We caused those whom We chose from among Our servants to inherit the Book. Among them are those who wrong themselves, those who follow a moderate course, and those who are foremost in good deeds by Allah’s permission. That is the great bounty.”
The nation of Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, are those who inherited the Book after the earlier nations. This is not restricted to those who have memorized the Quran; rather, everyone who believes in the Quran is included among them. Allah divided them into those who wrong themselves, those who follow a moderate course, and those who are foremost. This differs from the verses in Surahs al-Wāqiʿah, al-Mutaffifīn, and al-Infitār, which encompass all the earlier nations, believers and disbelievers alike. This division, however, concerns the nation of Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.
“Those who wrong themselves” are those who commit sins and persist in them. Whoever truly repents of his sin, whatever that sin may be, is not thereby excluded from those who are foremost. “Those who follow a moderate course” fulfil their obligations and avoid what is forbidden. “Those who are foremost in good deeds” fulfil their obligations and perform voluntary acts of worship, as described in those verses. Whoever truly repents of his sin, whatever that sin may be, is not thereby excluded from those who are foremost or those who follow a moderate course, as Allah Most High says:
“And hasten to forgiveness from your Lord and a garden as wide as the heavens and the earth, prepared for the righteous.”
“Those who spend in ease and hardship, restrain their anger, and pardon people—and Allah loves the doers of good.”
“And those who, when they commit an immorality or wrong themselves, remember Allah and seek forgiveness for their sins—and who forgives sins except Allah?—and do not knowingly persist in what they have done.”
“Their reward is forgiveness from their Lord and gardens beneath which rivers flow, where they will abide forever. How excellent is the reward of