Shaykh Abu Ja’far said that our faith in God’s promises and warnings was that with whom He had promised a reward for doing noble acts, He would certainly fulfil it, and with whom warning had been given for evil deeds, He would punish him. This was His justice and if He forgave him, it was His grace and benevolence, since He has said,

وَمَا رَبُّكَ بِظَلَّامٍ لِّلْعَبِيدِ

“Thy Lord is not the One who transgresses on people” (41:46).

Furthermore, God had declared that He would not pardon those who were polytheists.

إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَغْفِرُ أَنْ يُشْرَكَ بِهِ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ

“Lo! Allah forgiveth not that a partner should be ascribed unto Him. And He forgiveth (all) save that to whom He will” (4:116).