How is it understood that the perpetrator of a major sin will not abide eternally in Hell, despite the existence of Qur’anic verses such as "And whoever returns [to wrongdoing] – those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide eternally therein" and "And whoever kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell, wherein he will abide eternally"?

The sayings of the Sunnis have varied regarding the interpretation of the verses on usury and killing. Some have applied the verse on usury to one who deems it permissible (mustahill), while others have applied it to the disobedient Muslim, interpreting "eternity" as a prolonged stay.

The Sunnis have agreed on the interpretation of these texts to reconcile their speculative apparent meanings with the definitive proofs that indicate the non-eternity in Hell for a monotheistic Muslim due to a sin, as long as he does not deem it permissible. Therefore, it is obligatory to interpret these two verses and similar ambiguous ones by referring them back to the clear (muhkam) verses.

And whoever dies as a monotheist will certainly enter Paradise in all cases. The evidence from the Quran, Sunnah, and the consensus of the Ummah confirms this, and whatever contradicts it in its apparent meaning must be interpreted.