6. Ahmad ibn Ziyad ibn Ja`far al-Hamdani رضي الله عنه said: `Ali ibn Ibrahim ibn Hashim said, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Abu `Umayr that Musa ibn Ja`far عليه السلام said: Allah will not make the Hell eternal for anyone except for those who disbelieved and denied, and those who went astray and rejected monotheism. Believers who refrained from major sins will not be asked about the minor sins they may have committed. Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, says: If you shun the great sins which you are forbidden, We will do away with your small sins and cause you to enter an honorable place of entering. The reporter says: I asked him, “O son of the messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم! To which sinners does intercession [shafa`at] apply?” He عليه السلام replied, “My father عليه السلام related to me, on the authority of his forefathers عليه السلام the authority of `Ali عليه السلام that: The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said: “Verily, my intercession applies to the members of my Ummah who committed major sins. As for the good-doers, they should not be concerned.” Ibn Abu `Umayr says: I asked him, O son of the Messenger of Allah! How can intercession apply to those who commit major sins, when Allah, exalted be His Remembrance, says: And they do not intercede except for him whom He approves and for fear of Him they tremble; and whoever commits major sins cannot be the approved one, Thus, he عليه السلام responded, O Abu Ahmad! There is not a believer who commits a sin but that it grieves him, and he regrets it. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم has said: “Regret is sufficient for repentance.” He عليه السلام has also said: Whoever is pleased by his good deeds and grieved by his bad deeds is a believer.” Therefore, he who commits a sin, and does not regret it, is not a believer, and intercession will not apply to him because he is unjust. Allah, exalted be His Remembrance, says: The unjust shall not have nay compassionate friend nor any intercessor who should be obeyed. I asked him, “O son of the Messenger of Allah! Why is a person an unbeliever is he does not feel any remorse for his sins?” He عليه السلام replied, O Abu Ahmad! If someone knows that he has committed a major sin, and knows that he will be punished for it, he will surely regret his action. If feels remorse, he has repented, and deserves intercession. If he does not regret his action, he will persist in his sin. Persistent, habitual sinners are not forgiven, because they do not believe that they will be punished for their actions. If they believed in the punishment then surely they would regret their action. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said: No major sin remains after repentance. And no sin remains minor if one engages in it habitually. As for the Word of Allah, the Mighty and High: And they do not intercede except for him whom He approves; then he will not receive intercession unless Allah approves his belief. Belief is the confirmation of reward for good deeds and punishment over bad deeds. If Allah accepts a person’s faith as sincere, it is because the person regrets the sins he has committed, and fears their punishment on the Day of Judgment.
