Translation of the meanings Ayah 72 Surah Al-Ahzāb - English Translation - Abdullah Hasan Yaqoub - The Noble Qur'an Encyclopedia

Ayah: 72

إِنَّا عَرَضۡنَا ٱلۡأَمَانَةَ عَلَى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَٱلۡجِبَالِ فَأَبَيۡنَ أَن يَحۡمِلۡنَهَا وَأَشۡفَقۡنَ مِنۡهَا وَحَمَلَهَا ٱلۡإِنسَٰنُۖ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ ظَلُومٗا جَهُولٗا

72. We offered the Trust37 to the heavens and the earth and the mountains, but they could not bear this burden38 and were afraid of its consequences. But man undertook to bear it. He is most unjust 'to himself', most ignorant 'of its end result'39.

37. i.e., legal assignments and pledge of obedience to Allāh (God).
38. I.e., they did not accept the offer for fear of not being able to bear it in a due manner.
39. Coveting the reward of this commitment while forgetting the consequence of the failure to fulfill their pledge.