فَٱعْلَمْ أَنَّهُۥ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ وَٱسْتَغْفِرْ لِذَنۢبِكَ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَـٰتِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مُتَقَلَّبَكُمْ وَمَثْوَىٰكُمْ 19
Translations
So know, [O Muḥammad], that there is no deity except Allāh and ask forgiveness for your sin and for the believing men and believing women. And Allāh knows of your movement and your resting place.
Transliteration
Fa'lam annahu lā ilāha illallāh wa-staghfir li-dhanbika wa-lil-mu'minīn wa-al-mu'mināt; wa-allāhu ya'lamu mutaqallabakum wa-mathwākum
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to establish firm knowledge of Tawhīd (the oneness of Allah) and to seek forgiveness for himself and all believers, male and female. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that despite the Prophet's sinlessness ('ismah), he is instructed to seek forgiveness as a means of spiritual humility and as an example for the Ummah, while the concluding phrase reminds that Allah is fully aware of all movements and final destinations of His creation.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Muhammad, a Medinan chapter addressing the believers during the early Islamic state. It comes in the context of instructions to the Prophet regarding leadership and spiritual guidance of the community, emphasizing the foundational principle of Tawhīd alongside continuous repentance as essential practices for both the leader and the led.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet said, 'By Allah, I ask forgiveness from Allah and repent to Him more than seventy times a day' (Sahih Bukhari 6307). Additionally, 'The best of you are those who repent' (Sunan Ibn Majah) relates to the emphasis on istighfār (seeking forgiveness) mentioned in this verse.
Themes
Key Lesson
Even the most spiritually advanced must maintain constant awareness of their dependence on Allah through repentance and seeking forgiveness, which serves as both a personal spiritual discipline and a transformative example for the entire believing community. This teaches believers that turning to Allah in repentance is not a sign of weakness but of wisdom and closeness to the Divine.