SURAH 2 – AL-BAQARAH VERSES 1-12

THE COW

Quran Study Sessions – Session 18

March 01, 2020

Overview – Ayaat 1-5

❑The blessings of Surah Baqarah are many.

❑The Prophet (SAW) was quoted as saying, "Everything has a high point, and the high point of the Quran is Surah Baqarah." (Sunan al-Darimi) (Sunan al-Tirmidhi, link)

❑It was also narrated that the Prophet said: "[…] Recite the two bright ones, al-Baqara and Surah Al 'Imran, for on the Day of Resurrection they will come as two clouds or two shades, or two flocks of birds in ranks, pleading for those who recite them. Recite Surah al-Baqara, for to take recourse to it is a blessing and to give it up is a cause of grief, and the magicians cannot confront it." (Sahih Muslim, link)

Blessings of Baqarah

It was narrated: the Prophet (SAW) was sending an expedition with a high number, so he asked them to recite and each of them was asked to recite. Then, he came to a man who was from their youngest, and he said "What do you have with you, young man?"

He said, "I have this and this Surah and Surah Baqarah."

Prophet said: "You have Surah Baqarah?"

He said, "Yes."

The Prophet said, "Go and you are their leader."

One of their notable ones said, "I swear by Allah nothing stopped me from learning Baqarah except that I was afraid that I wouldn't stand (in night prayer) with it.

The Prophet (SAW) said: "Learn the Quran and recite it because the example of the one who recites the Quran is like a bag of musk whose scent fills the air, and the example of one who learns the Quran and sleeps with it while it is in his memory, is like a bag of musk that is closed and tightened. (Sunan al-Tirmidhi, link)

Blessings of Baqarah - 2

❑ Surah Baqarah was revealed entirely in Madinah except for verse 281 which is among the final verses of the Quran revelealed and that was revealed during the Farewell Pilgrimage.

❑ The Surah is more oriented towards Jews (Bani Israel), and the Surah after it is more oriented towards Christians.

❑ Surah Baqarah is an invitation and introduction to Islam. It starts out withbasics and moves on to the stories of Adam (AS), Children of Israel, and Ibrahim (AS). It starts out addressing all people, then the Children of Israel, then believers in general. It starts out with laying the foundations, then moves on to explain some rules of Islam.

❑ "Baqarah" means cow, and the name comes from the story mentioned of the Children of Israel when they were asked to slaughter a cow.

Introduction to Baqarah

❑ Introduction (1-39 verses)

❑ Main Body

❑ Section 1 (40-121 verses) – Address to Children of Israel

❑ Section 2 (40 -122 verses) – Abraham’s life

❑ Section 3 (163-242) – Laws and directives of Shariah

❑ Section 4 (243-283) – Miscellaneous topic of Muslims

❑ Conclusion (284-286)

Overview of Surah

❑ Alif Lam Meem are letters of the Arabic alphabet. Letters like these occur many times in the Quran always at the starting of Surahs.

❑ The meaning of these letters is known best by Allah.

❑ It is possible the letters refer to the Arabic alphabet by mentioning a few of the letters. Similar to how “a b c” can refer to the English alphabet even though only mentioning three letters.

❑ Perhaps Allah is demonstrating to the Arabs: this is your alphabet that you claim to master, so try and make something similar to the Quran that I made with the same alphabet.

Verse 1

❑ The Quran is given several names. Al-Kitab meaning “the book” is one of those names. Allah is pointing to the Quran saying “that book” and describing the book to us.

❑ Possibly, He is reminding us of the dua we make in the Surah before this: “guide us to the straight path,” and is saying “that book that will guide you to the straight path,” and describing that book to us.

❑ Allah says there is absolutely no doubt in that book.

❑ This means that the Quran is sufficiently clear that there is no possibility for a person who reads it fairly and sincerely to have a doubt in the truth it brings about God and other subjects. Any doubts one might have are an internal issue.

Verse 2

❑ Allah says the Quran is “Huda” meaning guidance. This means it shows the correct direction and gives correct knowledge.

❑ It makes arguments and gives proofs about the existence of God, Day of Judgement, etc.

❑ It tells people about the laws of Allah so they can follow them.

❑ It reminds people of Allah’s signs so they obey Him.

❑ Allah says it is guidance for “Muttaqeen.” Meaning the people who have “taqwa.” “Taqwa” is fear or apprehension. The Muttaqeen are those who are cautious and careful of Allah’s punishment by avoiding what their desires attract them to do. Muttaqeen can be translated as “God-fearing.”

Verse 2

❑ “Taqwa” encompasses avoidance of what should not be done. Allah continues and elaborates what these people (who get guidance from the Quran) actually do.

❑ Actions are inward and outward. As for inward, it is that they “believe in the unseen.”

❑ “Ghaib” is the unseen. Meaning they believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Last Day, His Paradise, His Fire, His meeting, life after death and resurrection. All of these are “ghaib” because they cannot be directly seen by the believers.

Verse 3

❑ Actions are also outward and Allah mentions some of their outward actions. First is that they establish Salah.

❑ Salah refers to all prayers, Nafl and Fard. Especially in this ayah, it refers to the Salah that success depends on, the obligatory five prayers.

❑ The second action is spending from what they were given. “Rizq” means any beneficial thing, and “Infaq” means to get wealth out of your hand. Allah says those people donate from the beneficial things they were given including money and food.

❑ This spending or donation refers to Sadaqah, and more specifically, it refers to Zakah.

Verse 3

❑ The previous ayah describing the Muttaqeen’s actions was general to everyone whether they used to believe in Jesus (AS) and Musa (AS) before or not. However, Allah makes a specific mention for Jews and Christians with a verse describing them alone.

❑ Repeating their mention even though a general verse came before gives them extra honour for the purpose of inviting them to Islam and honouring those who already became Muslims.

Verse 4

❑ Allah describes them as “those who believe in what came to you” meaning the Quran, and they believe in what “was sent before you” meaning the books like the Torah and Injeel.

❑ The mention of the previous books even though it was implied in the “unseen” in the previous verse is to highlight that they used to follow the previous prophets.

❑ Allah specifically emphasizes they have complete certainty in the Last Day because many Jews have strange beliefs about it. Some deny the existence of Hell, some deny there will be Judgement for Jews after resurrection, and some deny the resurrection itself. All mention of resurrection is removed from the Torah. The only references left are in other books of the Old Testament.

Verse 4

❑ Two meanings are possible and both are true.

❑ First is that Allah is answering the question “What is the benefit of being these guided people?” Allah answers by saying those people are guided and because of that those people will be the successful.

❑ Second is that Allah is emphasizing that these are the people and not anyone else who are successful and guided. This meaning is more directed to those who believe that they can be successful without believing in the Prophet Muhammad (SAW). So, Allah says specifically those people who believed and did the mentioned things will be guided and will be successful, not anyone avoided one part of it.

Verse 5

Summary of the Five Verses

Is guidance:For God-fearing

people

General

Special reference to People of the Book• Believe in the unseen

• Establish Salah

• Spend from what they have.

• Believe in Muhammad (SAW)’s revelation

• Believe in previous revelation

• Have certainty in the Last Day.

Success

Guidance

Book that has no doubt

• Beliefs

• Laws

❑ Those who denied for 12/13 years

❑ The disbelieves of Makkah stuck due to their own pride

❑ Kufr – to hide

❑ For a specific group who were very stubborn

❑ Inzaar - warn

Verse 6

❑ Sealed their hearts

❑ Sealed because of their obstinacy

❑ Great punishment

Verse 7

❑ Another group – Hypocrites

❑ Say something but believe in something else

Verse 8

❑ Allah knows their hearts

❑ They think deceiving Allah and His messenger

Verse 9

❑ Decease – Hypocrisy

❑ Allah let loose their decease

❑ Punishment because of denial

Verse 10

❑ Fasad – Corruption

❑ Biggest corruption – Shirk – associating partners with Allah

Verse 11

❑ In fact they are the one who are spreading corruption

Verse 12

❑http://www.islamicstudies.info/tafheem.php?sura=2&verse=1&to=7

❑https://archive.org/stream/TafseerIbnKathirenglish114SurahsComplete

❑Arabic: https://furqan.co/alrazi/2/1

References