وَمَن يَعْمَلْ سُوٓءًا أَوْ يَظْلِمْ نَفْسَهُۥ ثُمَّ يَسْتَغْفِرِ ٱللَّهَ يَجِدِ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا 110
Translations
And whoever does a wrong or wrongs himself but then seeks forgiveness of Allāh will find Allāh Forgiving and Merciful.
Transliteration
Wa man ya'mal suoo'an aw yazlim nafsahu thumma yastaghfir Allaha yajid Allaha ghafuran rahima
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah assures believers that whoever commits a sin or wrongs themselves, then seeks forgiveness from Allah, will find Him Forgiving and Merciful. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this ayah opens the door of repentance to all sinners, regardless of the gravity of their offense, as long as they turn to Allah with sincere repentance (tawbah). The ayah demonstrates Allah's infinite mercy and His eagerness to forgive His servants who acknowledge their mistakes and seek His pardon.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah An-Nisa, revealed in Medina during the development of Islamic jurisprudence and community ethics. It appears within a section addressing moral conduct and social responsibilities, reinforcing the Islamic principle that sin is not unforgivable but rather an opportunity for spiritual growth through sincere repentance.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'All the children of Adam are sinners, but the best of sinners are those who repent' (Tirmidhi). Additionally, in Sahih Muslim, it is narrated that Allah's Messenger said: 'Whoever repents before the sun rises from the west, Allah will forgive him.'
Themes
Key Lesson
No sin is too great for Allah's forgiveness if one sincerely repents and turns back to Him; this ayah encourages believers to never despair of Allah's mercy and to continuously strive for spiritual improvement through genuine repentance rather than remaining trapped in guilt or hopelessness.