Al-Baqara

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Sūrata’l-Baqarah (سورة البقرة "the Cow") is the second, and the longest, chapter of the Qur'an, with 286 verses.

1 Overview
2 Verses
3 See also
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Overview

The Sura's name is in reference to an argument between the Prophet Moses and the Israelites over a cow they should sacrifice in order to know the murderer of a slain man (see 2:67-74). (Not to be confused with the popular biblical incident where Moses clamped down on the Israelites' worshipping a cow idol - which is also pointed out in this sura.)

It is a Madinan sura; most of it was revealed during the first two years after the Hijra, but some sections (for instance, the verses prohibiting interest on loans) were revealed later, and the last three verses had been revealed in Mecca. It addresses a wide variety of topics, including substantial amounts of law, and retells stories of Adam and Moses and Abraham. A major theme is guidance: urging the pagans and Jews of Madina to become Muslim, and warning them and the hypocrites of the fate God had visited in the past on those who failed to heed his call.

It appears to be one of the earliest suras (with an-Nisa and some others) to be mentioned by name in a non-Muslim written source. John of Damascus (~730s) speaks of "the text of the Cow", and the Syriac Disputations of a Monk of Beth Hale and an Arab Notable (date hard to determine, but apparently post-710) has the monk saying "I think that for you, too, not all your laws and commandments are in the Qur'an which Muhammad taught you; rather there are some which he taught you from the Qur'an, and some are in surat albaqrah and in gygy (Injil?) and in twrh (Torah.)"

Surat Al-Baqarah contains several verses dealing with the subject of warfare. Verses 2:190-194 are often quoted on the nature of battle in Islam.

[edit] Verses

It begins with the letters Alif Lam Mim. A.L.M is usually spelled when the surah is being read, since the "word" is not a word that exists. If pronounced as a word when read the sound is like " Aum " the Hindu symbol (with L being silent as in most Arabic words)^{[citation needed]}.

[edit] 2:62

Verses 2:62, 5:69 and 22:17 addresses the Jews, Christians and Sabians: it states that along with Muslims, God will also save those Christians and Jews, who have believed in the true message of Jesus, Moses and the other prophets:

Those who believe–Jews, Nazarenes, and Sabians–whoever believes in God and the Last Day and does good deeds - shall be rewarded by their Lord; they have nothing to fear nor are they saddened.

[edit] 2:67-74

The Sura's name is in reference to an argument between the Prophet Moses and the Israelites over a cow they should sacrifice in order to know the murderer of a slain man.

From the Muslim perspective, the story is told to demonstrate that such idle argument is the wrong way to react to a direct commandment from God (Arabic Allah), as opposed to direct submission mandated by Islam.

[edit] 2:204-205

An incident occurred prior to these verses being revealed. A man named Al-Akhnas ibn Shuriq came to Muhammad to embrace Islam, but as he turned to leave, he happened to pass by a pasture and grazing animals. He set it alight and killed the cattle. These verses express disapproval ^[1].

[edit] 2:190-194

Verses 2:190-194 are often quoted on the nature of battle in Islam:

Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress limits; for Allah loveth not transgressors. And slay them wherever ye catch them, and turn them out from where they have turned you out; for tumult and oppression are worse than slaughter; but fight them not at the Sacred Mosque, unless they (first) fight you there; but if they fight you, slay them. Such is the reward of those who suppress faith. And fight them on until there is no more Tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in Allah; but if they cease, Let there be no hostility except to those who practise oppression. But if they cease, Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful. The prohibited month for the prohibited month,- and so for all things prohibited,- there is the law of equality. If then any one transgresses the prohibition against you, transgress ye likewise against him. But fear Allah, and know that Allah is with those who restrain themselves. (Yusuf Ali's translation)

According to the well-known medieval tafsir of Ibn Kathir (who bases his statement on a hadith of Abul-Aliyah), ayat 190–1 were the first ayat regarding fighting revealed in Madina, and "ever since it was revealed, Allah's Messenger used to fight only those who fought him and avoid non-combatants." It mentions the minority opinion of Abd-al-Rahman ibn Zayd ibn Aslam that this verse was abrogated by 9:5 "then kill the mushriks (polytheists) wherever you find them", but rejects this view as implausible. Ibn Kathir explains the "limits" that it says should not be transgressed as referring to "mutilating the dead, theft (from the captured goods), killing women, children and old people who do not participate in warfare, killing priests and residents of houses of worship, burning down trees and killing animals without real benefit", citing Ibn Abbas, Hasan al-Basri, Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz, and others in support. He interprets fitna (literally "disorder"; translated here "tumult or oppression") as referring to aggression against Muslims or polytheism (shirk). The "prohibited months" refers to the four "holy months" during which battle is normally forbidden, Dhu al-Qi'dah, Dhul Hijjah, Muharram, and Rajab (see Islamic calendar.)

[edit] 2:223

Your wives are as a tilth unto you; so approach your tilth when or how ye will; but do some good act for your souls beforehand; and fear Allah. And know that ye are to meet Him (in the Hereafter), and give (these) good tidings to those who believe.

[edit] 2:255

This is an important verse, termed the Throne Verse, ayat ul-kursi, and widely memorized and displayed in the Islamic world:

Allah! There is no deity save Him, the Alive, the Eternal. Neither slumber nor sleep overtaketh Him. Unto Him belongeth whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth. Who is he that intercedeth with Him save by His leave? He knoweth that which is in front of them (present) and that which is behind them (past), while they encompass nothing of His knowledge save what He will. His throne includeth the heavens and the earth, and He is never weary of preserving them. He is the Sublime, the Tremendous.

A hadith calls this "the greatest verse in the Book of Allah", and another says "It is never recited in a house but Ash-Shaytan leaves." ^[2]

[edit] 2:256

Main article: Al-Baqara, 256

This verse notes that "there is no compulsion in religion.", a much quoted part of the verse.

[edit] 2:275

Those who swallow down usury cannot arise except as one whom Shaitan has prostrated by (his) touch does rise. That is because they say, trading is only like usury; and Allah has allowed trading and forbidden usury. To whomsoever then the admonition has come from his Lord, then he desists, he shall have what has already passed, and his affair is in the hands of Allah; and whoever returns (to it)-- these arc the inmates of the fire; they shall abide in it.

Al-Qurtubi is cited in support of the reality of possession by Jinn and the Devil (Shaitan). Commenting on this verse, he wrote:

This verse contains proof against those who deny the possession by way of Jinn, claiming that it is a result of natural causes, as well as those who claim that Shaitan does not enter humans nor does he touch them.

[edit] See also

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