قُلْ: [هكذا يقول الله]: يا عبادي الذين أسرفوا على أنفسهم! لا تقنطوا من رحمة الله، إن الله يغفر الذنوب جميعاً، إنه هو الغفور الرحيم. (الآية 53)
Say: [Thus speaks God]: You servants of Mine who have transgressed against their own souls! Do not despair of God’s mercy: God forgives all sins; He alone is Much- Forgiving, Merciful. (Verse 53)
إنها رحمة الله الواسعة التي تمحو كل ذنب مهما كان. إنها دعوةٌ لكل أولئك الذين أوغلوا في الضلال وعاشوا حياةً أبعدتهم كثيراً عن الطريق، تخبرهم بأن الأمل ما زال قائماً، وأن رحمة الله ومغفرته ليستا بعيدتين عنهم. إن الله أرحم بعباده، فهو يعلم ضعفهم والعوامل التي تؤثر فيهم، سواءٌ أكانت كامنةً في أنفسهم أم في المجتمع. وهو يعلم أن الشيطان ينصب لهم الفخاخ في كل زاوية، مستخدماً أنواعاً متعددةً من القوى، لا يكلّ ولا يملّ من محاولة إغوائهم. ثم إن الله يعلم أن الإنسان يسهل عليه السقوط إذا ضعُف ارتباطه بالحق، وأن أهواءه وتطلعاته يمكن أن تُخلّ بتوازنه بسهولة، فتجذبه هنا وهناك، وتقوده إلى الضلال.
It is divine mercy that will erase every transgression, whatever it happens to be. It is an invitation to all those who have gone far into error and led a life that has taken them far astray, telling them hope still remains available and God’s mercy and forgiveness are not far from them. God is most merciful to His servants. He knows their weaknesses and the factors that work on them, whether these are within themselves or in society. He is aware that Satan sets traps for them at every corner, using a great variety of forces, never tiring of his attempt to seduce them. Moreover, God knows that man can easily fall when he lets his bond to the truth weaken, and that his desires and aspirations can easily disturb his equilibrium, pulling him this way or that, leading him into error.
ولأنّ اللهَ يعلمُ كلَّ ذلك عن الإنسان، فإنه يُمِدُّهُ بالعونِ الوافرِ، ويفتحُ له أبوابَ رحمتِه. ولا يؤاخذُهُ بذنبِه حتى يُيسِّرَ له جميعَ السبلِ والوسائلِ لإصلاحِ خطئِه وتقويمِ سلوكِه. ومع ذلك، فإنّ الإنسانَ إذا غرقَ في المعصيةِ، ظانًّا أنه مطرودٌ من رحمةِ اللهِ تمامًا وأن كلَّ شيءٍ قد ضاع، فإنه يسمعُ في هذه اللحظةِ من اليأسِ المطبِقِ خطابًا رقيقًا يُعبِّرُ عن الرحمةِ اللامحدودةِ المتاحةِ له: ﴿قُلْ يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَىٰ أَنْفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا مِنْ رَحْمَةِ اللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ﴾ (الآية 53)
As God knows all this about man, He provides him with ample help, opening the gates of His mercy. He does not take him to task for his sin until He has facilitated for him all the ways and means to rectify his error and mend his ways. Nevertheless, when man goes deep into sin, thinking that he is totally rejected by God and that all is lost, he hears at this point of utter despair a fine address expressing the unlimited mercy available to him: “Say: [Thus speaks God]: You servants of Mine who have transgressed against their own souls! Do not despair of God’s mercy: God forgives all sins; He alone is Much-Forgiving, Merciful.” (Verse 53)
وهذا يعني أنه، رغم ذنوبه المتكررة وإمعانه في معصية الله، فكل ما يحتاجه ليتلقى رحمة الله التي تُحيي فيه كل خير هو أن يتوب. وكل ما عليه أن يرجع إلى الله من خلال الباب المفتوح على مصراعيه، دون حارس، ودون حاجة إلى أي إذن خاص.
This means that despite his repeated sins, going far into disobedience of God, all he needs to receive God’s grace that revives all that is good in him is to repent. All he needs to do is turn back to God through the gate that is left wide open, without a guard, and with no need for any special permission:
أَنِيبُوا إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُمْ وَأَسْلِمُوا لَهُ مِن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِيَكُمُ الْعَذَابُ ثُمَّ لَا تُنصَرُونَ، وَاتَّبِعُوا أَحْسَنَ مَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُم مِّن رَّبِّكُم مِّن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِيَكُمُ الْعَذَابُ بَغْتَةً وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَشْعُرُونَ
Turn towards your Lord and submit to Him before the suffering comes upon you, for then you cannot be helped. Follow the best that has been revealed to you by your Lord before the suffering comes upon you of a sudden, without your being aware of it.
(الآيات 54-55)
(Verses 54-55)
التوبةُ إلى الله بالإنابةِ الصادقةِ والاستسلامِ له من جديدٍ هو كلُّ ما يُحتاجُ إليه. لا طقوسَ، ولا حواجزَ، ولا وسطاءَ، ولا شفعاءَ. إنها صلةٌ مباشرةٌ بين العبدِ وسيدِه، وبين المخلوقِ وخالقِه: فمن أرادَ أن يعودَ، ويكفَّ عن التمرّدِ، ويقتربَ في خضوعٍ تام، فله ذلك. وما سيناله هو القبولُ، والترحيبُ الحارُّ، وفضلٌ يفوقُ الوصف.
To turn to God in true submission and to surrender oneself once more to Him is all that is needed. No rituals, no barriers, no intermediaries, no intercessors. It is a direct link between servant and Master, creature and Creator: whoever wishes to return, stop rebellion and approach in full submission may do so. What he will receive is acceptance, a warm welcome and grace beyond measure.
هَيَّا بِنَا جَمِيعًا! هَيَّا "قَبْلَ أَنْ يَأْتِيَكُمُ الْعَذَابُ، فَإِنَّكُمْ حِينَئِذٍ لَا تُنْصَرُونَ." (الآية ٥٤) فَإِنْ فَاتَتِ الْفُرْصَةُ، فَلَا نَصْرَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ.
Come on all of you, then! Come on “before re the suffering comes upon you, for then you cannot be helped.” (Verse 54) Should the chance be missed, there can be no help.
الفرصة مفتوحة الآن، لكن مدّتها لا يمكن ضمانها. بل قد تنتهي في أي لحظة من الليل والنهار. فهلمّ، و"اتَّبِعُوا أَحْسَنَ مَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُم مِّن رَّبِّكُم"، وهو هذا القرآن الذي بين أيديكم الآن، "مِّن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِيَكُمُ الْعَذَابُ بَغْتَةً وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَشْعُرُونَ". (الآية ٥٥) فبادروا الآن قبل فوات الأوان. وإلّا فستندمون على تفويت الفرصة واستهزائكم بوعد الله: "أَن تَقُولَ نَفْسٌ يَا حَسْرَتَىٰ عَلَىٰ مَا فَرَّطتُ فِي جَنبِ اللَّهِ وَإِن كُنتُ لَمِنَ السَّاخِرِينَ". (الآية ٥٦) وقد يقول إنسان آخر إن الله قد قضى عليه بالضلال، فلو أراد له أن يتبع الهدى لكان من المتقين: "أَوْ تَقُولَ لَوْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ هَدَانِي لَكُنتُ مِنَ الْمُتَّقِينَ". (الآية ٥٧) وهذا عذر باطل: فالفرصة معروضة على الجميع، والوسائل متاحة للكل، والأبواب مفتوحة على مصاريعها. ومع ذلك يفوّت الناس الفرصة عن قصد: "أَوْ تَقُولَ حِينَ تَرَى الْعَذَابَ لَوْ أَنَّ لِي كَرَّةً فَأَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ".
The chance is open now, but its duration cannot be guaranteed. In fact, it can terminate at any moment of the night and day. Therefore, come on and “Follow the best that has been revealed to you by your Lord,” which is this Qur’ān that you now have at your fingertips, “before the suffering comes upon you of a sudden, without your being aware of it.” (Verse 55) Come on now before it is too late. Otherwise you will regret missing the chance and ridiculing God’s promise: “lest anyone should say: Woe is me for having neglected what is due to God, and for having been one of those who scoffed [at the truth].” (Verse 56) Alternatively, someone may say that God condemned him to be in error: had He decreed that he would follow divine guidance, he would have been a God-fearing person: “or lest he should say: If God had but guided me, I would surely have been among the God-fearing.” (Verse 57) This is a baseless excuse: the chance is offered to everyone, the means are available to all, and the gates are wide open. Yet people deliberately miss out: “Or lest he should say, when faced by the suffering [that awaits him]:
﴿لَوْ أَنَّ لِي كَرَّةً فَأَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ﴾ (الآية ٥٨)
If only I could have a second chance in life, I will be among those who do good.” (Verse 58)
هذا أمرٌ لن يُعطى أبدًا، فإذا انقضت هذه الحياة الدنيا، فلا رجعةَ.
This is something that will never be given. Once this life is over, no return is allowed.
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ، إِنَّ النَّاسَ الْآنَ فِي مَرْحَلَةٍ يَسْتَطِيعُونَ فِيهَا أَنْ يَفْعَلُوا مَا يُرِيدُونَ. فَإِنْ فَاتَتْهُمْ هَذِهِ الْفُرْصَةُ فَقَدْ ضَاعَ كُلُّ شَيْءٍ. وَسَيُحَاسَبُونَ، وَسَيُوَبَّخُونَ قَائِلِينَ: ﴿بَلَىٰ قَدْ جَاءَتْكَ آيَاتِي فَكَذَّبْتَ بِهَا وَاسْتَكْبَرْتَ وَكُنتَ مِنَ الْكَافِرِينَ﴾ (الآية 59)
All people are now at the stage when they can do what they want. If they miss this chance, all is lost. They will be held to account, and they will be rebuked: “Yes, indeed.’ My revelations did come to you, but you rejected them. You were filled with false pride and had no faith at all.” (Verse 59)
وَعِنْدَ هَذِهِ النُّقْطَةِ، وَقَدْ أَخَذَتِ السُّورَةُ بِمَشَاعِرِنَا وَقُلُوبِنَا إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ، تُرِينَا صُورَتَيْنِ مُتَضَادَّتَيْنِ لِلْكَافِرِينَ وَالْمُتَّقِينَ فِي ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ الْعَظِيمِ:
At this point, when the sūrah has brought our feelings and hearts to the Day of Judgement, it shows us the two contrasting images of the unbelievers and the God- fearing on that momentous day:
يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ تَرَى الَّذِينَ كَذَبُوا عَلَى اللَّهِ وُجُوهُهُمْ مُسْوَدَّةٌ ۚ أَلَيْسَ فِي جَهَنَّمَ مَثْوًى لِلْمُتَكَبِّرِينَ ﴿٦٠﴾ وَيُنَجِّي اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْا بِمَفَازَتِهِمْ لَا يَمَسُّهُمُ السُّوءُ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ ﴿٦١﴾
On the Day of Resurrection you will see those who invented lies about God with their faces darkened. Is not there in hell a proper abode for the arrogant? But God will deliver those who are God- fearing to their place of safety: no harm shall afflict them, nor shall they grieve. (Verses 60-61)
هٰذَا هُوَ الْمَصِيرُ الْأَخِيرُ: فَفَرِيقٌ تَكْسُو وُجُوهَهُمُ الْقَتَرَةُ وَالذِّلَّةُ وَالْحُزْنُ وَلَفْحُ النَّارِ. وَهُمُ الْمُسْتَكْبِرُونَ الَّذِينَ دُعُوا فِي حَيَاتِهِمُ الدُّنْيَا إِلَى أَنْ يَتُوبُوا إِلَى اللهِ وَيُؤْمِنُوا بِهِ، وَفُتِحَ لَهُمُ الْبَابُ حَتَّى بَعْدَ أَنْ أَمْعَنُوا فِي الْمَعَاصِي، وَلٰكِنَّهُمْ أَبَوْا أَنْ يَسْتَمِعُوا. وَهُمُ الْيَوْمَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ مَتْرُوكُونَ فِي غَايَةِ الذُّلِّ الظَّاهِرِ فِي وُجُوهِهِمْ. وَالْفَرِيقُ الْآخَرُ هُمُ الْفَائِزُونَ الَّذِينَ لَا يَمَسُّهُمُ الْحُزْنُ وَلَا الْأَذَى. وَهُمُ الْمُتَّقُونَ الَّذِينَ انْتَبَهُوا فِي حَيَاتِهِمْ فِي الدُّنْيَا إِلَى تَحْذِيرَاتِ اللهِ، وَرَجَوْا رَحْمَتَهُ، وَهُمُ الَّذِينَ سَيَكُونُونَ فِي أَمْنٍ: ﴿لَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ﴾. [الآية 61]
This is the final end: one group have faces darkened by humiliation, sorrow and the scorches of hell. These are the arrogant who, during their lives in this world, were called to turn to God and believe in Him, and the chance was kept open for them even after they went far into sin, but they refused to pay heed. Now, on the Day of judgement, they are left in utter humiliation that shows in their faces. The other group are the winners who will not be touched by grief or affliction. These are the God-fearing who, during their lives on earth, paid heed to God’s warnings and hoped for His mercy. They are the ones who will be safe: “no harm shall afflict them, nor shall they grieve.” (Verse 61)
بعد أن تبيّنت جميع الأمور بوضوح، فليختر كل إنسان ما يشاء: فإما أن يستجيب للدعوة ويتنعّم بفضل الله الذي سيجده لا محالة خلف باب التوبة المفتوح، وإما أن يصرّ على المعصية حتى يفاجئه العذاب على غرة.
With all issues made abundantly clear, let everyone choose what they want. They can either respond to the call and enjoy God’s grace they are certain to find just behind the open gate of repentance, or they can persist in disobedience until the suffering takes them unawares.