Al-Baqara

Surah 2 of the Quran

البقرة‎ Al-Baqarah The Cow
Qira'ahⓘ English text
Classification	Medinan
Position	Juzʼ 1–3
No. of verses	286
No. of Rukus	40
No. of Sajdahs	89

Sura al-Baqara (Template:Lang-ar, Sūratu l-Baqarah, "The Cow") is the Qur'an's second and longest chapter. It is a Medinan sura and comprises 286 verses, including the single longest verse in the Qur'an (2:282). The sura's name references verses 67–73 which recall the story of the golden calf worshipped as an idol by the Israelites during Moses' absence.

Other notable passages include the famous āyat al-kursī or "Throne Verse", as well as the closing two verses which outline the six articles of belief before forming a prayer for forgiveness, divine mercy, and help against the enemies of faith.

Overview

The Sura's name is in reference to an argument between Moses and the Israelites over a cow they should sacrifice after the order of Allah (God). Thereafter, in order to know the murderer of a slain man, the flesh of the cow was used to hit the body that turned the man alive again, so he addressed the murderer. (see ^{[Quran 2:67]}). (Not to be confused with the popular biblical incident where Moses prohibited worshiping a Calf idol, referenced elsewhere in the chapter.)

It is a Medinan sura; most of it is believed to have been revealed during the first two years after the Hijra. Some sections (for instance, the verses prohibiting interest on loans) were revealed later, and the last three verses were revealed in Mecca. The sura addresses a wide variety of topics, including substantial amounts of law, and retells stories of Adam, Abraham and Moses. A major theme is guidance: urging the pagans (Al-Kuffar) and the Jews of Medina to embrace Islam, and warning them and the hypocrites of the fate God had visited in the past on those who failed to heed His call.

Al-Baqarah contains several verses dealing with the subject of warfare. Verses ^{[Quran 2:190]} are often quoted on the nature of battle in Islam.

It also contains a very important verse (255), Ayatul Kursi.

Ahadith mentioning Surah Al-Baqara

Abu Hurairah reported Muhammad to have said, "Do not make your houses graveyards. The devil flees from the house in which Surah Al-Baqara is recited." from Sahih Muslim

It is reported from ‘Uqbah Ibn ‘Amir Al-Juhani that he said that Muhammad said: “Recite the last two verses from Surat Al-Baqarah, for I was given them from a treasure trove beneath the Throne” (Ahmad)

It is reported on the authority of Ibn Masud from Muhammad that he said: “Whoever recited the last two verses of Suratul Baqarah at night, they will be sufficient for him.” Al-Bukhari

Hasan ibn Ali narrates that Muhammad stated: "He who recites Ayatul Kursi after obligatory salat, is in the protection of Allah til the next salat." from Tabarani, Majma uz-Zuwaid

It is reported on the authority of Ali that he said: “I do not consider it fitting for anyone who has understood Islam to sleep (at night) until he has recited Ayatul Kursi and the ending of Surat Al-Baqarah, for they are a gift to your Prophet from the treasure which lies beneath the Throne.” (Narrated by Ibn Mardawaih)

References

[4] [1]

External links

• Al-Baqara at Altafsir.com
• Sura 2, The Heifer (Al-Baqarah)
• Word-by-word translation and grammar for Sura Al-Baqara (from the Quranic Arabic Corpus)
• Al Baqara, البَقَرَة