Surah Al Mumtahanah Tafseer

رَبَّنَا لَا تَجْعَلْنَا فِتْنَةً لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا

Our Lord! Make us not a trial for the disbelievers,

Mujahid said,

"It means, `Do not punish us by their hands, nor with a punishment from You.' Or they will say, `Had these people been following the truth, the torment would not have struck them'."

Ad-Dahhak said something similar.

Qatadah said,

"Do not give the disbelievers victory over us, thus subjecting us to trials by their hands. Surely, if You do so, they would then think that they were given victory over us because they are on the truth."

This is the meaning that Ibn Jarir preferred.

Ali bin Abi Talhah reported from Ibn `Abbas:

"Do not give them dominance over us, lest we suffer trials by their hands."

Allah's statement,

وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا رَبَّنَا

إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ

and forgive us, Our Lord! Verily, You, only You, are the Almighty, the All-Wise.

means, `cover our mistakes from being exposed to other than You, and forgive us for what (sin) is between us and You.'

أَنتَ الْعَزِيزُ

(Verily, You, only You, are the Almighty), `and those who seek refuge in Your majesty are never dealt with unjustly,'

الْحَكِيمُ

(the All-Wise), `in Your statements, actions, legislation and decrees.'

Allah the Exalted said