Al-Qur'an Surah An-Nisa Verse 149

Mufti Taqi Usmani

If you do a good act openly or do it in secret, or forgive an evil deed, then, Allah is All-Forgiving, All-Powerful.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Whether you reveal or conceal a good or pardon an evil—surely Allah is Ever-Pardoning, Most Capable.

Ruwwad Translation Center

If you do something good openly or in secret, or pardon an offense, then Allah is indeed Ever-Pardoning, Most Capable.

A. J. Arberry

If you do good openly or in secret or pardon an evil, surely God is All-pardoning, All-powerful.

Abdul Haleem

If you do good, openly or in secret, or if you pardon something bad,then God is most forgiving and powerful.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Whether ye disclose a good or conceal it, or pardon an evil, then verily Allah is ever Pardoning potent.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Whether ye publish a good deed or conceal it or cover evil with pardon, verily Allah doth blot out (sins) and hath power (in the judgment of values).

Abul Ala Maududi

(Even though you have the right to speak evil if you are wronged), if you keep doing good -whether openly or secretly -or at least pardon the evil (then that is the attribute of Allah). Allah is All-Pardoning and He has all the power to chastise.

Ahmed Ali

Whether you do some good openly or in secret, or forgive an ill done to you, (know) that God is forgiving and all-powerful.

Ahmed Raza Khan

If you do any good openly or in secret, or pardon someone’s evil – then indeed Allah is Oft Forgiving, Able.

Ali Quli Qarai

Whether you disclose a good [deed that you do] or hide it, or excuse an evil [deed], Allah is indeed all-excusing, all-powerful.

Ali Ünal

Whether you do some good openly or do it in secret, or pardon an evil (done to you, even though you have the right to legal retaliation, know that) God is All-Pardoning, Ever-Able (to punish or forgive).

Amatul Rahman Omar

If you do a good deed openly or do it in private or pardon an injury (done to you) remember Allâh is Ever Pardoning, All-Powerful.

English Literal

If you show goodness, or you hide it, or you forgive/pardon on bad/evil/harm, so that God was/is often forgiving/pardoning, capable/able.

Faridul Haque

If you do any good openly or in secret, or pardon someone’s evil - then indeed Allah is Oft Forgiving, Able.

Hamid S. Aziz

These are the disbelievers, and We have prepared for disbelievers shameful woe!

Hilali & Khan

Whether you (mankind) disclose (by good words of thanks) a good deed (done to you in the form of a favour by someone), or conceal it, or pardon an evil,verily, Allah is Ever Oft­Pardoning, All­Powerful.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

Allah loves not the public utterance of hurtful speech, except by one who has been wronged. And Allah is ever Hearing, Knowing.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

If you do good openly or do it in secret or pardon an evil then surely Allah is Pardoning, Powerful.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

If ye do good openly or keep it secret, or forgive evil, lo! Allah is ever Forgiving, Powerful.

Muhammad Sarwar

Whether you act virtuously, in public or in private, or pardon (people's) faults, God is All-forgiving and All-powerful.

Qaribullah & Darwish

If you display good or hide it, or pardon an evil, surely, Allah is the Pardoner, the Powerful.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

Whether you disclose a good deed or conceal it, or pardon an evil, verily, Allah is Ever Pardoning, All-Powerful.

Wahiduddin Khan

Whether you reveal any good or hide it, or pardon any evil, God is forgiving and all powerful.

Talal Itani

If you let a good deed be shown, or conceal it, or pardon an offense—God is Pardoning and Capable.

Tafsir jalalayn

If you show, manifest, good, in the way of pious deeds, or conceal it, [if] you do it in secret, or pardon evil, injustice, then surely God is ever Pardoning, Powerful.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

Whether you disclose a good deed, or conceal it, or pardon an evil; verily, Allah is Ever Pardoning, All-Powerful.

Meaning when you, mankind, admit to a good favor done to you, or conceal it, and forgive those who wrong you, then this will bring you closer to Allah and increase your reward with Him.

Among Allah's attributes is that He forgives and pardons His servants, although He is able to punish them. Hence Allah's statement,
فَإِنَّ اللّهَ كَانَ عَفُوًّا قَدِيرًا
(Verily, Allah is Ever Pardoning, All-Powerful).

It was reported that some of the angels who carry Allah's Throne praise Him saying,

"All praise is due to You for Your forbearing even though You have perfect knowledge (in all evil committed)."

Some of them supplicate,

"All praise is due to You for Your forgiving even though You have perfect ability (to punish)."

An authentic Hadith states,

مَا نَقَصَ مَالٌ مِنْ صَدَقَةٍ وَلَاا زَادَ اللهُ عَبْدًا بِعَفْوٍ إِلاَّ عِزًّا وَمَنْ تَوَاضَعَ للهِ رَفَعَهُ الله

No charity shall ever decrease wealth, and Allah will only increase the honor of a servant who pardons, and he who is humble for Allah's sake, then Allah will elevate his grade