Enter with Humility: The Two-Word Prayer That Unlocks Forgiveness & Blessings
Enter with Humility: The Two-Word Prayer That Unlocks Forgiveness & Blessings
Quran 2:58 teaches humility and obedience—enter with respect, seek forgiveness, and receive Allah’s mercy and abundant provision.
The Arabic Text
وَإِذْ قُلْنَا ادْخُلُوا هَٰذِهِ الْقَرْيَةَ فَكُلُوا مِنْهَا حَيْثُ شِئْتُمْ رَغَدًا وَادْخُلُوا الْبَابَ سُجَّدًا وَقُولُوا حِطَّةٌ نَّغْفِرْ لَكُمْ خَطَايَاكُمْ ۚ وَسَنَزِيدُ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
Transliteration
Wa-idh qulnā udkhulū hādhihi l-qaryata fakulū min-hā ḥaythu shiʾtum raghadan wa-dkhulū l-bāba sujjadan wa-qūlū ḥiṭṭatun naghfir lakum khaṭāyākum wa-sanazīdu l-muḥsinīn
Simple English Translation
"And [remember] when We said, 'Enter this city and eat from it wherever you will in [ease and] abundance. But enter the gate bowing humbly and say, "Relieve us [of our burdens]." We will forgive your sins, and We will increase the doers of good.'"
Full Explanation in Easy English
This verse describes a pivotal moment of grace and testing. Allah offers the Israelites entry into a holy land (Jerusalem) with specific, easy conditions meant to instill humility and faith.
1. The Past: A Simple Command for a Great Reward
The Invitation to Abundance: After years in the desert, Allah commanded them to enter a developed city (Al-Qaryah), likely Jerusalem, promising they could eat freely and abundantly (raghadan) from its provisions. This was a gift of settlement and security.
The Condition for Entry: The command had two simple, spiritual parts:
Enter bowing humbly (sujjadan): This meant entering in a state of physical humility and submission, likely prostrating or bowing deeply, acknowledging Allah's favor.
Say, "Hittah" (Relieve us): This phrase is a prayer for forgiveness and the removal of burdens—both the burdens of their past sins and the hardships of their journey.
The Immense Promise: In return for this act of humble obedience, Allah promised:
Forgiveness of their sins.
Increase for those who do good (Muhsinin). This shows that obedience is the starting point, and excellence (Ihsan) is rewarded with even more.
In the past, this was a clear test: would they prioritize the physical abundance or internalize the spiritual humility required to receive it properly?
2. The Present: Entering Your "Promised Lands" with Humility
For us today, this verse is a powerful metaphor for how to receive Allah's blessings:
Your "City" of Blessings: Any new blessing or phase in life is your "city" to enter—a new job, marriage, home, or period of prosperity.
The Command Remains: The instruction is to enter with humility and a prayer for forgiveness, not with arrogance and entitlement. In practice, this means:
Starting a new job with gratitude to Allah and seeking His help to be honest.
Moving into a new home by praying at the doorstep and asking for it to be a place of blessing, not sin.
Enjoying wealth while constantly giving thanks and charity, acknowledging it's a trust from Allah.
The "Hittah" Mindset: The core prayer is "Relieve us of our burdens." This should be our constant state: relying on Allah to lift our spiritual burdens (sins) and worldly stresses, not our own power.
Today, this verse warns against the "entitlement" mindset—grabbing blessings while forgetting the Giver. It teaches that true enjoyment of Allah's gifts comes wrapped in humility and constant prayer for purification.
3. The Future: The Gate to Eternal Forgiveness and Increase
This moment foreshadows our ultimate future:
The Gate of Jannah: The act of entering a gate humbly is a direct parallel to the believer's hope of entering the gates of Paradise in a state of humility and gratitude. The Prophet (ﷺ) said the believers will be told to enter Jannah in peace (Salam).
Forgiveness as the First Step: Allah's promise structure is crucial: First forgiveness, then increase. This is the path to Jannah: our sins are forgiven through repentance and grace, and then our good deeds are increased in reward. We cannot "earn" Paradise by deeds alone; we need Allah's forgiveness first.
The Promise to the Muhsinin: "We will increase the doers of good." Ihsan (excellence in faith) means worshipping Allah as if you see Him. This divine "increase" applies both in this world (more blessings, peace) and in the Hereafter (higher ranks in Paradise).
For the future, this verse teaches that every humble, grateful entry we make into a blessing in this life is practice for our ultimate entry into Paradise. The attitude we cultivate now—humility, seeking forgiveness, doing good—determines the level of forgiveness and increase we receive forever.
Summary for a Contemporary Audience
Imagine being granted the keys to a beautiful new home. The donor says, "Go in, enjoy everything. But as you step in, bow your head in thanks and simply say, 'Please clear my debts.' I'll wipe your slate clean and then give you even more for your good conduct."
Your takeaway: Every blessing Allah grants you is a "city" to enter. Don't just rush in grabbing the comforts. Pause at the threshold. Acknowledge Him with humility (pray, give thanks). Ask Him to remove your spiritual burdens ("Hittah"). When you receive blessings with this attitude, you unlock a divine promise: forgiveness for your past and multiplied goodness for your future—in this life and forever in the Hereafter. Don't let pride turn your blessing into a curse.