رَبَّنَا لَا تَجْعَلْنَا فِتْنَةً لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ وَٱغْفِرْ لَنَا رَبَّنَآ ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ 5
Translations
Our Lord, make us not [objects of] torment for the disbelievers and forgive us, our Lord. Indeed, it is You who is the Exalted in Might, the Wise."
Transliteration
Rabbana la taj'alna fitnatan lilladhina kafaru waghfir lana Rabbana innaka anta al-'Azizu al-Hakimu
Tafsir (Explanation)
This du'a (supplication) from the believers expresses two crucial requests: first, that Allah not make them a cause of trial (fitnah) or temptation for the disbelievers—meaning they pray not to be humiliated or fall into such circumstances that would lead others to mock or doubt their faith; second, they seek Allah's forgiveness. Ibn Kathir explains that fitnah here refers to being subjected to persecution or disgrace that might cause others to reject Islam, while Al-Qurtubi notes the believers recognize their dependence on Allah's protection. The ayah concludes with affirming Allah's absolute power (al-'Aziz) and wisdom (al-Hakim) in answering such prayers.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Mumtahanah, which was revealed in Medina and addresses the examination of believing women who migrated to the Prophet ﷺ. The surah deals with loyalty, relationships with disbelievers, and the trials faced by Muslims. This specific verse reflects the broader theme of the surah: the believers' consciousness of their vulnerability and their reliance on Allah's protection from trials and disgrace.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet ﷺ said, 'The best du'a is the du'a made during the standing (in prayer)' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3479). Additionally, the hadith 'Ask Allah for forgiveness and repentance, for verily I seek forgiveness from Allah one hundred times in a day' (Sahih Muslim 2702) relates to the theme of seeking Allah's forgiveness and protection.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should regularly supplicate to Allah for protection from trials that might weaken their faith or lead others astray, understanding that our strength and preservation come only from Allah's might and wisdom. This teaches us to combine spiritual vigilance with humble dependence on the Divine, recognizing that trials can be a means of testing our sincerity and that forgiveness is always available to those who turn to Allah.