أَلَمْ يَعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ يَقْبَلُ ٱلتَّوْبَةَ عَنْ عِبَادِهِۦ وَيَأْخُذُ ٱلصَّدَقَـٰتِ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلتَّوَّابُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ 104
Translations
Do they not know that it is Allāh who accepts repentance from His servants and receives charities and that it is Allāh who is the Accepting of Repentance, the Merciful?
Transliteration
Alam ya'lamoo anna Allaha huwa yaqbalu al-tawbata 'an 'ibadihi wa-ya'khudu al-sadaqati wa-anna Allaha huwa al-Tawwabu al-Raheem
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah reassures believers that Allah accepts repentance from His servants and accepts charitable donations (sadaqat), emphasizing that Allah is Al-Tawwab (The Ever-Returning to Mercy) and Al-Raheem (The Most Merciful). According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this verse was revealed to encourage the hypocrites and those who had committed wrongs to repent, as it demonstrates that no sin is too great for Allah's forgiveness when one turns back to Him sincerely. The mention of both tawbah (repentance) and sadaqat (charity) indicates that repentance is perfected through righteous deeds and financial restitution.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah At-Tawbah, which addresses the events following the Battle of Tabuk and deals extensively with hypocrites and those who made excuses for not participating in jihad. The verse serves as a merciful call inviting transgressors and those who delayed in their obligations to return to Allah through sincere repentance and charitable acts.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'All the children of Adam are sinners, but the best of sinners are those who repent' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2499). Additionally, the hadith in Sahih Muslim narrates that Allah is more pleased with the repentance of His servant than a person who finds his lost camel in the desert, illustrating the joy Allah has in accepting repentance.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that sincere repentance combined with charitable action is a pathway to Allah's forgiveness, no matter how grave one's mistakes may be. The emphasis on Allah's names Al-Tawwab and Al-Raheem should inspire hope in the hearts of those struggling with guilt, reminding them that Allah's mercy encompasses all and He welcomes the sincere return of His servants at any time.