ثُمَّ عَفَوْنَا عَنكُم مِّنۢ بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ 52
Translations
Then We forgave you after that so perhaps you would be grateful.
Transliteration
Thumma 'afawnaa 'ankum min ba'di dhaalika la'allakum tashkuroon
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to Allah's pardon of the Israelites after they worshipped the golden calf during Musa's absence on Mount Sinai. Despite their grave transgression of shirk (associating partners with Allah), Allah granted them forgiveness as a mercy, on the condition that they would express gratitude for this divine clemency. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that this pardon was contingent upon sincere repentance and was meant to serve as a lesson in Allah's infinite mercy tempered with justice.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:51-66) recounting the story of Bani Isra'il's sin with the golden calf and their subsequent pardon. It comes after Musa returned from receiving the Torah and found his people had deviated into idolatry, illustrating both human weakness and divine forbearance within the broader context of reminding the believers of past covenant-breaking.
Related Hadiths
The incident of the golden calf is referenced in multiple hadiths. Related is the hadith in Sahih Bukhari where the Prophet (peace be upon him) mentions the repentance of those who sinned, emphasizing that sincere tawbah (repentance) erases sins. Also relevant is the general principle in Jami' at-Tirmidhi: 'Repentance wipes away all sins that came before it.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that no sin is too great for Allah's forgiveness if one sincerely repents, and that gratitude for divine pardon is both a moral obligation and a means of spiritual growth. It reminds us that mercy does not negate divine justice, but rather complements it as Allah expects the forgiven to express thankfulness through obedience.