And those who committed sins from disbelief and all disobedience, then repented and returned to Allah after that, and excused themselves to Him, and believed and purified their faith, indeed your Lord after that, after those great sins, is certainly Forgiving, concealing for them what was from them, Merciful, bestowing upon them Paradise. This is a general ruling that includes the makers of the calf and others. The enormity of their crime is great. [Mawlid said: 'The enormity of the crime of the makers of the calf is first, then he followed it with a general ruling... etc.' Ahmad said: 'He refers to the obligation of the warning to the sinful and that forgiveness of sin without repentance from it is impossible, and it has been previously counted among the desires and innovations. Rather, the truth is that forgiveness for what is besides polytheism is entrusted to the will, not impossible in reason, then it occurs in transmission, and Allah is the Grantor of success.'] First, then he followed it with the magnification of His mercy, so that it is known that sins, no matter how great and enormous, His pardon and generosity are greater and more magnificent. However, it is necessary to preserve the condition: which is the obligation of repentance. [The saying: 'Of preserving the condition which is the obligation of repentance' is the view of the Mu'tazila that major sins are not forgiven except by repentance. And the view of the people of the Sunnah is that they may be forgiven by mere grace. (A)] And returning, and beyond that is empty hope and cold greed. [The saying 'and cold greed' is a trait attributed to Ash'ab, who was a greedy man. He is used as an example of greed, as in the authentic texts. (A)] No wise person pays attention to it.