Al-Baqarah · Madani · ayah 52 of 286

Al-Baqarah 2:52

ثُمَّ عَفَوْنَا عَنكُم مِّنۢ بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ

“Then We forgave you after that so perhaps you would be grateful.”

Saheeh International

Essence

After the worst of wrongs came a pardon that wiped the trail clean, so that the forgiven would let the gift show.

A reflection

Forgiven, and then feet that swelled

This is the first time the Quran uses the word for gratitude. It does not come after rain, or harvest, or rescue at sea. It comes after a pardon for the Golden Calf. The first gratitude the Book asks of anyone is gratitude for being forgiven.

The Prophet ﷺ lived this link more fully than anyone. He used to stand in night prayer until his feet swelled and cracked. His wife asked him why he did this, when Allah had forgiven him his past and future sins. He answered: 'Should I not love to be a grateful servant?' (Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim).

Notice what forgiveness did in him. It did not make him relax. It made him stand longer. For most of us the logic runs the other way. Once a debt is cancelled, we stop thinking about the creditor. The Quran and the Prophet ﷺ turn that logic round. The cancelled debt is exactly what draws you back to the One who cancelled it.

A commentary puts the purpose clause plainly: We pardoned you so that you would thank Me for the pardon. One early commentator defined thanks as not disobeying Allah with the very favour He gave. Another said it is obedience with every limb, in private and in public.

Think of the last time you were let off something you deserved. Perhaps a parent covered for you, or a friend let a debt go. What did you do with the relief? The ayah suggests a test for every forgiven person. Has the pardon produced anything in me yet, or has it simply let me carry on?

The people of Mūsā were pardoned for the gravest of wrongs. The door for us is at least as wide. The question is what walks through it.

The full entry has 6 more reflections, questions to sit with, and "Live it today" - with the words, the roots and the tafsir alongside. Free, no account, works offline.