, Allah’s allies—like likening Musaylima the Liar to the foremost of those endowed with understanding—is precisely what makes it obligatory to wage jihad against these heretics who corrupt both worldly life and religion.

The purpose here is to refute these statements and distinguish guidance from misguidance.

As for whether those who uttered them repented and died as Muslims, that rests with the All-Knowing King. Allah accepts His servants’ repentance and pardons their misdeeds. It is possible that He has accepted the repentance of those who held these views. Allah Most High is the Forgiver of sin, the Accepter of repentance, severe in punishment. However great the sin, and however grave and monstrous the disbelief, repentance erases it all. No sin is too great for Allah, glorified be He, to forgive when its perpetrator repents. Indeed, He forgives those who repent for associating partners with Him and for other sins, as He Most High says:

“Say, ‘O My servants who have transgressed against themselves, do not despair of Allah’s mercy. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. He is indeed the All-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.’”

This verse is general and unrestricted in scope, because it concerns those who repent. As for His statement:

“Indeed, Allah does not forgive associating partners with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills.”

Its scope is restricted and specific, because it concerns those who do not repent. He does not forgive them for associating partners with Him, while forgiveness for lesser sins depends upon the will of Allah Most High.

The aforementioned account of the man who said that he had swallowed the entire world and wished to say, “I am the Truth,” and its counterpart, in which it was said, “Only the most ignorant of Allah’s creatures or the most knowledgeable of them would claim divinity,” belong to this same category.