Likewise, their ignorance is shown by their claim that Allah does not accept a Rāfidī’s repentance. They attribute the following saying to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace:
“Reviling my Companions is an unforgivable sin.”
They also say that reviling the Companions infringes a human right, which is therefore not extinguished by repentance. This is false for two reasons.
First, the hadith is a fabrication, by the unanimous agreement of hadith scholars, and contradicts the Quran, the Sunnah and scholarly consensus. Allah says in two verses of His Book:
“Indeed, Allah does not forgive associating partners with Him, but He forgives anything less than that for whomever He wills.”
The people of the Sunnah cite this against the people of innovation who claim that those who commit major sins will not be forgiven unless they repent. For Allah says:
“Say, ‘O My servants who have transgressed against themselves, do not despair of Allah’s mercy. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins.’”
This applies to those who repent: Allah accepts the repentance of everyone who repents, even if their sin is the gravest of sins. He also says:
“Indeed, Allah does not forgive associating partners with Him, but He forgives anything less than that for whomever He wills.”
This concerns those who have not repented.
Second, even if the hadith were genuine, it would mean that this sin is not forgiven for someone who does not repent of it. No sin is greater than associating partners with Allah, yet Muslims unanimously agree that Allah forgives this sin when the person who committed it repents. As the Exalted says:
“But if they repent, establish prayer and give zakah, then let them go their way.”
And in the other verse:
“Then they are your brothers in faith.”
It is well known, by scholarly consensus, that if a belligerent unbeliever reviles the prophets and then repents, Allah accepts his repentance, for he had regarded that conduct as lawful. Likewise, a Rāfidī regards reviling the Companions as lawful. If it becomes clear to him that it is forbidden, and he seeks forgiveness for them in place of his former conduct, Allah will replace his evil deeds with good deeds. The human right involved would then be subordinate to Allah’s right, because he regards it as lawful