سورة الشّوریٰ
Surah Al-Shûrâ 42:40
The Council · Verse 40 of 53
وَجَزَاءُ سَيِّئَةٍ سَيِّئَةٌ مِثْلُهَا ۖ فَمَنْ عَفَا وَأَصْلَحَ فَأَجْرُهُ عَلَى اللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الظَّالِمِينَ
Abdul Mannan Omar
And (they keep in mind that) the recompense of an evil done is a punishment equal to it (for an evil merits an equal evil). But he who pardons (an offender) and (thereby) improves the matter (and effects thereby a reform in the offender) shall have his reward from Allâh. Behold! He does not love the wrong doers.
Abdullah Yusuf Ali
The recompense for an injury is an injury equal thereto (in degree): but if a person forgives and makes reconciliation, his reward is due from Allah: for (Allah) loveth not those who do wrong.
Ahmed Ali
The retribution of evil is the equal of evil (done); yet those who forgive and rehabilitate will be rewarded by God. Verily He does not like those who do wrong.
12 more translations
Ali Unal
The recompense of an evil deed can only be an evil equal to it; but whoever pardons and makes reconciliation, his reward is due from God. Surely He does not love the wrongdoers.
Daryabadi
The meed of an ill-deed is an ill the like thereUnto; but whosoever pardoneth and amendeth, his hire is on Allah; verily He approveth not the wrong-doers.
Faridul Haque
The retribution of a harmful deed is the harm equal to it; so whoever forgives and makes amends, so his reward is upon Allah; indeed He does not befriend the unjust.
Maulana Muhammad Ali
And the recompense of evil is punishment like it; but whoever forgives and amends, his reward is with Allah. Surely He loves not the wrongdoers.
Maulvi Sher Ali
Remember that the recompense of an injury is an injury the like thereof; but whoso forgives and thereby brings about an improvement, his reward is with ALLAH. Surely, HE loves not the wrongdoers.
Muhammad Asad
But [remember that an attempt at] requiting evil may, too, become an evil hence, whoever pardons [his foe] and makes peace, his reward rests with God - for, verily, He does not love evildoers.
Muhammad Musin Khan
The recompense for an evil is an evil like thereof, but whoever forgives and makes reconciliation, his reward is due from Allah. Verily, He likes not the Zalimun (oppressors, polytheists, and wrong-doers, etc.).
Muhammad Pickthall
The guerdon of an ill-deed is an ill the like thereof. But whosoever pardoneth and amendeth, his wage is the affair of Allah. Lo! He loveth not wrong-doers.
Muhammad Sarwar
The recompense for evil will be equivalent to the deed. He who pardons (the evil done to him) and reforms himself, will receive his reward from God. God certainly does not love the unjust.
Muhammed ali Shakir
And the recompense of evil is punishment like it, but whoever forgives and amends, he shall have his reward from Allah; surely He does not love the unjust.
Rashad Khalifa
Although the just requital for an injustice is an equivalent retribution, those who pardon and maintain righteousness are rewarded by GOD. He does not love the unjust.
Shabbir Ahmed
But requiting evil may become an evil in itself! So, whoever pardons and makes peace, his reward rests with God. He does not love the violators of human rights.
Commentary 42:40 The real object underlying the punishment is reformation. For a successful struggle against tyranny, one must not adopt a similar tyrannical attitude…
وَجَزَاءُ سَيِّئَةٍ سَيِّئَةٌ مِّثْلُهَا ۖ فَمَنْ عَفَا وَأَصْلَحَ فَأَجْرُهُ عَلَى اللَّهِ ۚ
42:40 The real object underlying the punishment is reformation. For a successful struggle against tyranny, one must not adopt a similar tyrannical attitude towards the oppressor. The reaction must be proportionate to the evil done, but if leniency is possible it is preferred. We are neither taught the strict application of “a tooth for tooth and an eye for an eye”, which would be too harsh in some cases nor the other extreme of always “turn the left cheek when the right is smitten”. The emphasis is on forgiveness but not to such an extreme as to make it impracticable and morally and socially injurious. If forgiveness affects a reform in the offender and does him some moral good and improves matters, he should be forgiven. From this verse, we can also derive that the punishment of murder is not necessarily the death penalty. Verses 39 to 43 form the basis of the penal laws of Islam.