Encouraging the Disbelievers to seek Allah's Forgiveness, warning Them against Disbelief

Allah commands His Prophet Muhammad ,

﴿ قُل لِّلَّذِينَ ڪَفَرُوٓاْ إِن يَنتَهُواْ ﴾

(Say to those who have disbelieved, if they cease...) the disbelief, defiance and stubbornness they indulge in, and embrace Islam, obedience and repentance.

﴿ يُغۡفَرۡ لَهُم مَّا قَدۡ سَلَفَ ﴾

(their past will be forgiven.) along with their sins and errors. It is recorded in the Sahih Al-Bukhari that Abu Wa'il said that Ibn Mas'ud said that the Messenger of Allah said,

« مَنْ أَحْسَنَ فِي الْإِسْلَامِ لَمْ يُؤَاخَذْ بِمَا عَمِلَ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ، وَمَنْ أَسَاءَ فِي الْإِسْلَامِ أُخِذَ بِالْأَوَّلِ وَالْآخِر »

(He who becomes good in his Islam, will not be punished for what he has committed during Jahiliyyah (before Islam). He who becomes bad in his Islam, will face a punishment for his previous and latter deeds.)

It is also recorded in the Sahih that the Messenger of Allah said,

« الْإِسْلَامُ يَجُبُّ مَا قَبْلَهُ وَالتَّوْبَةُ تَجُبُّ مَا كَانَ قَبْلَهَا »

("Islam erases what occurred before it, and repentance erases what occurs before it.'')

Allah said,

﴿ وَإِن يَعُودُواْ ﴾

(But if they return, ) and remain on their ways,

﴿ فَقَدۡ مَضَتۡ سُنَّتُ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ ﴾

(then the examples of those (punished) before them have already preceded.) (8:38) meaning, Our way with the nations of old is that when they disbelieve and rebel, We send down to them immediate torment and punishment.