4. Surah An-Nisa, Verse 17
اِنَّمَا التَّوْبَةُ عَلَى اللّٰهِ لِلَّذ۪ينَ يَعْمَلُونَ السُّٓوءَ بِجَهَالَةٍ ثُمَّ يَتُوبُونَ مِنْ قَر۪يبٍ فَاُو۬لٰٓئِكَ يَتُوبُ اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِمْۜ وَكَانَ اللّٰهُ عَل۪يماً حَك۪يماً
Innama attawbatu AAalaAllahi lillatheena yaAAmaloona assoo-abijahalatin thumma yatooboona min qareebin faola-ikayatoobu Allahu AAalayhim wakana AllahuAAaleeman hakeema
Allah only accepts the tawba of those who do evil in ignorance and then quickly make tawba after doing it. Allah turns towards such people. Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.
- Progressive Muslims
Repentance is only for those who commit sin out of ignorance and then repent soon after; these will be forgiven by God, God is Knowledgeable, Wise.
- Shabbir Ahmed
Allah graciously accepts the repentance of those who do evil in ignorance, and then return quickly to the right conduct. Allah turns to them in Mercy. He is the Knower, the Wise.
- Sam Gerrans
Upon God is but acceptance of repentance from those who do evil in ignorance then repent soon after; those are they towards whom God turns; and God is knowing and wise.
- The Monotheist Group
Repentance is only for those who commit a sin out of ignorance and then repent soon after; these will be forgiven by God, for God is Knowledgeable, Wise.
- Edip-Layth
God's acceptance of repentance is only for those who commit sin out of ignorance and then repent soon after; these will be forgiven by God, God is Knowledgeable, Wise.
- Aisha Bewley
Allah only accepts the tawba of those who do evil in ignorance and then quickly make tawba after doing it. Allah turns towards such people. Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.
- Rashad Khalifa
Repentance is acceptable by GOD from those who fall in sin out of ignorance, then repent immediately thereafter. GOD redeems them. GOD is Omniscient, Most Wise.
- Mohamed Ahmed - Samira
God does accept repentance, but only of those who are guilty of an evil out of ignorance yet quickly repent, and God turns to them again, for God is all-knowing and all-wise.
- Sahih International
The repentance accepted by Allah is only for those who do wrong in ignorance [or carelessness] and then repent soon after. It is those to whom Allah will turn in forgiveness, and Allah is ever Knowing and Wise.
- Muhammad Asad
Verily, God's acceptance of repentance relates only to those who do evil out of ignorance and then repent before their time runs out: and it is they unto whom God will turn again in His mercy - for God is all-knowing, wise;
- Marmaduke Pickthall
Forgiveness is only incumbent on Allah toward those who do evil in ignorance (and) then turn quickly (in repentance) to Allah. These are they toward whom Allah relenteth. Allah is ever Knower, Wise.
- Abdel Khalek Himmat
Allah takes upon Himself to accept the repentance of those who commit themselves to an evil line of conduct proceeding from undue haste and want of thought and soon thereafter wake up. to the realization of the, consequence of the event and immediately feel contrition and in lowliest plight repentant stand. Such persons, shall Allah give up resentment against them and pardon their offence; Allah has always been 'Alimun and Hakimun.
- Bijan Moeinian
Bear in mind that God accepts repentance only from those who have committed indecencies out of ignorance and are sincere in promising not to repeat it as God is Knowing and Wise.
- Al-Hilali & Khan
Allâh accepts only the repentance of those who do evil in ignorance and foolishness and repent soon afterwards; it is they whom Allâh will forgive and Allâh is Ever All-Knower, All-Wise.
- Abdullah Yusuf Ali
Allah accept the repentance of those who do evil in ignorance and repent soon afterwards; to them will Allah turn in mercy: For Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom.
- Mustafa Khattab
Allah only accepts the repentance of those who commit evil ignorantly ˹or recklessly˺ then repent soon after[1]—Allah will pardon them. And Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.
- Taqi Usmani
The relenting taken by Allah upon Himself is for those who do evil in ignorance, then repent shortly thereafter. So, Allah relents towards them. Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.
- Abdul Haleem
But God only undertakes to accept repentance from those who do evil out of ignorance and soon afterwards repent: these are the ones God will forgive, He is all knowing, all wise.
- Arthur John Arberry
God shall turn only towards those who do evil in ignorance, then shortly repent; God will return towards those; God is All-knowing, All-wise.
- E. Henry Palmer
God is only bound to turn again towards those who do evil through ignorance and then turn again. Surely, these will God turn again to, for God is knowing, wise.
- Hamid S. Aziz
Allah is only bound to forgive those who do evil through ignorance and then repent. Surely, these are the ones to whom Allah is relenting. Allah is Knower Wise.
- Mahmoud Ghali
Surely relenting from (Literally: upon, i. e.' Allah relents) Allah is only towards the ones who do any odious deed in ignorance (and) thereafter they repent shortly; so Allah relents towards those and Allah has been Ever-Knowing, Ever-Wise.
- George Sale
Verily repentance will be accepted with God, from those who do evil ignorantly, and then repent speedily; unto them will God be turned: For God is knowing and wise.
- Syed Vickar Ahamed
Allah accepts only the repentance of those who do evil in ignorance and (their) foolishness and repent soon afterwards; To them will Allah turn in mercy: For Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom.
- Amatul Rahman Omar
Verily, Allâh undertakes to accept the repentance of only those who do evil through lack of knowledge, then repent soon after. Such are the person towards whom Allâh turns with mercy. And Allâh is All-Knowing, All-Wise.
- Ali Quli Qarai
[Acceptance of] repentance by Allah is only for those who commit evil out of ignorance, then repent promptly. It is such whose repentance Allah will accept, and Allah is all-knowing, all-wise.