قُل لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ يَغْفِرُوا۟ لِلَّذِينَ لَا يَرْجُونَ أَيَّامَ ٱللَّهِ لِيَجْزِىَ قَوْمًۢا بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْسِبُونَ 14
Translations
Say, [O Muḥammad], to those who have believed that they [should] forgive those who expect not the days of Allāh [i.e., of His retribution] so that He may recompense a people for what they used to earn.
Transliteration
Qul lilladhīna āmanū yagfirū lilladhīna lā yarjūna ayyāma Allāhi liyajziya qawman bimā kānū yaksibūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands the believers to forgive those who do not fear or anticipate the Days of Allah (the Day of Judgment and divine retribution), so that Allah may reward people according to their deeds. Ibn Kathir explains this as an instruction in forbearance and mercy toward the disbelievers and wrongdoers, with the understanding that ultimate justice rests with Allah alone. Al-Qurtubi emphasizes that this forgiveness is not condoning disbelief, but rather establishing a moral standard where believers demonstrate righteousness while leaving final judgment to the Almighty.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Jathiyah is a Meccan surah dealing with themes of divine justice, resurrection, and the consequences of accepting or rejecting Allah's signs. This ayah appears in the context of instructions to believers about how to conduct themselves toward those who reject faith and divine accountability, reflecting the early Meccan period when Muslims were a minority facing opposition.
Related Hadiths
Related to the theme of forgiveness: Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said, 'The strong person is not the one who throws his adversaries to the ground. Rather, the strong person is the one who controls himself when he is angry' (Sahih Bukhari 6116). Also relevant: 'Whoever suppresses anger while being able to execute it, Allah will fill his heart with contentment on the Day of Judgment' (Sunan Ibn Majah).
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers are encouraged to embody mercy and forgiveness toward those who reject divine truth, recognizing that ultimate justice belongs to Allah alone. This teaches that spiritual maturity involves controlling anger and extending forgiveness while maintaining faith in divine accountability, which paradoxically becomes the source of true strength and peace.
Related Ayahs
وَإِذَا حُشِرَ ٱلنَّاسُ كَانُوا۟ لَهُمْ أَعْدَآءً وَكَانُوا۟ بِعِبَادَتِهِمْ كَـٰفِرِينَ
And when the people are gathered [that Day], they [who were invoked] will be enemies to them, and they will be deniers of their worship.
وَسِيقَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ جَهَنَّمَ زُمَرًا ۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءُوهَا فُتِحَتْ أَبْوَٰبُهَا وَقَالَ لَهُمْ خَزَنَتُهَآ أَلَمْ يَأْتِكُمْ رُسُلٌ مِّنكُمْ يَتْلُونَ عَلَيْكُمْ ءَايَـٰتِ رَبِّكُمْ وَيُنذِرُونَكُمْ لِقَآءَ يَوْمِكُمْ هَـٰذَا ۚ قَالُوا۟ بَلَىٰ وَلَـٰكِنْ حَقَّتْ كَلِمَةُ ٱلْعَذَابِ عَلَى ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
And those who disbelieved will be driven to Hell in groups until, when they reach it, its gates are opened and its keepers will say, "Did there not come to you messengers from yourselves, reciting to you the verses of your Lord and warning you of the meeting of this Day of yours?" They will say, "Yes, but the word [i.e., decree] of punishment has come into effect upon the disbelievers."
وَبَدَا لَهُمْ سَيِّـَٔاتُ مَا كَسَبُوا۟ وَحَاقَ بِهِم مَّا كَانُوا۟ بِهِۦ يَسْتَهْزِءُونَ
And there will appear to them the evils they had earned, and they will be enveloped by what they used to ridicule.
وَوُضِعَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبُ فَتَرَى ٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ مُشْفِقِينَ مِمَّا فِيهِ وَيَقُولُونَ يَـٰوَيْلَتَنَا مَالِ هَـٰذَا ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ لَا يُغَادِرُ صَغِيرَةً وَلَا كَبِيرَةً إِلَّآ أَحْصَىٰهَا ۚ وَوَجَدُوا۟ مَا عَمِلُوا۟ حَاضِرًا ۗ وَلَا يَظْلِمُ رَبُّكَ أَحَدًا
And the record [of deeds] will be placed [open], and you will see the criminals fearful of that within it, and they will say, "Oh, woe to us! What is this book that leaves nothing small or great except that it has enumerated it?" And they will find what they did present [before them]. And your Lord does injustice to no one.