Surah 29:13
"But they will indeed bear their burdens, and (other) burdens with their burdens, and on the Day of Resurrection they will indeed be questioned about what they have forged."
Bearing the Burden of Sins
Supporting Verses
Surah 16:25 → "– that they may bear their own burdens fully on the Day of Resurrection, and (also) some of the burdens of those whom they led astray without (their) realizing (it). Evil is what they will bear!"
Opposing Verses
Surah 17:13 → "And every human – We have fastened his fate to him on his neck, and We shall bring forth a book for him on the Day of Resurrection, which he will find unrolled."
Surah 17:14 → "‘Read your book! You are sufficient today as a reckoner against yourself.’"
Surah 17:15 → "Whoever is (rightly) guided, is guided only for himself, and whoever goes astray, goes astray only against himself. No one bearing a burden bears the burden of another. We never punish until We have raised up a messenger."
Surah 53:38 → "– That no one bearing a burden bears the burden of another;"
Does the Quran state that a person only bears their own sins, or can they bear the burden of another's sins? Certain verses state that no bearer of burdens shall bear the burden of another, while other verses state that some individuals will bear their own burdens along with the burdens of those they led astray.
Bearing the Burdens of Others
Supporting Verses
Surah 16:25 → "– that they may bear their own burdens fully on the Day of Resurrection, and (also) some of the burdens of those whom they led astray without (their) realizing (it). Evil is what they will bear!"
Surah 2:91 → "When it is said to them, ‘Believe in what God has sent down,’ they say, ‘We believe in what has been sent down on us,’ but they disbelieve in anything after that, when it is the truth confirming what is with them. Say: ‘Why did you kill the prophets of God before, if you were believers?’"
Surah 3:181 → "Certainly God has heard the words of those who said, ‘Surely God is poor and we are rich.’ We shall write down what they have said, along with their killing the prophets without any right, and We shall say, ‘Taste the punishment of the burning (Fire)!"
Opposing Verses
Surah 2:286 → "God does not burden any person beyond his capacity. What they have earned is either to their credit or against their account.
‘Our Lord, do not take us to task if we forget or make a mistake. Our Lord, do not lay on us a burden such as You laid on those before us. Our Lord, do not burden us beyond what we have the strength (to bear). Pardon us, and forgive us, and have compassion on us. You are our Protector. Help us against the people who are disbelievers.’"
Surah 35:18 → "No one bearing a burden bears the burden of another. If one heavy-burdened calls for his load (to be carried), nothing of it will be carried, even though he be a family member. You warn only those who fear their Lord in the unseen, and (who) observe the prayer. Whoever purifies himself, only purifies (himself) for (the sake of) his own self. To God is the (final) destination."
Surah 6:164 → "Say: ‘Shall I seek a Lord other than God, when He is the Lord of everything? No one earns (anything) except against himself, and no one bearing a burden bears the burden of another. Then to your Lord is your return, (and) then He will inform you about your differences.’"
Does the Quran state that a person can bear the burden of another? Some verses explicitly state that no soul bears the burden of another, while other verses state that some will bear their own burdens along with the burdens of those they led astray.