An-Nisa · Madani · ayah 17 of 176

An-Nisa 4:17

إِنَّمَا ٱلتَّوْبَةُ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ لِلَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ ٱلسُّوٓءَ بِجَهَـٰلَةٍ ثُمَّ يَتُوبُونَ مِن قَرِيبٍ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ يَتُوبُ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا

“The repentance accepted by Allāh is only for those who do wrong in ignorance [or carelessness] and then repent soon [after].[172] It is those to whom Allāh will turn in forgiveness, and Allāh is ever Knowing and Wise.”

Saheeh International

Essence

Allah has bound Himself, by His own word, to receive those who stumble in blindness and turn back while the road is open.

A reflection

Standing on a promise, with nothing to trade

A boy of ten scratches a neighbour's car door with his bicycle handlebar. He has no money and no good excuse. He knocks anyway, because the old man once told him: if you ever do something wrong, come straight to me.

The boy has no leverage. He is standing on a promise.

'Repentance is upon Allah,' the ayah begins. The commentaries explain what kind of 'upon' this is. One says: the repentance He has written upon Himself to accept, out of His grace. Another insists that no one stands above Allah to place a duty on Him. He is the Creator and Owner of all. Yet He has spoken, and He does not break His word: 'He accepts repentance from His servants' (42:25).

One early theological school read 'upon' as a duty binding on Him by reason. The mainstream answered that nothing binds Him except His own promise. Both agree on the comfort. The door is real.

This is where pride has to bow. We like to bargain. Enough good deeds, enough tears, and surely forgiveness is owed. The ayah takes the bargaining chips off the table. You arrive with nothing to trade. You arrive because He said you could.

The ayah ends with two names, ʿalīm and ḥakīm. He knows who has truly turned and who is only rehearsing the words. He is wise in how and when He receives them. The second root first named the strap of a bridle round a horse's jaw, checking it before it bolts. His wisdom is the hand that steadies.

Does Allah need to describe Himself so? He is free of need of all things (35:15). The names are for the boy at the door, so he knows whose door it is.

The full entry has 5 more reflections, questions to sit with, and "Live it today" - with the words, the roots and the tafsir alongside. Free, no account, works offline.