Wabil-ashari hum yastaghfiroon (surah zariyat: 18)

Tafseer Tafheem-ul-Quran by Syed Abu-al-A'la Maududi

(51:18) and would ask for forgiveness at dawn, *16

Wa bilashaari hum yastaghfiroon

*16) That is "They did not belong to those who spent their nights in immoral and indecent acts and even then never thought of seeking Allah's forgiveness. On the contrary, they spent a major part of the nights in the worship of AIIah and then in the early hours of dawn sought His forgiveness, saying that they did not do full justice to the worship that was due from them. The words hum yastaghfirun also contain an allusion to this that it befitted and suited them alone that they should exert their utmost in the service of their Lord and then, at the same time, should implore Him humbly for the forgiveness of their errors and shortcomings instead of exulting at and waging proud of their good acts. This could not be the way of those shameless, wicked people who committed sin and behaved arrogantly as well.