Some claim that there is a contradiction in the verses regarding the situation of the polytheists. Such claims are based on taking into consideration just a part of the verse and trying to interpret it differently. You can understand the subject better when you read the verses taking into consideration the flow of the subjects. The verses are as follows:
Undoubtedly, Allah does not forgive the polytheists. He forgives whoever other than those polytheists. Whoever becomes a polytheist has sure got out of the right path. (4 Nisa Surah, 116)
Those who received books before want you to bring them a book from the skies. They asked for more than that from Moses. They said: “Show us Allah obviously.” They were stroked by lightning due to their cruelty. After bringing them very obvious proves, they worshiped the calf. We again forgave them for that and gave Moses an obvious proof. (4 Nisa Surah, 153) While it is expressed in the 116th verse of Nisa Surah that the polytheists will not be forgiven, it is expressed in the 153rd verse that the Jews who worshipped the calf and became polytheists were forgiven. Although this situation is tried to be shown as a contradiction, a different situation is expressed in the 116th verse. Let us check this verse together with the previous ones:
Whoever comes against the Messenger and takes a path other than the path of the believers after showing him the right path obviously, we leave him alone with his belief and put him in hell. What a bad place it is!.. (4 Nisa Surah, 115)
Undoubtedly, Allah does not forgive the polytheists. He forgives whoever other than those polytheists. Whoever becomes a polytheist has sure got out of the right path. (4 Nisa Surah, 116)
When both of these verses are read together, it is understood that not forgiving the polytheists is a matter that belongs to the judgment day. So if a person lives all his life as a polytheist and dies without swearing off, Allah will not forgive his sin. But in the 153rd verse the situation is going on while people are still living on earth. Israelis swore off and asked for forgiveness. Briefly, the 116th verse mentions about the polytheism that Allah will not forgive in the judgment day. In the 153rd verse, it is mentioned that people will be forgiven in the judgment day after swearing off even if they become polytheists on earth. The swearing off of the Israelis is obviously stated in the 179th verse of Araf Surah.
No matter what sin is committed on earth, Allah forgives that who swears off. In the
judgment day just polytheism is not forgiven. You can understand that there is no contradiction in the verses when you read them taking into consideration this fact.
Whoever swears off after the cruelty he has committed, undoubtedly Allah accepts his swear off. Allah is the ultimate forgiver. (5 Maide Surah, 39)
