Surah Furqan ayat 68 Tafsir Quran 25:68

﴿وَالَّذِينَ لَا يَدْعُونَ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَٰهًا آخَرَ وَلَا يَقْتُلُونَ النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ وَلَا يَزْنُونَ ۚ وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَٰلِكَ يَلْقَ أَثَامًا﴾
[ الفرقان: 68]

25:68 And those who do not invoke with Allah another deity or kill the soul which Allah has forbidden [to be killed], except by right, and do not commit unlawful sexual intercourse. And whoever should do that will meet a penalty.

and those who do not call on another god along with God nor slay the soul which God has forbidden that it be slain except with due cause and who do not commit fornication — for whoever does that namely whoever does one of these three things shall meet with retribution;

The worshippers who do not invoke besides Allah another ilah nor do they deprive anyone of life Allah has made sacred, unless it be justified for a proved crime, nor do they commit adultery -in conduct-. He who commits himself to such an evil line of conduct shall pay heavily for these sinful acts

The Attributes of the Servants of the Most Gracious include avoiding Shirk, Murder and Zina Imam Ahmad recorded that `Abdullah bin Mas`ud said, "The Messenger of Allah was asked which sin is the most serious" He said:
«أَنْ تَجْعَلَ للهِ نِدًّا وَهُوَ خَلَقَك»
( That you appoint a rival to Allah when He has created you. ) He asked, "Then what" He said:
«أَنْ تَقْتُلَ وَلَدَكَ خَشْيَةَ أَنْ يَطْعَمَ مَعَك»
( That you kill your child for fear that he may eat with you. ) He said, "Then what" He said:
«أَنْ تُزَانِي حَلِيلَةَ جَارِك»
( That you commit adultery with your neighbor's wife. ) `Abdullah said, "Then Allah revealed, confirming that: وَالَّذِينَ لاَ يَدْعُونَ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَـهَا ءَاخَرَ ( And those who invoke not any other god along with Allah.... )" This was also recorded by An-Nasa'i, and by Al-Bukhari and Muslim.
It was narrated that Sa`id bin Jubayr heard Ibn `Abbas saying that some of the people of Shirk killed a great deal and committed Zina a great deal, then they came to Muhammad ﷺ and said: "What you are saying and calling people to is good, if only you would tell us that there is a way to expiate for what we have done." Then the Ayah: وَالَّذِينَ لاَ يَدْعُونَ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَـهَا ءَاخَرَ ( And those who invoke not any other god along with Allah... ) was revealed, as was the Ayah, قُلْ يعِبَادِىَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُواْ عَلَى أَنفُسِهِمْ ( Say: "O My servants who have transgressed against themselves!" ) ( 39:53 ). وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذلِكَ يَلْقَ أَثَاماً ( and whoever does this shall receive Athama. ) It was recorded that `Abdullah bin `Amr said: "Athama is a valley in Hell." `Ikrimah also said that Athama refers to valleys in Hell in which those who commit unlawful sexual acts will be punished.
This was also narrated from Sa`id bin Jubayr and Mujahid.
As-Suddi said that Athama referred to punishment, which is closer to the apparent meaning of the Ayah.
This interpretation makes it interchangeable with what comes next, the Ayah: يُضَـعَفْ لَهُ الْعَذَابُ يَوْمَ الْقِيـمَةِ ( The torment will be doubled for him on the Day of Resurrection, ) i.e., repetitive and intensified. وَيَخْلُدْ فِيهِ مُهَاناً ( and he will abide therein in disgrace; ) scorned and humiliated. إِلاَّ مَن تَابَ وَءَامَنَ وَعَمِلَ عَمَلاً صَـلِحاً ( Except those who repent and believe, and do righteous deeds; ) means, those who do these evil deeds will be punished in the manner described, إِلاَّ مَن تَابَ ( Except those who repent ), that is; those who repent in this world to Allah from all of those deeds, for then Allah will accept their repentance.
This is evidence that the repentance of the murderer is acceptable, and there is no contradiction between this and the Ayah in Surat An-Nisa': وَمَن يَقْتُلْ مُؤْمِناً مُّتَعَمِّداً ( And whoever kills a believer intentionally ) ( 4:93 ), because even though this was revealed in Al-Madinah, the meaning is general, and it could be interpreted to refer to one who does not repent, because this Ayah states that forgiveness is only for those who repent.
Moreover Allah says: إِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَغْفِرُ أَن يُشْرَكَ بِهِ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَلِكَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ ( Verily, Allah forgives not that partners should be set up with Him, but He forgives except that to whom He wills ) ( 4:48 ).
And in the authentic Sunnah, it is reported from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ that the repentance of a murderer is acceptable, as was stated in the story of the person who killed one hundred men and then repented, and Allah accepted his repentance, and other Hadiths. فَأُوْلَـئِكَ يُبَدِّلُ اللَّهُ سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ حَسَنَـتٍ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَفُوراً رَّحِيماً ( for those, Allah will change their sins into good deeds, and Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. ) Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Dharr, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«إِنِّي لَأَعْرِفُ آخِرَ أَهْلِ النَّارِ خُرُوجًا مِنَ النَّارِ، وَآخِرَ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ دُخُولًا إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ، يُؤْتَى بِرَجُلٍ فَيَقُولُ: نَحُّوا عَنْهُ كِبَارَ ذُنُوبِهِ وَسَلُوهُ عَنْ صِغَارِهَا، قَالَ: فَيُقَالُ لَهُ: عَمِلْتَ يَوْمَ كَذَا، كَذَا وَكَذَا، وَعَمِلْتَ يَوْمَ كَذَا، كَذَا وَكَذَا، فَيَقُولُ: نَعَمْ لَا يَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ يُنْكِرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ شَيْئًا، فَيُقَالُ: فَإِنَّ لَكَ بِكُلِّ سَيِّئَةٍ حَسَنَةً، فَيَقُولُ: يَا رَبِّ عَمِلْتُ أَشْيَاءَ لَا أَرَاهَا ههُنَا»
( I know the last person who will be brought forth from Hell, and the last person who will enter Paradise.
A man will be brought and it will be said, "Take away his major sins and ask him about his minor sins." So it will be said to him: "On such and such a day, you did such and such, and on such and such a day, you did such and such." He will say, "Yes, and he will not be able to deny anything." Then it will be said to him: "For every evil deed you now have one good merit." He will say: "O Lord, I did things that I do not see here." ) He ( Abu Dharr ) said: "And the Messenger of Allah ﷺ smiled so broadly that his molars could be seen." Muslim recorded it.
Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Abu Jabir heard Makhul say, "A very old man with sunken eyes came and said, `O Messenger of Allah, a man betrayed others and did immoral deeds, and there was no evil deed which he did not do.
If ( his sins ) were to be distributed among the whole of mankind, they would all be doomed.
Is there any repentance for him" The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«أَأَسْلَمْتَ؟»
( Have you become Muslim ) He said, "As for me, I bear witness that there is no God but Allah Alone, with no partner or associate, and that Muhammad ﷺ is His servant and Messenger." The Prophet said:
«فَإِنَّ اللهَ غَافِرٌ لَكَ مَا كُنْتَ كَذَلِكَ، وَمُبَدِّلُ سَيِّئَاتِكَ حَسَنَات»
( Allah will forgive you for whatever you have done like that, and will replace your evil deeds with good merits. ) The man said: "O Messenger of Allah, even my betrayals and immoral actions" The Prophet said:
«وَغَدَرَاتُكَ وَفَجَرَاتُك»
( Even your betrayals and immoral actions. ) "The man went away saying `La ilaha illallah' and `Allahu Akbar."' Allah tells us how His mercy extends to all His creatrues, and that whoever among them repents to Him, He will accept his repentance for any sin, great or small.
Allah says: وَمَن تَابَ وَعَمِلَ صَـلِحاً فَإِنَّهُ يَتُوبُ إِلَى اللَّهِ مَتاباً ( And whosoever repents and does righteous good deeds; then indeed he has repented to Allah Mataba. ) meaning, Allah will accept his repentance.
This is like the Ayat: وَمَن يَعْمَلْ سُوءاً أَوْ يَظْلِمْ نَفْسَهُ ثُمَّ يَسْتَغْفِرِ اللَّهَ يَجِدِ اللَّهَ غَفُوراً رَّحِيماً ( And whoever does evil or wrongs himself but afterwards seeks Allah's forgiveness, he will find Allah Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful ) ( 4:110 ). أَلَمْ يَعْلَمُواْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ يَقْبَلُ التَّوْبَةَ عَنْ عِبَادِهِ ( Know they not that Allah accepts repentance from His servants... ) ( 9:104 ). قُلْ يعِبَادِىَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُواْ عَلَى أَنفُسِهِمْ لاَ تَقْنَطُواْ مِن رَّحْمَةِ اللَّهِ ( Say: "O My servants who have transgressed against themselves! Despair not of the mercy of Allah." ) ( 39:53 ) - for those who repent to Him.

(25:68) who do not invoke any god but Allah nor kill a soul, which Allah has forbidden, unjustly, nor commit adultery. *84 -He who does this shall be punished for his sin,

And those who do not invoke with meaning

*84) The true servants refrain from three great sins: Shirk, murder and adultery.
The Holy Prophet himself warned of their gravity.
According to 'Abdullah bin Mas`ud, when some one asked him about the worst sins, he replied, ( 1 ) " It is to set up someone as equal in rank with Allah, Who has created you, ( 2 ) to kill your own child for fear of its sustenance, and ( 3 ) to commit adultery with the wife of your neighbour. " ( Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmizi, Nasa`i, Ahmad ).
Obviously this is not a complete list of the " heinous sins ".
But these three instances have been cited because they were most prevalent in the Arab society of those days .

As regards the inclusion of refraining from shirk among the excellences of the true servants, one may ask why it should be presented as virtue before the disbelievers who did not regard shirk as a vice.
It is because the Arabs had doubts about the doctrine of shirk even though they appeared to be deeply involved in it.
This is amply supported by their history.
For instance, when Abraha invaded Makkah, the Quraish did not invoke their idols to save the Ka`bah from him, but they begged Allah to save it.
Their contemporary poetry bears sufficient evidence that they regarded the destruction of the " people of the elephant " due to Allah's power and supernatural interference and not due to any help of their idols.
The Quraish and the polytheists of Arabia had also come to know that when Abraha reached Ta`if on his way to Makkah, the people of Ta`if had offered him their services to destroy the Ka`bah and had even provided him guides to take him safely to Makkah through the hills, for fear that he might also destroy the temple of " Lat ", their chief deity.
This event so much offended the Arabs that for years after this they continued , pelting the grave of the chief guide with stones for retaliation.
Moreover, the Quraish and the other Arabs attributed their creed to Prophet Abraham and looked upon their religious and social customs and their Hajj rites as part of Abraham's religion.
They knew that Prophet Abraham was a worshipper 'of Allah and not of idols.
They also had traditions to show as to when they had started idol-worship, and which idol had been brought from where, when and by whom.
The fact is that the common Arab did not have much of reverence for his idols.
He would even speak insultingly of it and withheld his offerings when it failed to fulfil his wishes and prayers.
For instance, there is the story of an Arab who wanted to avenge the murder of his father.
He went to the temple of his idol, Zul-Khalasah, and wanted to take an omen.
The response came that he should abandon his intention.
At this the Arab became furious and cried out: 'O Zul-Khalasah! Had you been in my place, and your father was murdered, you would not have said that the murderers should not be punished." Another Arab took his herd of camels to the shrine of his god, named Sa'd, for seeking its blessings.
It was a tall idol which had been smeared with sacrificial blood.
On seeing it, the camels became terrified and started running in all directions.
The Arab was so filled with rage that he started pelting the idol with stones, shouting, "May God destroy you ! I had come to you to seek blessings for my camels, but you have deprived me of all of them." There were certain idols about whose origin filthy stories were current.
For instance, the story about Asaf and Na'ilah whose images had been placed at Safa and Marwa, was that they were actually a man and a woman, who had committed adultery inside the Holy Ka`bah and had been turned into stone by God as a punishment.
When the deities had such reputation, no worshipper could cherish any reverence for them in his heart.
From this one can easily understand that the Arabs did recognize the value of true God-worship deep in their hearts, but, on the one hand, it had been suppressed by ancient customs and ways of ignorance, and on the other, the priestly class among the Quraish had vested interests, who were busy creating prejudices against it among the people.
They could not give up idol-worship because such a step would have brought to an end their supremacy in Arabia.
That is why, refraining from shirk and worship of One AIlah has been mentioned as a mark of superiority of the followers of the Holy Prophet without any fear of contradiction by the disbelievers, for even they in their heart of hearts knew that it was a weighty argument against them.

 

The Attributes of the Servants of the Most Gracious include avoiding Shirk, Murder and Zina Imam Ahmad recorded that `Abdullah bin Mas`ud said, "The Messenger of Allah was asked which sin is the most serious" He said: «أَنْ تَجْعَلَ للهِ نِدًّا وَهُوَ خَلَقَك» ( That you appoint a rival to Allah when He has created you. ) He asked, "Then what" He said: «أَنْ تَقْتُلَ وَلَدَكَ خَشْيَةَ أَنْ يَطْعَمَ مَعَك» ( That you kill your child for fear that he may eat with you. ) He said, "Then what" He said: «أَنْ تُزَانِي حَلِيلَةَ جَارِك» ( That you commit adultery with your neighbor's wife. ) `Abdullah said, "Then Allah revealed, confirming that: وَالَّذِينَ لاَ يَدْعُونَ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَـهَا ءَاخَرَ ( And those who invoke not any other god along with Allah.... )" This was also recorded by An-Nasa'i, and by Al-Bukhari and Muslim.
It was narrated that Sa`id bin Jubayr heard Ibn `Abbas saying that some of the people of Shirk killed a great deal and committed Zina a great deal, then they came to Muhammad ﷺ and said: "What you are saying and calling people to is good, if only you would tell us that there is a way to expiate for what we have done." Then the Ayah: وَالَّذِينَ لاَ يَدْعُونَ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَـهَا ءَاخَرَ ( And those who invoke not any other god along with Allah... ) was revealed, as was the Ayah, قُلْ يعِبَادِىَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُواْ عَلَى أَنفُسِهِمْ ( Say: "O My servants who have transgressed against themselves!" ) ( 39:53 ). وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذلِكَ يَلْقَ أَثَاماً ( and whoever does this shall receive Athama. ) It was recorded that `Abdullah bin `Amr said: "Athama is a valley in Hell." `Ikrimah also said that Athama refers to valleys in Hell in which those who commit unlawful sexual acts will be punished.
This was also narrated from Sa`id bin Jubayr and Mujahid.
As-Suddi said that Athama referred to punishment, which is closer to the apparent meaning of the Ayah.
This interpretation makes it interchangeable with what comes next, the Ayah: يُضَـعَفْ لَهُ الْعَذَابُ يَوْمَ الْقِيـمَةِ ( The torment will be doubled for him on the Day of Resurrection, ) i.e., repetitive and intensified. وَيَخْلُدْ فِيهِ مُهَاناً ( and he will abide therein in disgrace; ) scorned and humiliated. إِلاَّ مَن تَابَ وَءَامَنَ وَعَمِلَ عَمَلاً صَـلِحاً ( Except those who repent and believe, and do righteous deeds; ) means, those who do these evil deeds will be punished in the manner described, إِلاَّ مَن تَابَ ( Except those who repent ), that is; those who repent in this world to Allah from all of those deeds, for then Allah will accept their repentance.
This is evidence that the repentance of the murderer is acceptable, and there is no contradiction between this and the Ayah in Surat An-Nisa': وَمَن يَقْتُلْ مُؤْمِناً مُّتَعَمِّداً ( And whoever kills a believer intentionally ) ( 4:93 ), because even though this was revealed in Al-Madinah, the meaning is general, and it could be interpreted to refer to one who does not repent, because this Ayah states that forgiveness is only for those who repent.
Moreover Allah says: إِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَغْفِرُ أَن يُشْرَكَ بِهِ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَلِكَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ ( Verily, Allah forgives not that partners should be set up with Him, but He forgives except that to whom He wills ) ( 4:48 ).
And in the authentic Sunnah, it is reported from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ that the repentance of a murderer is acceptable, as was stated in the story of the person who killed one hundred men and then repented, and Allah accepted his repentance, and other Hadiths. فَأُوْلَـئِكَ يُبَدِّلُ اللَّهُ سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ حَسَنَـتٍ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَفُوراً رَّحِيماً ( for those, Allah will change their sins into good deeds, and Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. ) Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Dharr, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: «إِنِّي لَأَعْرِفُ آخِرَ أَهْلِ النَّارِ خُرُوجًا مِنَ النَّارِ، وَآخِرَ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ دُخُولًا إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ، يُؤْتَى بِرَجُلٍ فَيَقُولُ: نَحُّوا عَنْهُ كِبَارَ ذُنُوبِهِ وَسَلُوهُ عَنْ صِغَارِهَا، قَالَ: فَيُقَالُ لَهُ: عَمِلْتَ يَوْمَ كَذَا، كَذَا وَكَذَا، وَعَمِلْتَ يَوْمَ كَذَا، كَذَا وَكَذَا، فَيَقُولُ: نَعَمْ لَا يَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ يُنْكِرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ شَيْئًا، فَيُقَالُ: فَإِنَّ لَكَ بِكُلِّ سَيِّئَةٍ حَسَنَةً، فَيَقُولُ: يَا رَبِّ عَمِلْتُ أَشْيَاءَ لَا أَرَاهَا ههُنَا» ( I know the last person who will be brought forth from Hell, and the last person who will enter Paradise.
A man will be brought and it will be said, "Take away his major sins and ask him about his minor sins." So it will be said to him: "On such and such a day, you did such and such, and on such and such a day, you did such and such." He will say, "Yes, and he will not be able to deny anything." Then it will be said to him: "For every evil deed you now have one good merit." He will say: "O Lord, I did things that I do not see here." ) He ( Abu Dharr ) said: "And the Messenger of Allah ﷺ smiled so broadly that his molars could be seen." Muslim recorded it.
Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Abu Jabir heard Makhul say, "A very old man with sunken eyes came and said, `O Messenger of Allah, a man betrayed others and did immoral deeds, and there was no evil deed which he did not do.
If ( his sins ) were to be distributed among the whole of mankind, they would all be doomed.
Is there any repentance for him" The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: «أَأَسْلَمْتَ؟» ( Have you become Muslim ) He said, "As for me, I bear witness that there is no God but Allah Alone, with no partner or associate, and that Muhammad ﷺ is His servant and Messenger." The Prophet said: «فَإِنَّ اللهَ غَافِرٌ لَكَ مَا كُنْتَ كَذَلِكَ، وَمُبَدِّلُ سَيِّئَاتِكَ حَسَنَات» ( Allah will forgive you for whatever you have done like that, and will replace your evil deeds with good merits. ) The man said: "O Messenger of Allah, even my betrayals and immoral actions" The Prophet said: «وَغَدَرَاتُكَ وَفَجَرَاتُك» ( Even your betrayals and immoral actions. ) "The man went away saying `La ilaha illallah' and `Allahu Akbar."' Allah tells us how His mercy extends to all His creatrues, and that whoever among them repents to Him, He will accept his repentance for any sin, great or small.
Allah says: وَمَن تَابَ وَعَمِلَ صَـلِحاً فَإِنَّهُ يَتُوبُ إِلَى اللَّهِ مَتاباً ( And whosoever repents and does righteous good deeds; then indeed he has repented to Allah Mataba. ) meaning, Allah will accept his repentance.
This is like the Ayat: وَمَن يَعْمَلْ سُوءاً أَوْ يَظْلِمْ نَفْسَهُ ثُمَّ يَسْتَغْفِرِ اللَّهَ يَجِدِ اللَّهَ غَفُوراً رَّحِيماً ( And whoever does evil or wrongs himself but afterwards seeks Allah's forgiveness, he will find Allah Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful ) ( 4:110 ). أَلَمْ يَعْلَمُواْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ يَقْبَلُ التَّوْبَةَ عَنْ عِبَادِهِ ( Know they not that Allah accepts repentance from His servants... ) ( 9:104 ). قُلْ يعِبَادِىَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُواْ عَلَى أَنفُسِهِمْ لاَ تَقْنَطُواْ مِن رَّحْمَةِ اللَّهِ ( Say: "O My servants who have transgressed against themselves! Despair not of the mercy of Allah." ) ( 39:53 ) - for those who repent to Him.

( And those who cry not unto ) worship not ( any other god along with Allah ) among the idols, ( nor take the life which Allah hath forbidden ) to kill nor declare it lawful to be killed ( save in (course of ) justice) through stoning, retaliation or apostasy, ( nor commit adultery ) nor deem adultery lawful ( and whoso doeth this ) i.e. deem it lawful ( shall pay the penalty ) a valley in the Fire; and it is said: a well in the Fire;

And those who invoke not any other ilah (god) along with Allah, nor kill such life as Allah has forbidden, except for just cause, nor commit illegal sexual intercourse and whoever does this shall receive the punishment.

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