آمَنَ الرَّسُولُ بِمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ رَبِّهِ
Last Two Verses of Al-Baqarah: Arabic, Meaning, and Virtues
At a Glance
Surah Al-Baqarah, the 2nd surah of the Quran
Verses 2:285–286, the closing of the longest surah
Whoever recites them at night, they will suffice him
Faith, forgiveness, mercy, and divine protection
The Two Verses in Arabic
Below are the complete texts of both verses, exactly as they appear in the Quran, with transliteration and translation. Take them slowly, verse by verse.
آمَنَ الرَّسُولُ بِمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ رَبِّهِ وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ ۚ كُلٌّ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَمَلَائِكَتِهِ وَكُتُبِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِنْ رُسُلِهِ ۚ وَقَالُوا سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا ۖ غُفْرَانَكَ رَبَّنَا وَإِلَيْكَ الْمَصِيرُ
Amanar-rasulu bima unzila ilayhi mir-Rabbihi wal-mu’minun, kullun amana Billahi wa mala’ikatihi wa kutubihi wa rusulih, la nufarriqu bayna ahadim-mir-rusulih, wa qalu sami’na wa ata’na, ghufranaka Rabbana wa ilaykal-masir.
The Messenger firmly believes in what has been revealed to him from his Lord, and so do the believers. They all believe in Allah, His angels, His Books, and His messengers. They proclaim, “We make no distinction between any of His messengers.” And they say, “We hear and obey. We seek Your forgiveness, our Lord! And to You alone is the final return.”
رسول (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) اس پر ایمان رکھتے ہیں جو ان کے رب کی طرف سے ان پر نازل ہوا، اور مؤمن بھی۔ سب اللہ پر، اس کے فرشتوں پر، اس کی کتابوں پر اور اس کے رسولوں پر ایمان رکھتے ہیں۔ (وہ کہتے ہیں) ہم اس کے رسولوں میں سے کسی کے درمیان فرق نہیں کرتے۔ اور وہ کہتے ہیں: ہم نے سنا اور اطاعت کی۔ اے ہمارے رب، ہم تیری بخشش چاہتے ہیں، اور تیری ہی طرف لوٹنا ہے۔
لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ۚ لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا مَا اكْتَسَبَتْ ۗ رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذْنَا إِنْ نَسِينَا أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْنَا إِصْرًا كَمَا حَمَلْتَهُ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تُحَمِّلْنَا مَا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِ ۖ وَاعْفُ عَنَّا وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَارْحَمْنَا ۚ أَنْتَ مَوْلَانَا فَانْصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ
La yukallifullahu nafsan illa wus’aha, laha ma kasabat wa ‘alayha mak-tasabat, Rabbana la tu’akhidhna in-nasina aw akhta’na, Rabbana wa la tahmil ‘alayna isran kama hamaltahu ‘alal-ladhina min qablina, Rabbana wa la tuhammilna ma la taqata lana bih, wa’fu ‘anna waghfir lana warhamna, Anta Mawlana fansurna ‘alal-qawmil-kafirin.
Allah does not require of any soul more than what it can afford. All good will be for its own benefit, and all evil will be to its own loss. The believers pray, “Our Lord! Do not punish us if we forget or make a mistake. Our Lord! Do not place a burden on us like the one you placed on those before us. Our Lord! Do not burden us with what we cannot bear. Pardon us, forgive us, and have mercy on us. You are our only Guardian. So grant us victory over the disbelieving people.”
اللہ کسی جان پر اس کی وسعت سے بڑھ کر بوجھ نہیں ڈالتا۔ جو کچھ اس نے کمایا، اس کا فائدہ اسی کو ہے، اور جو برائی اس نے کمائی، اس کا وبال بھی اسی پر ہے۔ (مؤمن دعا کرتے ہیں) اے ہمارے رب، اگر ہم بھول جائیں یا غلطی کریں تو ہم پر مواخذہ نہ کر۔ اے ہمارے رب، ہم پر وہ بوجھ نہ ڈال جیسا تو نے ان لوگوں پر ڈالا جو ہم سے پہلے تھے۔ اے ہمارے رب، ہم پر اتنا بوجھ نہ ڈال جس کی ہم میں طاقت نہ ہو۔ ہم سے درگزر فرما، ہمیں بخش دے، اور ہم پر رحم کر۔ تو ہمارا مولا (مددگار) ہے، پس کافروں کی قوم کے خلاف ہمیں نصرت عطا فرما۔
Key Phrases Explained
The second verse is where the dua lives. Here are its key phrases, one by one.
| Arabic | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا | La yukallifullahu nafsan illa wus’aha | Allah does not burden a soul beyond what it can bear |
| رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذْنَا | Rabbana la tu’akhidhna | Our Lord, do not hold us accountable |
| إِنْ نَسِينَا أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَا | in-nasina aw akhta’na | If we forget or fall into error |
| وَلَا تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْنَا إِصْرًا | wa la tahmil ‘alayna isran | And do not place a heavy burden upon us |
| وَاعْفُ عَنَّا وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَارْحَمْنَا | wa’fu ‘anna waghfir lana warhamna | Pardon us, forgive us, and have mercy on us |
| أَنْتَ مَوْلَانَا | Anta Mawlana | You are our Guardian, our Protector |
| فَانْصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ | fansurna ‘alal-qawmil-kafirin | So grant us victory over the disbelieving people |
Notice how the verse begins with a promise before any request: Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity. Every hardship you carry is, by definition, one you can carry. The dua then asks for three kinds of mercy in sequence: pardon for the past, forgiveness of sins, and mercy going forward. It ends by naming Allah as Mawla, the Guardian, which is the name of someone who never abandons his own.
The Story Behind These Verses
These verses did not arrive like the rest of the Quran. According to the narration of Ibn Abbas (RA), while the Prophet (peace be upon him) was sitting with Jibril, they heard a creaking sound from above. Jibril lifted his gaze and said that a door of heaven had been opened that day, a door never opened before. An angel descended through it, an angel who had never descended to earth before that day. He greeted the Prophet and said: “Rejoice in two lights given to you which have not been given to any prophet before you: the opening of the Book (Al-Fatihah) and the closing verses of Surah Al-Baqarah. You will not read a letter of them but you will be given it.” This hadith is recorded in Sahih Muslim (806).
Another narration tells us that these verses were among the gifts given to the Prophet (peace be upon him) during the Night Journey: the five daily prayers, the last verses of Surah Al-Baqarah, and forgiveness for those of his Ummah who avoid associating partners with Allah. This is recorded in Sahih Muslim and cited in the tafsir of Ibn Kathir on these verses.
It is also reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) was given these last verses from a treasure beneath the Throne, given to no prophet before him. The narration appears in the Sunan al-Kubra of An-Nasa’i and the Sahih of Ibn Hibban, and was graded sound by Al-Arna’ut.
Virtues and Benefits
The most famous virtue is also the most practical. Abu Mas’ud (RA) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever recites the last two verses of Surah Al-Baqarah at night, they will suffice him.” This hadith is agreed upon, recorded in both Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim.
What does “they will suffice him” mean? Scholars recorded by Ibn Kathir accepted several explanations: protection from Shaytan through the night, sufficiency in place of night prayer for one who cannot stand, or great reward. The word kafatahu is deliberately broad, and the safest reading is that it covers all three.
The “two lights” hadith adds something even more striking: every letter carries a granted benefit. “You will not read a letter of them but you will be given it.” Not the whole verse, not the whole passage, but letter by letter. That is why so many Muslims make these two verses their nightly habit: a few minutes of recitation, and the promise covers the whole night.
There is also the mercy built into the text itself. Verse 286 is Allah teaching us what to ask for: forgiveness for forgetfulness and mistakes, relief from heavy burdens, and the assurance that we are never asked for more than we can bear. It is a dua that starts by removing our fear, then teaches us our words.
When and How to Recite
The hadith specifies the time: at night. The common practice is to recite both verses after the Isha prayer or just before sleep, with full attention. Many families recite them together, and the Prophet (peace be upon him) encouraged teaching them to one’s household, since their benefit belongs to everyone who learns them.
Many recite them in the night prayer or Witr, and pair them with other Quranic duas from the prophets. There is no fixed number of repetitions: once with presence of heart each night is the practice the hadith describes.
FAQ
What are the last two verses of Surah Al-Baqarah?
They are verses 285 and 286 of Surah Al-Baqarah, the closing of the longest surah in the Quran. Verse 285 is a declaration of faith: the Messenger and the believers believe in Allah, His angels, His books, and His messengers without distinction. Verse 286 contains the promise that no soul is burdened beyond its capacity, followed by a complete dua for forgiveness, mercy, and help.
What did the Prophet say about reciting them at night?
Abu Mas’ud (RA) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever recites the last two verses of Surah Al-Baqarah at night, they will suffice him.” This is agreed upon, recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim. It is one of the most widely practiced nightly habits in the Muslim world.
What does “they will suffice him” mean?
Scholars explained it in several ways and accepted all of them: protection from Shaytan and harm through the night, sufficiency in place of night prayer for one who cannot stand, or sufficiency as a means of great reward. The wording is broad, so the promise likely covers all three: protection, worship, and reward together.
What is the story of the “two lights”?
Ibn Abbas (RA) narrated that an angel descended through a gate of heaven that had never been opened before, bringing the Prophet (peace be upon him) the good news of “two lights” given to no prophet before him: Surah Al-Fatihah and the closing verses of Surah Al-Baqarah. The angel added: “You will not read a letter of them but you will be given it.” (Sahih Muslim 806)
When were these verses revealed?
They were revealed in Madinah, at the very end of Surah Al-Baqarah. Reports in Sahih Muslim describe them as gifts given to the Prophet (peace be upon him) during the Night Journey, alongside the five daily prayers. They are also described as coming from a treasure beneath the Throne.
Can I recite them in my prayer?
Yes. Many recite them in the night prayer or in Witr, and they are commonly included in evening remembrances alongside Ayat al-Kursi. The hadith mentions reciting them “at night,” which covers both inside and outside of prayer.
How do you pronounce these verses?
Begin as: “Amanar-rasulu bima unzila ilayhi mir-Rabbihi wal-mu’minun…” and the second verse as: “La yukallifullahu nafsan illa wus’aha…” Full transliterations are given above with each verse. Read slowly, word by word, and follow the Arabic text while listening to a reliable recitation until the sounds settle in your memory.
Final Thoughts
A gift from beneath the Throne, carried through a gate of heaven that had never opened before, given to no prophet before Muhammad (peace be upon him). That is what you hold when you recite these two verses at night. They ask for everything a believer needs: faith without distinction, forgiveness for forgetfulness, burdens we can bear, pardon, mercy, and the help of our Guardian. Make them your last words before sleep, and let the promise of “they will suffice you” cover your night.
Continue Reading
Explore the Rabbana Atina dua, the dua for parents, or return to the Quranic duas hub to discover more supplications.