أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ جَزَآؤُهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ وَجَنَّـٰتٌ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا ۚ وَنِعْمَ أَجْرُ ٱلْعَـٰمِلِينَ 136
Translations
Those - their reward is forgiveness from their Lord and gardens beneath which rivers flow [in Paradise], wherein they will abide eternally; and excellent is the reward of the [righteous] workers.
Transliteration
Ulā'ika jazāuhum maghfiratun min rabbihim wa jannātun tajrī min taḥtihā al-anhār khālidīn fīhā wa ni'ma ajru al-'āmilīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the reward for those who repent and turn back to Allah after committing sins—they receive forgiveness from their Lord and eternal gardens beneath which rivers flow. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that this verse demonstrates Allah's mercy toward sincere penitents, showing that no sin is too great if one genuinely repents. The phrase 'ni'ma ajru al-'āmilīn' (how excellent is the reward of the workers) affirms that righteous deeds combined with sincere repentance lead to the greatest reward.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the Medinan Surah Al 'Imran, revealed after the Battle of Uhud (year 3 AH). The broader context addresses believers who experienced setback in battle, teaching them about repentance, Allah's forgiveness, and the ultimate reward awaiting those who persist in faith despite hardship. The preceding verses discuss those who faltered during the battle and the mercy shown to those who subsequently repent.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'Verily, Allah accepts the repentance of His servant as long as death does not come to him' (Sunan at-Tirmidhi 3537). Additionally, the hadith 'The greatest sins are to associate partners with Allah and to disobey parents; yet even these can be forgiven through sincere repentance' relates to the theme of Allah's boundless mercy in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that sincere repentance erases past mistakes and opens the door to Allah's infinite mercy and reward, emphasizing that no believer should despair of Allah's forgiveness regardless of their failures. It encourages perseverance in faith, as the temporary setbacks of this life are insignificant compared to the eternal bliss promised to the repentant and righteous.
Related Ayahs
وَإِذَا جَآءَكَ ٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا فَقُلْ سَلَـٰمٌ عَلَيْكُمْ ۖ كَتَبَ رَبُّكُمْ عَلَىٰ نَفْسِهِ ٱلرَّحْمَةَ ۖ أَنَّهُۥ مَنْ عَمِلَ مِنكُمْ سُوٓءًۢا بِجَهَـٰلَةٍ ثُمَّ تَابَ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِۦ وَأَصْلَحَ فَأَنَّهُۥ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
And when those come to you who believe in Our verses, say, "Peace be upon you. Your Lord has decreed upon Himself mercy: that any of you who does wrong out of ignorance and then repents after that and corrects himself - indeed, He is Forgiving and Merciful."
رَبُّ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْغَفَّـٰرُ
Lord of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them, the Exalted in Might, the Perpetual Forgiver."
وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ لَنُكَفِّرَنَّ عَنْهُمْ سَيِّـَٔاتِهِمْ وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّهُمْ أَحْسَنَ ٱلَّذِى كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
And those who believe and do righteous deeds - We will surely remove from them their misdeeds and will surely reward them according to the best of what they used to do.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَءَامِنُوا۟ بِرَسُولِهِۦ يُؤْتِكُمْ كِفْلَيْنِ مِن رَّحْمَتِهِۦ وَيَجْعَل لَّكُمْ نُورًا تَمْشُونَ بِهِۦ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
O you who have believed, fear Allāh and believe in His Messenger; He will [then] give you a double portion of His mercy and make for you a light by which you will walk and forgive you; and Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.