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قُلِ ٱللَّهُمَّ مَٰلِكَ ٱلۡمُلۡكِ تُؤۡتِي ٱلۡمُلۡكَ مَن تَشَآءُ وَتَنزِعُ ٱلۡمُلۡكَ مِمَّن تَشَآءُ وَتُعِزُّ مَن تَشَآءُ وَتُذِلُّ مَن تَشَآءُۖ بِيَدِكَ ٱلۡخَيۡرُۖ إِنَّكَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيۡءٖ قَدِيرٞ.

Say, “O Allah, Owner of Sovereignty, You give sovereignty to whom You will and You take sovereignty away from whom You will. You honor whom You will and You humble whom You will. In Your hand is [all] good. Indeed, You are over all things competent.”

Quli llahumma malika lmulki tuti lmulka man tashau watanziu lmulka mimman tashau watuizzu man tashau watudhillu man tashau biyadika lkhayru innaka ala kulli shayin qadir

While the meanings of this Ayah are general, the specific context is that they are part of a response to the Christian creed. A god that can be crucified (as is claimed) by his own creation is not a god who owns sovereignty, let alone a god who is capable of bestowing sovereignty or taking it away from anyone else, or of bringing harm or benefit to anyone else. These verses are also part of a supplication that the Prophet, Sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam, taught as a means of asking Allah to pay off debts, no matter how large. Here is a link to the full hadeeth containing the supplication. -Various Tafseers including Aysar At-Tafaseer and At-Tabari

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رَبِّ هَبۡ لِي مِن لَّدُنكَ ذُرِّيَّةٗ طَيِّبَةًۖ إِنَّكَ سَمِيعُ ٱلدُّعَآءِ.

My Lord, grant me from Yourself a good offspring. Indeed, You are the Hearer of supplication.

Rabbi hab li milladunka dhuriyyatan tayyibah, innaka samiuddua’.

Because Prophet Zakariyyah and his wife had aged and, hence, lost the physical means of bearing children, in this Ayat, Zakariyyah asks Allah for a child and uses the words from Yourself. In other words, this will be a gift that is not the product of any material means, for all such means no longer exist. Hence, this gift can only be a blessing that Allah bestows out of nothing more than His will and graciousness and without conventional, physical human requirements. The word ‘Samee’ means All-Hearing and is an attribute of Allah, but in this context, it refers to Allah’s capacity to answer prayers or supplications. -Zahrat-al-Tafseer and others.

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رَبَّنَآ ءَامَنَّا بِمَآ أَنزَلۡتَ وَٱتَّبَعۡنَا ٱلرَّسُولَ فَٱكۡتُبۡنَا مَعَ ٱلشَّـٰهِدِينَ.

Our Lord, we have believed in what You revealed and have followed the messenger [Jesus], so register us among the witnesses [to truth].

Rabbana amanna bima anzalta wattabana rrasula faktubna maa shshahidin

These are the words of the true followers of Prophet Jesus and of every Believer. Allah mentions their supplication so that we might follow in their footsteps and know that the truth has always been to worship no one but Allah and to follow His prophets. In the context of this chapter, this Ayah is another response to Christians, for they have adulterated the true message of Prophet Jesus and every other prophet of Allah. -At-Tabari and others.

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رَبَّنَا ٱغۡفِرۡ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَإِسۡرَافَنَا فِيٓ أَمۡرِنَا وَثَبِّتۡ أَقۡدَامَنَا وَٱنصُرۡنَا عَلَى ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلۡكَٰفِرِينَ.

Our Lord, forgive us our sins and the excess [committed] in our affairs and plant firmly our feet and give us victory over the disbelieving people.

Rabbanaghfir lana dhunubana wa israfana fi amrina wa thabbit aqdamana wanṣurna alalqawmilkafirin.

These verses were revealed after Uhud when rumours spread that the Prophet, Sallallahu ‘alaihi wassalam, had been killed. Allah tells the Companions of previous generations of Believers who were afflicted with trials and tribulations yet remained firm. They knew that sins were a reason why Allah inflicts His slaves with defeat, and so they asked Allah to forgive both their minor sins and their excessive transgression (or major sins). Rather than taking confidence in their own patience, they also asked Allah to make them steadfast and to plant firmly their feet when they confront their enemies. -At-Tabari and others

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رَبَّنَا مَا خَلَقۡتَ هَٰذَا بَٰطِلٗا سُبۡحَٰنَكَ فَقِنَا عَذَابَ ٱلنَّارِ. رَبَّنَآ إِنَّكَ مَن تُدۡخِلِ ٱلنَّارَ فَقَدۡ أَخۡزَيۡتَهُۥۖ وَمَا لِلظَّـٰلِمِينَ مِنۡ أَنصَارٖ.

Our Lord, You did not create this aimlessly; exalted are You [above such a thing]; then protect us from the punishment of the Fire. Our Lord, indeed whoever You admit to the Fire – You have disgraced him, and for the wrongdoers there are no helpers.

Rabbana ma khalaqta hadha batila, subhanaka faqina adhabannar. Rabbana innaka man tudhkilinnara faqad akhzaytah, wa ma lizzalimina min anṣar.

To understand that Allah does not create anything frivolously should lead us to contemplate His creation and the purpose behind it. Hence, when those of sound intellect see what Allah has created and see both the righteous deeds and the sins of His creation, they understand that there will be a reckoning for these actions. Consequently, they ask Allah to protect them against the punishment of Hellfire. -At-Tabari.

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رَّبَّنَآ إِنَّنَا سَمِعۡنَا مُنَادِيٗا يُنَادِي لِلۡإِيمَٰنِ أَنۡ ءَامِنُواْ بِرَبِّكُمۡ فَـَٔامَنَّاۚ رَبَّنَا فَٱغۡفِرۡ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَكَفِّرۡ عَنَّا سَيِّـَٔاتِنَا وَتَوَفَّنَا مَعَ ٱلۡأَبۡرَارِ.

Our Lord, indeed we have heard a caller calling to faith, [saying], ‘Believe in your Lord,’ and we have believed. Our Lord, so forgive us our sins and remove from us our misdeeds and cause us to die with the righteous.

Rabbana innana samina munadiyayyunadi lilimani an aminu biRabbikum faamanna, Rabbana faghfir lana dhunubana wa kaffir anna sayyi’atina wa tawaffana maalabrar.

This supplication brings together the practice of righteous deeds (adopting Eman) and the abandonment of sins and evil deeds. Together, these are the means by which a person might be counted among the righteous, persist upon righteousness, and die a righteous Believer. -Tafseer As-Sa’di.

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رَبَّنَا وَءَاتِنَا مَا وَعَدتَّنَا عَلَىٰ رُسُلِكَ وَلَا تُخۡزِنَا يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِۖ إِنَّكَ لَا تُخۡلِفُ ٱلۡمِيعَادَ.

Our Lord, and grant us what You promised us through Your messengers and do not disgrace us on the Day of Resurrection. Indeed, You do not fail in [Your] promise.

Rabbana wa atina ma waadtana ala rusulika wa la tukhzina yawmalqiyamah, innaka la tukhlifulmiad.

After asking Allah to forgive their sins and make them among the righteous, the Believers then ask Him to grant them the rewards that He has promised them in this life and in the Hereafter. Victory and strength are among the rewards Allah has promised His believing slaves in this life, while in the next life, He has promised comfort, safety, and honor -Tafseer As-Sa’di.

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رَبَّنَآ أَخۡرِجۡنَا مِنۡ هَٰذِهِ ٱلۡقَرۡيَةِ ٱلظَّالِمِ أَهۡلُهَا وَٱجۡعَل لَّنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ وَلِيّٗا وَٱجۡعَل لَّنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ نَصِيرًا.

Our Lord, take us out of this city of oppressive people and appoint for us from Yourself a protector and appoint for us from Yourself a helper?

Rabbana akhrijna min hadhihi lqaryati zzalimi ahluha wajal lana min ladunka waliyyan wajal lana min ladunka naṣira

This Ayah was revealed concerning those helpless Believers who were still in Makkah before the conquest of Makkah. Allah answered their prayers and granted them someone who would undertake their affairs and defend them against the injustice of those who oppressed them. -Tafseer Al-Baghawi.

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رَبَّنَآ ءَامَنَّا فَٱكۡتُبۡنَا مَعَ ٱلشَّـٰهِدِينَ.

Our Lord, we have believed, so register us among the witnesses.

Rabbana amanna faktubna maa shshahidin

These words were spoken by Christians who saw and accepted the Truth of Islam once they had heard Allah’s verses. Upon accepting Islam, they declared their faith and asked Allah to register them along with the ‘witnesses’, who are, in fact, the Muslims. -Tafseer As-Sa’di.

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رَبَّنَا ظَلَمۡنَآ أَنفُسَنَا وَإِن لَّمۡ تَغۡفِرۡ لَنَا وَتَرۡحَمۡنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلۡخَٰسِرِينَ.

Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves, and if You do not forgive us and have mercy upon us, we will surely be among the losers.

Rabbana dhalamna anfusana wa illam taghfir lana wa tarhamna lanakunanna minalkhasirin.

These are the words that Allah mentions He taught Prophet Adam so that He might ask for forgiveness and repent. It is worth noting that while Prophet Adam asked Allah’s forgiveness, Satan asked for nothing more than to be reprieved until Judgment Day. Each of them got what they asked for. -At-Tabari.

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رَبَّنَا لَا تَجۡعَلۡنَا مَعَ ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ.

Our Lord, do not place us with the wrongdoing people.

Rabbana la tajalna maal qawmizzalimin.

These are words that will be spoken by the People of the A’raaf when they turn to look at the people of Hellfire; they ask Allah to protect them against meeting the same fate.