أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ جَزَآؤُهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ وَجَنَّـٰتٌ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا ۚ وَنِعْمَ أَجْرُ ٱلْعَـٰمِلِينَ 136
Translations
Those - their reward is forgiveness from their Lord and gardens beneath which rivers flow [in Paradise], wherein they will abide eternally; and excellent is the reward of the [righteous] workers.
Transliteration
Ulā'ika jazāuhum maghfiratun min rabbihim wa jannātun tajrī min taḥtihā al-anhār khālidīn fīhā wa ni'ma ajru al-'āmilīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the reward for those who repent and turn back to Allah after committing sins—they receive forgiveness from their Lord and eternal gardens beneath which rivers flow. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that this verse demonstrates Allah's mercy toward sincere penitents, showing that no sin is too great if one genuinely repents. The phrase 'ni'ma ajru al-'āmilīn' (how excellent is the reward of the workers) affirms that righteous deeds combined with sincere repentance lead to the greatest reward.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the Medinan Surah Al 'Imran, revealed after the Battle of Uhud (year 3 AH). The broader context addresses believers who experienced setback in battle, teaching them about repentance, Allah's forgiveness, and the ultimate reward awaiting those who persist in faith despite hardship. The preceding verses discuss those who faltered during the battle and the mercy shown to those who subsequently repent.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'Verily, Allah accepts the repentance of His servant as long as death does not come to him' (Sunan at-Tirmidhi 3537). Additionally, the hadith 'The greatest sins are to associate partners with Allah and to disobey parents; yet even these can be forgiven through sincere repentance' relates to the theme of Allah's boundless mercy in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that sincere repentance erases past mistakes and opens the door to Allah's infinite mercy and reward, emphasizing that no believer should despair of Allah's forgiveness regardless of their failures. It encourages perseverance in faith, as the temporary setbacks of this life are insignificant compared to the eternal bliss promised to the repentant and righteous.
Related Ayahs
سَابِقُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ مَغْفِرَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا كَعَرْضِ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ أُعِدَّتْ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِۦ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ فَضْلُ ٱللَّهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ ذُو ٱلْفَضْلِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ
Race [i.e., compete] toward forgiveness from your Lord and a Garden whose width is like the width of the heavens and earth, prepared for those who believed in Allāh and His messengers. That is the bounty of Allāh which He gives to whom He wills, and Allāh is the possessor of great bounty.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ تَوَلَّوْا۟ مِنكُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْتَقَى ٱلْجَمْعَانِ إِنَّمَا ٱسْتَزَلَّهُمُ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ بِبَعْضِ مَا كَسَبُوا۟ ۖ وَلَقَدْ عَفَا ٱللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ حَلِيمٌ
Indeed, those of you who turned back on the day the two armies met [at Uḥud] - it was Satan who caused them to slip because of some [blame] they had earned. But Allāh has already forgiven them. Indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Forbearing.
إِنَّمَا حَرَّمَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلْمَيْتَةَ وَٱلدَّمَ وَلَحْمَ ٱلْخِنزِيرِ وَمَآ أُهِلَّ بِهِۦ لِغَيْرِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ فَمَنِ ٱضْطُرَّ غَيْرَ بَاغٍ وَلَا عَادٍ فَلَآ إِثْمَ عَلَيْهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
He has only forbidden to you dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been dedicated to other than Allāh. But whoever is forced [by necessity], neither desiring [it] nor transgressing [its limit], there is no sin upon him. Indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.
قُل لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ إِن يَنتَهُوا۟ يُغْفَرْ لَهُم مَّا قَدْ سَلَفَ وَإِن يَعُودُوا۟ فَقَدْ مَضَتْ سُنَّتُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ
Say to those who have disbelieved [that] if they cease, what has previously occurred will be forgiven for them. But if they return [to hostility] - then the precedent of the former [rebellious] peoples has already taken place.