سُوْرَةُ الْاَنْفَالِ
Surah Al-Anfaal (8) — Ayah 38
قُل لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ إِن يَنتَهُوا۟ يُغْفَرْ لَهُم مَّا قَدْ سَلَفَ وَإِن يَعُودُوا۟ فَقَدْ مَضَتْ سُنَّتُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ ﴿38﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Say to those who have disbelieved, if they cease (from disbelief), their past will be forgiven. But if they return (thereto), then the examples of those (punished) before them have already preceded (as a warning).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
قُل
qul
Say
لِّلَّذِينَ
lilladhīna
to those who
كَفَرُوٓا۟
kafarū
disbelieve
إِن
in
if
يَنتَهُوا۟
yantahū
they cease
يُغْفَرْ
yugh'far
will be forgiven
لَهُم
lahum
for them
مَّا
mā
what
قَدْ
qad
[verily]
سَلَفَ
salafa
(is) past
وَإِن
wa-in
But if
يَعُودُوا۟
yaʿūdū
they return
فَقَدْ
faqad
then verily
مَضَتْ
maḍat
preceded
سُنَّتُ
sunnatu
(the) practice
ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ
l-awalīna
(of) the former (people)
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 38) ➊ {قُلْ لِّلَّذِيْنَ كَفَرُوْۤا اِنْ يَّنْتَهُوْا: ’’ نَهٰي يَنْهَي‘‘} Forbidding and {’’ اِنْتَهَي يَنْتَهِيْ‘‘} refraining. In this verse, Allah Almighty has stated that despite all these warnings of punishment, the door of hope remains open. Thus, the Prophet of Mercy (peace be upon him) was commanded to tell these deniers that even now, if they refrain from stubbornness and disbelief, enter Islam, worship only Allah, and obey the Prophet (peace be upon him), then their previous faults will be forgiven. Amr bin Al-As (may Allah be pleased with him) says that when Allah inclined my heart towards Islam, I presented myself before the Prophet (peace be upon him) and said: "Extend your right hand so that I may pledge allegiance." He extended his right hand, but I withdrew my hand. He said: "Amr! What happened to you?" I said: "I want to make a condition." He said: "What condition do you want to make?" I said: "That I be forgiven." He said: "Do you not know that Islam erases the sins before it, and migration erases the sins before it, and Hajj erases the sins before it." [ مسلم، الإیمان، باب کون الإیمان یہدم ما قبلہ : ۱۲۱ ]
Included in refraining is that by accepting Islam, they should also change their condition. Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) says that a man asked: "O Messenger of Allah! Will we be held accountable for what we did in the time of ignorance?" The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever does good deeds in Islam will not be held accountable for what he did in the time of ignorance, and whoever does evil deeds in Islam will be seized for both his former and latter deeds." [ بخاری، استتابۃ المرتدین والمعاندین و قتالہم ، باب إثم من أشرک… : ۶۹۲۱ ]
➋ {وَ اِنْ يَّعُوْدُوْا فَقَدْ مَضَتْ سُنَّتُ الْاَوَّلِيْنَ:} That is, if they again plan to uproot Islam and destroy the strength of the Muslims, then just as the previous people were destroyed—those who harassed the prophets and fought against them—so too will these people be destroyed, and just as they were dealt with at the Battle of Badr, so it will be now as well. (Ibn Kathir)
Included in refraining is that by accepting Islam, they should also change their condition. Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) says that a man asked: "O Messenger of Allah! Will we be held accountable for what we did in the time of ignorance?" The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever does good deeds in Islam will not be held accountable for what he did in the time of ignorance, and whoever does evil deeds in Islam will be seized for both his former and latter deeds." [ بخاری، استتابۃ المرتدین والمعاندین و قتالہم ، باب إثم من أشرک… : ۶۹۲۱ ]
➋ {وَ اِنْ يَّعُوْدُوْا فَقَدْ مَضَتْ سُنَّتُ الْاَوَّلِيْنَ:} That is, if they again plan to uproot Islam and destroy the strength of the Muslims, then just as the previous people were destroyed—those who harassed the prophets and fought against them—so too will these people be destroyed, and just as they were dealt with at the Battle of Badr, so it will be now as well. (Ibn Kathir)
