غَافِرِ ٱلذَّنۢبِ وَقَابِلِ ٱلتَّوْبِ شَدِيدِ ٱلْعِقَابِ ذِى ٱلطَّوْلِ ۖ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۖ إِلَيْهِ ٱلْمَصِيرُ 3
Translations
The forgiver of sin, acceptor of repentance, severe in punishment, owner of abundance. There is no deity except Him; to Him is the destination.
Transliteration
Ghafir-u adh-dhanb wa qabil-u at-tawbah shadid-u al-iqab dhi at-tawl, la ilaha illa huwa, ilayhi al-masir
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes Allah's divine attributes in sequence: He is the Forgiver of sins, the Acceptor of repentance, the Severe in punishment, and the Possessor of boundless grace. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi note that these attributes work in harmony—Allah's forgiveness and acceptance of repentance are tempered by His justice and severe punishment for those who reject His mercy. The concluding affirmation of monotheism and the inevitability of return to Allah emphasizes that all divine attributes belong to Him alone, and that ultimate accountability rests with Him.
Revelation Context
This ayah opens Surah Ghafir, a Meccan surah revealed during a period of intense opposition to the Prophet Muhammad. The surah's opening establishes Allah's attributes as a response to the disbelievers' arrogance and rejection, offering both hope (forgiveness and acceptance of repentance) and warning (severe punishment) to those who would reflect on Allah's nature.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad said: 'My mercy precedes My wrath' (Sahih Muslim 2751). Additionally, the hadith qudsi states: 'My mercy encompasses all things' (Surah 7:156), which relates to the theme of Allah's forgiveness mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that while Allah is infinitely merciful and eager to accept sincere repentance, His justice is equally severe for those who persist in wrongdoing. It encourages both hope in Allah's forgiveness and fear of His punishment, creating a balanced spiritual state that motivates righteous conduct.