Transliteration:( Allazeena yaqooloona Rabbanaaa innanaaa aamannaa faghfir lanaa zunoobanaa wa qinaa 'azaaban Naar )
"They are those who say: 'Our Lord, indeed we have accepted faith [33], so forgive us our sins and protect us from the punishment of Hell.'"
This verse highlights the sincerity and humility of true believers—those who acknowledge their Imaan and appeal to Allah for forgiveness and protection from Hellfire.
From this, several key insights emerge:
It is permissible to call oneself sinful, showing humility and accountability before Allah. This reflects the believer’s recognition of their flaws and need for mercy.
It is not permissible to call oneself faithless. Saying “I have no faith” or “I am of weak belief” contradicts the spirit of Imaan. A believer should never undermine their own status as a person of faith.
The verse teaches that du‘a should be made through the wasila (intercession) of one’s faith.
The believers say: “We have believed, so forgive us…”—demonstrating that faith itself is a powerful means of drawing Allah’s mercy.
This is supported by Hadith, where believers are encouraged to use their good deeds as intercessors when praying. For instance:
“O Allah! If You have accepted my such-and-such deed, then by its virtue, accept this supplication.”
Thus, instead of expressing weakness in belief, a true believer should confidently use faith and righteous acts as a medium in supplication, seeking Allah’s forgiveness and protection from Hell.
This verse beautifully illustrates how belief, humility, and intelligent du‘a go hand in hand in the life of a sincere Muslim.
16. Those who say: “Our Lord! We have indeed believed, so forgive us our sins and save us from the punishment of the Fire.” 17. (They are) the patient, the true believers, and obedient with sincere devotion in worship to Allah. Those who spend ﴿in good﴾ and those who pray and beg Allah’s pardon in the last hours of the night.
Allah describes the Muttaqin, His pious servants, whom He promised tremendous rewards,
(Those who say: “Our Lord! We have indeed believed”) in You, Your Book and Your Messenger.
(so forgive us our sins) because of our faith in You and in what You legislated for us. Therefore, forgive us our errors and shortcomings, with Your bounty and mercy,
(and save us from the punishment of the Fire.)
Allah then said,
((They are) those who are patient) while performing acts of obedience and abandoning the prohibitions.
(those who are true) concerning their proclamation of faith, by performing the difficult deeds.
(and obedient) meaning, they submit and obey Allah,
(those who spend) from their wealth on all the acts of obedience they were commanded, being kind to kith and kin, helping the needy, and comforting the destitute.
(and those who pray and beg Allah’s pardon in the last hours of the night) and this testifies to the virtue of seeking Allah’s forgiveness in the latter part of the night. It was reported that when Ya`qub said to his children,
(I will ask my Lord for forgiveness for you) ﴿12:98﴾ he waited until the latter part of the night to say his supplication.
Furthermore, the Two Sahihs, the Musnad and Sunan collections recorded through several Companions that the Messenger of Allah said,
(Every night, when the last third of it remains, our Lord, the Blessed, the Superior, descends to the lowest heaven saying, “Is there anyone to ask Me, so that I may grant him his request Is there anyone to invoke Me, so that I may respond to his invocation Is there anyone seeking My forgiveness, so that I may forgive him”)
The Two Sahihs recorded that `A’ishah said, “The Messenger of Allah performed Witr during the first part, the middle and latter parts of the night. Then, later (in his life), he would perform it (only) during the latter part.” `Abdullah bin `Umar used to pray during the night and would ask, “O Nafi`! Is it the latter part of the night yet” and if Nafi` said, “Yes,” Ibn `Umar would start supplicating to Allah and seeking His forgiveness until dawn. This Hadith was collected by Ibn Abi Hatim.
(3:16) These are the ones who pray: ‘Our Lord! We do indeed believe, so forgive us our sins and keep us safe from the chastisement of the Fire’;
There is no commentary by Abul Maududi available for this verse.
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