Steadfastness and Forgiveness
رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا، وَإِسْرَافَنَا فِي أَمْرِنَا، وَثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَنَا، وَانْصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ.
رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَإِسْرَافَنَا فِي أَمْرِنَا وَثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَنَا وَانْصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ
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“Our Lord, forgive us our sins and our excesses in our affair, and make firm our feet, and grant us victory over the disbelieving people.”
Forms: The verbs “ighfir” (اغْفِرْ), “thabbit” (ثَبتْ) and “unsur” (انصُرْ). The supplication of the righteous companions of the prophets (ribbiyyun) during battles. It includes the acknowledgment of one’s own sins and excesses before the request for victory.
Tafsir of Sheikh Abd al-Rahman al-Saadi
Sheikh as-Saadi writes: “These believers understood that sins and excess are the main cause of defeat and calamity. Therefore they first asked forgiveness of sins, and then steadfastness and victory over the enemy.”
Tafsir of Imam Ibn Kathir
Ibn Kathir notes: “They did not lose heart at what befell them in the path of Allah, and did not weaken, but turned with this humble supplication. And Allah granted them a reward in this world and a beautiful reward in the Eternal life.”
Tafsir al-Baghawi
The words of Allah, the Exalted: “...And when hardship befell them, their only words were...” The word “qawlahum” (“their words”) is in the accusative as the predicate, while the subject is contained in the words “they said.” The meaning is that when their prophet was killed, they
“...said: ‘Our Lord! Forgive us our sins...’” that is, minor sins, “...and our excesses in our affair...” that is, major sins,
“...and make our feet firm...” so that they would not waver,
“...and grant us victory over the disbelieving people...” The meaning that follows is: So why did you, O companions of Muhammad, not do and say the same?
In Sahih al-Bukhari (No. 2824) there is a narration about the merit of steadfastness in battle and of sincere turning to Allah during severe trials.