So be patient, [O Muḥammad]. Indeed, the promise of Allāh is truth. And ask forgiveness for your sin1375 and exalt [Allāh] with praise of your Lord in the evening and the morning.
Notes
[1375] What is intended is "fault" or "error" in judgement, since all prophets were protected by Allāh from falling into sin. The implication is that all believers should seek forgiveness for their sins.
Verse 55 of Surah Ghafir (40:55), a Meccan surah, is in juz 24, on page 473 of the mushaf. Read it in Arabic with its transliteration, translations and tafsir, and listen to it recited by 72 reciters.
Listen to verse 55 of Surah Ghafir
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Tafsir of verse 55
Al-Mukhtasar
O Messenger, be patient on the denial and harm by your people which you face. Allah’s promise of help and support to you is true without doubt. And seek forgiveness for your sin and glorify the praise of your Lord at the beginning and end of the day.
So be patient, for Allah’s promise is true. Seek forgiveness for your sin13, and glorify your Lord with His praise evening and morning.
Notes
[13] Like all other prophets and messengers, Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) was infallible of sins, especially concerning what they conveyed from Allah. However, flaws or mistakes could happen with prophets, like all other human beings. The examples include the Prophet’s response to the blind man (80:1-10); Jonah’s departure from his people without Allah’s permission (21:87-88); and David’s suspicion and fear of the two men who scaled the wall of his chamber (38:21-25). If the Prophet (ﷺ) himself is urged to seek Allah’s forgiveness, then the believers are far more in need of seeking Allah’s forgiveness.
So be patient (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم). Verily, the Promise of Allâh is true, and ask forgiveness for your fault3 and glorify the praises of your Lord in the ‘Ashî (i.e. the time period after the midnoon till sunset) and in the Ibkâr (i.e. the time period from early morning or sunrise till before midnoon) [it is said that, that means the five compulsory congregational Salât (prayers) or the ‘Asr and Fajr prayers].
Notes
[3] (V.40:55) See the footnote of (V.4:106).
Then have patience (O Muhammad). Lo! the promise of Allah is true. And ask forgiveness of thy sin, and hymn the praise of thy Lord at fall of night and in the early hours.
Patiently, then, persevere: for the Promise of Allah is true: and ask forgiveness for thy fault, and celebrate the Praises of thy Lord in the evening and in the morning.
Therefore be patient; surely the promise of Allah is true; and ask protection for your fault and sing the praise of your Lord in the evening and the morning.
So (endure) patiently; (This is addressed to the Prophet) surely the promise of Allah is true. And ask forgiveness for your guilty (deed), and extol with the praise of your Lord at nightfall and before the rising of the sun.
So be patient, [O Muḥammad]; indeed, the promise of Allāh is truth. And whether We show you some of what We have promised them or We take you in death, it is to Us they will be returned.
Unquestionably, to Allāh belongs whatever is in the heavens and the earth. Unquestionably, the promise of Allāh is truth, but most of them do not know.
And similarly, We caused them to be found that they [who found them] would know that the promise of Allāh is truth and that of the Hour there is no doubt. [That was] when they disputed among themselves about their affair and [then] said, "Construct over them a structure. Their Lord is most knowing about them." Said those who prevailed in the matter, "We will surely take [for ourselves] over them a masjid."
So We restored him to his mother that she might be content and not grieve and that she would know that the promise of Allāh is true. But most of them [i.e., the people] do not know.
O mankind, fear your Lord and fear a Day when no father will avail his son, nor will a son avail his father at all. Indeed, the promise of Allāh is truth, so let not the worldly life delude you and be not deceived about Allāh by the Deceiver [i.e., Satan].
