Surah-2 4

SURAH-2

AL-BAQARAH

The name or title of this Surah is derived from the story regarding slaughter of cow mentioned in its Verses 67 to 73. As is the case with many other Surahs, title or name is taken from word or incident having some peculiar trait. It is a Madni Surah as it was revealed in its entirety in Madinah. It was the first Surah revealed after Prophet’s migration from Makkah to Madinah in 622 A.D. The most part of this Surah was revealed during first and second year of Hijrah in the period before the Battle of Badr except some verses such as 275 to 281 which belong to the last months of Prophet’s life.

This Surah is generally described as the Qur’an in miniature as it contains a summary or short mention of all the teachings of the Qur’an on various subjects which are dealt with elsewhere in the revealed Book. This is the longest Surah of the Holy Quran as it comprises 286 verses and is almost one twelfth of the whole Book. The teachings of this Surah and the themes and subjects highlighted by it are outlined as follows:

The Qur’an is a book revealed by Allah for the guidance of mankind and there is no doubt about it (verse 1). Those who have any doubt concerning it have been challenged to bring at least a Surah (chapter) like it (verses 23-24).

Allah is the God of all. He has created everything including you (O mankind). He created for you all that is in the earth. Only He should be worshipped (verses 21 to 29).

Characteristics of the pious, the disbelievers and the hypocrites have been mentioned in verses 1 to 20.

Story of Adam and Satan has been briefly described in verses 30 to 39 to highlight the fact that Satan is a great enemy of mankind and Allah would send guidance to mankind to protect them from Satan’s tactics to beguile them.

Verses 39 to 141 and 246 to 253 relate to children of Israel. A critical review of their history has been made pointing out their religious perversions, moral degradation and their disobedience to the Prophets particularly their rebellious behaviour with Prophet Moses. Their sin of worshipping calf and violation of religious laws like Sabbath have been brought in focus and their reluctance to slaughter the cow at God’s orders has been highlighted. Incidents from their history have been quoted not only to admonish them but also to throw light on the essentials of true faith. They have been advised to believe in Muhammad

www.shaufi.com

Surah-2 5

(PBUH) and follow the guidance, the Book Al-Qur’an given to him as he was the messenger sent by Allah to all mankind and he had been given the same message which had been given to earlier Prophets like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses and Jesus. This advice seems to be especially relevant in view of the background that the Jews of Madinah who used to tell that a Prophet was about to come and that with his help they (Jews) would destroy the pagans of Arabia were now opposing the Prophet by tooth and nail.

Prophet Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian. His Religion (Al-Islam), to which both Judaism and Christianity trace their origion, is a true religion and this religion is the complete surrender of man to Allah’s will. He was a great monotheist and an upright person. He built Kaabah at Makkah with his son Ismael and prayed for advent of a Prophet among his son Ismael’s children (verses 124 to 134).

Kaabah built by Prophet Abraham was appointed Qiblah of Islam (the direction to which the Muslims turn their faces in their prayers). According to a scholar, this marked the end of the religious leadership of the House of Israel and their replacement by Prophet Muhammad and his followers, the Muslims (verses 142 to 150).

Laws regarding Halal and Haram food (verses 172-173), Qisas (verses 178-179), will (verses 180-182) have been laid down in this Surah.

Five fundamental articles of Islam have been either enjoined or elaborated in this Surah such as belief (verses 136, 177, 285), prayer (verses 110, 177), Zakat (verses 110, 177, 277), fasting (verses 183 to 187), pilgrimage (verses 189, 196 to 203).

Jihad in self defence and its merits have been briefly mentioned in verses 190-194 and 216-218.

Social evils like drinking and gambling (verse 219), and bribery (verse 188) have been forbidden or discouraged.

Subjects of marriage, dower, divorce, iddah, nursing of the children, relations between husband and wife have been discussed in verses 187 and 221 to 242.

Alms and charity have been enjoined and their merits have been underlined in verses 215, 219, 254 and 261 to 274.

Usury has been banned (verses 275-276, 278-279).

Principle of no compulsion in religion laid down in verse 256.

www.shaufi.com

Surah-2 6 A very vivid description of God’s attributes has been given in verse 255 which is

popularly known Ayatul Kursi. Recitation of this verse carries many virtues.

Laws and rules regarding contracts, debts, evidence and mortgage have been laid down in verses 282 and 283. Verse 282 is the longest verse of the Holy Qur’an.

The Surah has been concluded in a very comprehensive and meaningful prayer (contained in verse 286).

Some of the Traditions of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) which highlight the virtues of this Surah are briefly given below:-

Do not turn your houses into graves. Verily, Satan does not enter the house where Surah Al-Baqarah is recited (Muslim).

Everything has a hump (or high peak) and Al-Baqarah is the high peak of the Qur’an (Al-Tabarani).

Learn Surah Al-Baqarah, because in learning it there is blessing.

Learn Surah Al-Baqarah and Surah Al-Imran because they are two lights and they would shade their people on the Day of Resurrection, just as two clouds, two spaces of shade or two lines of (flying) birds.

www.shaufi.com

Surah-2 7

Lesson-2: Who is Godfearing ?

In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.

1. Alif – Lam – Mim. 2. This (the Quran) is the Book (of Allah), wherein there is no doubt – a guidance for those who are (or who intend to be) God-fearing.

3. Who believe in the Unseen and establish prayer and spend (in charity) out of that which We have given them.

4. And who believe in that which is revealed (O Muhammad) to you (i.e. the Quran) and in that which was revealed before you (the Torah, the Psalms, the Gospel), and they are certain of the Hereafter. 5. They are the people who are upon true guidance from their Lord, they are the ones who will attain true success.

6. As for those who disbelieve, it is alike to them whether you warn them or you warn them not; they are not going to believe.

7. Allah has set a seal on their hearts and on their hearing, and there is a covering on their eyes; for them is an awful doom.

Lesson-3: The hypocrites 8. Of the mankind there are some who say: We believe in Allah and the Last Day; whereas they actually do not believe.

9. They seek to deceive Allah and those who believe, but they deceive none except themselves, and they do not perceive it.

10. In their hearts is a disease, and Allah increases their disease. A painful doom is (in store) for them because they lie.

www.shaufi.com

Surah-2 8

11. And when it is said to them: Do not make mischief in the land, they say: We are peace makers only.

12. Beware, they are indeed the mischief makers, but they are not conscious of it. 13. And when it is said to them: Believe truly as the other people believe, they say: Should we believe as the fools believe? Verily, they are the fools but they understand it not.

14. And when they meet those who believe, they say: We believe. But when they are alone with their devils, they say: Lo! We are really with you; we were only mocking (the believers). 15. Allah does mock at them leaving them alone to wander blindly in their wrong doing.

16. These are the people who purchase error for guidance, so their trade brings no gain, neither are they guided.

17. Their likeness is as the likeness of one who kindled a fire; then, when it lighted his surroundings, Allah took away their (such people’s) light and left them in utter darkness so they could not see.

18. They are deaf, dumb and blind, so they will not return (to the straight path). 19. Or like rainstorm from the sky wherein is darkness and thunder and lightning: They thrust their fingers in their ears because of thunder-claps, for fear of death. And Allah has encircled the disbelievers.

20. The lightning almost takes away their sight. Whenever it flashes forth for them they walk therein and when it becomes dark to them they stand still. And if Allah willed, He would have taken away their hearing and sight. Lo! Allah has power over all things.

www.shaufi.com

Surah-2 9

Lesson-4 : Worship Allah 21. O mankind! Worship your Lord Who created you and those before you, so that you may become God-fearing.

22. Who has made the earth a resting place for you and the sky a canopy; and sends down water from the sky thereby producing fruits for your sustenance; so do not set up rivals to Allah when you know.

23. And if you are in doubt regarding that (Book) which We have revealed to Our slave (Muhammad), then produce a chapter (Surah) like it and call your helpers besides Allah if you are truthful.

24. And if you do it not – and you can never do it – then fear the fire (of Hell) whose fuel is men and stones, prepared for the disbelievers.

25. And give glad tidings to those who believe and do good deeds that for them are Gardens (Paradise) under which rivers flow; whenever they are provided fruit therefrom to eat they will say: This is what was given to us before (i.e. in the world); but (in fact) they were given the like of it. And for them therein are pure companions; and therein they will abide for ever.

26. Lo! Allah is not ashamed to cite similitude even of a gnat or a thing above it (in insignificance). Those who believe know that it is the truth from their Lord; but those who disbelieve say: What does Allah mean by this similitude? Thus He misleads many thereby, and guides many thereby; and He misleads thereby none save the evil doers.

27. Those who break the covenant of Allah after ratifying it, and cut asunder that (tie of kinship) which Allah has ordered to be joined, and make mischief in the land. It is they who are the losers.

28. How can you disbelieve in Allah when (the fact is that) you were dead, He gave you life; and then He will give you death, and restore you to life again, and then unto Him you shall return?

www.shaufi.com

Surah-2 10

29. He it is Who created for you all that is in the earth. Then He turned to the heaven, so He made them seven heavens. And He is Knower of all things.

Lesson-5 : Adam and Iblis 30. And (remember) when your Lord said to the Angels: I am going to place a viceroy in the earth. They said: Will You place in it one who will create disorder therein and cause bloodshed whereas we already hymn Your praise and glorify Your Name? He said: Surely I know what you know not.

31. And He taught Adam names of all things; then He presented them to the angels and said: Tell Me the names of these things if you are truthful.

32. The angels replied: Glory be to You! We have no knowledge except what You have taught us. Lo! You, only You are the Knowing, the Wise.

33. (Then) He said: O Adam! Inform them (i.e. the angels) of the names of the things and when Adam informed them of their names, God said: Did I not tell you that I know the secrets of the heavens and the earth and that I know what you disclose and what you hide? 34. And (remember) when We said to the angels: Prostrate yourselves before Adam. So they fell prostrate, all save Iblis. He refused in his arrogance and thus became a disbeliever.

35. And We said: O Adam! Dwell you and your wife in the Paradise and eat both of you in plenty (of the fruits) thereof wherefrom you desire; but come not near this tree lest you both may be of the wrong-doers.

36. However, Satan made them slip therefrom and got them expelled from the (happy) state in which they were. And We ordered: Get down from here, one of you a foe to the other! And there shall be for you on earth an abode and provision for a time specified.

www.shaufi.com

Surah-2 11

37. Then Adam learnt some words from his Lord and repented, and Lord relented towards him. Lo! He is the Relenting, the Merciful.

38. We commanded: Get down all of you from here. Surely there shall come to you guidance from Me; whosoever follows My guidance, there shall no fear come upon them (i.e. the followers of guidance) nor shall they grieve.

39. And those who disbelieve and reject Our revelations, they shall be the inmates of Hellfire wherein they shall abide forever.

Lesson-6 : Children of Israel 40. O Children of Israel! Remember My favour which I bestowed upon you, and fulfil (your part of) the covenant with Me and I shall fulfil (My part of) the covenant with you and fear Me alone. 41. And believe in (the Book) that I have now revealed, confirming that which is already with you (of Torah and Gospel), and be not the first to disbelieve therein. And sell not My revelations for a little price; and fear Me and Me alone.

42. And confound (or mix) not truth with falsehood, nor conceal the truth when you know it.

43. And establish prayer (Salat) and pay obligatory charity (Zakat) and bow down with those who bow down (in prayer).

44. How is it that you enjoin righteousness upon the mankind but forget to practice it yourselves, although you read the scripture? Have you then no sense? 45. And seek help in patience and prayer, and indeed it is hard (to practice) except for the humble-minded.

46. Who are certain that they are to meet their Lord and that unto Him they will return. 47. O Children of Israel! Remember My favour which I bestowed upon you and that I exalted you above all the people of the world.

www.shaufi.com

Surah-2 12

48. And guard yourselves against the Day when no one shall be of any benefit to the other, nor will intercession be accepted from anyone, nor will ransom be taken from him, nor will they be helped.

49. And recall when We delivered you from (the slavery of) Pharaoh’s people who subjected you to dreadful torment by slaughtering your sons and letting your women live. And in this (torment) there was a mighty trial from your Lord.

50. And remember when We parted the sea for you and then rescued you and drowned Pharaoh’s people just when you were looking.

51. And recall when We appointed for Moses forty nights (for worship in solitude) and (in his absence) you took the calf (for a god) and so you were wrong-doers. 52. Then We pardoned you even after that (transgression), so that you might give thanks. 53. And remember when We gave Moses the Scripture (Torah) and the criterion (of the right and wrong) so that you may be led aright.

54. And when Moses said to his people: O my people! You have indeed wronged yourselves by taking the calf (for worship). So turn in repentance to your Creator and kill (the culprits among you) yourselves. That will be best for you in the sight of your Creator. Then God accepted your repentance. Certainly, He is Relenting, the Most Merciful.

Lesson-7 : Moses and Israelites

55. And (remember) when you said: “O Moses! We shall never believe in you till we see God plainly (with our own eyes)” then lightning seized you when you were looking on. 56. Then We revived you after your death, that you might give thanks. 57. And We caused the clouds to overshadow you and sent down on you Manna (a sweet dish) and Salva (quail’s meat): “Eat of the good things We have provided for you.” And they (who still rebelled) did not wrong Us, rather they wronged themselves.

www.shaufi.com

Surah-2 13

58. And (remember) when We said: Enter this town and eat bountifully therein whatever you wish and enter the gate in prostration saying ‘we repent’, then We shall forgive you your faults and shall increase the reward for the good-doers.

59. But the wrongdoers changed the word from that which had been told them for another; so We sent down upon the wrongdoers a chastisement from heaven because they had transgressed.

60. And (remember) when Moses prayed for water for his people, We said: Strike the rock with your staff. Thereupon, twelve springs gushed forth from it. (Thus) each tribe knew its drinking place. (And they were told): “Eat and drink of that which God has provided, and do not act corruptly making mischief in the land.”

61. And (remember) when you said: O Moses! We cannot endure one kind of food; so call upon your Lord for us to bring forth for us of what the earth grows, such as its herbs and its cucumbers and its garlic and its lentils and its onions. He said: Will you exchange that which is better for that which is inferior? Go down to a town, you will get that which you demand.” And (therefor) humiliation and wretchedness were stamped upon them and they drew upon themselves the wrath of God. This was because they disbelieved in the revelations of God and they killed the prophets unjustly. (Moreover) it was because they disobeyed and they transgressed.

62. Lo! Those who believe (i.e. Muslims), and those who are Jews and who are Christians and who are Sabians – whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day and does righteous deeds – for them is reward with their Lord and there shall no fear come upon them nor shall they grieve.

www.shaufi.com

Surah-2 14

63. And (remember, O children of Israel) when We took a covenant from you and We raised above you the Mount Toor (saying): Hold firmly to what We have given you (the Torah) and remember that which is therein, that you may guard yourself against evil.

64. Then you backed out even after that. Had it not been for the Grace and Mercy of God upon you, certainly you would have been among the losers.

65. And indeed you know those amongst you who transgressed regarding Sabbath; (therefore) We said to them: Be you apes, despised and rejected.

66. Thus We made this (punishment) an example to their own people and to succeeding generations and a lesson to those who are God-fearing.

Lesson-8 : Slaughter of Cow 67. And (remember) when Moses said to his people: Lo! Allah commands you that you sacrifice a cow, they said: Do you make fun of us? He answered: I seek refuge of Allah that I should be among the ignorant.

68. They said: Pray for us to your Lord to make clear to us what it is. Moses said: He says: Verily, it is a cow neither too old nor too young but of age in between, so do what you are commanded.

69. They said: Pray for us to your Lord that He make clear to us of what colour it is. Moses answered: He says: Verily, it is a yellow cow, bright in its colour, pleasing to the beholders. 70. They said: Pray for us to your Lord that He make clear to us what it is. Verily, to us all cows look alike; and Lo! if Allah wills, we shall be rightly guided. 71. Moses replied: He says: It is a cow unyoked; it does not plough the soil nor does it water the fields, sound and without blemish. They said: Now you have brought the truth. Then they sacrificed it, although they did not appear to be doing it. 72. And (remember) when you murdered a man and started disputing among yourselves about it (as to who killed him). Allah was to make it known which you were hiding.

www.shaufi.com

Surah-2 15

73. So We said: Smite him (the dead man) with a piece of it (the sacrificed cow). Thus Allah brings the dead to life and shows you His Signs so that you may understand. 74. Then, even after that, your hearts were hardened and became as stones or worse in hardness than the stones. For, indeed there are some stones out of which rivers gush forth, and there are some which break asunder and water comes out of them, and there are some which fall down with the fear of Allah. And Allah is not unaware of that which you do.

75. Do you (O believers) covet that they (the Jews) will believe in your religion when a party of them used to listen to the word of Allah (the Torah), then used to change it knowingly after they had understood it?

76. And when they meet those who believe (i.e. the Muslims) they say: “We believe”, but when they meet each other in private, they say: Would you tell them what Allah has disclosed to you that they may use it as an argument against you before your Lord? Have you then no sense? 77. Do they not know that Allah knows what they hide and what they proclaim? 78. And among them there are illiterates who do not know the Book except their desires, and do nothing but guess.

79. So woe to those who write the Book with their own hands and they say: this is from Allah, that they may purchase with it a small gain! Woe to them for that which their hands have written, and woe to them for what they earned thereby.

Lesson-9 : Covenant with Israelites 80. And they say: The Fire (of Hell) shall not touch us save for a certain number of days. Ask them: Have you taken a covenant from Allah so that Allah will not break His covenant? Or do you tell concerning Allah that which you know not?

81. Nay, but whosoever earns evil and his sin has surrounded him, such are companions of the Fire (i.e. Hell); therein they shall abide for ever.

www.shaufi.com