Allah (swt) responds to the supplication (in the previous verse) with this verse. In addition, this verse is a response to the one who thinks that Allah (swt) will hold them accountable for what’s within themselves and not for their deeds. Thus, (swt) says:

(… لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ) (Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity …): Allah (swt)does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity.} Everything is within your capacity as long as Allah (swt) has charged you with. Besides, you can perform more. For example, Allah (swt) has charged you with five-time prayers. You can pray fifty Raka’s; yet, He never charges you to pray this much. He charges you with one-month fasting, whereas fast every Monday and Thursday and may sometimes fast for two months. He charges you to pay 2.5% of your fortune as Zakat while you may pay ten percent. So, Allah (swt) charges within one’s capacity. Keep in mind that all fiducial charges by (swt) are within your capacity. Why so? Because He exempts you when you have no such capacity. Allah (swt) says:

{لَّيْسَ عَلَى الْأَعْمَىٰ حَرَجٌ وَلَا عَلَى الْأَعْرَجِ حَرَجٌ وَلَا عَلَى الْمَرِيضِ حَرَجٌ}

(There is not upon the blind any guilt or upon the lame any guilt or upon the ill any guilt.) (Al-Fath: 17) And says:

{ فَمَن كَانَ مِنكُم مَّرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ ۚ وَعَلَى الَّذِينَ يُطِيقُونَهُ فِدْيَةٌ طَعَامُ مِسْكِينٍ}

(And upon those who are able [to fast, but with hardship] – a ransom of feeding a poor person.) (Al-Baqara: 182) And says:

 لَّيْسَ عَلَى الضُّعَفَاءِ وَلَا عَلَى الْمَرْضَىٰ وَلَا عَلَى الَّذِينَ لَا يَجِدُونَ مَا يُنفِقُونَ حَرَجٌ إِذَا نَصَحُوا لِلَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ ۚ مَا عَلَى الْمُحْسِنِينَ مِن سَبِيلٍ ۚ وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

(There is not upon the weak or upon the ill or upon those who do not find anything to spend any discomfort when they are sincere to Allah and His Messenger. There is not upon the doers of good any cause [for blame]. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.) (At-Tawba: 91)

To sum it up, you’re charged only withing your capacity.

(… لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا مَا اكْتَسَبَتْ …) (…It will have what it has gained, and it will bear what it has earned …): So, it will have the consequence of what good it has gained, because this is what it gains on its own, and the good is for it. And it will bear the consequence of what evil it has earned. Then, He (swt) concludes with a great supplication which all people should know these verses by heart and supplicate with. This is the supplication of the believers:

(… رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذْنَا إِن نَّسِينَا أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَا …) (…Our Lord, do not impose blame upon us if we have forgotten or erred …): Someone may argue that humans are never accountable for forgetfulness and errors, and Prophet Muhammad (saws) said:

“Allah has forgiven my nation for mistakes and forgetfulness, and what they are forced to do[1].”

So, why do we say: (“Our Lord, do not impose blame upon us if we have forgotten or erred.) ? You have to be polite with Allah (swt); so you say that you’ve forgotten whenever you disobey. You never forget being a disobedient; yet, you say that you’ve forgotten to show politeness with (swt). A servant is never allowed to disobey the Creator.

(… رَبَّنَا وَلَا تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْنَا إِصْرًا كَمَا حَمَلْتَهُ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِنَا …) (…Our Lord, and lay not upon us a burden like that which You laid upon those before us …): It’s such a big burden here, (like that which You laid upon those before us.) i.e. the Jews who followed Moses (PBUH). They were charged with and banned from so much.

(… رَبَّنَا وَلَا تُحَمِّلْنَا مَا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِ …) (…Our Lord, and burden us not with that which we have no ability to bear …): It’s taken for granted that Allah (swt) never charges or burdens you beyond your capacity. However, a human may sometimes feel weak and unable to shoulder all the burdens; so they pray with such a great supplication.

(… وَاعْفُ عَنَّا وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَارْحَمْنَا …) (…And pardon us; and forgive us; and have mercy upon us …): We need the three things:

1-    The pardon: to erase the impact of the sin; we need pardon upon the misdeeds we do against people;

2-    Forgiveness: we need forgiveness for the sins we commit against our Lord and ourselves by not fulfilling all the worshipping; and

3-    Mercy: which is the broadest and most comprehensive thing. Mercy is not to sin. Thus, Allah (swt) describes Prophet Muhammad (saws):

{ وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلَّا رَحْمَةً لِّلْعَالَمِينَ}

(And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds.) (Al-Anbiyaa: 107)

That’s why the Suras of the Holy Quran start with (In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful) and the Sura of Al-Baqara is concluded with: (And pardon us; and forgive us; and have mercy upon us.).

( أَنتَ مَوْلَانَا فَانصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ … ) (…You are our protector, so give us victory over the disbelieving people.”): This is the supplication of all Muslims at all times.

[1] Hadith no.10307, P. 233, Vol 4. Kanz-ul-Ummal