The last two ayat of Surah al-Baqarah are verses 285 and 286, beginning with the words Amana ar-Rasul ("The Messenger has believed"), and the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said that whoever recites them at night, they will suffice him. This hadith is recorded in both Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim.
The two verses close the longest surah of the Quran. They begin with a declaration of faith and end with one of the most beloved prayers a Muslim can make, asking God for ease, pardon and mercy.
Key takeaways
- The last two ayat of Surah al-Baqarah are verses 2:285 and 2:286, the final verses of the Quran's longest surah, which has 286 verses.
- Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim both report that whoever recites these two verses at night will find that they suffice him.
- Sahih Muslim reports that an angel described them, together with Surah al-Fatihah, as a light given to the Prophet that no earlier prophet received.
- According to Sahih Muslim, these verses were revealed after the companions felt anxious about verse 2:284, and God answered each request in the closing prayer.
- Verse 2:286 contains the famous principle that God does not burden any soul beyond what it can bear.
What are the last two verses of Surah al-Baqarah?
Surah al-Baqarah ("The Cow") is the second surah of the Quran and was revealed in Madinah. It is a long surah covering faith, worship, family life, law and the stories of earlier prophets. Its final two verses gather many of these themes into a short statement of belief and a prayer.
Here are the last two verses in the Sahih International translation.
The Messenger has believed in what was revealed to him from his Lord, and [so have] the believers. All of them have believed in Allah and His angels and His books and His messengers, [saying], "We make no distinction between any of His messengers." And they say, "We hear and we obey. [We seek] Your forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the [final] destination." Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity. It will have [the consequence of] what [good] it has gained, and it will bear [the consequence of] what [evil] it has earned. "Our Lord, do not impose blame upon us if we have forgotten or erred. Our Lord, and lay not upon us a burden like that which You laid upon those before us. Our Lord, and burden us not with that which we have no ability to bear. And pardon us; and forgive us; and have mercy upon us. You are our protector, so give us victory over the disbelieving people."
When people search for the "last verse of Surah Baqarah", they usually mean verse 286, the prayer that begins "Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity."
"Allah" is the Arabic word for God, the same word Arab Christians use.
Amana ar-Rasul transliteration
For readers who cannot yet read Arabic script, here is a transliteration of both verses. An apostrophe (') marks the Arabic letter 'ayn, and "ee" and "oo" mark long vowels.
Verse 285: Amana alrrasoolu bima onzila ilayhi min rabbihi waalmuminoona kullun amana biAllahi wamalaikatihi wakutubihi warusulihi la nufarriqu bayna ahadin min rusulihi waqaloo sami'na waata'na ghufranaka rabbana wailayka almaseeru
Verse 286: La yukallifu Allahu nafsan illa wus'aha laha ma kasabat wa'alayha ma iktasabat rabbana la tuakhithna in naseena aw akhtana rabbana wala tahmil 'alayna isran kama hamaltahu 'ala allatheena min qablina rabbana wala tuhammilna ma la taqata lana bihi wao'fu 'anna waighfir lana wairhamna anta mawlana faonsurna 'ala alqawmi alkafireena
Transliteration helps, but some Arabic sounds have no English equivalent. Listening to a reciter while following the text is the best way to learn the correct pronunciation.
The story behind the last three verses of Surah Baqarah
Many people search for the last three verses of Surah Baqarah, meaning verses 284 to 286. Verse 284 is closely tied to the final two because it is the reason they were revealed.
To Allah belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth. Whether you show what is within yourselves or conceal it, Allah will bring you to account for it. Then He will forgive whom He wills and punish whom He wills, and Allah is over all things competent.
Sahih Muslim reports that this verse weighed heavily on the companions. They worried that they would be held accountable even for passing thoughts they could not control. They came to the Prophet, and he told them to respond with "We hear and we obey" and to ask for God's forgiveness.
When they said these words sincerely, God revealed verses 285 and 286. The first praises the believers for exactly the words they had just said. The second reassures them that no soul is burdened beyond its capacity. In the same report in Sahih Muslim, God answered each line of the closing prayer with acceptance.
Meaning of the last two verses of Surah al-Baqarah
Verse 285: a declaration of faith
- "The Messenger has believed... and [so have] the believers." The Prophet and his followers share one faith, and the verse honours both.
- "Allah and His angels and His books and His messengers." These are four of the six articles of faith in Islam. The other two, belief in the Last Day and in God's decree, appear elsewhere in the Quran and hadith.
- "We make no distinction between any of His messengers." Muslims believe in all of God's prophets, including Abraham, Moses and Jesus, as explained in our article on prophets in the Quran.
- "We hear and we obey." This is the attitude God praised in the companions: listening to revelation with acceptance, then asking forgiveness for falling short.
Verse 286: a principle of mercy and a prayer
- "Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity." This is one of the foundational principles of Islam. Religious duties are set within what people can bear, and scholars use this verse to explain why exemptions exist for the sick, travellers and others in hardship.
- "It will have... what [good] it has gained, and it will bear... what [evil] it has earned." Each person is responsible for their own choices.
- "Do not impose blame upon us if we have forgotten or erred." Scholars draw from this that honest mistakes and forgetfulness are forgiven by God.
- "Lay not upon us a burden like that which You laid upon those before us." A request for a religion of ease.
- "And pardon us; and forgive us; and have mercy upon us." Commentators, including Ibn Kathir, explain these as three distinct requests: to have sins erased, to have them covered, and to be shown mercy and protected in what is to come.
- "You are our protector." The Arabic Mawla means protector, ally and patron. The prayer ends by relying on God completely.
Benefits of the last two verses of Surah al-Baqarah
They suffice whoever recites them at night
Abu Mas'ud al-Ansari reported that the Prophet said whoever recites the last two verses of Surah al-Baqarah at night, they will suffice him. This hadith is in both Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim. Scholars such as an-Nawawi mention two explanations: that they protect the reader from harm that night, or that they suffice in place of voluntary night prayer, and both meanings may be intended.
A light given to no prophet before
Sahih Muslim records from Ibn Abbas that an angel came down through a gate of heaven opened for the first time. He gave the Prophet glad tidings of two lights given to no earlier prophet: the Opening of the Book (Surah al-Fatihah) and the closing verses of Surah al-Baqarah. He added that the Prophet would not recite a letter of them without being granted what it asks for. Our guide to Surah al-Fatihah's meaning explains the first of these two lights.
A gift from the Night Journey
Sahih Muslim also reports from Ibn Mas'ud that during the Prophet's ascension to the heavens (al-Mi'raj), he was given three things: the five daily prayers, the closing verses of Surah al-Baqarah, and the promise of forgiveness of major sins for those of his community who do not associate partners with God.
Protection for the home
A narration in Jami at-Tirmidhi, graded authentic by some scholars, states that if these two verses are recited in a house for three nights, Satan will not approach it.
When to recite the last two ayat of Surah al-Baqarah
The hadith mentions the night. Since the Islamic day begins at sunset, scholars explain that the verses can be recited at any time from sunset until dawn. Many Muslims recite them after the night prayer (Isha) or just before sleep, alongside Ayatul Kursi from the same surah.
Read the last verses of al-Baqarah on Quran Universe
You can read the last two ayat of Surah al-Baqarah on Quran Universe with the Arabic text, word-by-word meaning and transliteration. Each verse has a short card explaining its context and takeaway, plus the full Tafsir Ibn Kathir.
Frequently asked questions
What are the last two verses of Surah al-Baqarah?
They are verses 285 and 286 of Surah al-Baqarah, the second surah of the Quran. Verse 285 begins "The Messenger has believed" (Amana ar-Rasul) and lists the core beliefs of Islam. Verse 286 states that God does not burden any soul beyond its capacity and ends with a prayer for pardon, forgiveness and mercy.
What is the last verse of Surah Baqarah?
The last verse of Surah al-Baqarah is verse 286. It begins "Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity" and continues with a series of prayers, each starting with "Our Lord". It is one of the most frequently recited supplications in the Quran.
What are the benefits of the last two verses of Surah Baqarah?
Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim report that whoever recites them at night will find they suffice him, which scholars explain as protection or as a substitute for voluntary night prayer. Sahih Muslim also describes them as a light given to the Prophet that no earlier prophet received.
What are the last three verses of Surah Baqarah?
The last three verses are 284, 285 and 286. Verse 284 says that God will hold people to account for what they show or hide, which worried the companions. According to Sahih Muslim, verses 285 and 286 were then revealed to reassure them that no soul is burdened beyond its ability.
When should I recite the last two ayat of Surah al-Baqarah?
The hadith says to recite them at night. Because the Islamic night begins at sunset, they can be recited any time from sunset until dawn. Many people recite them after the Isha prayer or before going to sleep.