ﲓ ﲔ ﲕ ﲖ ﲗ ﲘ ﲙ ﲚ ﲛ ﲜ ﲝ ﲞ ﲟ ﲠ ﲡ ﲢ
Say to those who have disbelieved [that] if they cease, what has previously occurred will be forgiven for them. But if they return [to hostility] - then the precedent of the former [rebellious] peoples has already taken place.
Tafsir
Verse range: 8:38
Encouraging the Disbelievers to seek Allah's Forgiveness, warning Them against Disbelief Allah commands His Prophet Muhammad,
قل للذين كفروا إن ينتهوا
Say to those who have disbelieved, if they cease... the disbelief, defiance and stubbornness they indulge in, and embrace Islam, obedience and repentance.
يغفر لهم ما قد سلف
their past will be forgiven. along with their sins and errors. It is recorded in the Sahih Al-Bukhari that Abu Wa'il said that Ibn Mas'ud said that the Messenger of Allah said,
من أحسن في اﻻسﻼم لم يواخذ بما عمل في الجاهلية ومن أساء في اﻻسﻼم أخذ باﻻول واﻻخر
He who becomes good in his Islam, will not be punished for what he has committed during Jahiliyyah (before Islam). He who becomes bad in his Islam, will face a punishment for his previous and latter deeds. It is also recorded in the Sahih that the Messenger of Allah said,
اﻻسﻼم يجب ما قبله والتوبة تجب ما كان قبلها
"Islam erases what occurred before it, and repentance erases what occurs before it.'' Allah said,
وإن يعودوا
But if they return, and remain on their ways,
فقد مضت سنة اﻻولين
then the examples of those (punished) before them have already preceded. meaning, Our way with the nations of old is that when they disbelieve and rebel, We send down to them immediate torment and punishment. The Order to fight to eradicate Shirk and Kufr Allah said,
