وَءَاخَرُونَ مُرْجَوْنَ لِأَمْرِ ٱللَّهِ إِمَّا يُعَذِّبُهُمْ وَإِمَّا يَتُوبُ عَلَيْهِمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ 106
Translations
And [there are] others deferred until the command of Allāh - whether He will punish them or whether He will forgive them. And Allāh is Knowing and Wise.
Transliteration
Wa-akhiruna murjawna li-amri-llahi imma yu'aththibuhum wa-imma yatub alayhi wa-llahu alimun hakimun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to those whose case is deferred to Allah's judgment—they may either be punished for their hypocrisy and sins, or Allah may grant them repentance and acceptance. According to classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this refers to the hypocrites (munafiqun) mentioned in Surah At-Tawbah whose final outcome remains with Allah alone, emphasizing divine wisdom and justice in determining their fate based on their true intentions and future actions.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs in the context of Surah At-Tawbah, which was revealed regarding the hypocrites who remained behind during the Tabuk expedition. The surah addresses those whose faith is questionable and whose true hearts only Allah knows, setting the stage for distinguishing between sincere believers and those with concealed disbelief or wavering commitment.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Muslim contains hadiths about the hypocrites' ambiguous status, including the Prophet's (ﷺ) statement that 'the hypocrite is like a sheep between two flocks—it does not know which to follow.' Additionally, hadiths about tawbah (repentance) emphasize that Allah's mercy extends to all who genuinely repent, as in the hadith of the 70 times repentance.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that only Allah has true knowledge of human hearts and intentions, and reminds us that sincere repentance remains an open door for anyone seeking Allah's forgiveness, while also affirming that divine justice will ultimately prevail. For modern readers, it encourages genuine introspection about one's faith and immediate repentance rather than delaying or deceiving oneself about spiritual commitment.
Related Ayahs
رَضُوا۟ بِأَن يَكُونُوا۟ مَعَ ٱلْخَوَالِفِ وَطُبِعَ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ فَهُمْ لَا يَفْقَهُونَ
They were satisfied to be with those who stay behind, and their hearts were sealed over, so they do not understand.
فَلْيَضْحَكُوا۟ قَلِيلًا وَلْيَبْكُوا۟ كَثِيرًا جَزَآءًۢ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْسِبُونَ
So let them laugh a little and [then] weep much as recompense for what they used to earn.
لَا تَقُمْ فِيهِ أَبَدًا ۚ لَّمَسْجِدٌ أُسِّسَ عَلَى ٱلتَّقْوَىٰ مِنْ أَوَّلِ يَوْمٍ أَحَقُّ أَن تَقُومَ فِيهِ ۚ فِيهِ رِجَالٌ يُحِبُّونَ أَن يَتَطَهَّرُوا۟ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُطَّهِّرِينَ
Do not stand [for prayer] within it - ever. A mosque founded on righteousness from the first day is more worthy for you to stand in. Within it are men who love to purify themselves; and Allāh loves those who purify themselves.
إِنَّمَا ٱلنَّسِىٓءُ زِيَادَةٌ فِى ٱلْكُفْرِ ۖ يُضَلُّ بِهِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ يُحِلُّونَهُۥ عَامًا وَيُحَرِّمُونَهُۥ عَامًا لِّيُوَاطِـُٔوا۟ عِدَّةَ مَا حَرَّمَ ٱللَّهُ فَيُحِلُّوا۟ مَا حَرَّمَ ٱللَّهُ ۚ زُيِّنَ لَهُمْ سُوٓءُ أَعْمَـٰلِهِمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
Indeed, the postponing [of restriction within sacred months] is an increase in disbelief by which those who have disbelieved are led [further] astray. They make it lawful one year and unlawful another year to correspond to the number made unlawful by Allāh and [thus] make lawful what Allāh has made unlawful. Made pleasing to them is the evil of their deeds; and Allāh does not guide the disbelieving people.