سُوْرَةُ الْاَعْرَافِ
Surah Al-A'raaf (7) — Ayah 161
وَإِذْ قِيلَ لَهُمُ ٱسْكُنُوا۟ هَـٰذِهِ ٱلْقَرْيَةَ وَكُلُوا۟ مِنْهَا حَيْثُ شِئْتُمْ وَقُولُوا۟ حِطَّةٌ وَٱدْخُلُوا۟ ٱلْبَابَ سُجَّدًا نَّغْفِرْ لَكُمْ خَطِيٓـَٔـٰتِكُمْ ۚ سَنَزِيدُ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ ﴿161﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And (remember) when it was said to them: "Dwell in this town (Jerusalem) and eat therefrom wherever you wish, and say, ‘(O Allâh) forgive our sins’; and enter the gate prostrate (bowing with humility). We shall forgive you your wrong-doings. We shall increase (the reward) for the good-doers."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَإِذْ
wa-idh
And when
قِيلَ
qīla
it was said
لَهُمُ
lahumu
to them
ٱسْكُنُوا۟
us'kunū
Live
هَـٰذِهِ
hādhihi
(in) this
ٱلْقَرْيَةَ
l-qaryata
city
وَكُلُوا۟
wakulū
and eat
مِنْهَا
min'hā
from it
حَيْثُ
ḥaythu
wherever
شِئْتُمْ
shi'tum
you wish
وَقُولُوا۟
waqūlū
and say
حِطَّةٌۭ
ḥiṭṭatun
Repentance
وَٱدْخُلُوا۟
wa-ud'khulū
and enter
ٱلْبَابَ
l-bāba
the gate
سُجَّدًۭا
sujjadan
prostrating
نَّغْفِرْ
naghfir
We will forgive
لَكُمْ
lakum
for you
خَطِيٓـَٔـٰتِكُمْ ۚ
khaṭīātikum
your sins
سَنَزِيدُ
sanazīdu
We will increase (reward)
ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
l-muḥ'sinīna
(of) the good-doers
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.
161. And when it was said to them, "Settle in this town [165] and eat from it wherever you wish, and say, 'Forgive us,' and enter the gate in prostration, We will forgive your sins for you, and We will increase the reward for the doers of good."
[165] This was most likely the city of Jericho, which was the first to be conquered by the Children of Israel. They were commanded to settle there and were given instructions for the future, along with the guidance that when they entered this city in a victorious manner, they should enter prostrating before Allah, expressing gratitude to Him, and seeking forgiveness for themselves. Just as the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was commanded on the day of the conquest of Makkah. Accordingly, the Prophet ﷺ performed a prostration of gratitude. After the conquest of Makkah, his humility and submissiveness before Allah increased even more, and he began to worship Allah more than before. Instead of taking revenge on his old enemies after the victory, he announced a general amnesty for them.
[165] This was most likely the city of Jericho, which was the first to be conquered by the Children of Israel. They were commanded to settle there and were given instructions for the future, along with the guidance that when they entered this city in a victorious manner, they should enter prostrating before Allah, expressing gratitude to Him, and seeking forgiveness for themselves. Just as the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was commanded on the day of the conquest of Makkah. Accordingly, the Prophet ﷺ performed a prostration of gratitude. After the conquest of Makkah, his humility and submissiveness before Allah increased even more, and he began to worship Allah more than before. Instead of taking revenge on his old enemies after the victory, he announced a general amnesty for them.
