Encouragement to Repentance and Seeking Forgiveness

The Qur’an taught unity (tawḥīd) to this group of Christians and opened the path of repentance for their return from disbelief: “Will they not repent to God and seek His forgiveness? And God is Forgiving, Merciful.” The meaning of this verse is encouragement to repentance; that is, you must certainly repent and seek forgiveness, just as “Will you not desist?”(38) means you must certainly accept the prohibition; that is, you must certainly accept the prohibition.

The concept of seeking forgiveness (istighfār) is requesting forgiveness along with repentance, return, and remorse, and it is possible that in some cases these two titles (repentance and seeking forgiveness) may be combined in one instance.