سُوْرَةُ النِّسَآءِ
Surah An-Nisaa (4) — Ayah 149
إِن تُبْدُوا۟ خَيْرًا أَوْ تُخْفُوهُ أَوْ تَعْفُوا۟ عَن سُوٓءٍ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَفُوًّا قَدِيرًا ﴿149﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Whether you (mankind) disclose (by good words of thanks) a good deed (done to you in the form of a favour by someone), or conceal it, or pardon an evil, ... verily, Allâh is Ever Oft-Pardoning, All-Powerful.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
إِن
in
If
تُبْدُوا۟
tub'dū
you disclose
خَيْرًا
khayran
a good
أَوْ
aw
or
تُخْفُوهُ
tukh'fūhu
you conceal it
أَوْ
aw
or
تَعْفُوا۟
taʿfū
pardon
عَن
ʿan
[of]
سُوٓءٍۢ
sūin
an evil
فَإِنَّ
fa-inna
then indeed
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
كَانَ
kāna
is
عَفُوًّۭا
ʿafuwwan
Oft-Pardoning
قَدِيرًا
qadīran
All-Powerful
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan — Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
149. 1. If a person commits oppression or evil against someone, the Shariah permits retaliation to the extent of the oppression suffered. Whatever is said between two people who exchange insults, the sin is upon the one who initiates (provided that) the oppressed (the one who was insulted and insulted back in response) does not exceed limits in response. Along with the permission to retaliate, forgiveness and overlooking are preferred, because Allah Himself, despite having complete power, chooses to forgive and overlook. Therefore, it is said, "جَزَاۗءُ سَـيِّئَةٍۢ بِمِثْلِهَا" 10:27 (The recompense of an evil is an evil like it, but whoever forgives and makes reconciliation, his reward is with Allah). And it is also mentioned in the hadith that by forgiving, Allah increases a person in honor. Sahih Muslim, Book of Birr and Sila, Chapter on the Recommendation of Forgiveness and Humility.
