أَلّا تَزِرُ وازِرَةٌ وِزرَ أُخرىٰ

That no bearer shall bear another’s burden.

EXEGESIS

Wāzirah (bearer) comes from the root wizr, which denotes a heavy burden, such as a mountain. Wāzir is someone who carries a wizr. It can then be used to refer to sins in particular, or any heavy psychological burden in general.^{‎[1]Raghib, p. 867.} The reality of actions is that they do not disappear after being performed, but rather they are attached to a person and his soul. Anyone who commits sins must bear the responsibility and consequences of those sins on the Day of Judgement. Because of the immense weight of that responsibility and the severe magnitude of its consequences, the Quran likens it to a heavy burden: But surely they will carry their own burdens (athqālahum) (29:13).

EXPOSITION

This reality, that no one can bear the burden of another, is something that has been mentioned in the earliest scriptures. This means that no one will be or can be responsible for the sins of another. In relation to the earlier narrative, it is a rejection of the claim made by the man who had declared he would take on the sins of another for himself. God proclaims categorically that such a thing is not possible, and no one is to bear responsibility for the sins of another person, either willingly or unwillingly. For more on this, see the commentary on 6:164.

This concept is at the heart of the Islamic ethos, which emphasises the effect of actions and the personal responsibility each person has for their own actions. Thus, concepts such as original sin are wholly rejected, as are fanciful notions of ‘absorbing’ the sins of others.^{‎[2]Like for example in the story of Jagai and Madhai, in which Gaurahari takes on their sins of the two sinful brothers are absolved. See for example: Srila Thakura, Sri Caitanya Mangala: A Sixteenth Century Biography of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, (Mahanidhi Swami, 1994), p. 170.}

Related to the concept of burden is also the fact that God does not task anyone with anything more than their capacity: Allah does not task any soul beyond its capacity. Whatever [good] it earns is to its benefit, and whatever [evil] it incurs is to its harm (2:286). The core of this message is clear: one cannot use anyone or anything else to excuse their actions or escape their personal responsibility. Just like one cannot blame others for their sins or shift the burden of responsibility, neither can one use the situation that they were in to excuse their vices or sins. Ultimately, each person makes their own choices and a difficult situation does not rob one of the free will to act.

INSIGHTS FROM OTHER TRADITIONS

1. Yet you say, ‘Why should the son not bear the punishment of the iniquity of the father?’ When the son has done what is lawful and right, and has kept all My statutes, and has done them, he shall surely live. The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the punishment of the iniquity of the father, nor shall the father bear the punishment of the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.^{‎[3]Ezekiel 18:19-20.}
2. For each one shall bear his own burden.^{‎[4]Galatians 6:5.}

[1] Raghib, p. 867.
[2] Like for example in the story of Jagai and Madhai, in which Gaurahari takes on their sins of the two sinful brothers are absolved. See for example: Srila Thakura, Sri Caitanya Mangala: A Sixteenth Century Biography of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, (Mahanidhi Swami, 1994), p. 170.
[3] Ezekiel 18:19-20.
[4] Galatians 6:5.