إِنَّا نَطْمَعُ أَن يَغْفِرَ لَنَا رَبُّنَا خَطَـٰيَـٰنَآ أَن كُنَّآ أَوَّلَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ 51
Translations
Indeed, we aspire that our Lord will forgive us our sins because we were the first of the believers."
Transliteration
Inna natamaʿu an yaghfira lana rabbuna khatayanā an kunna awwala al-muʾminīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
The magicians of Pharaoh, after witnessing the miracle of Moses' staff transforming into a serpent, declare their hope that Allah will forgive their sins because they have become among the first believers. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this statement reflects their sudden conversion and sincere repentance, understanding that being among the earliest believers in Moses' message would be a means of obtaining Allah's forgiveness. Their willingness to abandon their former disbelief and status for faith demonstrates the transformative power of recognizing divine truth.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the story of Moses and Pharaoh in Surah Ash-Shu'ara, specifically during the confrontation between Moses and the magicians of Egypt. The magicians' declaration comes after they witness the undeniable miracle, leading to their immediate belief despite the threat of Pharaoh's punishment. This narrative illustrates how clear signs from Allah can penetrate even hardened hearts and transform those who were initially opponents of the truth.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best of you are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it' (Sahih Bukhari 5027). Additionally, the concept of early believers receiving special merit is referenced in Surah Al-Waqi'ah 56:10-14, which describes the foremost believers (as-sabiqun al-awwalun) as being closest to Allah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that sincere repentance and genuine belief in truth, regardless of our past, opens the door to Allah's forgiveness, and that recognizing and submitting to divine signs is the pathway to spiritual redemption. It also reminds us that being among those who believe and act upon that belief earnestly positions us to receive Allah's mercy and blessings.
Related Ayahs
وَذَا ٱلنُّونِ إِذ ذَّهَبَ مُغَـٰضِبًا فَظَنَّ أَن لَّن نَّقْدِرَ عَلَيْهِ فَنَادَىٰ فِى ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتِ أَن لَّآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنتَ سُبْحَـٰنَكَ إِنِّى كُنتُ مِنَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
And [mention] the man of the fish [i.e., Jonah], when he went off in anger and thought that We would not decree [anything] upon him. And he called out within the darknesses, "There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers."
إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ فَرِيقٌ مِّنْ عِبَادِى يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَآ ءَامَنَّا فَٱغْفِرْ لَنَا وَٱرْحَمْنَا وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ ٱلرَّٰحِمِينَ
Indeed, there was a party of My servants who said, 'Our Lord, we have believed, so forgive us and have mercy upon us, and You are the best of the merciful.'
فَأَكَلَا مِنْهَا فَبَدَتْ لَهُمَا سَوْءَٰتُهُمَا وَطَفِقَا يَخْصِفَانِ عَلَيْهِمَا مِن وَرَقِ ٱلْجَنَّةِ ۚ وَعَصَىٰٓ ءَادَمُ رَبَّهُۥ فَغَوَىٰ
And they [i.e., Adam and his wife] ate of it, and their private parts became apparent to them, and they began to fasten over themselves from the leaves of Paradise. And Adam disobeyed his Lord and erred.
إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ تَابُوا۟ وَأَصْلَحُوا۟ وَٱعْتَصَمُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَأَخْلَصُوا۟ دِينَهُمْ لِلَّهِ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ مَعَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۖ وَسَوْفَ يُؤْتِ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًا
Except for those who repent, correct themselves, hold fast to Allāh, and are sincere in their religion for Allāh, for those will be with the believers. And Allāh is going to give the believers a great reward.