سُوْرَةُ النِّسَآءِ
Surah An-Nisaa (4) — Ayah 116
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَغْفِرُ أَن يُشْرَكَ بِهِۦ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَمَن يُشْرِكْ بِٱللَّهِ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ ضَلَـٰلًۢا بَعِيدًا ﴿116﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Verily! Allâh forgives not (the sin of) setting up partners (in worship) with Him, but He forgives whom He wills sins other than that, and whoever sets up partners in worship with Allâh, has indeed strayed far away.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
لَا
lā
does not
يَغْفِرُ
yaghfiru
forgive
أَن
an
that
يُشْرَكَ
yush'raka
partners be associated
بِهِۦ
bihi
with Him
وَيَغْفِرُ
wayaghfiru
but He forgives
مَا
mā
[what]
دُونَ
dūna
other than
ذَٰلِكَ
dhālika
that
لِمَن
liman
for whom
يَشَآءُ ۚ
yashāu
He wills
وَمَن
waman
And whoever
يُشْرِكْ
yush'rik
associates partners
بِٱللَّهِ
bil-lahi
with Allah
فَقَدْ
faqad
then surely
ضَلَّ
ḍalla
he lost (the) way
ضَلَـٰلًۢا
ḍalālan
straying
بَعِيدًا
baʿīdan
far away
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 116) ➊ { اِنَّ اللّٰهَ لَا يَغْفِرُ اَنْ يُّشْرَكَ بِهٖ …:} In the previous verse, the person is mentioned who opposes the Messenger and follows a path other than that of the believers. Such a person can only be one who persists in his disbelief and does not accept the religion of Islam. In this verse, Allah Almighty has declared his persistence in disbelief as shirk and has explicitly stated that there is no way for his forgiveness. However, if a person accepts the religion of Islam, bears witness to the oneness of Allah and the messengership of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), demonstrates it practically, and refrains from such acts that expel a person from the fold of Islam, then if he commits major sins, it is up to Allah Almighty—He may forgive him outright or admit him to Paradise after punishment. But the person who does not accept Islam at all, or after accepting Islam commits acts of clear apostasy, then there is no forgiveness for him with Allah Almighty, because to forgive him would mean to pardon a rebel and traitor who remains firm on his rebellion and treachery. No king, even the most ordinary, tolerates rebellion, so how can the King of kings, whose protective jealousy is immense, forgive rebellion? It is thus understood that only the disbelievers and polytheists will be eternally in Hell; sinful Muslims will not remain in Hell forever. This refutes those who say that a Muslim who commits major sins will be eternally in Hell. See also verse (48) of this surah.
➋ Above, the mention of the hypocrites is ongoing, who did not like the decisions of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and walked on a separate path. In this verse, it is stated that Allah Almighty does not forgive shirk, so it is understood that if any religion (way) other than Islam is preferred and made a practice, then this is shirk, because any religion other than Islam is shirk, even if the shirk of worship is not committed. (Muwaddih)
➋ Above, the mention of the hypocrites is ongoing, who did not like the decisions of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and walked on a separate path. In this verse, it is stated that Allah Almighty does not forgive shirk, so it is understood that if any religion (way) other than Islam is preferred and made a practice, then this is shirk, because any religion other than Islam is shirk, even if the shirk of worship is not committed. (Muwaddih)
