Translation:

“Our Lord, do not hold us accountable, if we forget or make a mistake, and, Our Lord, do not place on us such a burden as You have placed on those before us, and, Our Lord, do not make us bear a burden for which we have no strength. And pardon us, and grant us forgiveness, and have mercy on us. You are our Lord. So then help us against the disbelieving people.”

Sayyid wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve & protect him) explained, among other things:

There are three things being asked at the end of this supplication:

a) وَاعۡفُ عَنَّا “And pardon our sins”.

b) وَاغۡفِرۡ لَنَا “And forgive us”. It is possible that a mistake is pardoned, i.e. Allah is no longer displeased for committing that mistake, but a punishment may still be given as compensation. Here we are commanded by Allah to say: “Oh Allah. Pardon our mistakes and also forgive us and don’t give us any punishment for them.”

c) وَارۡحَمۡنَا “And have mercy on us”. Here we are asking Allah: “Oh Allah! Not only pardon us for our mistakes and not punish us for them, please also give us something from Your Mercy”.

Hazrat explained that a “waqaf” sign is stated in the (Indo-Pak) Mushafs after each of these supplications. While reading a verse after which there is a “waqaf” a pause which is longer than a “saktah” should be made without releasing the breath. This waqaf is for pondering over the meanings of these three supplications. They should not be read without pausing, in which case they would be read without pondering over the meanings of these supplications.

These supplications also teach us that a slave of Allah is required to try his utmost to live his life according to the commandments of Allah. At the same time, he should fear for any mistakes or shortcomings in his efforts and ask Allah for forgiveness over them.

Intekhab e Kaiseri

Ramadan 1440: Post-Zuhr Discourses- Explanation of supplications from Munajat-e-Maqbool