سُوْرَةُ المَآئِدَةِ
Surah Al-Maaida (5) — Ayah 34
إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ تَابُوا۟ مِن قَبْلِ أَن تَقْدِرُوا۟ عَلَيْهِمْ ۖ فَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ ﴿34﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Except for those who (having fled away and then) came back (as Muslims) with repentance before they fall into your power; in that case, know that Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
إِلَّا
illā
Except
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
those who
تَابُوا۟
tābū
repent
مِن
min
from
قَبْلِ
qabli
before
أَن
an
that
تَقْدِرُوا۟
taqdirū
you overpower
عَلَيْهِمْ ۖ
ʿalayhim
[over] them
فَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟
fa-iʿ'lamū
then know
أَنَّ
anna
that
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
غَفُورٌۭ
ghafūrun
(is) Oft-Forgiving
رَّحِيمٌۭ
raḥīmun
Most Merciful
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.
34. 1. That is, if before being apprehended, they declare their obedience to the Islamic government, then they will be pardoned, and the aforementioned punishments will not be given. However, there is a difference of opinion regarding whether, along with the pardon of punishments, the crimes they committed against people—such as killing, looting wealth, or violating honor—will also be forgiven, or whether retribution will be taken for them. According to some scholars, they will not be forgiven; rather, retribution will be taken. (The inclination of Imam Shawkani and Imam Ibn Kathir is that they will be pardoned absolutely, and they have described this as the requirement of the apparent meaning of the verse. However, after being apprehended, repentance will not absolve them of their crimes. They will be deserving of punishment.)
