Tafseer of The Family of Imraan · Aal-i-Imraan · 3:89
Except for those who repent after that and correct themselves. For indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
Then He, exalted is His praise, made an exception for those who repented, among those who became disbelievers after their faith, and so He said, exalted is His mention: "except those who repented thereafter and did right," that is to say: except those who repented after their apostasy (ridda) from their faith, and returned to faith in Allah and in His Messenger, and acknowledged as true what their Prophet ﷺ brought to them from their Lord = "and did right," that is to say: and performed good deeds = "then indeed Allah is forgiving, merciful," that is to say: indeed Allah is, toward whoever does that after his disbelief = "forgiving," that is to say: He covers for him his sin that had issued from him, namely the apostasy, and withholds the punishment for it, as well as the exposure of it on the Day of Resurrection, without calling him to account for it when he dies in repentance from it = "merciful," compassionately showing him mercy with mercy.
