Basic
Repentance
Surah: An-Nisa (110)
Whoever Does Evil or Wrongs Himself Then Seeks Allah's Forgiveness Will Find Allah Forgiving Merciful — The Door of Repentance Always Open
وَمَن يَعۡمَلۡ سُوٓءٗا أَوۡ يَظۡلِمۡ نَفۡسَهُۥ ثُمَّ يَسۡتَغۡفِرِ ٱللَّهَ يَجِدِ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٗا رَّحِيمٗا
— النساء الآية 110
Verse: "Whoever does evil or wrongs himself, then seeks Allah's forgiveness, will find Allah Forgiving, Merciful." (4:110) — "Whoever" — comprehensive indefinite: any person. No exception for a specific sin or specific person other than shirk. "Evil" (wronging others) or "wrongs himself" (wronging the self): the verse covered the full range — external sins and internal sins. "Then" — a particle of time gap: the seeking of forgiveness does not need to be immediate. Even if time has passed and the sin is old — the gate of "then" is open. "Will find Allah Forgiving, Merciful" — not "will find His forgiveness" but "will find Allah" Himself. The expression makes you feel that you find Allah Himself awaiting you with forgiveness and mercy. Lesson: no despair with "then seeks Allah's forgiveness" — seeking forgiveness opens a door closed by sin.
Source: Ibn Kathir (2/355); Al-Sadi; Al-Baghawi (2/241)
Test Yourself
What does "then" signify in "then seeks Allah's forgiveness"? Is immediate seeking required?
Show Answer