Surah Nisa ayat 18 Tafsir Quran 4:18

﴿وَلَيْسَتِ التَّوْبَةُ لِلَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ السَّيِّئَاتِ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا حَضَرَ أَحَدَهُمُ الْمَوْتُ قَالَ إِنِّي تُبْتُ الْآنَ وَلَا الَّذِينَ يَمُوتُونَ وَهُمْ كُفَّارٌ ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ أَعْتَدْنَا لَهُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا﴾
[ النساء: 18]

4:18 But repentance is not [accepted] of those who [continue to] do evil deeds up until, when death comes to one of them, he says, "Indeed, I have repented now," or of those who die while they are disbelievers. For them We have prepared a painful punishment.

Repentance is not for those who do evil deeds sins until when death approaches one of them and the pangs of death begin he says upon witnessing his predicament ‘Indeed now I repent’ for this would not avail him and would not be accepted from him; neither for those who die disbelieving if they repent in the Hereafter upon seeing the chastisement it will not be accepted from them. Those — We have prepared for them a painful chastisement.

But in no case shall Allah take upon Himself to accept the repentance of those who consume their life in wrong - doing until the encounter with death when each of then will says: Now do I repent, nor of those who are caught in the Jaws of death with minds captivated in disbelief. Such persons shall be denied Allahs forgiveness, and We have prepared for them a condign punishment

Repentance is Accepted Until one Faces death Allah states that He accepts repentance of the servant who commits an error in ignorance and then repents, even just before he sees the angel who captures the soul, before his soul reaches his throat.
Mujahid and others said, "Every person who disobeys Allah by mistake, or intentionally is ignorant, until he refrains from the sin." Qatadah said that Abu Al-`Aliyah narrated that the Companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to say, "Every sin that the servant commits, he commits out of ignorance." `Abdur-Razzaq narrated that, Ma`mar said that Qatadah said that, the Companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ agreed that every sin that is committed by intention or otherwise, is committed in ignorance." Ibn Jurayj said, "Abdullah bin Kathir narrated to me that Mujahid said, `Every person who disobeys Allah ( even willfully ), is ignorant while committing the act of disobedience."' Ibn Jurayj said, "`Ata' bin Abi Rabah told me something similar." Abu Salih said that Ibn `Abbas commented, "It is because of one's ignorance that he commits the error." `Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn `Abbas said about the Ayah, ثُمَّ يَتُوبُونَ مِن قَرِيبٍ ( and repent soon (afterwards )), "Until just before he ( or she ) looks at the angel of death." Ad-Dahhak said, "Every thing before death is `soon afterwards."' Al-Hasan Al-Basri said about the Ayah, ثُمَّ يَتُوبُونَ مِن قَرِيبٍ ( and repent soon afterwards ), "Just before his last breath leaves his throat." `Ikrimah said, "All of this life is `soon afterwards."' Imam Ahmad recorded that Ibn `Umar said that the Messenger ﷺ said,
«إِنَّ اللهَ يَقْبَلُ تَوْبَةَ الْعَبْدِمَالَمْ يُغَرْغِر»
( Allah accepts the repentance of the servant as long as the soul does not reach the throat. ) This Hadith was also collected by At-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah, and At-Tirmidhi said, "Hasan Gharib".
By mistake, Ibn Majah mentioned that this Hadith was narrated through `Abdullah bin `Amr.
However, what is correct is that `Abdullah bin `Umar bin Al-Khattab was the narrator.
Allah said, فَأُوْلَـئِكَ يَتُوبُ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَلِيماً حَكِيماً ( It is they to whom Allah will forgive and Allah is Ever All-Knower, All-Wise. ) Surely, when hope in continued living diminishes, the angel of death comes forth and the soul reaches the throat, approaches the chest and arrives at the state where it is being gradually pulled out, then there is no accepted repentance, nor a way out of that certain end.
Hence Allah's statements, وَلَيْسَتِ التَّوْبَةُ لِلَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ السَّيِّئَـتِ حَتَّى إِذَا حَضَرَ أَحَدَهُمُ الْمَوْتُ قَالَ إِنِّى تُبْتُ الاٌّنَ ( And of no effect is the repentance of those who continue to do evil deeds until death faces one of them and he says: "Now I repent," ) and, فَلَمَّا رَأَوْاْ بَأْسَنَا قَالُواْ ءَامَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَحْدَهُ ( So when they saw Our punishment, they said: "We believe in Allah Alone..." ) 40:84 Allah decided that repentance shall not be accepted from the people of the earth when the sun rises from the west, as Allah said, يَوْمَ يَأْتِى بَعْضُ ءَايَـتِ رَبِّكَ لاَ يَنفَعُ نَفْسًا إِيمَانُهَا لَمْ تَكُنْ ءَامَنَتْ مِن قَبْلُ أَوْ كَسَبَتْ فِى إِيمَـنِهَا خَيْرًا ( The day that some of the signs of your Lord do come, no good will it do to a person to believe then, if he believed not before, nor earned good through his faith. ) 6:158.
oAllah said, وَلاَ الَّذِينَ يَمُوتُونَ وَهُمْ كُفَّارٌ ( nor of those who die while they are disbelievers. ) Consequently, when the disbeliever dies while still a disbeliever and polytheist, his sorrow and repentance shall not avail him.
If he were to ransom himself, even with the earth's fill of gold, it will not be accepted from him.
Ibn `Abbas, Abu Al-`Aliyah and Ar-Rabi` bin Anas said that the Ayah: وَلاَ الَّذِينَ يَمُوتُونَ وَهُمْ كُفَّارٌ ( nor of those who die while they are disbelievers ), was revealed about the people of Shirk.
Imam Ahmad recorded that Usamah bin Salman said that Abu Dharr said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
«إِنَّ اللهَ يَقْبَلُ تَوْبَةَ عَبْدِهِ أَوْ يَغْفِرُ لِعَبْدِهِ مَالَمْ يَقَعِ الْحِجَاب»
( Allah accepts the repentance of His servant, or forgives His servant, as long as the veil does not drop. ) They asked, "And what does the drop of the veil mean " He said,
«أَنْ تَخْرُجَ النَّفْسُ وَهِيَ مُشْرِكَة»
( When the soul is removed while one is a polythiest. ) Allah then said, أُوْلَـئِكَ أَعْتَدْنَا لَهُمْ عَذَاباً أَلِيماً ( For them We have prepared a painful torment ), torment that is severe, eternal and enormous.

(4:18) But of no avail is repentance of those who do evil until death approaches any one of them and then he says: 'Now I repent.' Nor is the repentance of those who die in the state of unbelief of any avail to them. For them We have kept in readiness a painful chastisement. *27

But repentance is not [accepted] of those meaning

*27).
The Arabic word tawbah means 'to return, to come back'.
A man's tawbah after he has sinned means that God's servant, who had turned away from his Master in disobedience, has repented, and has returned to obedience and service.
On the other hand, tawbah on the part of God means that the attention of the Master, which had turned away from His erring servant, has once again turned towards him.
In this verse, however, God makes it clear to His servants that tawbah is acceptable only from those who commit errors inadvertently and out of ignorance.
Such persons will always find the door of God open for them whenever they turn to Him in repentance.
But this tawbah is not for those who pile sin upon sin throughout their lives in sheer indifference to God and who cry for pardon as soon as they see the angel of death approaching.
The Prophet ( peace be on him ) has warned against this attitude in the following words: 'God accepts the repentance of a slave until the gurgling ( of death ) begins.' ( Tirmidhi, 'Da'wat', 98; Ibn Majah, 'Zuhd', 30; Ahmad b.
Hanbal, Musnad, vol.
2, pp.
132 and 153, and vol.
3, pp.
425 - Ed. ) For when the last leaf of a man's book of life has been turned, what opportunity remains for a man to return to righteous conduct? Likewise, if a person spends even the very last moment of his life in a state of disbelief and then on the threshold of the Next Life he comes to discover that the facts are quite contrary to what he had imagined, what sense is there for him to seek forgiveness?
 

Repentance is Accepted Until one Faces death Allah states that He accepts repentance of the servant who commits an error in ignorance and then repents, even just before he sees the angel who captures the soul, before his soul reaches his throat.
Mujahid and others said, "Every person who disobeys Allah by mistake, or intentionally is ignorant, until he refrains from the sin." Qatadah said that Abu Al-`Aliyah narrated that the Companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to say, "Every sin that the servant commits, he commits out of ignorance." `Abdur-Razzaq narrated that, Ma`mar said that Qatadah said that, the Companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ agreed that every sin that is committed by intention or otherwise, is committed in ignorance." Ibn Jurayj said, "Abdullah bin Kathir narrated to me that Mujahid said, `Every person who disobeys Allah ( even willfully ), is ignorant while committing the act of disobedience."' Ibn Jurayj said, "`Ata' bin Abi Rabah told me something similar." Abu Salih said that Ibn `Abbas commented, "It is because of one's ignorance that he commits the error." `Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn `Abbas said about the Ayah, ثُمَّ يَتُوبُونَ مِن قَرِيبٍ ( and repent soon (afterwards )), "Until just before he ( or she ) looks at the angel of death." Ad-Dahhak said, "Every thing before death is `soon afterwards."' Al-Hasan Al-Basri said about the Ayah, ثُمَّ يَتُوبُونَ مِن قَرِيبٍ ( and repent soon afterwards ), "Just before his last breath leaves his throat." `Ikrimah said, "All of this life is `soon afterwards."' Imam Ahmad recorded that Ibn `Umar said that the Messenger ﷺ said, «إِنَّ اللهَ يَقْبَلُ تَوْبَةَ الْعَبْدِمَالَمْ يُغَرْغِر» ( Allah accepts the repentance of the servant as long as the soul does not reach the throat. ) This Hadith was also collected by At-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah, and At-Tirmidhi said, "Hasan Gharib".
By mistake, Ibn Majah mentioned that this Hadith was narrated through `Abdullah bin `Amr.
However, what is correct is that `Abdullah bin `Umar bin Al-Khattab was the narrator.
Allah said, فَأُوْلَـئِكَ يَتُوبُ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَلِيماً حَكِيماً ( It is they to whom Allah will forgive and Allah is Ever All-Knower, All-Wise. ) Surely, when hope in continued living diminishes, the angel of death comes forth and the soul reaches the throat, approaches the chest and arrives at the state where it is being gradually pulled out, then there is no accepted repentance, nor a way out of that certain end.
Hence Allah's statements, وَلَيْسَتِ التَّوْبَةُ لِلَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ السَّيِّئَـتِ حَتَّى إِذَا حَضَرَ أَحَدَهُمُ الْمَوْتُ قَالَ إِنِّى تُبْتُ الاٌّنَ ( And of no effect is the repentance of those who continue to do evil deeds until death faces one of them and he says: "Now I repent," ) and, فَلَمَّا رَأَوْاْ بَأْسَنَا قَالُواْ ءَامَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَحْدَهُ ( So when they saw Our punishment, they said: "We believe in Allah Alone..." ) 40:84 Allah decided that repentance shall not be accepted from the people of the earth when the sun rises from the west, as Allah said, يَوْمَ يَأْتِى بَعْضُ ءَايَـتِ رَبِّكَ لاَ يَنفَعُ نَفْسًا إِيمَانُهَا لَمْ تَكُنْ ءَامَنَتْ مِن قَبْلُ أَوْ كَسَبَتْ فِى إِيمَـنِهَا خَيْرًا ( The day that some of the signs of your Lord do come, no good will it do to a person to believe then, if he believed not before, nor earned good through his faith. ) 6:158.
oAllah said, وَلاَ الَّذِينَ يَمُوتُونَ وَهُمْ كُفَّارٌ ( nor of those who die while they are disbelievers. ) Consequently, when the disbeliever dies while still a disbeliever and polytheist, his sorrow and repentance shall not avail him.
If he were to ransom himself, even with the earth's fill of gold, it will not be accepted from him.
Ibn `Abbas, Abu Al-`Aliyah and Ar-Rabi` bin Anas said that the Ayah: وَلاَ الَّذِينَ يَمُوتُونَ وَهُمْ كُفَّارٌ ( nor of those who die while they are disbelievers ), was revealed about the people of Shirk.
Imam Ahmad recorded that Usamah bin Salman said that Abu Dharr said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «إِنَّ اللهَ يَقْبَلُ تَوْبَةَ عَبْدِهِ أَوْ يَغْفِرُ لِعَبْدِهِ مَالَمْ يَقَعِ الْحِجَاب» ( Allah accepts the repentance of His servant, or forgives His servant, as long as the veil does not drop. ) They asked, "And what does the drop of the veil mean " He said, «أَنْ تَخْرُجَ النَّفْسُ وَهِيَ مُشْرِكَة» ( When the soul is removed while one is a polythiest. ) Allah then said, أُوْلَـئِكَ أَعْتَدْنَا لَهُمْ عَذَاباً أَلِيماً ( For them We have prepared a painful torment ), torment that is severe, eternal and enormous.

( The forgiveness ) Allah overlooking sins ( is not for those who do ill deeds until, when death attendeth upon one of them ) when one of them is suffering from the agony of death, ( he saith: Lo! I repent now; nor yet for those who die while they are disbelievers ). Allah says that He does not accept the repentance of unbelievers at the moment they suffer the pangs of death. ( For such ) for the unbelievers ( We have prepared a painful doom ) this was revealed about Tu’mah and his companions who had left Islam.

And of no effect is the repentance of those who continue to do evil deeds until death faces one of them and he says: "Now I repent;" nor of those who die while they are disbelievers. For them We have prepared a painful torment.

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