سُوْرَةُ التَّوْبَةِ
Surah At-Tawba (9) — Ayah 80
ٱسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ أَوْ لَا تَسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ إِن تَسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ سَبْعِينَ مَرَّةً فَلَن يَغْفِرَ ٱللَّهُ لَهُمْ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَفَرُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلْفَـٰسِقِينَ ﴿80﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Whether you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) ask forgiveness for them (hypocrites) or ask not forgiveness for them - (and even) if you ask seventy times for their forgiveness - Allâh will not forgive them because they have disbelieved in Allâh and His Messenger (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم). And Allâh guides not those people who are Fâsiqûn (rebellious, disobedient to Allâh).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
ٱسْتَغْفِرْ
is'taghfir
Ask forgiveness
لَهُمْ
lahum
for them
أَوْ
aw
or
لَا
lā
(do) not
تَسْتَغْفِرْ
tastaghfir
ask forgiveness
لَهُمْ
lahum
for them
إِن
in
If
تَسْتَغْفِرْ
tastaghfir
you ask forgiveness
لَهُمْ
lahum
for them
سَبْعِينَ
sabʿīna
seventy
مَرَّةًۭ
marratan
times
فَلَن
falan
never
يَغْفِرَ
yaghfira
will Allah forgive
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
will Allah forgive
لَهُمْ ۚ
lahum
[for] them
ذَٰلِكَ
dhālika
That
بِأَنَّهُمْ
bi-annahum
(is) because they
كَفَرُوا۟
kafarū
disbelieved
بِٱللَّهِ
bil-lahi
in Allah
وَرَسُولِهِۦ ۗ
warasūlihi
and His Messenger
وَٱللَّهُ
wal-lahu
and Allah
لَا
lā
(does) not
يَهْدِى
yahdī
guide
ٱلْقَوْمَ
l-qawma
the people
ٱلْفَـٰسِقِينَ
l-fāsiqīna
the defiantly disobedient
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.
(Ayah80) ➊ {اِسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ اَوْ لَا تَسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ …:} That is, whether you seek forgiveness for them or do not seek forgiveness for them, it is the same. Here, although the command is given in the imperative form, the intent is to inform, as in another place it is stated clearly in words of information: «سَوَآءٌ عَلَيْهِمْ اَسْتَغْفَرْتَ لَهُمْ اَمْ لَمْ تَسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ لَنْ يَّغْفِرَ اللّٰهُ لَهُمْ » [ المنافقون : ۶ ] "It is the same for them whether you seek forgiveness for them or do not seek forgiveness for them, Allah will never forgive them." Part of the explanation of this verse is also coming in the explanation of verse (84).
➋ { ذٰلِكَ بِاَنَّهُمْ كَفَرُوْا بِاللّٰهِ وَ رَسُوْلِهٖ:} That is, no matter how much you seek forgiveness for them, Allah will never forgive them, because due to disbelief in Allah and His Messenger, they are not worthy of being forgiven. In the explanation of this verse, Shah Abdul Qadir (may Allah have mercy on him) writes that from here the distinction arises between the faithless and the sinner. What sin is there that cannot be forgiven by the Prophet (peace be upon him) seeking forgiveness, and for the faithless, even if the Prophet seeks forgiveness seventy times, it will not benefit them. Now, on what basis can the faithless people rely on the intercession of the Prophet (peace be upon him)? If a person commits a wrong or falls short in action and is ashamed, then he is a sinner; but the one who does not consider evil to be a fault, and regards doing or not doing the obligations imposed by Allah as equal, and criticizes those who do them, he is faithless. Even the Prophet's (peace be upon him) seeking forgiveness cannot benefit such a person. (Muwaddih)
➋ { ذٰلِكَ بِاَنَّهُمْ كَفَرُوْا بِاللّٰهِ وَ رَسُوْلِهٖ:} That is, no matter how much you seek forgiveness for them, Allah will never forgive them, because due to disbelief in Allah and His Messenger, they are not worthy of being forgiven. In the explanation of this verse, Shah Abdul Qadir (may Allah have mercy on him) writes that from here the distinction arises between the faithless and the sinner. What sin is there that cannot be forgiven by the Prophet (peace be upon him) seeking forgiveness, and for the faithless, even if the Prophet seeks forgiveness seventy times, it will not benefit them. Now, on what basis can the faithless people rely on the intercession of the Prophet (peace be upon him)? If a person commits a wrong or falls short in action and is ashamed, then he is a sinner; but the one who does not consider evil to be a fault, and regards doing or not doing the obligations imposed by Allah as equal, and criticizes those who do them, he is faithless. Even the Prophet's (peace be upon him) seeking forgiveness cannot benefit such a person. (Muwaddih)
