Basic
Mercy & Forgiveness
Surah: Az-Zumar (53)
Say: O My Servants Who Have Transgressed — The Widest Verse of Hope
قُلۡ يَٰعِبَادِيَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسۡرَفُواْ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمۡ لَا تَقۡنَطُواْ مِن رَّحۡمَةِ ٱللَّهِ
— الزمر الآية 53
Verse: "Say: O My servants who have transgressed against themselves, do not despair of Allah's mercy. Indeed Allah forgives all sins." (39:53)
"O My servants" (ya 'ibadi):
Adding "servants" to the first-person possessive ("my servants") is an honorific and affectionate address — like a father saying "my child." This call comes from Allah to the transgressor before the judgment is even stated!
"Who have transgressed against themselves":
The transgression harms the self, not Allah — the sinner does not hurt Allah; he only hurts himself. This softens the rebuke.
"He forgives all sins":
Ibn Kathir: "This verse is general for all sins — shirk and lesser — for one who repents. Scholars unanimously agree this verse is about the repentant." Allah follows it with: "Return to your Lord" — the condition is repentance.
Lesson: No sin you have committed should lead to despair — despair from Allah's mercy is a greater wrong than many sins. The door is open as long as the soul is in the body.
"O My servants" (ya 'ibadi):
Adding "servants" to the first-person possessive ("my servants") is an honorific and affectionate address — like a father saying "my child." This call comes from Allah to the transgressor before the judgment is even stated!
"Who have transgressed against themselves":
The transgression harms the self, not Allah — the sinner does not hurt Allah; he only hurts himself. This softens the rebuke.
"He forgives all sins":
Ibn Kathir: "This verse is general for all sins — shirk and lesser — for one who repents. Scholars unanimously agree this verse is about the repentant." Allah follows it with: "Return to your Lord" — the condition is repentance.
Lesson: No sin you have committed should lead to despair — despair from Allah's mercy is a greater wrong than many sins. The door is open as long as the soul is in the body.
Source: Ibn Kathir (7/100); Al-Sadi; Al-Qurtubi (15/265)
Test Yourself
Does "He forgives all sins" include shirk without repentance?
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