At-Tawbah · Ayah 102

وَءَاخَرُونَ ٱعْتَرَفُوا۟ بِذُنُوبِهِمْ خَلَطُوا۟ عَمَلًا صَـٰلِحًا وَءَاخَرَ سَيِّئًا عَسَى ٱللَّهُ أَن يَتُوبَ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ 102

Translations

And [there are] others who have acknowledged their sins. They had mixed [i.e., polluted] a righteous deed with another that was bad. Perhaps Allāh will turn to them in forgiveness. Indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.

Transliteration

Wa akhiruna'tarafu bi dhunubihim khalatu amalan salihan wa akhara sayyi'an asa Allahu an yatubu alayhim. Inna Allaha ghafurun rahimun.

Tafsir (Explanation)

This ayah refers to those among the hypocrites and the weak believers who openly acknowledged their sins of not participating in the expedition to Tabuk, having mixed righteous deeds with evil ones. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this group demonstrated hope in Allah's mercy and repentance, placing themselves in stark contrast to those who stubbornly denied their wrongs; Allah's response emphasizes His willingness to accept their repentance through His attribute of forgiveness (Maghfirah) and mercy (Rahmah).

Revelation Context

This ayah was revealed in the context of Surah At-Tawbah regarding the Tabuk expedition (9 AH), where some believers made excuses for not participating in this critical military campaign. The ayah discusses three groups: those who fabricated lies, those who remained silent, and this third group who admitted their faults—the latter representing those who maintained hope in divine mercy despite their shortcomings.

Related Hadiths

The Prophet ﷺ said, 'All the children of Adam are sinners, but the best of sinners are those who repent' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). Additionally, in Sahih Muslim, the Prophet emphasized that Allah accepts the repentance of His servant as long as the soul has not yet reached the throat.

Themes

Repentance and Tawbah (sincere turning to Allah)Honest acknowledgment of sinsDivine forgiveness and mercyMixing of good and evil deedsHope in Allah's compassion

Key Lesson

This ayah teaches that sincere acknowledgment of one's faults and honest repentance opens the door to Allah's infinite mercy, regardless of past transgressions. For believers today, it emphasizes that admitting mistakes with genuine remorse is more spiritually productive than denial or pride, and that Allah's mercy encompasses all who turn to Him sincerely.

0:00
0:00

Related Ayahs

9:121At-Tawbah

وَلَا يُنفِقُونَ نَفَقَةً صَغِيرَةً وَلَا كَبِيرَةً وَلَا يَقْطَعُونَ وَادِيًا إِلَّا كُتِبَ لَهُمْ لِيَجْزِيَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ أَحْسَنَ مَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ

Nor do they spend an expenditure, small or large, or cross a valley but that it is registered for them that Allāh may reward them for the best of what they were doing.

9:90At-Tawbah

وَجَآءَ ٱلْمُعَذِّرُونَ مِنَ ٱلْأَعْرَابِ لِيُؤْذَنَ لَهُمْ وَقَعَدَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَبُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ ۚ سَيُصِيبُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِنْهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ

And those with excuses among the bedouins came to be permitted [to remain], and they who had lied to Allāh and His Messenger sat [at home]. There will strike those who disbelieved among them a painful punishment.

9:30At-Tawbah

وَقَالَتِ ٱلْيَهُودُ عُزَيْرٌ ٱبْنُ ٱللَّهِ وَقَالَتِ ٱلنَّصَـٰرَى ٱلْمَسِيحُ ٱبْنُ ٱللَّهِ ۖ ذَٰلِكَ قَوْلُهُم بِأَفْوَٰهِهِمْ ۖ يُضَـٰهِـُٔونَ قَوْلَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِن قَبْلُ ۚ قَـٰتَلَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ ۚ أَنَّىٰ يُؤْفَكُونَ

The Jews say, "Ezra is the son of Allāh"; and the Christians say, "The Messiah is the son of Allāh." That is their statement from their mouths; they imitate the saying of those who disbelieved before [them]. May Allāh destroy them; how are they deluded?

9:106At-Tawbah

وَءَاخَرُونَ مُرْجَوْنَ لِأَمْرِ ٱللَّهِ إِمَّا يُعَذِّبُهُمْ وَإِمَّا يَتُوبُ عَلَيْهِمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ

And [there are] others deferred until the command of Allāh - whether He will punish them or whether He will forgive them. And Allāh is Knowing and Wise.