وَأَنِ ٱسْتَغْفِرُوا۟ رَبَّكُمْ ثُمَّ تُوبُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهِ يُمَتِّعْكُم مَّتَـٰعًا حَسَنًا إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى وَيُؤْتِ كُلَّ ذِى فَضْلٍ فَضْلَهُۥ ۖ وَإِن تَوَلَّوْا۟ فَإِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ كَبِيرٍ 3
Translations
And [saying], "Seek forgiveness of your Lord and repent to Him, [and] He will let you enjoy a good provision for a specified term and give every doer of favor his favor [i.e., reward]. But if you turn away, then indeed, I fear for you the punishment of a great Day.
Transliteration
Wa an istagh-firu Rabbakum thumma tubu ilayhi yumatti'kum mata'an hasanan ila ajalin musamman wa yu'ti kulla dhi fadlin fadlahu wa in tawallaw fa inni akhaf alaikum adhaba yawmin kabir
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah presents a comprehensive divine offer: if people seek forgiveness from Allah and repent to Him, He will grant them good sustenance until an appointed term and bestow His favors upon those deserving of them. Conversely, if they turn away from this message, the Prophet is commanded to warn them of the severe punishment of the Day of Judgment. Ibn Kathir emphasizes this as an invitation to repentance and obedience, while Al-Tabari notes the emphasis on both seeking forgiveness and genuine repentance (turning back to Allah) as prerequisites for divine blessings.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the early Meccan period of Surah Hud, where Prophet Hud is addressing his people. The broader context shows the recurring Quranic pattern of prophets inviting their nations to monotheism, repentance, and righteous conduct, while warning of consequences for rejection. The ayah encapsulates the core message of all prophets: turning to Allah brings blessing; turning away brings punishment.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Muslim: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'By the One in whose hand is my soul, if you did not commit sins, Allah would replace you with a people who would commit sins and ask forgiveness from Allah, and He would forgive them.' This hadith reinforces the emphasis on seeking forgiveness and repentance as mentioned in the ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
True blessing from Allah is contingent upon sincere repentance and seeking His forgiveness; turning away from divine guidance leads to accountability on the Day of Judgment. For contemporary believers, this ayah serves as a reminder that no matter how far one has strayed, returning to Allah through sincere repentance unlocks His infinite mercy and grace.