Say: O My Servants Who Have Transgressed — The Widest Verse of Hope

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.