غافر
The Forgiver
Explanations are simplified from tafsirs by Ibn Kathir, Mufti Muhammad Shafi, and Maulana Wahiduddin Khan. Spot an inaccuracy? Let us know.
awalam yasīrū fī l-arḍi fayanẓurū kayfa kāna ʿāqibatu alladhīna kānū min qablihim kānū hum ashadda min'hum quwwatan waāthāran fī l-arḍi fa-akhadhahumu l-lahu bidhunūbihim wamā kāna lahum mina l-lahi min wāqin
Have they not traveled through the land and observed how was the end of those who were before them? They were greater than them in strength and in impression on the land, but Allāh seized them for their sins. And they had not from Allāh any protector.
dhālika bi-annahum kānat tatīhim rusuluhum bil-bayināti fakafarū fa-akhadhahumu l-lahu innahu qawiyyun shadīdu l-ʿiqābi
That was because their messengers were coming to them with clear proofs, but they disbelieved, so Allāh seized them. Indeed, He is Powerful and severe in punishment.
walaqad arsalnā mūsā biāyātinā wasul'ṭānin mubīnin
And We did certainly send Moses with Our signs and a clear authority
ilā fir'ʿawna wahāmāna waqārūna faqālū sāḥirun kadhābun
To Pharaoh, Hāmān and Qārūn, but they said, "[He is] a magician and a liar."
falammā jāahum bil-ḥaqi min ʿindinā qālū uq'tulū abnāa alladhīna āmanū maʿahu wa-is'taḥyū nisāahum wamā kaydu l-kāfirīna illā fī ḍalālin
And when he brought them the truth from Us, they said, "Kill the sons of those who have believed with him and keep their women alive." But the plan of the disbelievers is not except in error.
waqāla fir'ʿawnu dharūnī aqtul mūsā walyadʿu rabbahu innī akhāfu an yubaddila dīnakum aw an yuẓ'hira fī l-arḍi l-fasāda
And Pharaoh said, "Let me kill Moses and let him call upon his Lord. Indeed, I fear that he will change your religion or that he will cause corruption in the land."
waqāla mūsā innī ʿudh'tu birabbī warabbikum min kulli mutakabbirin lā yu'minu biyawmi l-ḥisābi
But Moses said, "Indeed, I have sought refuge in my Lord and your Lord from every arrogant one who does not believe in the Day of Account."
waqāla rajulun mu'minun min āli fir'ʿawna yaktumu īmānahu ataqtulūna rajulan an yaqūla rabbiya l-lahu waqad jāakum bil-bayināti min rabbikum wa-in yaku kādhiban faʿalayhi kadhibuhu wa-in yaku ṣādiqan yuṣib'kum baʿḍu alladhī yaʿidukum inna l-laha lā yahdī man huwa mus'rifun kadhābun
And a believing man from the family of Pharaoh who concealed his faith said, "Do you kill a man [merely] because he says, 'My Lord is Allāh' while he has brought you clear proofs from your Lord? And if he should be lying, then upon him is [the consequence of] his lie; but if he should be truthful, there will strike you some of what he promises you. Indeed, Allāh does not guide one who is a transgressor and a liar.
yāqawmi lakumu l-mul'ku l-yawma ẓāhirīna fī l-arḍi faman yanṣurunā min basi l-lahi in jāanā qāla fir'ʿawnu mā urīkum illā mā arā wamā ahdīkum illā sabīla l-rashādi
O my people, sovereignty is yours today, [your being] dominant in the land. But who would protect us from the punishment of Allāh if it came to us?" Pharaoh said, "I do not show you except what I see, and I do not guide you except to the way of right conduct."
waqāla alladhī āmana yāqawmi innī akhāfu ʿalaykum mith'la yawmi l-aḥzābi
And he who believed said, "O my people, indeed I fear for you [a fate] like the day of the companies -
mith'la dabi qawmi nūḥin waʿādin wathamūda wa-alladhīna min baʿdihim wamā l-lahu yurīdu ẓul'man lil'ʿibādi
Like the custom of the people of Noah and of ʿAad and Thamūd and those after them. And Allāh wants no injustice for [His] servants.
wayāqawmi innī akhāfu ʿalaykum yawma l-tanādi
And O my people, indeed I fear for you the Day of Calling -
yawma tuwallūna mud'birīna mā lakum mina l-lahi min ʿāṣimin waman yuḍ'lili l-lahu famā lahu min hādin
The Day you will turn your backs fleeing; there is not for you from Allāh any protector. And whoever Allāh sends astray - there is not for him any guide.
walaqad jāakum yūsufu min qablu bil-bayināti famā zil'tum fī shakkin mimmā jāakum bihi ḥattā idhā halaka qul'tum lan yabʿatha l-lahu min baʿdihi rasūlan kadhālika yuḍillu l-lahu man huwa mus'rifun mur'tābun
And Joseph had already come to you before with clear proofs, but you remained in doubt of that which he brought to you, until when he died, you said, 'Never will Allāh send a messenger after him.' Thus does Allāh leave astray he who is a transgressor and skeptic."
alladhīna yujādilūna fī āyāti l-lahi bighayri sul'ṭānin atāhum kabura maqtan ʿinda l-lahi waʿinda alladhīna āmanū kadhālika yaṭbaʿu l-lahu ʿalā kulli qalbi mutakabbirin jabbārin
Those who dispute concerning the signs of Allāh without an authority having come to them - great is hatred [of them] in the sight of Allāh and in the sight of those who have believed. Thus does Allāh seal over every heart [belonging to] an arrogant tyrant.
waqāla fir'ʿawnu yāhāmānu ib'ni lī ṣarḥan laʿallī ablughu l-asbāba
And Pharaoh said, "O Hāmān, construct for me a tower that I might reach the ways -
asbāba l-samāwāti fa-aṭṭaliʿa ilā ilāhi mūsā wa-innī la-aẓunnuhu kādhiban wakadhālika zuyyina lifir'ʿawna sūu ʿamalihi waṣudda ʿani l-sabīli wamā kaydu fir'ʿawna illā fī tabābin
The ways into the heavens - so that I may look at the deity of Moses; but indeed, I think he is a liar." And thus was made attractive to Pharaoh the evil of his deed, and he was averted from the [right] way. And the plan of Pharaoh was not except in ruin.
waqāla alladhī āmana yāqawmi ittabiʿūni ahdikum sabīla l-rashādi
And he who believed said, "O my people, follow me; I will guide you to the way of right conduct.
yāqawmi innamā hādhihi l-ḥayatu l-dun'yā matāʿun wa-inna l-ākhirata hiya dāru l-qarāri
O my people, this worldly life is only [temporary] enjoyment, and indeed, the Hereafter - that is the home of [permanent] settlement.
man ʿamila sayyi-atan falā yuj'zā illā mith'lahā waman ʿamila ṣāliḥan min dhakarin aw unthā wahuwa mu'minun fa-ulāika yadkhulūna l-janata yur'zaqūna fīhā bighayri ḥisābin
Whoever does an evil deed will not be recompensed except by the like thereof; but whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while he is a believer - those will enter Paradise, being given provision therein without account.