What does Quran 23:118 mean?

Quran 23:118 (Surah Al-Muminoon, Ayah 118) translates to: "And, [O Muhammad], say, "My Lord, forgive and have mercy, and You are the best of the merciful.""

Which Surah and Juz is Quran 23:118 from?

This ayah is from Surah Al-Muminoon (The Believers), the 23th surah of the Quran. It appears in Juz 18.

Are there hadiths related to Quran 23:118?

Yes — there are 5 hadiths related to this ayah from Sunan Ibn Majah, Sunan Abu Dawud, Jami` at-Tirmidhi.

What tafsir is available for Quran 23:118?

Commentary on this ayah is available from Ibn Kathir, Ibn Kathir, Ibn Abbas, Al-Jalalayn — classical scholars of Quranic exegesis.

What topics does Quran 23:118 relate to?

This ayah connects to these Quranic topics: Tawhid, Forgiveness, Divine Mercy, Supplication, Accountability.

Ayah 117

وَمَن يَدْعُ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَٰهًا ءَاخَرَ لَا بُر...

23:118Al-Muminoon

وَقُل رَّبِّ ٱغْفِرْ وَٱرْحَمْ وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ ٱلرَّٰحِمِينَ

Wa qur Rabbigh fir warham wa Anta khairur raahimeen

And, [O Muhammad], say, "My Lord, forgive and have mercy, and You are the best of the merciful."

Themes in this ayah

Explore in Habl →

Mercy & forgiveness100 Dua99

Scores run 0–100: how strongly this ayah speaks to a theme. 70+ is central, 50+ is clear, under 50 is weak.

6 other themes with weak connections

Labeled by AI and people · How this works

Follow this theme through Al-MuminoonFollow this theme

23:118Ayah 1118

3 ayahs in Al-Muminoon are strongly about mercy and forgiveness. This is one of them.

← Previous on Mercy & forgiveness23:109Indeed, there was a party of My servants who said, 'Our Lord, we have believed, so forgive us and have mercy upon us, and You are the best of the merciful.'

Tafsir

Scholars offer complementary perspectives

View Full Tafsir: Al-Jalalayn on 23:118→

And say ‘My Lord forgive and have mercy on believers — this ‘mercy’ adds to the ‘forgiveness’ in terms of God’s grace — and You are the best of the merciful’ the most excellent of those who have mercy.

“Rabbighfir li, Rabbighfir li (O Lord forgive me, O Lord forgive me).”

Sunan Ibn Majah #3586It was narrated from 'Aishah that she said:Sahih

"O Messenger of Allah, what do you think I should say in my supplication, if I come upon Laylatul-Qadr?" He said: "Say: 'Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun tuhibbul-'afwa, fa'fu 'anni (O Allah, You are Forgiving and love forgiveness, so forgive me).'"

Sunan Abu Dawud #469Abu Hurairah reported the Messenger of Allah (May peace be upon him) as saying; The angels invoke blessings on any of you who remains sitting at the place where he says his prayers so long as he is defiled (needs ablution) or stands up, saying:Sahih

O Allah, forgives him; O Allah, have mercy on him.

Jami` at-Tirmidhi #3597Aishah narrated:Hasan

“I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, what is your view if I know when the Night of Al-Qadr is, then what should I say in it?” He said: ‘Say: “O Allah, indeed You are Pardoning, , tuḥibbul-`afwa fa`fu `annī).’”

Sunan Abu Dawud #850Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas:Hasan

The Prophet (ﷺ) used to say between the two prostrations: "O Allah, forgive me, have mercy on me, guide me, heal me, and provide for me."