Tafsir of An-Nisa' 4:110

The Encouragement to Seek Allah's Forgiveness, and Warning those who Falsely Accuse Innocent People Allah emphasizes His generosity and kindness, in that He forgives whoever repents to Him from whatever evil they commit. Allah said,

ومن يعمل سوءا أو يظلم نفسه ثم يستغفر الله يجد الله غفورا رحيما

And whoever does evil or wrongs himself but afterwards seeks Allah's forgiveness, he will find Allah Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. Ali bin Abi Talhah said that Ibn Abbas commented about this Ayah, "Allah informs His servants of His forgiveness, forbearing generosity and expansive mercy. So whoever commits a sin, whether minor or major,

ثم يستغفر الله يجد الله غفورا رحيما

(but afterwards seeks Allah's forgiveness, he will find Allah Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful), even if his sins were greater than the heavens, the earth and the mountains.'' Imam Ahmad recorded that Ali said, "Whenever I hear anything from the Messenger of Allah, Allah benefits me with whatever He wills of that. Abu Bakr told me, and Abu Bakr has said the truth, that the Messenger of Allah said,

ما من مسلم يذنب ذنبا ثم يتوضٲ فيصلي ركعتين ثم يستغفر الله لذلك الذنب إﻻ غفر له

No Muslim commits a sin and then performs ablution, prays two Rak`ahs and begs Allah for forgiveness for that sin, but He forgives him. He then recited these two Ayat,

ومن يعمل سوءا أو يظلم نفسه

(And whoever does evil or wrongs himself), (4:110) and,

والذين إذا فعلوا فاحشة أو ظلموا أنفسهم

(And those who, when they have committed Fahishah or wronged themselves with evil).'' (3:135) Allah's statement,