Surah Al-Ma'idah 5:98
ﱶ ﱷ ﱸ ﱹ ﱺ ﱻ ﱼ ﱽ ﱾ
Know that Allah is severe in penalty and that Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.
Tafsir of Al-Ma'idah 5:98
Tafsir
Mafatih al-Ghayb
Verse range: 5:98
Al-Ma'idah (5:98)
Know that Allah...
When Allah, the Exalted, mentioned the types of His mercy towards His servants, He immediately followed it by mentioning that He is severe in punishment. This is because true faith is not complete except through hope and fear, just as the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "If the believer's fear and hope were weighed, they would be equal."
Following this, He mentioned what indicates mercy: His being Forgiving and Merciful. This suggests that the aspect of mercy predominates. This is because He previously mentioned the types of His mercy and generosity, then mentioned that He is severe in punishment, and immediately after that, He mentioned two attributes of mercy: being Forgiving and Merciful.
This serves as a subtle indication that the beginning of creation and existence was for the sake of mercy, and it is apparent that the conclusion (of affairs) will also be upon mercy.
Then, the Almighty said:
**{The duty of the Messenger is only to convey the message. And Allah knows whatever you reveal and whatever you conceal.}** (5:98)