^{Surah Name:} Al-Baqarah ^Meaning: The Cow

Key Points

Surah Al-Baqarah

Secrets Of Revelation

Indeed in the creation of the heavens and... are signs for people who are wise.

Manifestations Of Unity

The opponents found this very hard to digest that Allaah^-SWT Alone was worthy of worship and the Creator, the Master and the Provider for the entire creation, always showering His Mercy over everything. At the time of the revelation of Qura'an in particular, every individual had his own idol, and for different affairs, there were separate idols to turn to, which even today can be seen in all evil religions, as man thinks according to his intellect and comprehension. But to understand that there is only one Rubb of the entire Universe and He Alone is taking care of all affairs is beyond the access of the intellect. To discover these realities, it is imperative to benefit from the lights of Prophethood, as that alone can lead to the apex of understanding. This is so important that without these lights, people go astray even after taking Shahadah. The era of the Holy Prophet^-SW was an exemplary period, followed by the era of Companions^-RAU and the period of Taba’in. Thereafter although the impact of La Ilaha (None worthy of worship) was so forceful that none of its believers could carve out an idol from clay, but a whole army of imaginary trouble-shooters and helpers can still be observed. The reason is that people take Shahadah as a ritual, generation after generation, without paying attention to the underlying realities. These can only be discovered with the help of the lights of Prophethood, whereas their hearts are void of these lights. However, to understand Unity, clear signs are there in the creation, which if observed end studied carefully can turn one’s direction towards Allaah^-SWT and His Prophet^-SW.

These manifestations are discussed here, for example, the creation of the heavens, the abode of angels therein and their duties in the administration of the world or the creation of Bait al-Mamur and Bait al-‘Izzah (shrines of the angels in the heavens), which are the sources for the descent of Divine Lights. The heavens with many such realities enjoy the status of a Secretariat to administer the world; and the formation of the earth, and its being the centre of attention for all the planets, its treasures, its stocks of food and water, and its capacity to hold mankind in its lap; the alternation of days and nights, play a definite role in the affairs of the world. And where the heat of the sun is vital to sustain life, darkness is no less important; and to sustain this system, the creation of oceans, enabling heavy ships to sail carrying the resources of human survival and material benefits, from one continent to another; and the process of sending water from the skies or clouds, for it is poured down in exact quantity at the proper time, according to the precise requirement; drop by drop it saturates the land, making the rivers overflow; all this is nothing but a proof of His is Omnipotence.

Had this down pour been in the volume of a river, it would have destroyed the settlements, but not so! It pours down in a way that it penetrates through every vein of the soil, completely refreshing it. The wind blows in an appropriate manner in accordance with the seasons, animating and nourishing everything; sometimes it blows hot and cold, at others, from the East or the West, and controls that sea of water suspended between the heavens and the earth in the form of clouds, which when pours rapidly, becomes intolerable; imagine the result if it falls down as a whole. In short, all matters are inter-dependant and their timely and perfect coordination is the source of life on earth. And all that is happening, is ample proof of Allaah^-SWT's Unity. Had there been more than one Rabb, this system would have been destroyed long ago as a result of mutual conflicts.

To understand this reasoning an unbiased and straight thinking is required. Allaah^-SWT forbid, if any aspect of this great system was in the hands of anyone else but Allaah^-SWT, a conflict was bound to arise, leading to the desolation of the earth. But this is not so. Everything is happening at its proper time. From the highest tips of the ‘Urush to the lowest point of the earth, everything is carrying out the tasks assigned to it. Certainly it is run by the only one Supreme Ruler, Who Alone is worthy of worship.

And some people take for worship...and Allaah^-SWT is severe in requital.

Believers And Love For Allaah^-SWT

There are some people who pin their hopes on others besides Allaah^-SWT, and thus appoint them as partners in the Divinity. Therefore, the love, which should have been for Allaah^-SWT Alone, is dedicated to their self-proclaimed gods, as they expect benefits from them. But the believers never do so, they love Allaah^-SWT most ardently.

The love of polytheists is gain-oriented, which forces them to bow before different gods for the fulfillment of varying desires. If life or wealth and the children of a polytheist are at stake, and since his love for these things exceeds the love for his idol, he abandons the latter but holds on to the former. This attitude is totally foreign to a believer. He, by nature, loves life, wealth and his children, but not to an extent that these could allure him away from Allaah^-SWT.On the contrary, he is willing to sacrifice them all in the cause of Allaah^-SWT, but never thinks of abandoning Him or His Zikr, because all affiliations are subservient to the love for Allaah^-SWT.The essence of Tasawwuf is that Allaah^-SWT is remembered so much that His name is embedded in the heart and mind, to an extent that nothing else remains indispensable save Him.

When those who were followed,... And they shall never get out of the Fire.

It would have been far better, had the transgressors learnt a lesson from the calamities, that no one can avert them except Allaah^-SWT.And how, when in deep trouble they forget everyone else but Him. If this is the state in worldly turmoil, the eternal seizure is much more severe. Who will then come to their rescue because all powers and authority rest with Allaah^-SWT? The ungodly leaders will be weary of their followers, let alone being of any help to them, because their own sins will be enough to drag them into the Fire. But all those who were led to the wrong path by these leaders will add to their burden, and since all hopes would have gone, they will find no way of escaping their fate. The leaders of the malefactors will see for themselves how the companionship of evil people is about to take them to Hell. They will long for a return to the world to get with these disciples. But all this will be to make them more wistful and grieved and nothing will benefit either group. And they will burn in Hell forever!