Surah Al-Muminoon: Verse 118 - وقل رب اغفر وارحم وأنت... - English

Tafsir of Verse 118, Surah Al-Muminoon

وَقُل رَّبِّ ٱغْفِرْ وَٱرْحَمْ وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ ٱلرَّٰحِمِينَ

English Translation

And, [O Muhammad], say, "My Lord, forgive and have mercy, and You are the best of the merciful."

English Transliteration

Waqul rabbi ighfir wairham waanta khayru alrrahimeena

Tafsir of Verse 118

And say: 'My Lord, forgive and have mercy, for Thou art the best of the merciful.'

So say: "O my Lord! grant Thou forgiveness and mercy for Thou art the Best of those who show mercy!"

رَّ‌بِّ اغْفِرْ‌ وَارْ‌حَمْ (My Lord, forgive and have mercy - 23:118). Here the object of the forgiveness and having mercy has not been mentioned. What is there to be forgiven and to whom is mercy to be shown? And this seems to suggest a general prayer for forgiveness which would include deliverance from harm and suffering, and a general prayer for mercy which would include the grant of every wish. Since protection from bodily harm and acquisition of legitimate gains is the object of all human activity, this prayer covers both these aspects. (Mazhari) And the reason why the Holy Prophet ﷺ was commanded to recite this prayer of forgiveness and mercy, even tough he is impeccable, is to impress upon his followers the special merit of this prayer. (Qurtubi)

Surah Al-Mu'minun began with the verse قَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ (Success is really attained by the believers - 23:1) and ends withإِنَّهُ لَا يُفْلِحُ الْكَافِرُ‌ونَ (Surely, the infidels will not achieve success - 23:117) which shows that success will come to believers only and that the unbelievers will have no share of it.

Verse 118 - Surah Al-Muminoon: (وقل رب اغفر وارحم وأنت خير الراحمين...) - English