سورة البقرة
Surah Name: Al-Baqarah Meaning: The Cow
Key Points
- Revealed at Madinah
- The Longest Surah of the Qura'an.
- This Surah, with reference to its revelation, is Madni and some of its yat and injunctions pertain to the very last period of the revelation of the Qura'an, but in order of placement it is in the very beginning. The Qura'an, an answer to the prayer contained in al-Fatihah, begins with this Surah. There was a basic difference in the life patterns of Makkah and Madinah. The addressees of Divine Revelation at Makkah in general, were the pagans and the idolaters; but at Madinah there were also people who considered themselves to be the nearest to Allaah-SWT and the true followers of Prophet Musa-AS (Moses). Whereas, in reality, over the passage of time, they had not only forgotten his teachings, but had also distorted the Divine Scriptures. They had replaced worship with rituals, and true faith with absurd beliefs. Despite this they claimed to be on the right path. The Qura'an in the first place, highlighted the difference between belief and disbelief. Thus the very first yat of this Surah also spells out the fundamentals of Islam
- Total Number of Ruku / Sections 40
- Total Number of Ayat/ Verses 286
- Surah / Chapter number 2
- Ruku / Section 34 contains Ayat/ Verses 4
- Siparah/ Volume 1, 2 & 3
Surah Al-Baqarah
Surah Baqarah Ruku 34
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يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ أَنفِقُواْ مِمَّا رَزَقْنَاكُم مِّن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِيَ يَوْمٌ لاَّ بَيْعٌ فِيهِ وَلاَ خُلَّةٌ وَلاَ شَفَاعَةٌ وَالْكَافِرُونَ هُمُ الظَّالِمُونَ
Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo anfiqoo mimma razaqnakum min qabli an yatiya yawmun la bayAAun feehi wala khullatun wala shafaAAatun wa(a)lkafiroona humu a(l)ththalimoon(a) O believers! Spend (in the path of Truth) out of what We have granted you before comes the Day, in which there will be neither trading nor friendship nor intercession. And it is the unbelievers, who are the unjust (wrongdoers). |
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اللّهُ لاَ إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ لاَ تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلاَ نَوْمٌ لَّهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الأَرْضِ مَن ذَا الَّذِي يَشْفَعُ عِنْدَهُ إِلاَّ بِإِذْنِهِ يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ وَلاَ يُحِيطُونَ بِشَيْءٍ مِّنْ عِلْمِهِ إِلاَّ بِمَا شَاء وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ وَلاَ يَؤُودُهُ حِفْظُهُمَا وَهُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيمُ
Allaahu la ilaha illa huwa alhayyu alqayyoomu la takhuthuhu sinatun wala nawmun lahu ma fee a(l)ssamawati wama fee alardi man tha allathee yashfaAAu AAindahu illa biithnihi yaAAlamu ma bayna aydeehim wama khalfahum wala yuheetoona bishayin min AAilmihi illa bima shaa wasiAAa kursiyyuhu a(l)ssamawati wa(a)larda wala yaooduhu hifthuhuma wahuwa alAAaliyyu alAAatheem(u) Allaah (is Such that), there is no one worthy of worship except Him, He is Alive, Eternal; neither slumber nor sleep overtakes Him. To Him belongs whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth. Who is there who can intercede with Him without His permission? He knows what is before them and what is after them, and they cannot bring anything of His Knowledge within the sphere of their knowledge, except as much as He wills. His Chair is encompassing all the heavens and the earth, and the protection of both is not heavy upon Him. And He is the Exalted, the Great. |
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لاَ إِكْرَاهَ فِي الدِّينِ قَد تَّبَيَّنَ الرُّشْدُ مِنَ الْغَيِّ فَمَنْ يَكْفُرْ بِالطَّاغُوتِ وَيُؤْمِن بِاللّهِ فَقَدِ اسْتَمْسَكَ بِالْعُرْوَةِ الْوُثْقَىَ لاَ انفِصَامَ لَهَا وَاللّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
La ikraha fee a(l)ddeeni qad tabayyana a(l)rrushdu mina alghayyi faman yakfur bi(al)ttaghooti wayumin bi(A)llahi faqadi istamsaka bi(a)lAAurwati alwuthqa la infisama laha wa(A)llahu sameeAAun AAaleem(un) There is no compulsion in Deen. Guidance has become clearly distinct from misguidance; thus, he who refuses (the suggestion of) Shaitan and believes in Allaah, he is holding that Strong Handhold which is unbreakable. And Allaah is Hearer, Knower. |
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اللّهُ وَلِيُّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ يُخْرِجُهُم مِّنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّوُرِ وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ أَوْلِيَآؤُهُمُ الطَّاغُوتُ يُخْرِجُونَهُم مِّنَ النُّورِ إِلَى الظُّلُمَاتِ أُوْلَـئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ
Allaahu waliyyu allatheena amanoo yukhrijuhum mina a(l)ththulumati ila a(l)nnoori wa(a)llatheena kafaroo awliyaohumu a(l)ttaghootu yukhrijoonahum mina a(l)nnoori ilaa(l)ththulumati olaika ashabu a(l)nnari hum feeha khalidoon(a) Allaah is the Friend of the believers; He brings them out of darkness towards the light. And those who are unbelievers, their friends are the Shayateen who take them from the light towards darkness. These people are the inmates of Hell, and they will remain in it forever. |
Secrets Of Revelation
O you who believe!... And it is the non-believers who are wrongdoers.
The Basis of Reformation
The improvement of man's worldly condition is based on economics. All the religions, if viewed closely, revolve around the urge for the fulfillment of worldly desires. Human endeavour is focused on the attainment of wealth, as money is a major source of fulfilling the desires; and this is where all the trouble originates. However, if the expenditure is restricted, there remains no need or benefit of earning through unlawful means.
The economic systems of the world discuss only the rules for attaining wealth. Islam accepts that subsistence is from Allaah-SWT. Man is only responsible to exert his effort and it is entirely up to Allaah-SWT as to how much subsistence He actually gives, little or more. After acquiring one's share, its utilization has also been determined in the form of obligatory and the supererogatory alms.
The human soul prefers to spend on the attainment of temporal pleasures whereas Allaah-SWT draws its attention to spend, as He desires. This means spending in accordance with His Laws, whether in the form of Zakat and alms or the maintenance of wife and children. Such a spending will obviously not only fulfill the worldly needs but shall also be a source of eternal bliss, for which man has been sent to this world. So when the real motive is the eternal life of the ‘Akhirah’ nothing will stand in the way of accepting the truth. And whosoever settles for the pleasures of this temporary world, expecting any good from him will be in vain.
A brief sketch of ‘Akhirah’ has been drawn next. The valued assets for the Day of Judgment are virtuous deeds. When nothing else will avail, neither friendship nor money nor intercession, faith being the prerequisite for intercession. And a believer never prefers this world to the ‘Akhirah’. If he commits a mistake, he seeks Allaah-SWT's Forgiveness immediately and tries to make amends. But the non-believers are indeed the transgressors as they wish to impose their own desires upon the universe, which is impossible because the owner of the universe is Allaah-SWT.
No one has the right to be worshiped save Allaah-SWT. Total obedience is only for Him. He is Ever Living. He sustains the existence of everything in the entire universe and is Himself sustained or supported by no body. Neither sleep nor slumber affects Him. He is the Absolute Master. He is eternal; His existence having neither a beginning nor an end. He is in reality the Owner of the heavens and the earth and all that lies therein. So Majestic and Awe-inspiring is He that no one can dare to speak before Him or intercede for anyone without His permission. His Knowledge is perfect, complete, all embracing and He knows the hidden and the manifest. None of His creatures can encompass His Knowledge save what He Himself grants. The best of anyone's knowledge is what He blesses; none knows anything beyond that. His Throne or Seat of Majesty, is vaster than the universe. He holds the heavens and the earth and runs their system smoothly; nothing seems to burden Him as He is the Supreme Being, the Most Magnificent!
The word Kursi (Throne) must not be given human interpretation as He is above any concept of space and time. The real essence and the state of these revelations is beyond human intellect. However, it is clearly established that the ‘Arsh’ and the Throne are two glorious entities, much larger than the heavens and the earth.
Ibn Kathir quotes a Companion, Abu Zar Ghaffari-RAU that he once inquired from the Holy Prophet-SW that what is meant by the word ‘Kursi’ and how could it be described? The Holy Prophet-SW is reported to have said, “I swear by Allaah-SWT, Who owns my very life that the seven heavens and the earth compared to it are like the loop of a ring in a vast plain. And in another report the ‘Kursi’ is like a ring in a vast plain, in comparison to 'Arsh’.
In this sacred Ayah, His Attributes are expressed in such a unique manner, that even a pagan can understand that all Grandeur, Magnificence and Absolute rule and authority can only be attributed to the perfect Master. It is popularly known as ‘Ayat al Kursi’ and its manifold grace is mentioned in many sayings of the Holy Prophet-SW, who recommended its recitation after every obligatory Salat in order to guard against the whispers of Satan and for the attainment of Allaah-SWT's Mercy and Compassion.
There is no coercion in religion... And Allaah-SWT is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.
Now there is no occasion for employing coercion in the matter of embracing Islam. The miracles of the Holy Prophet-SW and the revelation of the Book have established the Truth and enlightened the path of life. Now every individual has the right to accept the Truth or reject it. In case of rejection he will not be allowed to create mischief or unrest in the world. Just as snakes or scorpions are killed in order to protect the creations, the believers must wage Jihad against the non-believers unless they agree to pay the prescribed tax and live in submission to Islamic law as law-abiding citizens. However, the right to accept Islam, which is a matter of conviction, will certainly be given to every individual, and there will be no coercion whatsoever.
A common misinterpretation of this Ayah is, that no one shall be compelled to practice Islam, even by the Government. He may or may not offer Salat or fast during the month of Ramzan. This is absolutely incorrect and a misconception. No coercion is to be applied in embracing Islam. But once a person becomes a Muslim, it is obligatory to abide by all the tenets of Islam and it is the responsibility of the ruler to punish the defaulters as enjoined by the Holy Prophet-SW. Otherwise the ruler will become an accomplice and will be accountable along with each and every wrongdoer on the Day of Judgment.
Whenever a person renounces Satan, i.e. the devils from Jinn as well as from humans, it means that he gives up hope in them and starts having faith in Allaah-SWT. Whoever makes Allaah-SWT the centre of all his hopes holds on to a very strong cord, which will never break. In simple words, he will always be successful. Allaah-SWT indeed listens to everyone and is well aware of their secrets and intentions
We is the friend of those who believe... therein shall they abide forever.
Allaah-SWT is a friend of Muslims and supports them. When they concede to His Greatness He pulls them out of the quagmire of evil and shows them the light of Islam. As a result their ‘Qulub’ are enlightened, their vision is broadened and they are blessed with clarity and. purity of thought. Indeed Allaah-SWT opens up the avenue of guidance unto such believers. And those who deny His Magnificence or associate their hopes with others are entrusted to the devils, which may either be from human beings or the Jinn. These devils allure them away from the light of Islam and guidance, into the darkness of disbelief and evil. Such misguided people shall dwell in Hell forever.
It must be remembered that no one shall be coerced into accepting Islam, but once a Muslim he will be made to practice it. Now if he turns a renegade he will be declared a rebel, for which the penalty is death. Yet those who do not embrace Islam, shall not be left without any check and balance. It is obligatory on every Muslim to fight against any non-believer who wishes to impose or has imposed his own way of life on Allaah-SWT's land. And during this Jihad the harmless amongst them, such as the old, the women, the children or the handicapped, will not be bothered. In short, it is the duty of all Muslims to eradicate evil and exploitation from Allaah-SWT's land and establish peace and tranquility.
