Tafsir & Commentary
The Cow (البقرة) · Medinan
فَإِنِ ٱنتَهَوْا۟ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ192
2:192
Translation — Sahih International
And if they cease, then indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.
Transliteration
Fa-in intahaw fa-inna Allaha ghafurun rahimun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah conveys Allah's merciful promise that if those engaged in hostility or wrongdoing cease their actions, Allah will forgive them and show them mercy. Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that this verse establishes the principle of divine forgiveness contingent upon repentance and cessation of sin, reflecting Allah's attribute of being the Most Forgiving (Al-Ghafur) and the Most Merciful (Ar-Rahim). The ayah demonstrates that no matter how severe one's transgressions, the door to Allah's forgiveness remains open to those who sincerely turn away from evil.
Revelation Context (Asbab al-Nuzul)
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-Baqarah's discussion of fighting and self-defense in Islam (ayahs 190-193). It follows verses establishing the permissibility and conditions of defensive fighting, and this verse offers the merciful outcome if aggressors desist from their hostility, emphasizing Islam's preference for peace and reconciliation.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The most beloved of deeds to Allah are those done most consistently, even if they are small' (Sahih Bukhari 6464). Additionally, the hadith 'Verily, Allah is gentle and loves gentleness' (Sahih Muslim 2154) relates to the theme of Allah's mercy and clemency.
Themes
Key Lessons
This ayah teaches that sincere repentance and abandonment of wrongdoing opens the pathway to Allah's infinite mercy and forgiveness, encouraging believers to never despair of Allah's compassion regardless of past mistakes. It also reflects the Islamic principle that peace and reconciliation are preferable to continued conflict, offering hope and redemption to all who turn away from transgression.