سُوْرَةُ المَآئِدَةِ
Surah Al-Maaida (5) — Ayah 34
إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ تَابُوا۟ مِن قَبْلِ أَن تَقْدِرُوا۟ عَلَيْهِمْ ۖ فَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ ﴿34﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Except for those who (having fled away and then) came back (as Muslims) with repentance before they fall into your power; in that case, know that Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
إِلَّا
illā
Except
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
those who
تَابُوا۟
tābū
repent
مِن
min
from
قَبْلِ
qabli
before
أَن
an
that
تَقْدِرُوا۟
taqdirū
you overpower
عَلَيْهِمْ ۖ
ʿalayhim
[over] them
فَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟
fa-iʿ'lamū
then know
أَنَّ
anna
that
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
غَفُورٌۭ
ghafūrun
(is) Oft-Forgiving
رَّحِيمٌۭ
raḥīmun
Most Merciful
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
34. Except for those who repent before you overpower them [67]; then know that Allah is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.
[67]
Forgiveness of Previous Sins Through Islam and Repentance:
There are two scenarios for this as well. One is that a person continued to spread corruption in the land while in a state of disbelief, then became a Muslim and came to the Muslims, abandoning all his previous habits. In this case, he will not be held accountable for his previous sins, because embracing Islam itself is an act that erases all previous sins. The second scenario is that a person, even after accepting Islam, remained guilty of spreading corruption, but later repented and began to live as a peaceful and law-abiding citizen. Now, his previous sins will not be traced and he will not be punished for them. Thus, governmental crimes will be forgiven, but the rights of people that he usurped will still remain his responsibility. He must either fulfill them or have them forgiven.
[67]
Forgiveness of Previous Sins Through Islam and Repentance:
There are two scenarios for this as well. One is that a person continued to spread corruption in the land while in a state of disbelief, then became a Muslim and came to the Muslims, abandoning all his previous habits. In this case, he will not be held accountable for his previous sins, because embracing Islam itself is an act that erases all previous sins. The second scenario is that a person, even after accepting Islam, remained guilty of spreading corruption, but later repented and began to live as a peaceful and law-abiding citizen. Now, his previous sins will not be traced and he will not be punished for them. Thus, governmental crimes will be forgiven, but the rights of people that he usurped will still remain his responsibility. He must either fulfill them or have them forgiven.
