Surah Hud (11) — Ayah 3

(Ayah 3) ➊ {وَ اَنِ اسْتَغْفِرُوْا رَبَّكُمْ ثُمَّ تُوْبُوْۤا اِلَيْهِ:} In the previous verse, from {’’ اَلَّا تَعْبُدُوْۤا اِلَّا اللّٰهَ ‘‘}, it is understood that here seeking forgiveness and repentance means seeking forgiveness and repentance from worshipping others besides Allah, that is, ask for forgiveness and pardon for whatever shirk and disobedience to Allah you have committed, but the benefit of this seeking forgiveness is only when you turn back from those sins and make a sincere intention not to commit them again in the future. Then, if due to human weakness any sin occurs, seek forgiveness again and, along with it, sincerely repent again for the future, and continue this process throughout your life for every slip, no matter how many times it happens. Do not delay in seeking forgiveness after a sin, nor in repenting along with seeking forgiveness. Only then is there benefit in seeking forgiveness and repentance. See Surah An-Nisa (17, 18).

➋ { يُمَتِّعْكُمْ مَّتَاعًا حَسَنًا اِلٰۤى اَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى :} In this, the perfect benefit of seeking forgiveness and repentance has been stated. This world, which Allah Almighty has described as a deceptive enjoyment, Allah Almighty will make it a beautiful enjoyment for the believer who seeks forgiveness and repents, until death. He will benefit from the blessings of the world not as a deceptive enjoyment but as a beautiful enjoyment. If he spends his life in obedience to Allah Almighty along with seeking forgiveness and repentance, then even his worldly pleasures will become rewards for him. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said to Sa’d bin Abi Waqqas (may Allah be pleased with him): [ وَلَسْتَ تُنْفِقَ نَفَقَةً تَبْتَغِيْ بِهَا وَجْهَ اللّٰهِ إِلاَّ أُجِرْتَ بِهَا وَ فِيْ رِوَايَةِ الْبُخَارِيِّ : فَإِنَّهَا صَدَقَةٌ حَتَّي اللُّقْمَةَ تَجْعَلُهَا فِيْ فِيْ امْرَأَتِكَ ] [ مسلم، الوصیۃ، باب الوصیۃ بالثلث : ۱۶۲۸۔ بخاری : ۲۷۴۲ ] “Whatever you spend, seeking Allah Almighty’s pleasure with it, you will be rewarded for it (the words of Bukhari are that it will become charity), even the morsel that you put in your wife’s mouth.” Such a believer is granted a pure life in this world (even if apparently he is afflicted with hardship) and will be granted the best reward in the Hereafter. See Surah An-Nahl (97). There are countless blessings and benefits of righteous deeds and seeking forgiveness; for a few benefits, see Surah Hud (52, 61, 90).

➌ The meaning of { وَ يُؤْتِ كُلَّ ذِيْ فَضْلٍ فَضْلَهٗ : ”فَضْلٍ“ } is “extra,” that is, whoever excels in obedience and good deeds, Allah Almighty will give him more reward in this world or the Hereafter or both. There is no shortage of anything with Allah; His rule is that whoever commits an evil deed, only one evil is recorded for him, and whoever does a good deed, at least ten (10) good deeds are recorded for him, and there is no limit to the maximum, as He said: «{ وَ اللّٰهُ يَرْزُقُ مَنْ يَّشَآءُ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ }» [ النور : ۳۸ ] “And Allah gives without measure to whom He wills.” Another meaning is that charity is generally given from what is extra to one’s needs, so whoever spends from his surplus in the way of Allah, Allah Almighty will never let him suffer any loss, rather He will surely give him his surplus, and then whoever gives charity despite his own need, how much more will Allah Almighty bestow His grace upon him? The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ مَا نَقَصَتْ صَدَقَةٌ مِّنْ مَّالٍ ] [ مسلم، کتاب البر والصلۃ، باب استحباب العفو والتواضع : ۲۵۸۸، عن أبی ھریرۃ رضی اللہ عنہ ] “Charity does not decrease wealth.”

➍ {وَ اِنْ تَوَلَّوْا فَاِنِّيْۤ اَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ كَبِيْرٍ:} Meaning, the punishment of a very great day. That is, I fear for you not only the punishment of this world but also the punishment of the Day of the Hereafter, which is a very great day, that is, a day of fifty thousand years, and after which there is eternal punishment for the disbelievers.