عَسَىٰ رَبُّكُمْ أَن يَرْحَمَكُمْ ۚ وَإِنْ عُدتُّمْ عُدْنَا ۘ وَجَعَلْنَا جَهَنَّمَ لِلْكَـٰفِرِينَ حَصِيرًا 8
Translations
[Then Allāh said], "It is expected, [if you repent], that your Lord will have mercy upon you. But if you return [to sin], We will return [to punishment]. And We have made Hell, for the disbelievers, a prison-bed."
Transliteration
'Asa rabbukum an yarhamakum wa-in 'udtum 'udna wa ja'alna jahannama lil-kafirin hasira
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah presents a conditional mercy from Allah: He may show mercy to the Children of Israel if they reform, but if they return to disobedience and transgression, Allah will return to punishing them. Ibn Kathir explains that this reflects the pattern of divine justice—mercy is extended to those who repent, but those who persist in evil face severe consequences, with Hellfire specifically prepared as a prison (hasir) for the disbelievers. Al-Tabari emphasizes the balance between Allah's mercy and His justice, showing that both are contingent upon human choice and action.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-Isra, which discusses the covenant of the Children of Israel and their repeated violations of it. The ayah follows verses addressing their breaking of the covenant and their arrogance, serving as a reminder that divine punishment follows disobedience, yet the door to mercy through repentance remains open throughout their history.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Repentance wipes away sins just as fire consumes wood' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). Additionally, 'When the servant commits a sin and then performs ablution and prays two rak'ahs and asks Allah for forgiveness, Allah forgives him' (Sunan Ibn Majah), illustrating the continuous offer of mercy alongside accountability.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that Allah's mercy is always accessible through genuine repentance and reform, yet persistent disobedience has inevitable consequences; believers should balance hope in Allah's compassion with fear of accountability, using both as motivation for righteous conduct and immediate repentance when they falter.