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
أَفَمَن يَخْلُقُ كَمَن لَّا يَخْلُقُ ۗ أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ
Then is He who creates like one who does not create? So will you not be reminded?
۞ وَقَالَ ٱللَّهُ لَا تَتَّخِذُوٓا۟ إِلَـٰهَيْنِ ٱثْنَيْنِ ۖ إِنَّمَا هُوَ إِلَـٰهٌ وَٰحِدٌ ۖ فَإِيَّـٰىَ فَٱرْهَبُونِ
And Allāh has said, "Do not take for yourselves two deities. He [i.e., Allāh] is but one God, so fear only Me."
وَلِلَّهِ غَيْبُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ وَمَآ أَمْرُ ٱلسَّاعَةِ إِلَّا كَلَمْحِ ٱلْبَصَرِ أَوْ هُوَ أَقْرَبُ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
And to Allāh belongs the unseen [aspects] of the heavens and the earth. And the command for the Hour is not but as a glance of the eye or even nearer. Indeed, Allāh is over all things competent.
وَمَآ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْكَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ إِلَّا لِتُبَيِّنَ لَهُمُ ٱلَّذِى ٱخْتَلَفُوا۟ فِيهِ ۙ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ
And We have not revealed to you the Book, [O Muḥammad], except for you to make clear to them that wherein they have differed and as guidance and mercy for a people who believe.