Al-Ahzaab (The Clans)

24. “That Allah may recompense the truthful ones for their truthfulness, and chastise the hypocrites if He pleases, or turn unto them (mercifully), verily Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.”

The amount of receiving reward is based on veracity in action.

This holy verse reiterates the result and the final aim of the deeds of the believers and the hypocrites in a short sentence, as follows:

“That Allah may recompense the truthful ones for their truthfulness, and chastise the hypocrites if He pleases, or turn unto them (mercifully), verily Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.”

Neither the truthfulness and loyalty of the sincere believers remains without divine recompense, nor will the negligence and hindrances of the hypocrites be left without retribution.

But in order that even the way of repentance might not be closed to these obstinate hypocrites, He leaves the doors of repentance open to them by the sentence:

“Or turn unto them (mercifully)”

and He qualifies Himself with the Attributes of Forgiving and Merciful, so that the motive of moving toward faith, truthfulness, and fulfilling the Divine responsibilities becomes active in them.

In view of the fact that this sentence has been mentioned as the result of the ugly deeds of the hypocrites, some of the great commentators have said that sometimes a great sin in the receptive hearts may become the source of a revolution and return toward the truth, and it might be a vice which is an initiation of a goodness.¹