سُوْرَةُ النَّمْلِ
Surah An-Naml (27) — Ayah 11
إِلَّا مَن ظَلَمَ ثُمَّ بَدَّلَ حُسْنًۢا بَعْدَ سُوٓءٍ فَإِنِّى غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ ﴿11﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
"Except him who has done wrong and afterwards has changed evil for good; then surely, I am Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
إِلَّا
illā
Except
مَن
man
who
ظَلَمَ
ẓalama
wrongs
ثُمَّ
thumma
then
بَدَّلَ
baddala
substitutes
حُسْنًۢا
ḥus'nan
good
بَعْدَ
baʿda
after
سُوٓءٍۢ
sūin
evil
فَإِنِّى
fa-innī
then indeed, I Am
غَفُورٌۭ
ghafūrun
Oft-Forgiving
رَّحِيمٌۭ
raḥīmun
Most Merciful
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah 11) {اِلَّا مَنْ ظَلَمَ ثُمَّ بَدَّلَ حُسْنًۢا …:} That is, there can be only one reason to fear in My presence: if a person has indeed committed injustice, and it is the wrongdoers who should be afraid. But if a person repents after wrongdoing, adopts the path of righteousness after evil deeds, and changes his way of conduct, then I forgive him. After that, there is no reason to fear. Most likely, this refers to the incident of Musa (peace be upon him) accidentally killing the Copt, which he himself called an injustice: «{ رَبِّ اِنِّيْ ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِيْ فَاغْفِرْ لِيْ }» [ القصص : ۱۶ ] "O my Lord! Indeed, I have wronged myself, so forgive me." And Allah Almighty forgave him, as He said: «{ فَغَفَرَ لَهٗ }» [ القصص : ۱۶ ] "So He forgave him." Now again, this forgiveness is being referenced, that when I have already forgiven you, then what need is there for you to be afraid?
