وَٱلَّذِينَ عَمِلُوا۟ ٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتِ ثُمَّ تَابُوا۟ مِنۢ بَعْدِهَا وَءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ مِنۢ بَعْدِهَا لَغَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ 153
Translations
But those who committed misdeeds and then repented after them and believed - indeed your Lord, thereafter, is Forgiving and Merciful.
Transliteration
Wa alladhīna 'amilū as-sayyiāt thumma tābū min ba'dihā wa āmanū inna rabbaka min ba'dihā la-ghafūrun rahīm
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses those who have committed sins but subsequently repent sincerely and believe in Allah, assuring them of Allah's forgiveness and mercy. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this verse establishes the principle that sincere repentance (tawbah) wipes away sins, regardless of their severity, as long as the repentance is genuine and followed by righteous action. The placement of this ayah in the narrative of the golden calf incident demonstrates Allah's willingness to forgive even grave transgressions when met with true repentance and renewed faith.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-A'raf's discussion of the Children of Israel and their covenant with Allah. It follows the account of those who worshipped the golden calf, providing a merciful conclusion that emphasizes repentance as a path to redemption rather than eternal condemnation.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'Repentance erases all sins that came before it' (Tirmidhi). Additionally, Hadith Qudsi states: 'I am as My servant thinks of Me, and I am with him when he remembers Me' (Sahih Bukhari), reflecting Allah's response to sincere repentance and faith.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah offers profound hope to all believers that no sin is too great for Allah's forgiveness if one sincerely repents, reforms their behavior, and renews their faith. It teaches that our relationship with Allah is not defined by our past mistakes, but by our genuine effort to return to righteousness and maintain belief in His guidance.
Related Ayahs
فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ ٱلرَّجْفَةُ فَأَصْبَحُوا۟ فِى دَارِهِمْ جَـٰثِمِينَ
So the earthquake seized them, and they became within their home [corpses] fallen prone.
وَنَادَىٰٓ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْجَنَّةِ أَصْحَـٰبَ ٱلنَّارِ أَن قَدْ وَجَدْنَا مَا وَعَدَنَا رَبُّنَا حَقًّا فَهَلْ وَجَدتُّم مَّا وَعَدَ رَبُّكُمْ حَقًّا ۖ قَالُوا۟ نَعَمْ ۚ فَأَذَّنَ مُؤَذِّنٌۢ بَيْنَهُمْ أَن لَّعْنَةُ ٱللَّهِ عَلَى ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
And the companions of Paradise will call out to the companions of the Fire, "We have already found what our Lord promised us to be true. Have you found what your Lord promised to be true?" They will say, "Yes." Then an announcer will announce among them, "The curse of Allāh shall be upon the wrongdoers
ثُمَّ بَدَّلْنَا مَكَانَ ٱلسَّيِّئَةِ ٱلْحَسَنَةَ حَتَّىٰ عَفَوا۟ وَّقَالُوا۟ قَدْ مَسَّ ءَابَآءَنَا ٱلضَّرَّآءُ وَٱلسَّرَّآءُ فَأَخَذْنَـٰهُم بَغْتَةً وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ
Then We exchanged in place of the bad [condition], good, until they increased [and prospered] and said, "Our fathers [also] were touched with hardship and ease." So We seized them suddenly while they did not perceive.
أَوَعَجِبْتُمْ أَن جَآءَكُمْ ذِكْرٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ عَلَىٰ رَجُلٍ مِّنكُمْ لِيُنذِرَكُمْ وَلِتَتَّقُوا۟ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ
Then do you wonder that there has come to you a reminder from your Lord through a man from among you, that he may warn you and that you may fear Allāh so you might receive mercy?"