Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Baqarah Verse 286

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Allah does not obligate anyone beyond his capacity. For him is what he has earned, and on him what he has incurred.“Our Lord, do not hold us accountable, if we forget or make a mistake, and, Our Lord, do not place on us such a burden as You have placed on those before us, and, Our Lord, do not make us bear a burden for which we have no strength. And pardon us, and grant us forgiveness, and have mercy on us. You are our Lord. So then help us against the disbelieving people.”

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Allah does not require of any soul more than what it can afford. All good will be for its own benefit, and all evil will be to its own loss. ˹The believers pray,˺ “Our Lord! Do not punish us if we forget or make a mistake. Our Lord! Do not place a burden on us like the one you placed on those before us. Our Lord! Do not burden us with what we cannot bear. Pardon us, forgive us, and have mercy on us. You are our ˹only˺ Guardian. So grant us victory over the disbelieving people.”

Ruwwad Translation Center

Allah does not burden any soul greater than it can bear. For it is what it has earned, and against it is what it has incurred. “Our Lord, do not hold us accountable if we forget or fall into error. Our Lord, do not place on us such a burden as You have placed on those before us. Our Lord, do not burden us with that which we cannot bear. Pardon us, forgive us, and have mercy on us. You are our Protector, so give us victory over the disbelieving people.”

A. J. Arberry

God charges no soul save to its capacity; standing to its account is what it has earned, and against its account what it has merited. Our Lord, take us not to task if we forget, or make mistake. Our Lord; charge us not with a load such as Thou didst lay upon those before us. Our Lord, do Thou not burden us beyond what we have the strength to bear. And pardon us, and forgive us, and have mercy on us; Thou art our Protector. And help us against the people of the unbelievers.

Abdul Haleem

God does not burden any soul with more than it can bear: each gains whatever good it has done, and suffers its bad- ‘ Lord, do not take us to task if we forget or make mistakes. Lord, do not burden us as You burdened those before us. Lord, do not burden us with more 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.’

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Allah tasketh not a soul except according to its capacity. For it shall be the good it earnoth, and against it the evil it earnoth. Our Lord! reckon with not if we forget or er. Our Lord! ray not on us a burthen like unto that which Thou laidest on those before us, Our Lord! impose not on US that for which we have not strength. And Pardon us; forgive US; and have mercy on us; Thou art our Patron: so make US triumph over the disbelieving people!

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

On no soul doth Allah Place a burden greater than it can bear. It gets every good that it earns, and it suffers every ill that it earns. (Pray;) "Our Lord! Condemn us not if we forget or fall into error; our Lord! Lay not on us a burden Like that which Thou didst lay on those before us; Our Lord! Lay not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear. Blot out our sins, and grant us forgiveness. Have mercy on us. Thou art our Protector; Help us against those who stand against faith."

Abul Ala Maududi

Allah does not burden any human being with a responsibility heavier than he can bear. Everyone will enjoy the fruit of the good that one has earned and shall suffer for the evil that one has committed. (O Believers, pray like this to Allah: "Our Lord, take us not to task if we forget and lapse into error inadvertently. Lord! lay not on us the kind of burdens that You had lain on the people before us. Lord, lay not on us the kind of burden that we have not the strength to bear. Be kind to us, forgive us and show mercy to us. You are our Protector: help us against the disbelievers."

Ahmed Ali

God does not burden a soul beyond capacity. Each will enjoy what (good) he earns, as indeed each will suffer from (the wrong) he does. Punish us not, O Lord, if we fail to remember or lapse into error. Burden us not, O Lord, with a burden as You did those before us. Impose not upon us a burden, O Lord, we cannot carry. Overlook our trespasses and forgive us, and have mercy upon us; You are our Lord and Master, help us against the clan of unbelievers.

Ahmed Raza Khan

Allah does not burden anyone, except with something within its capacity; beneficial for it is the virtue it earned, and harmful for it is the evil it earned; “Our Lord! Do not seize us if we forget or are mistaken; our Lord! And do not place on us a heavy burden (responsibility) as You did on those before us; our Lord! And do not impose on us a burden, for which we do not have the strength; and pardon us – and forgive us – and have mercy on us – You are our Master, therefore help us against the disbelievers.”

Ali Quli Qarai

Allah does not task any soul beyond its capacity. Whatever [good] it earns is to its own benefit, and whatever [evil] it incurs is to its own harm. ‘Our Lord! Take us not to task if we forget or make mistakes! Our Lord! Do not place upon us a burden as You placed on those who were before us! Our Lord! Do not lay upon us what we have no strength to bear! Excuse us, forgive us, and be merciful to us! You are our Master, so help us against the faithless lot!’

Ali Ünal

(O believers, if you are worried that God will take every soul to account even for what the soul keeps within it of intentions and plans, know that) God burdens no soul except within its capacity: in its favor is whatever (good) it earns, and against it whatever (evil) it merits. (So, pray thus to your Lord:) "Our Lord, take us not to task if we forget or make mistake. Our Lord, lay not on us a burden such as You laid on those gone before us. Our Lord, impose not on us what we do not have the power to bear. And overlook our faults, and forgive us, and have mercy upon us. You are our Guardian and Owner (to Whom We entrust our affairs and on Whom we rely) so help us and grant us victory against the disbelieving people!"

Amatul Rahman Omar

Allâh charges no soul but to its capacity. It (- the soul) shall be paid for that which it has done (of good) and against it who has incurred (evil deliberately). (Pray,) `Our Lord! take us not to task if we forget or (if) we make a mistake. Our Lord! lay not upon us the burden (of disobedience) as You laid upon those before us. Our Lord! charge us not with the responsibility which we have not the strength to bear; therefore overlook our faults and grant us protection and have mercy on us. You are our Master, therefore help us against the disbelieving people.´

English Literal

God does not burden/impose a self except its endurance/capability , for it what it earned/acquired and on it what it earned/acquired . Our Lord do not punish/blame us if we forgot or mistook/wronged . Our Lord and do not burden/load on us a weight/crime , as you burdened/loaded it on those from before us. Our Lord and do not burden/load us what (there is) no power/ability/energy for us with it, and forgive/pardon on us, and forgive for us, and have mercy upon us, you are our guardian , so give us victory on/over the nation, the disbelievers.

Faridul Haque

Allah does not burden anyone, except with something within its capacity; beneficial for it is the virtue it earned, and harmful for it is the evil it earned; "Our Lord! Do not seize us if we forget or are mistaken; our Lord! And do not place on us a heavy burden (responsibility) as You did on those before us; our Lord! And do not impose on us a burden, for which we do not have the strength; and pardon us - and forgive us - and have mercy on us - You are our Master, therefore help us against the disbelievers."

Hamid S. Aziz

Allah will not require of the soul beyond its capacity. It shall have what it has earned, and it shall owe what it deserves. "Our Lord, condemn us not, if we forget or miss the mark; Our Lord, load us not with a burden as Thou hast loaded those before us. Our Lord, impose not on us what we have not strength to bear, but forgive us, absolve us, and have mercy on us. Thou art our Sovereign, then give us victory against the faithless!"

Hilali & Khan

Allah 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 Maula (Patron, Suppor-ter and Protector, etc.) and give us victory over the disbelieving people.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

Allah imposes not on any soul a duty beyond its scope. For it is that which it earns (of good) and against it that which it works (of evil). Our Lord, punish us not if we forget or make a mistake. Our Lord, do not lay on us a burden as Thou didst lay on those before us. Our Lord, impose not on us (afflictions) which we have not the strength to bear. And pardon us! And grant us protection! And have mercy on us! Thou art our Patron, so grant us victory over the disbelieving people.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

Allah does not impose upon any soul a duty but to the extent of its ability; for it is (the benefit of) what it has earned and upon it (the evil of) what it has wrought: Our Lord! do not punish us if we forget or make a mistake; Our Lord! do not lay on us a burden as Thou didst lay on those before us, Our Lord do not impose upon us that which we have not the strength to bear; and pardon us and grant us protection and have mercy on us, Thou art our Patron, so help us against the unbelieving people.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

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! Condemn us not 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! Pardon us, absolve us and have mercy on us, Thou, our Protector, and give us victory over the disbelieving folk.

Muhammad Sarwar

God does not impose on any soul a responsibility beyond its ability. Every soul receives whatever it gains and is liable for whatever it does. Lord, do not hold us responsible for our forgetfulness and mistakes. Lord, do not lay upon us the burden that You laid on those who lived before us. Lord, do not lay on us what we cannot afford. Ignore and forgive our sins. Have mercy on us. You are our Lord. Help us against the unbelievers.

Qaribullah & Darwish

Allah charges no soul except to its capacity. For it is what it has earned, and against it what it has gained. 'Our Lord, do not take us to account if we have forgotten, or made a mistake. Our Lord, do not burden us with a load as You have burdened those before us. Our Lord, do not over burden us with more than we can bear. And pardon us, and forgive us, and have mercy on us. You are our Guide, so give us victory over the nation, the unbelievers.'

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

Allah 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 Mawla (Patron, Supporter and Protector) and give us victory over the disbelieving people.") The Hadiths on the Virtue of These Two Ayat, May Allah Benefit Us by Them Al-Bukhari recorded that Abu Mas`ud said that the Messenger of Allah said,

Wahiduddin Khan

God does not charge a soul with more than it can bear. It shall be requited for whatever good and whatever evil it has done. [They pray], "Our Lord, do not take us to task if we forget or make a mistake! Our Lord, do not place on us a burden like the one You placed on those before us! Our Lord, do not place on us a burden we have not the strength to bear! Pardon us; and forgive us; and have mercy on us. You are our Lord and Sustainer, so help us against those who deny the truth."

Talal Itani

God does not burden any soul beyond its capacity. To its credit is what it earns, and against it is what it commits. “Our Lord, do not condemn us if we forget or make a mistake. Our Lord, do not burden us as You have burdened those before us. Our Lord, do not burden us with more than we have strength to bear; and pardon us, and forgive us, and have mercy on us. You are our Lord and Master, so help us against the disbelieving people.”

Tafsir jalalayn

God charges no soul save to its capacity, that is, what it is capable of bearing; for it is what it has merited, of good and its reward, and against it is what it has earned, of evil and its burden; no person shall be requited for another's sin or for what he has not earned, even if he was tempted to do it. Say; Our Lord, take us not to task, by way of chastisement, if we forget, or err, by straying from the right path unknowingly -- as You used to take to task those before us; God has lifted this [burden] from this community, as reported in hadth. The petition here, then, is a way of acknowledging God's favour; our Lord, burden us not with a load, an affair which we cannot bear, such as You did lay upon those before us, namely, upon the Children of Israel, as for example, the killing of oneself in repentance, the paying of a quarter of one's property for alms, and the severing of the impure part. Our Lord, do not burden us beyond what we have the power, the strength, to bear, of obligations and trials; and pardon us, effacing our sins, and forgive us, and have mercy on us, with mercy added to Your forgiveness; You are our Patron, our Master and the Guardian of our affairs; so grant us assistance against the disbelieving folk, by establishing definitive proof [for us] and victory over them in battle, for it is expected of a patron that he assist his clients against their enemies. In a hadth it is stated that when this verse was revealed and the Prophet (s) was reciting it, after each word it was said to him, "Granted". Medinese; [consisting of] 200 or 199 verses, and revealed after [srat] al-Anfl.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللّهُ نَفْسًا إِلااَّ وُسْعَهَا

Allah burdens not a person beyond his scope,

means, Allah does not ask a soul what is beyond its ability.

This only demonstrates Allah's kindness, compassion and generosity towards His creation.

This Ayah is the Ayah that abrogated the Ayah that worried the Companions, that is, Allah's statement,
وَإِن تُبْدُواْ مَا فِي أَنفُسِكُمْ أَوْ تُخْفُوهُ يُحَاسِبْكُم بِهِ اللّهُ
(And whether you disclose what is in yourselves or conceal it, Allah will call you to account for it), (2;284).

This indicates that although Allah will question His servants and judge them, He will only punish for what one is able to protect himself from.

As for what one cannot protect himself from, such as what one says to himself - or passing thoughts - they will not be punished for that.

We should state here that to dislike the evil thoughts that cross one's mind is a part of faith.

Allah said next,

لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ

He gets reward for that which he has earned,

of good.

وَعَلَيْهَا مَا اكْتَسَبَتْ

And he is punished for that which he has earned,

of evil, that is, concerning the acts that one is responsible for.

Allah then said, (mentioning what the believers said) while directing His servants to supplicate to Him, all the while promising them that He will answer their supplication;

رَبَّنَا لَا تُوَاخِذْنَا إِن نَّسِينَا أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَا

"Our Lord! Push us not if we forget or fall into error,"

meaning, "If we forgot an obligation or fell into a prohibition, or made an error while ignorant of its ruling."

We mentioned the Hadith by Abu Hurayrah, that Muslim collected, wherein Allah said, "I shall (accept your supplication)."

There is also the Hadith by Ibn Abbas that Allah said,

"I did (accept your supplication)."

رَبَّنَا وَلَا تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْنَا إِصْرًا كَمَا حَمَلْتَهُ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِنَا

Our Lord! Lay not on us a burden like that which You did lay on those before us (Jews and Christians),

means, "Even if we were able to perform them, do not require us to perform the difficult deeds as You required the previous nations before us, such as the burdens that were placed on them. You sent Your Prophet Muhammad, the Prophet of mercy, to abrogate these burdens through the Law that You revealed to him, the Hanifi (Islamic Monotheism), easy religion."

Muslim recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that;

the Messenger of Allah said that Allah said, "I shall (accept your supplication)."

Ibn Abbas narrated that the Messenger of Allah said that Allah said,

"I did (accept your supplication)."

There is the Hadith recorded through various chains of narration that;

the Messenger of Allah said,

بُعِثْتُ بِالْحَنِيفِيَّةِ السَّمْحَة

I was sent with the easy Hanifiyyah way.

رَبَّنَا وَلَا تُحَمِّلْنَا مَا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِ

Our Lord! Put not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear,

of obligations, hardships and afflictions, do not make us bear what we cannot bear of this.

رَبَّنَا وَلَا تُحَمِّلْنَا مَا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِ
(Our Lord! Put not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear),We mentioned that Allah said,

"I shall (accept your supplication)" in one narration,

and,

"I did (accept your supplication)," in another narration.

وَاعْفُ عَنَّا

Pardon us,

meaning, between us and You regarding what You know of our shortcomings and errors.

وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا

And grant us forgiveness,

concerning what is between us and Your servants. So do not expose our errors and evil deeds to them.

وَارْحَمْنَأ

Have mercy on us,

in what will come thereafter. Therefore, do not allow us to fall into another error.

They say that those who commit error need three things;

Allah's forgiveness for what is between Him and them,

that He conceals these errors from His other servants, and thus does not expose them before the servants, and

that He grants them immunity from further error."

We mentioned before that Allah answered these pleas, "I shall," in one narration and, "I did," in another narration.

أَنتَ مَوْلَانَا

You are our Mawla,

meaning, You are our supporter and helper, our trust is in You, You are sought for each and every type of help and our total reliance is on You. There is no power or strength except from You.

فَانصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ



And give us victory over the disbelieving people.

those who rejected Your religion, denied Your Oneness, refused the Message of Your Prophet, worshipped other than You and associated others in Your worship. Give us victory and make us prevail above them in this and the Hereafter.

Allah said, "I shall," in one narration, and, "I did," in the Hadith that Muslim collected from Ibn Abbas.

Further, Ibn Jarir recorded that Abu Ishaq said that;

whenever Mu`adh would finish reciting this Surah,
فَانصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ
(And give us victory over the disbelieving people), he would say "Amin."

This is the end of the Tafsir of Surah At-Baqarah, and all praise and thanks are due to Allah.

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