Title:
A Comprehensive Supplication for Forgiveness & Ease in Responsibilities
Article:
Our Lord, do not hold
us responsible if we [mistakenly] overlook [any of your directives] or stumble
[in carrying them out]. Our Lord, do not put upon us a [heavy] burden, as You
had put upon those before us. Our Lord, do not put upon us a responsibility,
which is beyond our capacity. Forgive us. Cleanse us [of our mistakes]. Have
mercy upon us. You alone are our protector, therefore, grant us victory over
these rejecting people[1].
Note: As stated
earlier, the last part of Surah Al-Baqarah
is, an expression and declaration of our covenant with God, which was inherent
in our accepting faith. The cited words are a comprehensive supplication of
steadfastness, forgiveness and ease in responsibilities, at the end of our
expression of this covenant.
The supplication starts with an admission of our
imperfections and weaknesses, due to which we may mistakenly overlook any of the
directives entailed in the guidance of God or falter in carrying out any of
these directives in its letter and spirit. The supplication seeks relief of
responsibility, on the Day of Judgment, from all such mistakes. It then implores
the Almighty to save us from the burdens placed upon the previous nations and
from putting upon us such responsibilities, which are beyond our capacity.
Finally, it ends with a prayer for salvation in the Hereafter as well as
supremacy of the companions of the Prophet (pbuh) over those, who had reject
God's Truth, even after its ultimate manifestation through the Messenger of God.
Being a supplication taught by the Almighty Himself, there is
an element of glad tidings entailed in the supplication as well. Thus, the
supplication ensures that deviations from the Right Path due to forgetfulness
and mistake shall not be punished in the Hereafter; that the Final
Shari`ah shall not put upon its
followers the burdens put upon the followers of previous
Shari`ah, especially the Jews; that
God Shari`ah shall not put upon
its followers a responsibility, which is beyond his capacity; and that adherence
to this guidance shall follow forgiveness and salvation for the followers, in
general, and victory over the rejecters for the companions of the Prophet (pbuh),
in particular.