Chapter :17 Section: No One will have to bear the Sins of Another

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Allah tells us that whoever is guided and follows the truth, walking in the footsteps of the Prophet , he will gain the good consequences of that for himself.

[وَمَن ضَلَّ]

(And whoever goes astray,) meaning from the truth, deviating from the way of guidance, he is wronging himself and will have to bear the consequences. Then Allah says:

[وَلاَ تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَى]

(No one laden with burdens can bear another's burden.) no one will have to bear the sins of another, and he does not wrong anyone besides himself, as Allah says:

[وَإِن تَدْعُ مُثْقَلَةٌ إِلَى حِمْلِهَا لاَ يُحْمَلْ مِنْهُ شَىْءٌ]

(and if one heavily laden calls another to (bear) his load, nothing of it will be lifted) [35:15] There is no contradiction between this and other Ayat:

[وَلَيَحْمِلُنَّ أَثْقَالَهُمْ وَأَثْقَالاً مَّعَ أَثْقَالِهِمْ]

(And verily, they shall bear their own loads, and other loads besides their own.) [29:13] and:

[وَمِنْ أَوْزَارِ الَّذِينَ يُضِلُّونَهُمْ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ]

(and also of the burdens of those whom they misled without knowledge.) [16:25] For those who called others to do evil will bear the sin of their own deviation as well as the sin of those whom they led astray, without detracting the least amount from the burden of those people, and none of this burden shall be removed from them. This is the justice and mercy of Allah towards His servants. As Allah says:

[وَمَا كُنَّا مُعَذِّبِينَ حَتَّى نَبْعَثَ رَسُولاً]

(And We never punish until We have sent a Messenger (to give warning).)


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