وَٱلَّذِينَ يَجْتَنِبُونَ كَبَـٰٓئِرَ ٱلْإِثْمِ وَٱلْفَوَٰحِشَ وَإِذَا مَا غَضِبُوا۟ هُمْ يَغْفِرُونَ 37
Translations
And those who avoid the major sins and immoralities, and when they are angry, they forgive,
Transliteration
Wa alladhīna yajtanibūna kabā'ira al-ithmī wa al-fawāhisha wa idhā mā ghaḍibū hum yaghfirūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the characteristics of the righteous servants of Allah who abstain from major sins and indecencies, and crucially, when they become angry, they exercise self-control and forgive others. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that this represents a pinnacle of moral virtue—controlling one's anger despite provocation—while Al-Qurtubi notes that forgiveness in the state of anger demonstrates true spiritual strength and adherence to divine guidance, as anger naturally inclines one toward retaliation.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within a passage (42:36-39) describing the attributes of those who have understood the message of Ash-Shuraa. The surah, revealed in Mecca during a period of Qureshi opposition to the Prophet Muhammad, emphasizes patience, consultation, and moral excellence as responses to adversity. This particular ayah contextualizes forgiveness as a direct response to anger, addressing the spiritual struggle of early believers facing persecution.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The strong man is not the one who overcomes people by his strength, but the strong man is the one who controls himself when angry' (Sahih Bukhari 6114). Additionally, Tirmidhi reports that controlling anger and forgiving others is among the qualities that grant one entry into Paradise.
Themes
Key Lesson
In our modern context, this ayah teaches that true strength lies not in suppressing anger or denying its existence, but in channeling it toward forgiveness and compassion—a practice that transforms personal disputes into opportunities for spiritual growth and reflects the mercy of Allah. For contemporary believers, this is a call to cultivate emotional intelligence and respond to provocation with the grace that Allah demonstrates toward His servants.
Related Ayahs
وَيَسْتَجِيبُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ وَيَزِيدُهُم مِّن فَضْلِهِۦ ۚ وَٱلْكَـٰفِرُونَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ
And He answers [the supplication of] those who have believed and done righteous deeds and increases [for] them from His bounty. But the disbelievers will have a severe punishment.
حمٓ
Ḥā, Meem.
وَلَمَن صَبَرَ وَغَفَرَ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ لَمِنْ عَزْمِ ٱلْأُمُورِ
And whoever is patient and forgives - indeed, that is of the matters [worthy] of resolve.
فَلِذَٰلِكَ فَٱدْعُ ۖ وَٱسْتَقِمْ كَمَآ أُمِرْتَ ۖ وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَآءَهُمْ ۖ وَقُلْ ءَامَنتُ بِمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ مِن كِتَـٰبٍ ۖ وَأُمِرْتُ لِأَعْدِلَ بَيْنَكُمُ ۖ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّنَا وَرَبُّكُمْ ۖ لَنَآ أَعْمَـٰلُنَا وَلَكُمْ أَعْمَـٰلُكُمْ ۖ لَا حُجَّةَ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمُ ۖ ٱللَّهُ يَجْمَعُ بَيْنَنَا ۖ وَإِلَيْهِ ٱلْمَصِيرُ
So to that [religion of Allāh] invite, [O Muḥammad], and remain on a right course as you are commanded and do not follow their inclinations but say, "I have believed in what Allāh has revealed of scripture [i.e., the Qur’ān], and I have been commanded to do justice among you. Allāh is our Lord and your Lord. For us are our deeds, and for you your deeds. There is no [need for] argument between us and you. Allāh will bring us together, and to Him is the [final] destination."