Ahd-e-Alast And Committing Shirk Unknowingly
There case should be seen as similar to Christians for example, where they perform polytheism but do not accept it as such and instead provide an interpretation for it ( Tawil ). That is why their punishment after itmam-e-hujjat was different than that of Polytheists of Mecca at the time of Prophet Muhammad (sws). Punishment was there nevertheless, but severity of that punishment decreased comparatively. This verse of Quran quoted above indicates that in the matter of belief in one God, it is not easy matter to come up with interpretations and excuses. However, open polytheism is an unforgivable sin but polytheism of interpretation will be subject to acceptance or rejection of interpretation/excuse (‘ Tawil ‘) in the court of Allah. Please refer to the video below from 43:07 to 49:05 https://youtu.be/mhpzbUsQPlk?t=2587