ثُمَّ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ لِلَّذِينَ عَمِلُوا۟ ٱلسُّوٓءَ بِجَهَـٰلَةٍ ثُمَّ تَابُوا۟ مِنۢ بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ وَأَصْلَحُوٓا۟ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ مِنۢ بَعْدِهَا لَغَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ 119
Translations
Then, indeed your Lord, to those who have done wrong out of ignorance and then repent after that and correct themselves - indeed, your Lord, thereafter, is Forgiving and Merciful.
Transliteration
Thumma inna rabbaka lilladhina amiloo assoo'a bijahaalatin thumma taboo min ba'di dhalika wa aslahoo inna rabbaka min ba'diha laghafoorun raheem
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses those who commit evil deeds out of ignorance but subsequently repent sincerely and reform themselves—assuring them that Allah is Most Forgiving and Merciful after their repentance. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this verse demonstrates Allah's compassion for sincere repentants, stipulating that true tawbah requires abandoning the sin, expressing remorse, and making amends ('islah'). The mention of 'ignorance' (jahaalah) indicates that the person acted without full knowledge or understanding, yet accountability is not negated; rather, repentance remains the path to divine forgiveness.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah An-Nahl (Meccan chapter) within a broader context discussing divine mercy and guidance. While no specific asbab al-nuzul is definitively established for this particular verse, it fits thematically within the surah's discussion of Allah's signs and mercies, emphasizing that even those who err have an opportunity for redemption through sincere repentance.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Repentance erases what came before it' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). Additionally, in Sahih Muslim, the Prophet stated: 'The one who repents from sin is like one who has not sinned,' emphasizing the completeness of forgiveness after genuine tawbah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that no sin is unforgivable when met with genuine repentance, sincere remorse, and concrete reform—offering hope to all believers who stumble. It encourages a compassionate understanding of human weakness while emphasizing personal responsibility to turn back to Allah and restore one's relationship with Him and society.
Related Ayahs
وَءَاتَيْنَـٰهُ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً ۖ وَإِنَّهُۥ فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ لَمِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ
And We gave him good in this world, and indeed, in the Hereafter he will be among the righteous.
وَضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلًا رَّجُلَيْنِ أَحَدُهُمَآ أَبْكَمُ لَا يَقْدِرُ عَلَىٰ شَىْءٍ وَهُوَ كَلٌّ عَلَىٰ مَوْلَىٰهُ أَيْنَمَا يُوَجِّههُّ لَا يَأْتِ بِخَيْرٍ ۖ هَلْ يَسْتَوِى هُوَ وَمَن يَأْمُرُ بِٱلْعَدْلِ ۙ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ
And Allāh presents an example of two men, one of them dumb and unable to do a thing, while he is a burden to his guardian. Wherever he directs him, he brings no good. Is he equal to one who commands justice, while he is on a straight path?
يَعْرِفُونَ نِعْمَتَ ٱللَّهِ ثُمَّ يُنكِرُونَهَا وَأَكْثَرُهُمُ ٱلْكَـٰفِرُونَ
They recognize the favor of Allāh; then they deny it. And most of them are disbelievers.
وَلَوْ يُؤَاخِذُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلنَّاسَ بِظُلْمِهِم مَّا تَرَكَ عَلَيْهَا مِن دَآبَّةٍ وَلَـٰكِن يُؤَخِّرُهُمْ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى ۖ فَإِذَا جَآءَ أَجَلُهُمْ لَا يَسْتَـْٔخِرُونَ سَاعَةً ۖ وَلَا يَسْتَقْدِمُونَ
And if Allāh were to impose blame on the people for their wrongdoing, He would not have left upon it [i.e., the earth] any creature, but He defers them for a specified term. And when their term has come, they will not remain behind an hour, nor will they precede [it].