Islam Guidance

Verse54-55

(54) وَ إِذا جاءَكَ الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِ‏آياتِنا فَقُلْ سَلامٌ عَلَيْكُمْ كَتَبَ رَبُّكُمْ عَلى‏ نَفْسِهِ الرَّحْمَةَ أَنَّهُ

مَنْ عَمِلَ مِنْكُمْ سُوءاً بِجَهالَةٍ ثُمَّ تابَ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ وَ أَصْلَحَ فَأَنَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ

(55)وَ كَذلِكَ نُفَصِّلُ الْ‏آياتِ وَ لِتَسْتَبِينَ سَبِيلُ الْمُجْرِمِينَ

54. " And when those who believe in Our Signs come to you, say: ' Peace be on you. Your Lord has prescribed mercy on Himself that whoever of you does evil in ignorance, and thereafter repents and amends (himself), then verily He is forgiving, Merciful '."
55. " And thus do We explain the Signs so that (the Truth be distinguished) and the way of the sinners be manifest."

Commentary :
It is cited in the occasion of revelation of this verse that a group of the sinners went to the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) and said that they had committed many faults. The holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) kept silence; and this verse was revealed.
" And when those who believe in Our Signs come to you, say: ' Peace be on you. Your Lord has prescribed mercy on Himself that whoever of you does evil in ignorance, and thereafter repents and amends (himself), then verily He is forgiving, Merciful '."
In this Sura, Allah has repeated twice the phrase : " He has prescribed for Himself mercy ". Once in the verse under discussion for the encouragement of people in this world, and the second upon the Resurrection, when the concerning verse says : "... He has prescribed mercy on Himself. He will surely gather you to the Resurrection Day, ..." (Verse 12).
The holy verse leads us to this understanding that if sin is not committed arrogantly and pertinaciously, it is forgivable.
"... in ignorance, ..."
When it is said that the relation of the Islamic leaders is with people, it is a relation of intimacy and affection.
"... say ' Peace be on you ..."
Allah has prescribed mercy on Himself, but those whom this mercy is bestowed on are the repentant.
"... and thereafter repents and amends (himself), ..."
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However, in the next verse (No. 55), it implies it is thus that Allah explains His Signs and his commandments so clear that both the way of truth-seekers and the obedient believers be distinguished and the way of obstinate sinners and that of the enemies of Truth be made manifest. The verse says:
" And thus do We explain the Signs so that (the Truth be distinguished) and the way of the sinners be manifest."
The purpose of the Arabic term /mujrim/, here, is the very obstinate sinners who, by no means, will surrender to the Truth.
That is, after this general invitation unto the Truth, including even the invitation unto those sinners who are remorseful from their deeds, the way and tradition of the obstinate and inflexible sinners, will be recognized fully.
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