يَغْفِرْ لَكُم مِّن ذُنُوبِكُمْ وَيُؤَخِّرْكُمْ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى ۚ إِنَّ أَجَلَ ٱللَّهِ إِذَا جَآءَ لَا يُؤَخَّرُ ۖ لَوْ كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ 4
Translations
He [i.e., Allāh] will forgive you of your sins and delay you for a specified term. Indeed, the time [set by] Allāh, when it comes, will not be delayed, if you only knew."
Transliteration
Yaghfir lakum min dhunubikum wa yu'akhkhirkum ila ajal musammaa. Inna ajal-Allah idha jaa'a la yu'akhkharu. Law kuntum ta'lamun.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah presents the consequences of believing in and obeying Allah through Prophet Nuh: He will forgive your sins and grant you respite until an appointed term. The second part emphasizes that when Allah's decreed term arrives, it cannot be delayed—a reminder of the certainty and inescapability of death and the Day of Judgment. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as both a promise of mercy for the believers and a warning to the heedless about the inevitability of divine decree.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Nuh, revealed in Mecca during the early period of Prophet Muhammad's mission. It reflects the preaching of Prophet Nuh to his people over 950 years, offering forgiveness and a prolonged lifespan as incentives to accept tawhid (monotheism), while warning of the certainty of death and accountability.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'The best supplication is supplication for forgiveness' (Tirmidhi). Also relevant: 'No soul knows what has been prepared for them of comfort' (Quran 32:17), emphasizing Allah's knowledge of appointed terms that none can delay.
Themes
Key Lesson
True success lies in seeking forgiveness while we have the opportunity, for the appointed time of death is known only to Allah and cannot be postponed. This should inspire believers to repent sincerely and obey Allah while they have time, rather than procrastinating or living heedlessly.