سُوْرَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 286
لَا يُكَلِّفُ ٱللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ۚ لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا مَا ٱكْتَسَبَتْ ۗ رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذْنَآ إِن نَّسِينَآ أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْنَآ إِصْرًا كَمَا حَمَلْتَهُۥ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تُحَمِّلْنَا مَا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِۦ ۖ وَٱعْفُ عَنَّا وَٱغْفِرْ لَنَا وَٱرْحَمْنَآ ۚ أَنتَ مَوْلَىٰنَا فَٱنصُرْنَا عَلَى ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ ﴿286﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Allâh burdens not a person beyond his scope. He gets reward for that (good) which he has earned, and he is punished for that (evil) which he has earned. "Our Lord! Punish us not if we forget or fall into error, our Lord! Lay not on us a burden like that which You did lay on those before us (Jews and Christians); our Lord! Put not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear. Pardon us and grant us Forgiveness. Have mercy on us. You are our Maulâ (Patron, Supporter and Protector, etc.) and give us victory over the disbelieving people."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
لَا
lā
(Does) not
يُكَلِّفُ
yukallifu
burden
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah
نَفْسًا
nafsan
any soul
إِلَّا
illā
except
وُسْعَهَا ۚ
wus'ʿahā
its capacity
لَهَا
lahā
for it
مَا
mā
what
كَسَبَتْ
kasabat
it earned
وَعَلَيْهَا
waʿalayhā
and against it
مَا
mā
what
ٱكْتَسَبَتْ ۗ
ik'tasabat
it earned
رَبَّنَا
rabbanā
Our Lord
لَا
lā
(Do) not
تُؤَاخِذْنَآ
tuākhidh'nā
take us to task
إِن
in
if
نَّسِينَآ
nasīnā
we forget
أَوْ
aw
or
أَخْطَأْنَا ۚ
akhṭanā
we err
رَبَّنَا
rabbanā
Our Lord
وَلَا
walā
And (do) not
تَحْمِلْ
taḥmil
lay
عَلَيْنَآ
ʿalaynā
upon us
إِصْرًۭا
iṣ'ran
a burden
كَمَا
kamā
like that
حَمَلْتَهُۥ
ḥamaltahu
(which) You laid [it]
عَلَى
ʿalā
on
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
those who
مِن
min
(were) from
قَبْلِنَا ۚ
qablinā
before us
رَبَّنَا
rabbanā
Our Lord
وَلَا
walā
[And] (do) not
تُحَمِّلْنَا
tuḥammil'nā
lay on us
مَا
mā
what
لَا
lā
not
طَاقَةَ
ṭāqata
(the) strength
لَنَا
lanā
we have
بِهِۦ ۖ
bihi
[of it] (to bear)
وَٱعْفُ
wa-uʿ'fu
And pardon
عَنَّا
ʿannā
[from] us
وَٱغْفِرْ
wa-igh'fir
and forgive
لَنَا
lanā
[for] us
وَٱرْحَمْنَآ ۚ
wa-ir'ḥamnā
and have mercy on us
أَنتَ
anta
You (are)
مَوْلَىٰنَا
mawlānā
our Protector
فَٱنصُرْنَا
fa-unṣur'nā
so help us
عَلَى
ʿalā
against
ٱلْقَوْمِ
l-qawmi
the people
ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
l-kāfirīna
[the] disbelievers
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
286. Allah does not burden any soul beyond its capacity. [416] Whoever does good will benefit from it [417], and whoever does evil will bear its consequences. (Believers! Pray to Allah like this:) "Our Lord! Do not hold us accountable if we forget or make a mistake [418]. Our Lord! Do not lay upon us a burden like that which You laid upon those before us [419]. Our Lord! Do not place upon us a burden greater than we have strength to bear. Pardon us, forgive us, and have mercy on us. You are our Protector, so help us against the disbelievers [420]." [421]
[416]
The Principle of Reward and Punishment:
In this sentence, Allah Almighty has stated the principle of His law of reward and punishment. That is, for deeds that are beyond a person's capacity, there will be no questioning of the person; questioning will only be for what is within a person's power and ability, and where a person is compelled, there will be no accountability. However, the decision regarding this power, ability, and capacity should be made by a person with utmost sincerity, because Allah Almighty knows even the secrets of the hearts.
[417] In this sentence, Allah Almighty has stated the second principle of His law of reward and punishment, which is that a person will receive only what he himself has earned, and he will certainly receive it. And if someone has done a bad deed, its punishment will also be given to him, and he will certainly receive it. Here, neither the righteousness of forefathers can be of any benefit, nor one's lineage; nor is it possible that someone else does the deed and another bears the consequence. However, it is certainly possible that a person lays the foundation of a good deed whose effects continue even after his death, then he will continue to receive an equal share in that good deed. Similarly, if a person lays the foundation of an evil deed, and its effects continue after his death, then he will also be an equal partner in the sin of that evil. And this principle is established by the Noble Quran and many authentic ahadith. In any case, it is not possible that a person receives the reward or punishment, or any share of it, for a good or evil in which his intention and effort have no part.
[418]
Declaration of Forgiveness for Mistakes and Forgetfulness:
Allah Almighty Himself taught the Muslims this supplication, thereby not only removing their previous anxiety but also providing further comfort and reassurance. Their anxiety was that the thoughts arising in the heart, which are not within our control, should not be held accountable, and according to this verse, forgiveness is also sought for outward actions that occur out of forgetfulness or mistake. And when the One who accepts supplications Himself is teaching this supplication, then what doubt can there be in its acceptance? Thus, the Prophet ﷺ said that mistakes and forgetfulness have been forgiven for my ummah.
[419]
The Rulings of Previous Shari'ahs:
Here, "burden" refers to the strict types of religious rulings. For example, for those who worshipped the calf, their repentance was only accepted through killing; among the Jews, there was only retribution (qisas), there was no option for blood money or pardon. Their zakat was a quarter, and if urine got on their clothes, they had to cut it off. Also, the spoils of war were forbidden for them, and so on. Allah Almighty has lightened such strict rulings.
[420] These verses were revealed at a time of intense confrontation with the disbelievers, and on many delicate occasions, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ made such supplications. Especially on the occasions of the Battle of Badr and the Battle of Khandaq, the supplications he made are mentioned abundantly in authentic ahadith.
[421]
The Virtue of the Last Two Verses of This Surah:
At the end of this supplication, it is established from some Companions ؓ that they said "Ameen," and in one narration, it is mentioned that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ encouraged saying "Ameen" after these verses. (Ibn Kathir) Also, he said: Whoever recites the last two verses of Surah Al-Baqarah at night (before sleeping), they will suffice for him. [بخاري۔ كتاب المغازي۔ باب شهود الملائكة بدرا] That is, Allah Almighty's help and support will remain with him.
[416]
The Principle of Reward and Punishment:
In this sentence, Allah Almighty has stated the principle of His law of reward and punishment. That is, for deeds that are beyond a person's capacity, there will be no questioning of the person; questioning will only be for what is within a person's power and ability, and where a person is compelled, there will be no accountability. However, the decision regarding this power, ability, and capacity should be made by a person with utmost sincerity, because Allah Almighty knows even the secrets of the hearts.
[417] In this sentence, Allah Almighty has stated the second principle of His law of reward and punishment, which is that a person will receive only what he himself has earned, and he will certainly receive it. And if someone has done a bad deed, its punishment will also be given to him, and he will certainly receive it. Here, neither the righteousness of forefathers can be of any benefit, nor one's lineage; nor is it possible that someone else does the deed and another bears the consequence. However, it is certainly possible that a person lays the foundation of a good deed whose effects continue even after his death, then he will continue to receive an equal share in that good deed. Similarly, if a person lays the foundation of an evil deed, and its effects continue after his death, then he will also be an equal partner in the sin of that evil. And this principle is established by the Noble Quran and many authentic ahadith. In any case, it is not possible that a person receives the reward or punishment, or any share of it, for a good or evil in which his intention and effort have no part.
[418]
Declaration of Forgiveness for Mistakes and Forgetfulness:
Allah Almighty Himself taught the Muslims this supplication, thereby not only removing their previous anxiety but also providing further comfort and reassurance. Their anxiety was that the thoughts arising in the heart, which are not within our control, should not be held accountable, and according to this verse, forgiveness is also sought for outward actions that occur out of forgetfulness or mistake. And when the One who accepts supplications Himself is teaching this supplication, then what doubt can there be in its acceptance? Thus, the Prophet ﷺ said that mistakes and forgetfulness have been forgiven for my ummah.
[419]
The Rulings of Previous Shari'ahs:
Here, "burden" refers to the strict types of religious rulings. For example, for those who worshipped the calf, their repentance was only accepted through killing; among the Jews, there was only retribution (qisas), there was no option for blood money or pardon. Their zakat was a quarter, and if urine got on their clothes, they had to cut it off. Also, the spoils of war were forbidden for them, and so on. Allah Almighty has lightened such strict rulings.
[420] These verses were revealed at a time of intense confrontation with the disbelievers, and on many delicate occasions, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ made such supplications. Especially on the occasions of the Battle of Badr and the Battle of Khandaq, the supplications he made are mentioned abundantly in authentic ahadith.
[421]
The Virtue of the Last Two Verses of This Surah:
At the end of this supplication, it is established from some Companions ؓ that they said "Ameen," and in one narration, it is mentioned that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ encouraged saying "Ameen" after these verses. (Ibn Kathir) Also, he said: Whoever recites the last two verses of Surah Al-Baqarah at night (before sleeping), they will suffice for him. [بخاري۔ كتاب المغازي۔ باب شهود الملائكة بدرا] That is, Allah Almighty's help and support will remain with him.
