إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ تَابُوا۟ مِنۢ بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ وَأَصْلَحُوا۟ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ 5
Translations
Except for those who repent thereafter and reform, for indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.
Transliteration
Illa alladhina taboo min ba'di dhalika wa aslahoo fa-inna Allaha ghafoorun raheem
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah concludes the ruling on those who make false accusations of adultery (qadhf), providing a merciful exception: those who repent sincerely after committing this grave sin and reform their behavior will find Allah's forgiveness and compassion. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir emphasize that this demonstrates Allah's mercy is boundless for the sincere penitent, even after major transgressions, provided repentance is coupled with righteous action.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah An-Nur's detailed rulings on sexual morality and social conduct (24:1-26). Specifically, it follows the severe punishment prescribed for those who falsely accuse chaste women of adultery, providing a pathway to redemption through sincere repentance and reform—reflecting the Qur'an's balance between justice and mercy.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Repentance wipes out all that came before it' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). Additionally, 'Whoever repents before the sun rises from the west, Allah will accept his repentance' (Sahih Muslim 2703) relates to the universal acceptance of sincere tawbah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that no sin is unforgivable if one repents sincerely and reforms; it provides hope to those who have stumbled morally while emphasizing that repentance must be accompanied by concrete behavioral change. For modern believers, it reinforces that Allah's mercy transcends human judgment, encouraging compassion toward the repentant and self-reflection about our own accountability.