Editing Screen: Surah an-Nisa' 4 : 17

Editing: an-Nisa'

Description <p><strong>Explanatory Note</strong></p> <p>While Islam prescribes punishment, it does not slam the door in the face of sinners, should they want to return to society after having realised their guilt. Indeed, Islam encourages them and opens the way for them to repent and purify themselves. The encouragement is so emphatic that God makes acceptance of repentance, once it is genuine and sincere, a duty which He in His glory imposes on Himself by His Own free will. In this, His grace is more than anyone can expect.</p> <p>True repentance which God, out of His Grace, has bound Himself to accept is the one which is deeply felt by the repenter and which indicates that he or she has undergone a total transformation. It means that past mistakes are sincerely regretted, and that regret has prompted a total change of attitude when the person concerned still enjoys good health, and still aspires to a brighter future. Such repentance is normally accompanied by a genuine desire for self-purification and a resolve to follow a different way of life.</p> <p><strong>“God will indeed accept the repentance of only those who do evil out of ignorance, and then repent shortly afterwards. It is they to whom God turns in His mercy. God is All-Knowing, Wise.” </strong>What is meant by “those who do evil out of ignorance” is anyone who commits sin. Scholars are almost unanimous that “ignorance”, as it is used here, means deviation from Divine guidance, whether for a long or short period, as long as it does not continue until one is in the throes of death. Repenting “shortly afterwards” refers to repentance in good time, before death overtakes one and one’s life is felt to have reached its end. Such repentance reveals genuine regret and strong resolve to mend one’s ways. It indicates that one’s conscience is back at work. Hence, it is to those people that <strong>“God turns in His mercy For God is All-Knowing, Wise.”</strong> Any action of His is based on His knowledge and wisdom and gives His servants the chance to return to the ranks of those who are good. He never chases them out when they have a genuine desire to seek refuge with Him and receive His mercy. We have to remember that God — limitless is He in His glory — has no need for His servants or their repentance. When they repent, they benefit only themselves. It is their lives and the life of the community in which they live that improve and become happy. Hence, the way is open for them to return to the true path at any time.</p> <ul> <li><strong><big>استغفر الله، وتب إليه سبعين مرة، متذكرا آخر ذنوبك وأخطائك، ﴿ إِنَّمَا ٱلتَّوْبَةُ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ لِلَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ ٱلسُّوٓءَ بِجَهَٰلَةٍ ثُمَّ يَتُوبُونَ مِن قَرِيبٍ فَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ يَتُوبُ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ</big> </strong>(Be the first to translate this....) </li> </ul>

Please read the Guidelines before submitting an entry to the Qur'an Wiki. You can also watch the video 'Guidelines for Submitting Entries'