some people feared they would be held accountable for what they had done during the pre-Islamic period of ignorance (Jahiliyyah). They said: 'Which of us has not done [such deeds]?' Then Allah revealed: 'Say: O My servants who have transgressed against themselves'—[by polytheism]—'do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins'—those which were committed during polytheism—'Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.' And He revealed: 'And those who do not invoke with Allah another deity'—that is, after their conversion to Islam—'nor do they kill the soul which Allah has forbidden, except by right'—that is, after their conversion to Islam—'nor do they commit unlawful sexual intercourse'—that is, after their conversion to Islam—up to the words of the Almighty: 'Except for those who repent, believe, and do righteous work.' The verse, and its interpretation, has already passed.
خَافَ قوم أَن يؤاخذوا بِمَا عمِلُوا فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّة , فَقَالُوا: أَيّنَا لم يفعل فَأنْزل اللَّه: ﴿قُلْ يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا على أنفسهم﴾ [بالشرك] ﴿لَا تَقْنَطُوا مِنْ رَحْمَةِ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا﴾ الَّتِي كَانَت فِي الشّرك ﴿إِنَّهُ هُوَ الغفور الرَّحِيم﴾ وَأنزل: ﴿وَالَّذِينَ لَا يَدْعُونَ مَعَ الله إِلَهًا آخر﴾ أَي: بعد إسْلَامهمْ ﴿وَلا يَقْتُلُونَ النَّفْسِ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ إِلا بِالْحَقِّ﴾ أَي: بعد إسْلَامهمْ ﴿وَلا يَزْنُونَ﴾ أَي: بعد إسْلَامهمْ إِلَى قَوْله: ﴿إِلا مَنْ تَابَ وَآمَنَ وَعَمِلَ عملا صَالحا﴾ الْآيَة , وَقد مضى تَفْسِيرهَا
