The Holy Quran, akin to a profound and boundless ocean, encompasses knowledge each of which, like a radiant jewel, guides humanity towards perfection and Divine proximity. Surah Al-Baqarah, with its exalted verses, serves as a divine map delineating the path of felicity for mankind. This treatise endeavours, through a profound contemplation of the verses pertaining to forgiveness, charity, repentance, and the Divine Names, to present these teachings in an eloquent language and a coherent structure worthy of scholarly reflection. The objective is not merely to elucidate Quranic concepts, but also to link them to human and social life, so that like a beacon, they illuminate the path for seekers of truth.
One of the eminent verses of Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 286, depicts the believers pleading with their Lord in a language filled with supplication and hope, requesting pardon, forgiveness, and mercy. This verse, like a passionate dialogue between servant and Lord, illustrates the layers of human need for Gods boundless mercy:
لَا یُکَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ۚ لَهَا مَا کَسَبَتْ وَعَلَیْهَا مَا اکْتَسَبَتْ ۗ رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذْنَا إِنْ نَسِینَا أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تَحْمِلْ عَلَیْنَا إِصْرًا کَمَا حَمَلْتَهُ عَلَى الَّذِینَ مِنْ قَبْلِنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تُحَمِّلْنَا مَا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِ ۖ وَاعْفُ عَنَّا وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَارْحَمْنَا ۚ أَنْتَ مَوْلَانَا فَانْصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْکَافِرِینَ
God does not burden any soul except according to its capacity. It shall have [the consequence of] what [good] it has earned, and it shall bear [the consequence of] what [evil] it has committed. Our Lord, do not punish us if we forget or fall into error. Our Lord, do not impose upon us a burden like that which You imposed on those before us. Our Lord, do not burden us with that which we have no ability to bear. And pardon us; forgive us; and have mercy upon us. You are our Protector, so give us victory over the disbelieving people.
This verse, like a melodious refrain, displays the degrees of seeking mercy. Wa'fu 'anna signifies pardon from errors and sins, as if the servant requests the Lord to overlook his faults with infinite kindness. Waghfir lana denotes the covering of sins, just as the Lord, by His attribute of Concealer, conceals the faults of servants and protects them from disgrace. Warhamna, however, is a plea for comprehensive mercy that not only eradicates sins but also places the servant under the shadow of Divine grace. These degrees, like steps ascending a ladder to the heavens, bring the servant closer to Divine proximity.
Divine forgiveness and pardon are governed by the wisdom and justice of the Lord. God, like a sagacious physician, not only forgives sins but also guides His servants towards perfection through His mercy. This mercy is conditional upon repentance and intimacy with the Lord, and even the imperfect acts of worship by the servants are accepted under the umbrella of Divine pardon.
Comprehending this verse requires a perspective beyond mere grammar and syntax. The Holy Quran, akin to a musical instrument, contains spiritual melodies and harmonies discernible only through disciplines such as psychology, epistemology, and even eschatology. This verse, with its unique literary style, portrays a loving dialogue between servant and Lord, as if the servant humbly bargains with God, requesting mercy. This negotiation stems not from audacity but from necessity and helplessness, akin to a child seeking refuge in the mothers embrace and asking for kindness and affection.
Verse 286 of Surah Al-Baqarah is a mirror reflecting the profound relationship between servant and Lord. The plea for pardon, forgiveness, and mercy reveals the human need for Divine grace. This verse, with its refined diction and deep meaning, calls humanity to repentance and intimacy with God and demonstrates that Divine mercy, like an endless rain, descends upon servants provided they expose themselves to it through repentance and righteous deeds.
Charity, one of the fundamental concepts of the Holy Quran, is addressed with clarity and guidance in verses 214 and 219 of Surah Al-Baqarah:
أَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ أَنْ تَدْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ وَلَمَّا یَأْتِکُمْ مَثَلُ الَّذِینَ خَلَوْا مِنْ قَبْلِکُمْ ۖ مَسَّتْهُمُ الْبَأْسَاءُ وَالضَّرَّاءُ وَزُلْزِلُوا حَتَّىٰ یَقُولَ الرَّسُولُ وَالَّذِینَ آمَنُوا مَعَهُ مَتَىٰ نَصْرُ اللَّهِ ۗ أَلَا إِنَّ نَصْرَ اللَّهِ قَرِیبٌ
Did you think that you would enter Paradise while such a time has not yet come to you as came to those who passed on before you? They were afflicted by suffering and adversity and were shaken until the messenger and those who believed with him said, "When is the help of Allah?" Behold, the help of Allah is near.
یَسْأَلُونَکَ عَنِ الْخَمْرِ وَالْمَیْسِر
