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109
وَدَّ كَثيرٌ مِن أَهلِ الكِتابِ لَو يَرُدّونَكُم مِن بَعدِ إيمانِكُم كُفّارًا حَسَدًا مِن عِندِ أَنفُسِهِم مِن بَعدِ ما تَبَيَّنَ لَهُمُ الحَقُّ ۖ فَاعفوا وَاصفَحوا حَتّىٰ يَأتِيَ اللَّهُ بِأَمرِهِ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلىٰ كُلِّ شَيءٍ قَديرٌ

Yusuf Ali

Quite a number of the People of the Book wish they could Turn you (people) back to infidelity after ye have believed, from selfish envy, after the Truth hath become Manifest unto them: But forgive and overlook1, Till God accomplish His purpose2: for God Hath power over all things3.
  • Three words are used in the Qur-ān, with a meaning akin to “forgive”, but each with a different shade of meaning. 'Afa (here translated “forgive”) means to forget, to obliterate from one’s mind. Safaha (here translated “overlook”) means to turn away from, to ignore, to treat a matter as if it did not affect one. Ghafara (which does not occur in this verse) means to cover up something as God does to our sins with His grace: this word is particularly appropriate in God’s attribute to Ghaffar. the One who forgives again and again.
  • The word, Amr, is comprehensive, and includes (1) an order or command as in 94:12; or (2) a purpose, design, will, as in 18:82; or (3) affairs, working, doing carrying out or execution of a design, as in 89:5. In many cases some fo these meanings run together.
  • Note how this phrase, seemingly repeated from 2:106 and occurring in many other places, has an appropriate signification in each place. In 2:106 we were told about progressive revelation, how the same thing may take different forms, and seeming human infirmity contribute to the fulfillment of God’s design, for God’s power is unlimited. Here we are told to be patient and forgiving against envy and injustice: this too may be fulfilling God’s purpose, for His power is infinite.