'Except for him who has done wrong, then substituted good after evil.' Al-Hasan's interpretation: 'The messengers do not fear in My presence in the Hereafter or in this world, except for one who has done wrong, then substituted good after evil, for I am Forgiving, Merciful,' meaning: he is the one who does not fear in My presence. Moses was among those who had done wrong, then substituted good after evil, so God forgave him; and this refers to his killing of that Copt, as he did not intend to kill him, but rather he intended to strike him.
Muhammad said: His statement: 'Except for him who has done wrong,' it is said: It is an exception not from the first; the meaning - and God knows best - is: 'But whoever among the messengers and others has done wrong, then repented.'
﴿إِلا مَنْ ظَلَمَ ثُمَّ بَدَّلَ حسنا بعد سوء﴾ تَفْسِيرُ الْحَسَنِ: لَا يَخَافُ لَدَيَّ الْمُرْسَلُونَ فِي الْآخِرَةِ وَفِي الدُّنْيَا ﴿إِلا مَنْ ظَلَمَ ثُمَّ بَدَّلَ حُسْنًا بَعْدَ سُوءٍ فَإِنِّي غَفُورٌ رَحِيم﴾ أَيْ: فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَخَافُ عِنْدِي. وَكَانَ مُوسَى مِمَّنْ ظَلَمَ، ثُمَّ بَدَّلَ حُسْنًا بَعْدَ سُوْءٍ، فَغَفَرَ اللَّهُ لَهُ؛ وَهُوَ قَتْلُ ذَلِكَ الْقِبْطِيِّ لَمْ يَتَعَمَّدْ قَتْلَهُ، وَلَكِنْ تَعَمَّدَ وَكْزَهُ.
قَالَ مُحَمَّدٌ: قَوْلُهُ: ﴿إِلَّا من ظلم﴾ قِيلَ: هُوَ اسْتِثْنَاءٌ لَيْسَ مِنَ الْأَوَّلِ؛ الْمَعْنَى - وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ -: لَكِنْ مَنْ ظَلَمَ مِنَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ وَغَيْرِهِمْ، ثمَّ تَابَ.
