There are many major sins in Islam for which a person will get a severe punishment. Murder, consuming intoxicants, stealing, gambling and adultery are some of the major sins in Islam.

A Muslim who commits any of these sins and who has not been pardoned by Allah will suffer torment in Hell until he has been cleansed. Then he will be removed from Hell and put into Paradise.

But there is one sin that a person will never be forgiven for. A sin so great and so huge in magnitude that there is no pardon, just eternal punishment and doom.

What is this unpardonable sin? Shirk, which means to associate partners with Allah. Ever since the beginning of time, Allah has sent down messengers to teach mankind and make them aware that only He is the Creator of the Universe and only He alone should be worshipped.

But Shaytaan (Satan) has lead man astray and made him associate partners with Allah in so many different ways, from Idol Worship to taking Prophets as Gods or praying to a holy person rather than Allah himself. Shaytaan knows that this is an unforgivable sin and if a person dies committing Shirk, he is doomed to Eternal Torment.

Salmaan Farsi, a companion of The Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) tells the story of 2 men. When they dies one entered Paradise and the other went to Hell.

Both these men were traveling in a distant land. They happened to meet some Idol worshippers. These Idol Worshippers had placed their Idol at a crossroad frequented by travelers and forced everyone who passed by to offer some sort of sacrifice to their idol.

When these 2 men came to the crossroads they were told that they had to present a sacrifice to the idol. The first man said he had nothing to offer. But the idol worshippers told him that he could offer anything, even a fly. So he chased and killed the fly and offered it as a sacrifice to the Idol.

The second man, however refused to do so. He said “I don’t give any sacrifices or offerings to anyone except Allah.” So the Idol worshippers became angry and then killed the man.

The first man entered Hell for his act of Shirk and the second man entered Paradise because of his true belief in one Allah.

As Muslims, we have to be on guard against acts of Shrirk that may be disguised as small and insignificant deeds, just as it was in this story.