ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Al-mizan an Exegesis of the Qur'an (volume Eight) Volume 8: Surah An-nisaa, Verses 17-18 Repentance with Allah is only for those who do evil in ignorance, then turn (to Allah) soon, so these it is to whom Allah turns (mercifully), and Allah is All-knowing. Wise (17) And repentance is not for those who go on doing evil deeds, until when death comes to one of them, he says: "Surely, now I repent"; nor (for) those who die while they are un­believers.

These are they for whom We have prepared a pain­ful chastisement (18). COMMENTARY These two verses are not without a certain connection with the preceding two which had ended on the theme of repentance, possibly all four might have been revealed together. Nevertheless, these two independently throw light on a theme which is among the most sublime Islamic realities and highest Qur’anic teachings, and that is the reality of repentance and its significance as well as the rules governing it.

Qur'an: Repentance with Allah is only for those who do evil in ignorance, then turn (to Allah) soon: "at-Tawbah" means to return. It signifies returning of a servant to Allah with remorse for his misdeeds and a firm intention to leave the way that was distancing him from the path of servitude. When ascribed to Allah, it means that Allah returns towards His servant with mercy, (first) forgiving his sin.

We have repeatedly said that, according to the Qur'an, a servant's single repentance is flanked by two turnings from Allah. The fact is that repentance is a good deed, a virtuous act which requires strength and will-power; and all virtues emanate from Allah, and all power and strength belongs to Him.

It is Allah who manages the affairs in a way that the servant becomes able to repent, gets strength to cut himself off from the factors which were taking him away from Allah, and thus he returns to his Lord.

After being helped in this way to repent from his sins and to return to Allah, he again needs a second 'returning' by Allah in order that he could be cleansed from those impurities, purified from those pollutions, so that he may reach and be settled near his Lord - this second returning again shows divine mercy and compassion as well as His forgiveness and pardon. These two divine returnings are the two 'repentances' which surround a servant's repentance and returning.

Allah says: then He turned to them (mercifully) that they might turn (to Him). ... (9:118).