
Answer:
Generally, in Islam, there is no concept that any sin is absolutely unforgivable. Even shirk (associating partners with Allahﷻ) can be forgiven if a person repents while alive. If someone commits shirk but later repents and follows monotheism, Allahﷻ can forgive him.
If someone dies without repentance, then shirk alone will not be forgiven. Other sins may still be forgiven if Allahﷻ wills.All sins can be forgiven if a person sincerely repents. Even the companions of the Prophetﷺ committed various sins before accepting Islam, and they were forgiven. Therefore, claiming that certain sins are completely unforgivable closes the door of Allahﷻ’s mercy, which is incorrect.
Even if a person dies without repentance, Allahﷻ may forgive him if He wills, except in the case of shirk. The Quran states that Allahﷻ does not forgive associating partners with Him, but He forgives anything less than that for whom He wills.
The statement that those four categories of people will never be forgiven could not be found as a single hadith containing all four together. However, there are separate hadiths warning that such actions can lead to punishment or prevent immediate entry into Paradise.For example, a hadith states that one who breaks family ties will not enter Paradise. This does not mean eternal punishment. It means that such a person may be punished first and later enter Paradise if he has faith.
Similarly, many hadiths state that even someone with the smallest amount of faith will eventually enter Paradise. Therefore, such statements must be understood as warnings about punishment, not permanent denial of Paradise. Similarly, hadiths state that someone who spreads false accusations, harms neighbours, or has pride will not enter Paradise. These statements mean they will not enter Paradise immediately if Allahﷻ does not forgive them. They may be punished first and then enter Paradise.
Thus, these hadiths should be explained carefully and not used merely to frighten people. The proper message is to encourage repentance and correction of behaviour. The Prophetﷺ ’s intention was to warn people, not to declare them permanently condemned.
Therefore, these matters must be understood correctly.