Surah An-Nisa 4:17 — translation and meaning

النساء · Verse 17 / 176 · Page 80

ۗ إِنَّمَا التَّوْبَةُ عَلَى اللَّهِ لِلَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ السُّوءَ بِجَهَالَةٍ ثُمَّ يَتُوبُونَ مِن قَرِيبٍ فَأُولَئِكَ يَتُوبُ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا

Word by Word

ۗ
إِنَّمَا
innama
Only
التَّوْبَةُ
al-tawbatu
the acceptance of repentance
عَلَى
ala
by
اللَّهِ
al-lahi
Allah
لِلَّذِينَ
lilladhina
(is) for those who
يَعْمَلُونَ
ya'maluna
do
السُّوءَ
al-sua
the evil
بِجَهَالَةٍ
bijahalatin
in ignorance
ثُمَّ
thumma
then
يَتُوبُونَ
yatubuna
they repent
مِن
min
from
قَرِيبٍ
qaribin
soon after
فَأُولَئِكَ
fa-ulaika
Then those
يَتُوبُ
yatubu
will have forgiveness
اللَّهُ
al-lahu
(from) Allah
عَلَيْهِمْ
alayhim
upon them
وَكَانَ
wakana
and is
اللَّهُ
al-lahu
Allah
عَلِيمًا
aliman
All-Knowing
حَكِيمًا
hakiman
All-Wise

Transliteration

Innamat tawbatu 'alallaahi lillazeena ya'maloonas sooo'a bijahaalatin summa yatooboona min qareebin faulaaika yatoobul laahu 'alaihim; wa kaanal laahu 'Aleeman Hakeemaa

Translation

The repentance accepted by Allah is only for those who do wrong in ignorance [or carelessness] and then repent soon after. It is those to whom Allah will turn in forgiveness, and Allah is ever Knowing and Wise.

Verse interpretation (Tafsir)

Allah only turns in mercy and forgiveness to those who commit disobedience and overstep the limits out of foolishness and impulse, and who repent to Allah asking for His forgiveness before the time of their death. Allah forgives these people, by overlooking their disobedience. Allah knows the circumstances of people, and is Wise in His decree and sacred laws.

Source: Al-Mukhtasar Tafsir — Tafsir Center for Quranic Studies.

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