As the opening sums up in seven beautiful verses the essance of the Qur'ān, so this Sūrah sums up in 286 verses the whole teaching of the Qur'an. it is a closely reasoned argument.
Summary- it begins ( verses 1-29) by classifying men into three broad categories, depending on how they receive Allah's message.
This leads to the story of the creation of man, the high destiny intended for him, his fall, and the hope held out of him (2:30-39)
Israel's story is then hold according to their own records and traditions - what privileges they received and how they abused him (2:40-86), thus illustrating again as by a parable the general story of man.
In particular, reference is made to Moses and Jesus and their struggles with an unruly people: how people of the Book played false their own lights and in their pride rejected Muhammed who came in the true line of prophets (2:87-121). (R).
They falsely laid claim to the virtues of Father Abraham: he was indeed a righteous Imám, but he was the progenitor of Isma'il's line (Arabs) as well as of israel's line, and he with Ismail built the Ka'bah (the House of Allah in Makkah) and purified it, thus establishing a common religion, of which Islam is the universal exponent (2:122-141). (R).
The Ka'bah was now to be the center of universal worship and the symbol of Islamic unity (2:142-167).
The Islamic Ummah (brotherhood) having thus been established with its definite centre and symbol, ordinances are laid down for the social life of the community, proviso (2:177) that righteousness does not consist in formalities, but in faith, kindness, prayer, charity, probity and patience under suffering. The ordinances relate to food and drink, bequests, fasts, jihäd, wine and gambling, treatment of orphans and women, etc. (2:168-242)
Lest the subject of jihäd should be misunderstood, it is taken up again in the story of Saul, Goliath and David, in contrast to the story of Jesus (2:243-253).
And so the lesson is enforced that true virtue lies in practical deeds of manliness, kindness and good faith (2:254-283), and Allah's nature is called to mind in the sublime Ayah al Kurs the Verse of the Throne (2:255).
The Sürah ends with an exhortation to Faith, Obedience, a sense of Personal Responsibility and Prayer (2:284-286).
This is the longest Sürah of the Qur'an, and in it occurs the longest verse (2:282). The name of the Sürah is from the Parable of the Heifer in 2:67-71, which illustrates the insufficiency of carping obedience. When faith is lost, people put off obedience with various excuses: even when at last they obey in the letter, they fail in the spirt, which means that they get fossilised, and their self-sufficiency prevents them from seeing that spiritually they are not alive but dead. For life is movement, activity, striving, fighting against baser things. And this This is the burden of the Sūrah
this is in the main an early Madinah.
The Message of Allah, is a guide that is sure
(2:1-29.) To those who seek His light. But those
Who reject faith are blind: their hearts
Are sealed. Woe to the hypocrites
Self-deceived and deceiving others
With mockery on their lips, and mischief
In their hearts, and fear: the clouds
That bring fertilizing rain to others,
To them bring but deafening thunder-peals And lightning flashes blinding to their eyes.
Sūrah 2.
Al Baqarah
(The Heifer)
in the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
1. Alif, Lām, Mīm
2. This is the Book;
In it is guidance sure, without doubt,
To those who fear Allah;
3. Who believe in the unseen,
Are steadfast in prayer
And spend out of what We
Have provided for them
4. And who believe in the Revelation
Sent to thee,
And sent before thy time,
And (in their hearts)
Have the assurance of The Hereafter.
5. They are on ( true guidance )
From Their Lord, And it is
These who will prosper.
6. As to those who reject faith,
it is the same to them
Whether thou warn them
Or do not warn them
They Will Not Believe
7. Allah Hath set a seal
On their hearts and on their hearing
And on their eyes is a veil
Great is the penalty they (incure)
section 2.
8. of the people there are some who say.
"We believe in Allah and the Last day;
But they do not ( really) believe.
9. Fais would they decieve
Allah and those who believe, but they only deceive themselves, and realize (it) not!
10. in their hearts is a disease; and allah has increased their disease: and grievous id the penalty they(incure) because they are false (to themselves)
11. When it is said to them: "Make not mischief on the earth,"
They say :"Why, we only want to make peace!"
12.Of a surety, they are the ones who make mischief but they realize (it) not.
13. When it is said to them:
"Believe as the others believe."
they say :" shall we believe as the fools believe?" - Nay, of a surety they are fools,
but they do not know.
14. When they mert those who believe, They say: "We Believe"
but when they are alone with their evil ones, They say:"We are really with you we ( were) only jesting.
15. Allah will throw back their mockery on them, and give them rope in their trespasses ; So they will wander like blind ones ( to and fro)
16. these are they who have bartered
guidance for error but their traffic is profitless, And they have lost true direction.
17. their similitude is that of a man who kindled a fire; when it lighted all around him, Allah took away their light and left them in utter darkness so they could not see.
18. Deaf, Dumb, and Blind they will not return ( to the path ).
19. Or ( another similitude) is that of a rain-laden cloud from the sky; in it are zones of darkness, and thunder and lightning:
they press their fingers in their ears to keep out the stunning thunderclap, the while they are in terror of death.
But Allah is ever round
The rejecters of Faith!
20. The lightning all but snatches away
Their sight; every time the light (Helps) them, they walk therein And when the darkness grows on them, they stand still,
And if Allah willed, he could take away their faculty of hearing and seeing; for allah hath power over all things
Section 3.
21. ye people!
Adore your guardian Lord, Who created you
And those who came before you,
That ye may become righteous,
22. Who has made the earth your couch
And the heavens your canopy;
And sent down rain from the heavens;
And brought forth therewith
Fruits for your sustenance;
Then set not up rivals unto allah
When ye know ( the truth )
23. And if ye are in doubt
As to what we have revealed
From time to time to our servant,
Then produce a Sūrah
Like thereunto;
And call your witnesses or helpers
( if there are any ) besides Allah
If your ( doubts ) are true.
24. But if ye cannot -
And pf surety ye cannot -
Then fear the Fire
Whose fuel is Men and Stones
Which is prepared for those
Who reject Faith.
25. But give glad tidings
To those who believe
And work righteousness
That their portion is Gardens
Beneath which rivers flow.
Every time they are fed
With fruits therefrom,
They say: " Why, this is
What we were fed with before "
For they are given things in similitude;
And they have therein
Companions pure ( and holy);
And the abide therein ( forever )
26. Allah disdains not to use
The similitude of things,
Lowest as well as highest.
Those who believe know
That is the truth from their Lord;
But those who reject faith say ;
" What means Allah by this similitude? "
By it he causes many to stray,
Except those who forsake ( the path )-
27. Those who break Allah's Covenant
After it is ratified
And qho sunder what Allah
Has ordered to be joined
And do mischief on earth:
There cause loss ( only ) to themselves
28. How can you reject
The faith in Allah? - seeing that you were without life,
And he gave you life;
Then will again bring you to life;
And again to Him will ye return.
29. It is He Who hath created for you
All things that are on earth;
Then He turned to the heaven
And made them into seven firmaments
And of all things
He hath perfect knowledge.
Section 4.
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The Holy Qur'an ( English ) - القرأن ( بالانجليزية )
SpiritualThe Holy Qur'ān in English
