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Surah Al Baqarah, a Madani Surah (with exceptions of few ayats) is the second and longest Surah of the Al Quran. The Surah emphasizes the necessity of beliefs in the Oneness of Allah, His Messengers, the Hereafter, and belief in al-gayb or which is beyond human sensory perception such as the existence of Allah and life after death. Allah also describes His attributes such as All Hearing, All Seeing, All Knowing, Ever Living, Most High, Creator and Owner of everything that exists. Allah is the Protector of believers and leads them from darkness into light. The Quran is undoubtedly the Word of Allah and a guidance for those whose hearts are Allah conscious and are aware of Allah’s All Presence. Allah commands His slaves to accept guidance for their goodness and success although ‘there is no compulsion in religion’. Guidance can only be received through His Mercy but that it cannot be attained when Allah's message is deliberately rejected.
Allah has taught Adam the inner nature and qualities of things and made him vicegerent on earth. Allah then said whosoever follows His guidance, shown by His Messengers, they shall neither fear nor grieve. Allah warns to guard against devils insinuations and evils of one’s lower self. Allah also reminds personal responsibility of each soul and warns that no one would be exempt from punishment on the Day of Judgment because of ‘special privilege’ or ‘race’ or being ‘descendants of Prophets’ which include the Christian doctrine of vicarious redemption and the Jewish idea of ‘the chosen people’. Allah named Muslims as ‘the middle-most’ community which avoids extremes. Allah commends Prophet Ibrahim’s belief in His Oneness and complete submission to His commandments. Allah reminds His favours to the children of Israel and tells stories of Prophets Musa and Isa (peace be upon them) and their struggles with disobedient people- to take lessons and accept the final Prophet Muhammad ﷺ who is mentioned in their Divine Books. Allah superseded the earlier Books with the Quran.
Allah stresses that it is not righteousness to just practice rituals but it is righteousness to believe in Allah, all the articles of faith, to spend substance out of love for Him, for relatives, orphans, others in need and to be steadfast in prayer, and practice regular charity; to fulfil the contracts; and to be firm and patient in adversity (see 2:177). The Surah covers a range of other subject matters such as fasting pilgrimage, other rituals, personal and moral duties, social, political, economic and warfare rules and regulations, parables and similitudes. The Surah ends with a beautiful Du’a to beg Allah: not to condemn us for our forgetfulness or error; not to lay on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear; to overlook our faults and blot out our sins; to grant us forgiveness and mercy; and help us against disbelieving people.
Tafsir Compilations:
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