Al-Anfal: 29

"O you who have believed, if you fear Allah" — in everything you do and everything you leave undone — "He will grant you" — by reason of that piety — "a criterion" (Furqan). This means guidance and a light in your hearts by which you distinguish between truth and falsehood, as narrated from Ibn Jurayj and Ibn Zayd. Or, it means a victory that differentiates between the one who is upon the truth and the one who is upon falsehood, by honoring the believers and humiliating the disbelievers, as Al-Farra said. Or, salvation in both abodes, as is apparent from the words of Al-Suddi. Or, a way out of doubts, as has come from Muqatil. Or, a manifestation that makes your affair renowned and spreads your reputation, as is suggested by the words of Muhammad ibn Ishaq: "I spent the night doing such and such until the Furqan appeared," meaning the dawn. All these meanings return to the differentiation between two matters, and some researchers have permitted the combination of them.

"And will remove from you your misdeeds" — meaning, conceal them in this world — "and forgive you" — by overlooking them in the Hereafter; thus, there is no redundancy. It may be said that the object of "forgive" is sins, and it is interpreted as major sins, while "misdeeds" are interpreted as minor sins. Or it is said that what is meant is what came before and what came after, because the verse is about the people of Badr, and they have been forgiven. In the report: "Perhaps Allah the Exalted looked upon the people of Badr and said: 'Do what you wish, for I have forgiven you.'"

"And Allah is the possessor of great bounty." This is a justification for what preceded it and an alert that what was promised to them upon piety is a grace and kindness from Him, glory be to Him, and that piety is far from being something that necessitates anything upon Him, the Glorious. It has been said: Among His great bounty, the Exalted, is that He bestows favor without an intermediary and without requesting a recompense, and likewise with others, glory be to Him.