Al-Qur'an Surah An-Nisa Verse 18

Mufti Taqi Usmani

The relenting is not for those who do the evil deeds, until when the time of death approaches one of them, he says, “Now I repent”, nor for those who die while they are still disbelievers. For them We have prepared a painful punishment

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

However, repentance is not accepted from those who knowingly persist in sin until they start dying, and then cry, “Now I repent!” nor those who die as disbelievers. For them We have prepared a painful punishment.

Ruwwad Translation Center

However, repentance is not for those who commit evil deeds until death approaches one of them, he then says, “Now I repent,” nor for those who die as disbelievers; for them We have prepared a painful punishment.

A. J. Arberry

But God shall not turn towards those who do evil deeds until, when one of them is visited by death, he says, 'Indeed now I repent,' neither to those who die disbelieving; for them We have prepared a painful chastisement.

Abdul Haleem

It is not true repentance when people continue to do evil until death confronts them and then say, ‘Now I repent,’ nor when they die defiant: We have prepared a painful torment for these.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And repentance is not for those who go on working evil until when death presenteth itself unto one of them, and he saith: verily now I repent; nor for those who die while they are infidel. These! for them We have gotten ready a torment afflictive.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Of no effect is the repentance of those who continue to do evil, until death faces one of them, and he says, "Now have I repented indeed;" nor of those who die rejecting Faith; for them have We prepared a punishment most grievous.

Abul Ala Maududi

But of no avail is repentance of those who do evil until death approaches any one of them and then he says: 'Now I repent.' Nor is the repentance of those who die in the state of unbelief of any avail to them. For them We have kept in readiness a painful chastisement.

Ahmed Ali

But (He does not accept) the repentance of those who continue indulging in evil until death draws near and they say: "We now repent;" nor of those who die disbelieving. For them We have a grievous retribution in wait.

Ahmed Raza Khan

And that repentance is not of those who constantly commit sins, and when death approaches one of them, he says, “I repent now”, nor of those who die as disbelievers; for them, We have kept prepared a painful punishment.

Ali Quli Qarai

But [acceptance of] repentance is not for those who go on committing misdeeds: when death approaches any of them, he says, ‘I repent now.’ Nor is it for those who die while they are faithless. For such We have prepared a painful punishment.

Ali Ünal

But of no avail is the repentance of those who commit evil (for a lifetime) until, when one of them is visited by death, he says, "Indeed now I repent." Nor (likewise does the repentance avail) of those who (spend their lives in unbelief and offer to repent just at the time of death, but) die as unbelievers (since such repentance is not acceptable). For such We have prepared a painful punishment.

Amatul Rahman Omar

But repentance is of no avail to those who go on doing evil deeds until, when death visits one of them, he says, `I do repent now,´ nor it is of any use to those who die whilst they are disbelievers. It is for such people that We have prepared a woeful punishment.

English Literal

And the forgiveness is not to those who make/do/commit the sins/crimes until if the death attended one of them, he said: "I repented now." And nor those who die and they are disbelievers, those We prepared for them a painful torture.

Faridul Haque

And that repentance is not of those who constantly commit sins, and when death approaches one of them, he says, "I repent now", nor of those who die as disbelievers; for them, We have kept prepared a painful punishment.

Hamid S. Aziz

But if you wish to exchange one wife for another, and have given one of them a dower (money, gold), then take nothing back from it. What! Would you take it by slander and manifest wrong?

Hilali & Khan

And of no effect is the repentance of those who continue to do evil deeds until death faces one of them and he says: "Now I repent;" nor of those who die while they are disbelievers. For them We have prepared a painful torment.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

Repentance with Allah is only for those who do evil in ignorance, then turn (to Allah) soon, so these it is to whom Allah turns (mercifully). And Allah is ever Knowing, Wise.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And repentance is not for those who go on doing evil deeds, until when death comes to one of them, he says: Surely now I repent; nor (for) those who die while they are unbelievers. These are they for whom We have prepared a painful chastisement.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

The forgiveness is not for those who do ill-deeds until, when death attendeth upon one of them, he saith: Lo! I repent now; nor yet for those who die while they are disbelievers. For such We have prepared a painful doom.

Muhammad Sarwar

There is no forgiveness for those who commit sin and do not repent until the last moment of their lives nor for those who die as unbelievers. For these people We have prepared a painful torment.

Qaribullah & Darwish

(Allah will accept) no repentance from those who do evil deeds until death comes to one of them, he says: 'Now I repent' Nor those who die unbelieving. For those We have prepared a painful punishment.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And of no effect is the repentance of those who continue to do evil deeds until death faces one of them and he says: "Now I repent;" nor of those who die while they are disbelievers. For them, We have prepared a painful torment.

Wahiduddin Khan

Forgiveness is not for those who continue to do evil deeds until, when death comes upon one of them, he says: "Now I repent!" nor from those who die as deniers of the truth. We have prepared a painful punishment for them.

Talal Itani

But repentance is not available for those who commit evils, until when death approaches one of them, he says, “Now I repent,” nor for those who die as disbelievers. These—We have prepared for them a painful torment.

Tafsir jalalayn

Repentance is not for those who do evil deeds, sins, until, when death approaches one of them, and the pangs of death begin, he says, upon witnessing his predicament; `Indeed now I repent', for this would not avail him and would not be accepted from him; neither for those who die disbelieving, if they repent in the Hereafter upon seeing the chastisement; it will not be accepted from them. Those -- We have prepared for them a painful chastisement.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

وَلَيْسَتِ التَّوْبَةُ لِلَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ السَّيِّيَاتِ حَتَّى إِذَا حَضَرَ أَحَدَهُمُ الْمَوْتُ قَالَ إِنِّي تُبْتُ الانَ

And of no effect is the repentance of those who continue to do evil deeds until death faces one of them and he says;"Now I repent,"

and,

فَلَمَّا رَأَوْاْ بَأْسَنَا قَالُواْ ءَامَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَحْدَهُ

So when they saw Our punishment, they said;"We believe in Allah Alone..." (40;84)

Allah decided that repentance shall not be accepted from the people of the earth when the sun rises from the west, as Allah said,

يَوْمَ يَأْتِى بَعْضُ ءَايَـتِ رَبِّكَ لَا يَنفَعُ نَفْسًا إِيمَانُهَا لَمْ تَكُنْ ءَامَنَتْ مِن قَبْلُ أَوْ كَسَبَتْ فِى إِيمَـنِهَا خَيْرًا

The day that some of the signs of your Lord do come, no good will it do to a person to believe then, if he believed not before, nor earned good through his faith. (6;158)

Allah said,

وَلَا الَّذِينَ يَمُوتُونَ وَهُمْ كُفَّارٌ

nor of those who die while they are disbelievers.

Consequently, when the disbeliever dies while still a disbeliever and polytheist, his sorrow and repentance shall not avail him. If he were to ransom himself, even with the earth's fill of gold, it will not be accepted from him.

Ibn Abbas, Abu Al-Aliyah and Ar-Rabi bin Anas said that the Ayah;
وَلَا الَّذِينَ يَمُوتُونَ وَهُمْ كُفَّارٌ
(nor of those who die while they are disbelievers),

was revealed about the people of Shirk.

Imam Ahmad recorded that Usamah bin Salman said that Abu Dharr said that the Messenger of Allah said,

إِنَّ اللهَ يَقْبَلُ تَوْبَةَ عَبْدِهِ أَوْ يَغْفِرُ لِعَبْدِهِ مَالَمْ يَقَعِ الْحِجَاب

Allah accepts the repentance of His servant, or forgives His servant, as long as the veil does not drop.

They asked, "And what does the drop of the veil mean?"

He said,

أَنْ تَخْرُجَ النَّفْسُ وَهِيَ مُشْرِكَة

When the soul is removed while one is a polytheist.

Allah then said,

أُوْلَـيِكَ أَعْتَدْنَا لَهُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا



For them We have prepared a painful torment,

torment that is severe, eternal and enormous