قُل لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ يَغْفِرُوا۟ لِلَّذِينَ لَا يَرْجُونَ أَيَّامَ ٱللَّهِ لِيَجْزِىَ قَوْمًۢا بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْسِبُونَ 14
Translations
Say, [O Muḥammad], to those who have believed that they [should] forgive those who expect not the days of Allāh [i.e., of His retribution] so that He may recompense a people for what they used to earn.
Transliteration
Qul lilladhīna āmanū yagfirū lilladhīna lā yarjūna ayyāma Allāhi liyajziya qawman bimā kānū yaksibūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands the believers to forgive those who do not fear or anticipate the Days of Allah (the Day of Judgment and divine retribution), so that Allah may reward people according to their deeds. Ibn Kathir explains this as an instruction in forbearance and mercy toward the disbelievers and wrongdoers, with the understanding that ultimate justice rests with Allah alone. Al-Qurtubi emphasizes that this forgiveness is not condoning disbelief, but rather establishing a moral standard where believers demonstrate righteousness while leaving final judgment to the Almighty.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Jathiyah is a Meccan surah dealing with themes of divine justice, resurrection, and the consequences of accepting or rejecting Allah's signs. This ayah appears in the context of instructions to believers about how to conduct themselves toward those who reject faith and divine accountability, reflecting the early Meccan period when Muslims were a minority facing opposition.
Related Hadiths
Related to the theme of forgiveness: Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said, 'The strong person is not the one who throws his adversaries to the ground. Rather, the strong person is the one who controls himself when he is angry' (Sahih Bukhari 6116). Also relevant: 'Whoever suppresses anger while being able to execute it, Allah will fill his heart with contentment on the Day of Judgment' (Sunan Ibn Majah).
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers are encouraged to embody mercy and forgiveness toward those who reject divine truth, recognizing that ultimate justice belongs to Allah alone. This teaches that spiritual maturity involves controlling anger and extending forgiveness while maintaining faith in divine accountability, which paradoxically becomes the source of true strength and peace.