Surah Al-Jathiyah 45:14
سُورَةُ الجَاثِيَةِ · Meccan · Verse 14 of 37
قُل لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ يَغْفِرُوا۟ لِلَّذِينَ لَا يَرْجُونَ أَيَّامَ ٱللَّهِ لِيَجْزِىَ قَوْمًۢا بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْسِبُونَ
Translation
Tell the believers to forgive those who do not fear God’s days [of punishment]––He will requite people for what they have done.
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
This profound verse invites us to consider the power of divine instruction, especially in times of hardship. Allah, through His Messenger, directs the believers to a specific action, emphasizing the ultimate wisdom behind it.
The Divine Command to Forgive
The verse begins with Allah’s direct command to the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, to `قُل لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟` (Say to those who have believed). What is He telling them to do? `يَغْفِرُوا۟` (that they forgive or overlook). This verb, according to Ibn Ashur and al-Jadwal, is presented as a jussive, a grammatical form indicating a strong command or a trusted response. It's a directive to believers to practice forbearance and pardoning towards those who harm them. Scholars like al-Razi and Ibn Ashur explain that this was particularly relevant in the early, vulnerable days of Islam in Makkah, or later for minor provocations, before the permission for active defense was revealed. It implies a stance of spiritual maturity, not weakness.
Understanding the Unbelievers
The instruction to forgive is directed towards `لِلَّذِينَ لَا يَرْجُونَ أَيَّامَ ٱللَّهِ` (those who do not hope for Allah's days). What does this specific phrase reveal about them?
The word `يَرْجُونَ` (yarjūna) typically means "to hope" or "to expect something beloved," but in this negative context, as al-Jalalayn notes, it can mean "they do not fear." It paints a picture of disbelievers who neither hope for Allah's blessings nor fear His punishment.
And `أَيَّامَ ٱللَّهِ` (ayyāmallāh), or "Allah's days," as Ibn Ashur explains, refers not just to ordinary days but to significant divine events: the days of Allah's triumph for His allies, His retribution against His enemies, or the promised days of reward in the Hereafter. By stating they "do not hope for Allah's days," the Quran highlights their lack of faith in divine justice, accountability, or even His intervening power in the world. This specific wording subtly reminds the believers that their opponents operate without this crucial perspective.
The Purpose of Forgiveness
The reason for this command is given by `لِيَجْزِيَ قَوْمًۢا بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْسِبُونَ` (so that Allah may recompense a people for what they used to earn). The `لِيَجْزِيَ` (liyajziya) literally means "so that He may recompense," clearly stating the divine purpose.
A significant point of wording here is the use of `قَوْمًۢا` (qawman), meaning "a people" or "a group," instead of a direct pronoun like "them." This choice of an indefinite word carries deep meaning. Al-Zamakhshari and al-Razi suggest that this indefiniteness is for `تعظيم` (magnification or glorification) of the believers, indicating that they are "what a people!" for enduring harm and forgiving. It elevates their status in Allah's sight.
Ibn Ashur, however, also suggests that `قَوْمًۢا` can refer more generally to *all* people. In this reading, Allah's decree is that He will recompense *everyone*, believers for their patience and good deeds, and disbelievers for their sins and transgressions. This broad interpretation aligns beautifully with the subsequent verse, which reinforces that good deeds benefit oneself and evil deeds harm oneself. The phrase `بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْسِبُونَ` (bimā kānū yaksibūn), "for what they *used to* earn," with its continuous verb form, emphasizes that Allah's justice takes into account their consistent, habitual actions, both good and bad.
Ultimately, the verse teaches us that even when facing hostility, our response of patience and forgiveness, rooted in faith, is not wasted. It's part of a larger divine plan, ensuring that every action, habitually earned, will be accounted for by the All-Just.
Sources: al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi), al-Jalalayn, al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb)
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Al-Jathiyah 45:14 is discussed in one study guide on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
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