Punishment for major sin?

as salaam alaikom wa raHmatullah

nahmaduhu wa nusalli alayh

Respected Sheikh(s),
             

           Can we say for assurity that those who commit kabaair will be in Fire for a temporary period?

however, Imam AbuJafar At-Tahawi, states: assurity of punishment for kabeera for a period of time, until pardonned.

As is quoted from his treatise on Aqeedah of Ahlus-Sunnah.
68. Those of the Community of Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, who have committed grave sins will be in the Fire, but not forever, provided they die and meet Allah as believers affirming His unity even if they have not repented. They are subject to His will and judgement.

If He wants, He will forgive them and pardon them out of His generosity, as is mentioned in the Qur’an when He says: “And He forgives anything less than that (shirk) to whomever He wills” (al-Nisa’ 4: 116); if He wants, He will punish them in the Fire out of His justice, and then bring them out of the Fire through His mercy, and for the intercession of those who were obedient to Him, and send them to the Garden.

This is because Allah is the Protector of those who recognize Him and will not treat them in the hereafter in the same way as He treats those who deny Him, who are bereft of His guidance and have failed to obtain His protection. O Allah, You are the Protector of Islam and its people; make us firm in Islam until the day we meet You.

or is it correct to believe that Allah swt may pardon them (without punishing them for any time) or he may punish them (for a temp time then pardon them)?
Which is the correct stance? please inform us — wa afeeduuna min 3ilmikom min fadlikom
Jazakumullah kheyran
Wa Fee Amaanillah

Your brother in Islaam

Ibn AtaAllah Al-Hanafi
ابن عطاالله الحنفي

wa alaykumus salaam wa rahmatullahi wa barakaatuhu
 
Firstly we should realise that there are major sins and minor sins.The major sins are those that stern warnings and punishment  for carrying it out are mentioned in ahaadeeth. Any individual that commits a major sin is required to repent for the forgiveness of his sin. In the verse that you have qouted it is clearly referring to sincere repentence from sin and forgiveness from ALLAH for that. If a person commits sin and does not repent then the punishment mentioned for it will be meted out to him.If he leaves the world as a believer his punishment will not be forever but if he dies on kufr his punishment is everlasting.When there is clear warning of punishment against carrying out an action or not carrying out an action then if anyone carries it out then should he not be punished. If ALLAH wishes HE may pardon but at the same time what will be the use of mentioning the punishment? Another important factor that even shirk is forgiven when we sincerely repent from it.Therefore we should realise repetence is the criterion for forgiveness ofmajor sins.