And He says:

“Worship none but Allah. Indeed, I am a warner and bearer of good news to you from Him.”

“And seek your Lord’s forgiveness, then repent to Him; He will grant you good enjoyment for an appointed term.”

There are many such passages in the Quran.

We therefore say: Repentance and seeking forgiveness concern both neglecting a command and committing a prohibited act, for both are evil deeds, transgressions, and sins. Neglecting “faith,” “monotheism,” and the “obligations” Allah Most High has imposed upon the heart and body undoubtedly constitutes sin, as everyone acknowledges. Indeed, this is the graver of the two categories, as we have explained at length in what we wrote on “principles” before I went to Egypt. Neglecting obligations is, as a category, graver than committing prohibited acts, since it may include abandoning faith and monotheism. Whoever has faith and monotheism will not remain in the Fire forever, no matter what he may have done.

Whoever lacks faith and monotheism, however, will remain there forever, even if his sins involving actions are few. Such are the ascetics and devoted worshippers among the polytheists and the People of the Book, including the devoted worshippers among the polytheists of India, the Christian worshippers, and others. They do not kill, commit fornication, or wrong people, but they have neglected the very faith and monotheism required of them.

Yet it may be said: Neglecting the required faith and monotheism occurs only while engaging in their opposite. If that opposite is disbelief, then they are punished for disbelief, which is