Our Lord! Pardon us, and absolve us and have mercy on us

Our Lord! Pardon us, and absolve us and have mercy on us

Surah ‘Al-Baqarah (The Cow) – Chapter – 2)

Stage – 1, Verses – 285 & 286 of 286, Section – 40 of 40 (Part - 3)

BisMIllaahir-Rahmaanir-Rahiim

In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful

285.  The Messenger believeth in that which hath been revealed unto him from his Lord and (so do) believers. Each one believeth in Allah and His angels and His Scriptures and His messengers. We make no distinction between any of His messengers. And they say: We hear, and we obey. (Grant us) Thy forgiveness, our Lord, and unto Thee is the journeying.

285.  ‘Aa-manar-Rasuulu  bi-maaa  ‘un-zila  ‘ilay-hi  mir-Rab-bihii wal-Mu’-minuun. Kul-lun  ‘aa-mana  BIllaahi  wa  ma-laaa-‘ikati-Hii  wa  kutubiHii  wa  rusuliH.  Laa  nufarriqu  bay-na  ‘ahadim-mir-rusuliH.  Wa  qaaluu  sami’-naa  wa  ‘ata’-naa.  Gufraanaka  Rabbanaa  wa  ‘ilayKal-masiir.

Lesson

‘Aa-manar-Rasuulu – “The Messenger (grace, glory, blessings and peace of Allah Almighty be upon him) believed”. First Believers in their Prophet-hood are the Prophets and Messengers (peace be upon them) Themselves.

‘Aa-mana  BIllaahi – (believed in Allah), intention to believe in Allah Almighty is to confirm, to testify and to verify His Oneness, Virtues and Good Manners.

According to the narrations, purpose of revealing this verse is that, when the verse before it was revealed, “And whether ye make known what is in your minds or hide it, Allah will bring you to account for it”, then the Companions (Razii-Allaahu ‘anhum wa  ra-zuu ‘Anhu) of the last Messenger, Muhammad (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him) frightened and were confounded. They made mention to the Messenger of Allah (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him), then He (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him) commanded, “Quuluu  sami’-naa  wa  ‘ata’-naa” (Say: We hear, and we obey) that is to say; Do not hesitate eve a particle to admit the orders of Allah Almighty, as you see much difficulty or intricacy in His Commands and Instructions. Moreover, be ready to obey with stability.

The Companions (Razii-Allaahu ‘anhum wa  ra-zuu ‘Anhu) obeyed the Messenger (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him), then following words were current on their tongues impatient, “We believed in Allah and we obeyed His orders. That is to say, we are ready to obey and act upon the commands of Allah Almighty without any hesitation. Allah Almighty liked it very much and then this verse was revealed, which has been described in this lesson.

God Almighty praised the Belief of His Messenger (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him) and his Companions (Razii-Allaahu ‘anhum wa  ra-zuu ‘Anhu), due to which their hearts were satisfied. The Companions (Razii-Allaahu ‘anhum wa   ra-zuu ‘Anhu) said: We make no distinction between any of His messengers (peace be upon Them), moreover we admit all of them as the Prophet and Messenger of God Almighty, not that we believe in some of them and do not believe in others. We have full faith that we have to return to You and attend Your Court. This perception of responsibility before Allah Almighty teaches the humankind goodness and fear of God Almighty.

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286.  Allah tasketh not a soul beyond its scope. For it (is only) that which it hath earned, and against it (only) that which it hath deserved. Our Lord! Call us not to account if we forget, or miss the mark, our Lord! Lay not on us such a burden as Thou didst lay on those before us! Our Lord! Impose not on us that which we have not the strength to bear! And pardon us, and absolve us and have mercy on us. Thou, art our Protector, so give us victory over the disbelieving folk.

286.  Laa  yukalli-  fUllaahu  naf-san  ‘illaa  wus- ‘ahaa.  Lahaa  maa  kasabat  wa  ‘alay-haa  mak-tasabat.  Rabbanaa  laa  tu- ‘aa- khiznaaa  ‘in-nasiinaaa  ‘aw  ‘akhta’-naa.  Rabbanaa  wa  laa  tahmil  ‘alay-naaa  ‘isran-  kamaa  hamaltahuu  ‘alal-laziina  min-qab-linaa.  Rabbanaa  wa  laa  tuhammil-naa  maa  laa  taaqata  lanaa  bih.  Wa’-fu  ‘annaa,  wag-fir-lanaa,  war-ham-naa.  ‘Anta  Mawlaa-naa  fan-sur-naa  ‘alal-qaw-mil-Kaafiriin.

Lesson

It is the last verse of this Surah. Allah Almighty commanded that retribution or good or wicked deeds would be awarded to every person corresponding to his/her acts, behavior and conduct. If any individual did good, he/she will surely receive its remuneration, and if anybody committed bad, evil or sin, certainly he/she will be awarded its punishment. Then Allah Almighty taught following supplications: 

1.    Rabbanaa  laa  tu- ‘aa- khiznaaa  ‘in-nasiinaaa  ‘aw  ‘akhta’-naa. (Our Lord! Call us not to account if we forget, or miss the mark).

2.    Rabbanaa  wa  laa  tahmil  ‘alay-naaa  ‘isran-  kamaa  hamaltahuu  ‘alal-laziina  min-qab-linaa. (Our Lord! Lay not on us such a burden as You placed on those before us).

3.    Rabbanaa  wa  laa  tuhammil-naa  maa  laa  taaqata  lanaa  bih. (Our Lord! Impose not on us that which we have not the strength to bear).

4.    Wa’-fu  ‘annaa,  wag-fir-lanaa,  war-ham-naa. (And pardon us, and absolve us and have mercy on us).

5.    ‘Anta  Mawlaa-naa  fan-sur-naa  ‘alal-qaw-mil-Kaafiriin. (You are our Protector, so give us victory over the disbelieving folk).

‘Aamiin. (Our Lord! So kindly be it).

Surah ‘Al-Baqarah, which is the longest Surah of Holy Qur’an, ends after the above supplications.

Transliterated Holy Qur’an in Roman Script & Translated from Arabic to English by Marmaduke Pickthall, Published by Pak Company, 17-Urdu Bazaar, Lahore, Lesson collected from Dars e Qur’aan published By Idara Islaah wa Tableegh, Lahore (translated Urdu to English by Muhammad Sharif)