وَءَاخَرُونَ مُرْجَوْنَ لِأَمْرِ ٱللَّهِ إِمَّا يُعَذِّبُهُمْ وَإِمَّا يَتُوبُ عَلَيْهِمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ 106
Translations
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.
Transliteration
Wa-akhiruna murjawna li-amri-llahi imma yu'aththibuhum wa-imma yatub alayhi wa-llahu alimun hakimun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to those whose case is deferred to Allah's judgment—they may either be punished for their hypocrisy and sins, or Allah may grant them repentance and acceptance. According to classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this refers to the hypocrites (munafiqun) mentioned in Surah At-Tawbah whose final outcome remains with Allah alone, emphasizing divine wisdom and justice in determining their fate based on their true intentions and future actions.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs in the context of Surah At-Tawbah, which was revealed regarding the hypocrites who remained behind during the Tabuk expedition. The surah addresses those whose faith is questionable and whose true hearts only Allah knows, setting the stage for distinguishing between sincere believers and those with concealed disbelief or wavering commitment.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Muslim contains hadiths about the hypocrites' ambiguous status, including the Prophet's (ﷺ) statement that 'the hypocrite is like a sheep between two flocks—it does not know which to follow.' Additionally, hadiths about tawbah (repentance) emphasize that Allah's mercy extends to all who genuinely repent, as in the hadith of the 70 times repentance.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that only Allah has true knowledge of human hearts and intentions, and reminds us that sincere repentance remains an open door for anyone seeking Allah's forgiveness, while also affirming that divine justice will ultimately prevail. For modern readers, it encourages genuine introspection about one's faith and immediate repentance rather than delaying or deceiving oneself about spiritual commitment.
Related Ayahs
لَوْ يَجِدُونَ مَلْجَـًٔا أَوْ مَغَـٰرَٰتٍ أَوْ مُدَّخَلًا لَّوَلَّوْا۟ إِلَيْهِ وَهُمْ يَجْمَحُونَ
If they could find a refuge or some caves or any place to enter [and hide], they would turn to it while they run heedlessly.
فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا۟ فَقُلْ حَسْبِىَ ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۖ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ ۖ وَهُوَ رَبُّ ٱلْعَرْشِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ
But if they turn away, [O Muḥammad], say, "Sufficient for me is Allāh; there is no deity except Him. On Him I have relied, and He is the Lord of the Great Throne."
أَلَا تُقَـٰتِلُونَ قَوْمًا نَّكَثُوٓا۟ أَيْمَـٰنَهُمْ وَهَمُّوا۟ بِإِخْرَاجِ ٱلرَّسُولِ وَهُم بَدَءُوكُمْ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ ۚ أَتَخْشَوْنَهُمْ ۚ فَٱللَّهُ أَحَقُّ أَن تَخْشَوْهُ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ
Would you not fight against a people who broke their oaths and determined to expel the Messenger, and they had begun [the attack upon] you the first time? Do you fear them? But Allāh has more right that you should fear Him, if you are [truly] believers.
۞ وَمِنْهُم مَّنْ عَـٰهَدَ ٱللَّهَ لَئِنْ ءَاتَىٰنَا مِن فَضْلِهِۦ لَنَصَّدَّقَنَّ وَلَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ
And among them are those who made a covenant with Allāh, [saying], "If He should give us from His bounty, we will surely spend in charity, and we will surely be among the righteous."