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285- THE MESSENGER BELIEVED IN WHAT WAS SENT DOWN TO HIM AND SO DID THE BELIEVERS.  THEY ALL BELIEVED IN ALLAH, HIS ANGELS, HIS BOOKS AND HIS MESSENGERS, WE MAKE NO SEPARATION BETWEEN ANY OF HIS MESSENGERS, AND THEY SAID: WE HEARD AND WE OBEY, FORGIVE US OUR LORD FOR TO YOU IS OUR DESTINY.

286- ALLAH DOES NOT PRESCRIBE FOR A SOUL EXCEPT WHAT IT CAN BEAR.  TO HER CREDIT WHAT IT HAS EARNED AND UPON IT WHAT IT HAS EARNED.  OUR LORD FORGIVE US IF WE FORGET OR ERR. OUR LORD AND DO NOT LAY A HEAVY BURDEN OF US AS YOU DID TO THOSE BEFORE US.  OUR LORD AND DO NOT LAY UPON US WHAT WE HAVE NO STRENGTH TO BEAR; AND PARDON US, FORGIVE US AND HAVE MERCY UPON US, YOU ARE OUR ALLY AND SUPPORTER, GIVE US VICTORY OVER THE DISBELIEVERS.

The historical background for the sending down of this Ayah has been discussed before in Ayah 284.

Status in the Quran:

The last two Ayahs of Sorah Al-Baqarah have a very special status in the Quran.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “Whoever reads the two Ayahs at the end of Sorah Al-Baqarah at night, they will be sufficient for him”. (T: Tafseer Al-Quran; 4 & M: Salah Mosafreen; 256)

Ibn Abas, may Allah be pleased with him reported: “While Gabriel was sitting with Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him, he heard noise overhead.  He looked up then said: ‘this is a door in heaven opened today, it was never opened before and an angel came down through it.  Then he said: ‘this angel descended to Earth, he never descended before today’.  He gave them Salam and said: Have good news of two lights you were given, never given to a prophet before you, Al-Fateha of the Book and the end of Sorah Al-Baqarah, when you recite a letter of it, you will be granted (what it means)” (M:Mosafreen;254)

Also Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “Recite the two Ayahs at the end of Sorah Al-Baqarah for I have been given them from under the throne” (A: 4; 147)

Here is a statement about as well as a praise of the Muslim, we should be proud of, and should strive to make ourselves worthy of.  The Ayah describes our articles of Faith:

1-    To believe in Allah, and every thing He sent to Mohamed His messenger prayer and peace upon him.

2-    To believe in Allah’s angels, books and all the messengers.

3-    To make no separation between any of Allah’s messengers.  They are one continuous line, beginning with Adam peace upon him and ending with Mohamed prayer and peace upon him. This is one of the fundamental differences between the Islam and other Faiths.  We believe in all of Allah’s prophets and messengers, while they believe in some and disbelieve in others.

4-    Total unreserved submission to Allah the Highest and obedience of his commands.  We believe that our life is better under Allah’s Commands and Law than under the man made law, based on man made believes and ideologies, which are always changeable. 

In Ayah 286 Allah the Highest is telling us about two of His principles which apply directly to us:

1-    “ALLAH DOES NOT PRESCRIBE FOR A SOUL EXCEPT WHAT IT CAN BEAR”.  Allah the Highest created us and knows our limitations in general and each person’s limitations in particular. Therefore whatever Allah the Highest commands us to do, we can manage and we should observe.

2-    “TO HER CREDIT WHAT IT HAS EARNED AND UPON IT WHAT IT HAS EARNED” Meaning of good and bad deeds.  We note the word earned, meaning to acquire the deed, work for it, and intentionally out of our free will, not being compelled or deceived. This applies particularly to the bad deeds.  As for the good deeds, this principle applies as well; however Allah the Highest is lenient with us acquiring good deeds.  One can acquire good deed without intending to.  A wife might give charity from her husband money like feeding someone, and it is a charity and good deed for him.  If man, animal or bird eats from your crop or tree, it is a charity for you, even though you did not give them the food yourself.

The rest of Ayah 286 is a Dawaa to Allah the Highest.  It is a great relief and comfort for the Muslims:

“OUR LORD FORGIVE US IF WE FORGET OR ERR” Allah the Highest forgives us if we forget or err for.  Allah the Highest said: “THERE IS NO BLAME UPON YOU MAKE A MISTAKE, BUT WHAT YOU INTENDED IN YOUR HEARTS, AND ALLAH IS MOST FORGIVING AND MOST MERCIFUL” (S: 33 A: 5)

Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “Allah pardons my nation; the error, forgetting, and what they were forced to do”.  (Ma: Talaq; 16)  Meaning that Allah the Highest pardons us if we do wrong; by mistake, or forgetting or not knowing, or compelled.

Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him also said: “I do not fear for you the errors you make, but what I fear is what you intend in your hearts” (A: 2; 308)

”OUR LORD AND DO NOT LAY A HEAVY BURDEN OF US AS YOU DID TO THOSE BEFORE US”

“OUR LORD AND DO NOT LAY UPON US WHAT WE HAVE NO STRENGTH TO BEAR”

“AND PARDON US”

“FORGIVE US”

“AND HAVE MERCY UPON US”

“YOU ARE OUR ALLY AND SUPPORTER, GIVE US VICTORY OVER THE DISBELIEVERS”

These are seven pleads and Dawa to Allah the Highest.  It is only through Allah’s Pardoning, Forgiveness and Mercy that we may enter His Paradise, for no one will enter the Paradise through their deeds only.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “None of you will be granted entry to the Paradise through his deeds alone, nor will it protect him from the Fire, not even I, but only through Allah’s Mercy”.  (M: Sefat Al-Monafqeen; 77)

We ask Allah the Highest not to lay upon us a burden we can not bear, for this is usually due to Allah’s anger upon people He intends to punish. 

Then we ask Allah the Highest to be our Ally and Supporter and to support us against the disbelievers and grant us victory over them.  As if the struggle between the believers and disbelievers is ongoing and eternal, therefore we will always need Allah’s support. 

Asking for Allah’s support is the last sentence of the Ayah, and the last words of Sorah Al-Baqarah, the longest Sorah in the Quran and the one which has so much instructions and law.  As if to tell us that we do not qualify for Allah’s support unless we fulfill our duties and commands.  It is only then that we deserve for Allah the Highest to be our Allay and Supporter.

B: Bukhari   M: Muslim    Mal: Malek   A: Ahmed   D: Abu Dawood     

Da: Daremy   Ma: Ibn Magah                   N: Nesae      T: Termezi  

End of Sorah Al-Baqarah; thanks and gratitude to Allah the Highest.