Background Information of Surah Al-Baqarah
Length and Scope: Surah Al-Baqarah is the longest Surah in the Qur’an with 286 verses. It encapsulates the entire teaching of the Qur’an. Revealed in Medinah.
Logical Sequence: Positioned second in the Qur’an, it responds to the human plea in Surah Al-Fatiha with divine guidance and assistance from Allah.
Key Themes and Messages
Human Types and Responses: It starts by defining three types of people based on their response to Allah’s message.
Human Creation and History: Discusses human creation, their intended noble status by Allah, the fall of humanity, and Allah’s continuous hope and mercy despite human transgressions.
Historical Accounts: Extensively covers the history of the Children of Israel, showing how they misused Allah’s blessings, drawing parallels to the general human condition.
Prophetic Narratives: References prophets Moses, Jesus, and their people’s wrongdoings; discusses how both Christians and Jews, despite having prophets among them, rejected Muhammad due to envy and spite.
Prophet Abraham’s Legacy: Highlights Abraham as a forefather of both Arabs (through Ishmael) and Jews (through Isaac), his establishment of the Ka‘ba with Ishmael, and its significance as a center of monotheistic worship and Islamic unity.
Islamic Doctrine and Community Laws
Establishment of the Islamic Community: Verse 128 is highlighted where Abraham and Ishmael pray for their progeny to be submissive to Allah, indicating the early formation of the Muslim community (Ummah) centered around the Ka‘ba.
Regulations and Rights: The Surah sets forth rules for the Islamic community covering both “Ḥuqūqu-llāh” (rights of Allah) and “Ḥuqūqu-l-‘Ibād” (rights of people), detailing the correct conduct towards Allah and interpersonal relations.
Legal and Ethical Instructions: Includes regulations on food, inheritance, fasting, striving for good causes, alcohol, gambling, treatment of women and orphans, and the prohibition of usury.
Key Verses and Principles
Verses on Hypocrisy: The name “Al-Baqarah” (The Cow) comes from an allegory involving a cow discussed in verses 67-71, dealing with the theme of hypocrisy and spiritual ailments leading to moral and sensory dullness.
Verses on Jihad and Faith: Discusses the concept of Jihad at three levels—armed with truth, fighting personal vices, and defending faith—with references to prophets David, Moses, and Jesus.
Moral Values and Goodness: Emphasizes that righteousness involves faith, charity, patience, and moral integrity, not just ritualistic practices.
Conclusion and Divine Call
Final Verses and Prayer: The Surah concludes with a call to believe and follow the laid-down rules, stressing actions borne from personal responsibility. The last verses (285-286) teach a prayer acknowledging human limitations and seeking divine assistance.
Topical Analysis of Rukus
Ruku 1: Verses 1-7
Allah describes believers and their characteristics.
Ruku 2: Verses 8-20
Allah is talking about the hypocrites.
Ruku 3: Verses 21-29
While Allah invites people to Islam, He invites those who do not believe in the Qur’an to write a chapter similar to a chapter of the Qur’an. After giving the good news of heaven to people, he talks about the denial of unbelievers despite the signs shown to them.
Ruku 4: Verses 30-39
Allah briefly summarizes Adam’s (pbuh) life.
Ruku 5: Verses 40-46
God gives advice to the Israelites.
Ruku 6: Verses 47-59
Allah tells the Israelites about the blessings He has bestowed upon them throughout history, the events they experienced with Moses (pbuh), and the blasphemous acts they committed.
Ruku 7: Verses 60-61
Allah speaks of the ungrateful behavior of the Israelites despite the blessings bestowed upon them through Moses (pbuh).
Ruku 8: Verses 62-71
Allah is talking about the sons of Israel breaking their promises to Allah and their violating Allah’s orders and prohibitions. He tells them to sacrifice a cow through Moses (pbuh).
Ruku 9: Verses 72-82
Jews’ rejecting the truth despite knowing the truth (of their faith).
The hypocrisy and blasphemy they hide inside their hearts are within the knowledge of God.
Their claim that God has sent down to them what they have written with their own hands.
Ruku 10: Verses 83-86
Allah speaks of the Jews breaking their promise to Him, accepting some of the verses that were revealed to them and rejecting some of them.
Ruku 11: Verses 87-96
Allah tells us about the Jews killing prophets and not obeying verses that did not suit them.
He tells about their attempts to blaspheme at every opportunity and their denial of the Qur’an that was revealed to the Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) because he was not one of their own descendants.
Ruku 12: Verses 97-103
Jews say that they are enemies of Gabriel in order not to accept the prophethood of our Prophet (pbuh).
Allah says that He is the enemy of those who are enemies of His angels and that only those who go astray will deny the verses of the Qur’an.
And He tells that they (jews) believed the lies that the devils told about Solomon (pbuh).
Ruku 13: Verses 104-112
Allah talks about the people of the book confusing the believing muslims and calling them back to blasphemy
and the believers receiving the reward from Him for their good deeds.
Ruku 14: Verses 113-121
Jews and Christians denying each other’s religions.
God creating the entire universe by saying “be”.
The ignorant people still waiting for miracles despite God presenting us with uncountable evidence.
Ruku 15: Verses 122-129
After Allah briefly explains the day of reckoning, He talks about the conversation between Abraham (pbuh) and Himself and the prayers of Abraham (pbuh).
Ruku 16: Verses 130-141
Allah tells muslims to believe in the religion of Abraham (pbuh). To the religion of Abraham, Jacob and his sons which is His religion.
Ruku 17: Verses 142-147
Allah determines the qibla of muslims as Masjid al-Haram.
Ruku 18: Verses 148-152
Again, Allah commands muslims to turn their faces towards the Masjid al-Haram while performing prayers wherever they are, and wants them to only fear Allah, remember Him and be grateful to Him.
Ruku 19: Verses 153-163
Allah explains that those who are martyred in the way of Allah are alive.
The characteristics of believers.
Things that awaits those who hide the verses of Allah, and those who die as unbelievers.
Ruku 20: Verses 164-167
The truth that a society that thinks about Allah’s signs will understand.
The regrets that those who deny and take other gods for themselves will experience on the Day of Judgment are explained.
Ruku 21: Verses 168-176
Allah warns us about Satan, describes the state of the unbelievers, informs the believers about which foods are permissible to eat, and explains the punishment awaiting those who conceal and sell the verses of Allah.
Ruku 22: Verses 177-182
Allah teaches us the characteristics of true believers.
He explains how the murderers should be punished (in this world).
He teaches how a person should bequeath his property the right way.
Ruku 23: Verses 183-188
Allah explains the importance and rules of fasting.
He forbids the unfair use of other people’s property.
Ruku 24: Verses 189-196
God forbids believing in the superstition of entering houses through the back door.
Allah gives the muslims of Medinah permission to fight against those who fight against them and explains them the rules of war, in case the disbelievers decide to attack them during their pilgrimage in Mekka despite the peace treaty.
He teaches us to spend our wealth in the way of Allah and what we should do in case of pilgrimage that we have started and cannot finish.
Ruku 25: Verses 197-210
Allah announces the commandments of pilgrimage, reminds us of the characteristics of ferocious hypocrites and sincere Muslims, and that our return will be to Allah.
Ruku 26: Verses 211-216
The world seems adorned to the disbelievers.
In the beginning, all of humanity believed in a single religion.
Money to be spent in the way of Allah and war in the name of Allah are considered obligatory.
Ruku 27: Verses 217-221
The provisions of fighting in the haram month, causing strife and dying as an unbeliever are explained.
Allah explains the provisions of alcohol and gambling, what should be spent in the way of Allah, how orphans should be treated, and why we should prefer believers to polytheists when we get married.
Ruku 28: Verses 222-228
God talks about sexual relations, vows and divorce.
Ruku 29: Verses 229-231
Allah tells about His orders and limits about divorce.
Ruku 30: Verses 232-235
Allah tells about the issues that women should pay attention to after divorce and the duties that fall on men.
Ruku 31: Verses 236-242
Allah tells about His orders and limits on couples who decide to get divorced before sexual intercourse.
He explains how prayers should be performed in situations where there is danger.
In the event of a man’s death or divorce, the alimony that must be given to the woman for her livelihood is mentioned.
Ruku 32: Verses 243-248
Allah tells us that the fear of death is useless, that it is better for us to struggle in the way of Allah, and that he will test us with His sustenance.
He talks about the Israelites who came against their prophet and fled from the war that was made obligatory for them, and that they did not accept Talut (Saul) who was chosen as a commander by Allah.
Ruku 33: Verses 249-253
Allah talks about how Talut’s army was tested by a river on their way to war.
David (pbuh) killing Goliath.
Degrees of the prophets.
Ruku 34: Verses 254-257
Allah introduces Himself, tells believers to spend their sustenance in the way of Allah, and explains that there is no compulsion in religion.
Ruku 35: Verses 258-260
Allah tells a few events from the life of Abraham (pbuh) and talks about the stories in which He shows how He brought the dead back to life.
Ruku 36: Verses 261-266
Allah explains the subtleties of spending money in the way of Allah and the things to be considered in this regard.
Ruku 37: Verses 267-273
Allah explains the intricacies of giving alms and explains that the person to whom wisdom is given has a great blessing.
Ruku 38: Verses 274-281
Allah enumerates the characteristics of believers for whom there is no fear.
He outright prohibits interest and gives advice to the lender.
Ruku 39: Verses 282-283
Allah tells the rules of taking and giving debt.
Ruku 40: Verses 284-286
Allah reveals the principles of religion and what believers should say in a prayer.
