Intercession for Major Sins but Not for Shirk

📖Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2435
Anas reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “My intercession is for the people of major sins among my nation.”

This means those who committed grave sins such as murder, adultery, or even terrible crimes will still have hope through the Prophet’s intercession. They will likely face punishment in Hell for the crimes they did, but due to the Prophet’s intercession, many will eventually be taken out and admitted into Paradise. This shows the immense mercy of Allah upon the Ummah of Muhammad ﷺ.

However, there is one sin that is not forgivable if done knowingly and without repentance –  worshipping others along with Allah (shirk). If someone knowingly worships anything besides Allah after receiving the true Islamic message, then intercession will not save them. But if a person never received the message properly, or did not truly understand it, Allah will judge them differently with His perfect justice and mercy.

📖Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 44, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 193
Anas ibn Malik reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “One will be taken out of the Hellfire who said, ‘There is no God but Allah,’ and he had good in his heart like the weight of a grain of barley. Then, one will be taken out of Hellfire who said, ‘There is no God but Allah,’ and he had good in his heart like the weight of a grain of wheat. Then, one will be taken out of Hellfire who said, ‘there is no God but Allah,’ and he had good in his heart like the weight of a speck.

Quranic Context:

📖Quran 4:48
Indeed, Allah does not forgive associating others with Him, but He forgives anything else for whom He wills. And whoever associates others with Allah has certainly committed a great sin.