forgive us therefore our sins...

forgive us therefore our sins, and cover of us our evil deeds, and make us die with the righteous'. " Perhaps, the purpose of the Arabic term /Ŏunub/ 'sins', occurred in this verse, is 'the great sins', and the purpose of the term /sayyi'ah/ 'sin' is a lesser sin '; as in the following holy verse, /sayyi'at/ (lesser sins) has occurred in comparison with /kaba'ir/ (great sins): "lf you shun the great sins which you are forbidden, We will do away with your small sins ..." [^3] And, maybe, the purpose of the Quranic term /sayyi'at / is the effects of sins.

While in this world the wise say: "Verily we have heard (the invitation of)...", there are some persons who are heedless to this invitation. Certainly on the Resurrection Day, they regretfully will say: ' We wish we would hearken to the words of Allah and had obeyed His command', as the Qur'an refers to them in Surah Al-'An'am, No.6, verse 31; and Surah Az-Zumar, No.39, verse 56.

Explanations The wise are ready to accept the truth, and they, responding to the call of their innate disposition, answer the call of prophets, the invitation of the godly knowledgeable men, and the cry of martyrs. Seeking forgiveness is the sign of wisdom. Death with the righteous is a gift from Allah. The far sighted intelligent ones wish the death with the righteous, and think of the goodness of destiny. "Our Lord!

and grant us what You have promised us through Your Messengers, and do not disgrace us on the Day of Resurrection.

Verily You do not break any promise." In these verses, Allah has illustrated the way and manner of 'the wise' and 'the people of understanding', such that they are qualified with these qualities: the remembrance of Allah, the thought of attaining to 'wisdom', submitting to prophets, seeking Allah's forgiveness, willing to die well, and expecting to reach the bounties of Allah and saving from disgrace and notoriety.

In the previous verses, the Faith of the wise unto Allah and the Resurrection was referred to. Now, in this verse, the belief in prophet hood is also pointed out. "Our Lord!