Page 114
fa-man tāba min baʿdi ẓulmihī wa-ʾaṣlaḥa fa-ʾinna llāha yatūbu ʿalayhi ʾinna llāha ghafūrun raḥīmun
But whoever repents after his wrongdoing, and reforms, then Allah shall accept his repentance. Indeed Allah is all-forgiving, all-merciful.
— Ali Quli Qarai
Surah Al-Ma'idah, Verse 39
39. "But whoever repents after his inequity and makes amend (his evil deeds), then surely Allah turns to him (mercifully), verily Allah is Forgiving, Merciful."
In Islam, punishments are set beside guidance, godly training, and invitation. Through previous verse, the retribution of a thief was stated. Here, in this verse, there exists the invitation to repentance unto Allah, forgiving, and the improvement of one's own vices, which causes that Allah returns His grace and mercy to the servant. For the wrong-doers the gate of returning and improvement is always open. This gate is the very repentance. It should also be regarded that repentance is not only an inner regret, but it must be accompanied with the amends of the past corruptions.
If a thief repents (before being captured and being sent to the court) and gives back the property, he will be forgiven both in the world and the Hereafter. But, when it is after that he is captured, the religious punishment will be fulfilled and the function of repentance is only for the Hereafter. The verse says: