Surah 2. Al-Baqarah - The Cow

This is the 2nd Surah of the Qur’an. It has 286 verses. The cow is merely one of the many quadrupeds made useful and subservient to mankind. The title of a Chapter or Surah of the Qur’an is important mainly for reference purposes. Therefore, we find most Surahs dealing with very diverse concepts completely unrelated to their titles. One major exception is Surah 12 Yousuf that describes the inspiring story of Prophet Yousuf (Joseph son of Jacob). But even that continues to give us very diverse concepts and guiding principles to reflect upon. Also, in the last several short Surahs of the Qur’an the title usually becomes the main center of discussion.

Proper understanding of this most detailed Surah AlBaqarah will enable the reader to become familiar with the basic concepts and the true meanings of the Qur’anic terminology according to the Quraish dialect. The semantics and nuances of the language of Revelation are not only interesting but mandatory for accurate understanding. Like the QXP in its entirety, my humble rendition of this Surah is not a literal translation, but an understanding from the Big Picture of the Qur’an without compromising the literary meanings.

BISMILLAHIRRAHMANIRRAHEEM

With the Glorious Name of Allah, the Instant and Sustaining Source of all Mercy and Kindness

A.L.M. AlifLaamMeem. (Allah, Lateef the Unfathomable, Majeed the Magnificent, knows and understands your needs.)

(Here is the Guidance you asked for.) This is a Book whereof there is absolutely no doubt concerning its authority and authenticity. And it leaves no doubts lingering in a seeking mind. It is a Guide for those who wish to journey through life in honor and security.

[Rayib includes the meanings given in the first three lines. This Divine Writ, AlQur’an, is a Monograph that, when studied with an open mind, humility and sincerity, finds its own way from the mind to the heart. You will soon notice, as you proceed, that this Scripture leaves no lingering doubts in a sincere, seeking mind. If you remember that this is a Book of Guidance and treat it as such, the glittering reality will dawn upon you that this is a Beacon of Light! It is a Guide for all those who wish to journey through life in honor and security Recorded on parchment by honorable scribes appointed by the Messenger. 80:15-16. The Almighty Himself guarantees the Truth of this Revelation, its explanation and its preservation. It is absolutely free of contradictions. AlQur’an = The Lecture or Monograph that finds its own way to sincere hearts, becoming AzZikr = The Reminder. 4:82, 10:37, 15:9, 29:48-49, 32:2, 52:23, 75:17-19]

Those who (wish to journey through life in honor and security), believe in the Unseen. (They recognize the Law of Cause and Effect although the stages may not always be obvious to them) and establish the Divinely Prescribed System of Life, and set up the Economic Order of Zakaat keeping open for others the resources that We have granted them.

[Divine System = A noble society in which Permanent Moral Values rule the hearts and minds of men and women. There are neither masters nor subjects in such a system, since therein prevails the Rule of Law. 2:177, 22:41, 94:78. AlGhayeb = The Unseen: The likeness of a seed that is beneath the soil hidden from a farmer’s view. Yet the farmer believes that given proper environment and care the seed will sprout. 9:119, 57:20, 89:27-30. Salaat = To follow closely, like a runnersup (Musalli) follows the winning horse (Saabiq) = Follow God’s Commands closely. Aqimussallat = Establish the System that facilitates the following of Divine Commands. Zakaat = The Just Economic Order where everyone works according to one’s capacity and is compensated according to the needs. People spend on others or give to the Central Authority (Islamic government) whatever is surplus (2:219). And they do so whenever they earn any income (6:141). The System of Zakaat is managed by the Central Authority that ensures the development of the individuals and the society. The 2.5 percent annual mandatory charity is a nonQur’anic concept that trivializes the comprehensive Qur’anic System of Zakaat.� �������������������������Also, the problems of Fiqh (minor but confusing and contradictory jurisprudential details about what and who are exempt and what and who are not exempt etc,) make the manmade Zakaat an absolute impossibility. For example, a man with an ounce of gold should not pay Zakaat, but a poor man with 52.5 ounces of silver, the value of which is less than 10% of the former instance, must pay! No wonder, God warns us not make His verses a laughing stock. The Central Authority can vary this percentage according to the changing times and needs of the society. Charity or Sadaqaat are meant only for the interim period whenever the Divinely Prescribed System of Life is not yet in place. For Central Authority, the Qur’an uses the terms Allah and Rasool (3:32). After the exalted Rasool (Messenger), it is obligatory upon the believers to elect their leadership through a consultative process in a manner suitable for the times. The basic difference between the Western democracy and the Islamic government: Any legislation can pass with the majority approval in the manmade constitutional democracy. On the other hand, no law can pass contradicting the Qur’an in a truly Islamic State. That is one reason why the Qur’an generally gives us the basic Rules with details to be decided by people with mutual consultation according to changing times. 42:38. For God’s Right = Divinely ordained right of the poor, see 6:141, 11:64, 55:10]

And those who choose to believe in what has been revealed to you (O Messenger) and in the (Truth in) what was revealed before your times. And they have conviction in the Law of Requital, and, therefore, in the life Hereafter.

[Similar were the blessed people who believed in and followed the previous Scriptures. Men and women of understanding use their faculty of reasoning and understand that human intellect is not boundless. It can tell people what is, but it cannot tell what ought to be. The human intellect is also affected by emotional, cultural and environmental conditions. Furthermore, direct Revelation from the Creator economizes human effort and saves them time on trial and error. They also realize that life is no vain sport. It has a sublime purpose and keeps evolving like everything else in the Cosmos. So, the death of the human body is only a transition to a higher form of life for the human ’self’. Thus, they have conviction in the Hereafter. This can be likened to the birth of a baby who leaves the mother’s womb and moves on to a new and higher level of existence. Anyone failing to understand the eternity of the Nafs (’Self’ commonly termed as ‘Soul’), bars himself from seeing life in its totality and, hence, toils through this life without a higher objective. 2:185, 6:73, 7:52-53, 7:157-158, 10:4, 21:10, 21:24, 40:11, 45:45, 67:2. See verse 2:101 “Confirming the Truth in what they have” points to human touch in the Bible even before Prophet Muhammad’s times]

They are the ones who walk on a Path lighted by their Lord, and they are the ones whose crops of effort will flourish and they will truly prosper.

[Muflihoon from Fallaah = Farmer who ploughs the earth for seeding and gets an abundant crop in return. Huda minrRabb = The Lord’s light = This Qur’an unto which one must turn with an open mind. Those who approach it without clearing their minds of preconceived notions will fail to “touch” this Book. For, that frame of mind defies reason and logic. 4:88, 5:15, 23:111, 24:35, 31:25, 42:5, 56:79]

Remember that those who have chosen denial in advance, it is all the same to them whether you apprise them (of the consequences of their actions) or apprise them not. They will refuse to acknowledge the Truth. [2:89-109, 6:26, 27:14, 35:42-43, 36:70, 41:26, 47:32]

God (His Law of Cause and Effect) has sealed their hearts and their hearing, and on their sight there is a veil. And theirs will be a tremendous suffering.

[Khatam or Taba’ from God, seal on the hearts, is a natural consequence of one’s deeds. Blind following, adamancy, being unjust due to selfish interests and arrogance render the human perception and reasoning unreceptive to Divine Revelation. Thus, one loses sensitivity and the ability to perceive reality. It is easy to see how damaging this fall from the high stature of humanity can be, a tremendous suffering that is builtin as the logical consequence of such attitude. 4:88, 17:46, 18:57, 40:35, 45:23, 83:14]

And of mankind there are those who claim, “We believe in God and the Last Day”, while they are not believers. [Their actions that speak louder than words, contradict their claim. 4:136, 49:15]

They wish to deceive God and those who have attained belief. But they deceive none but themselves and do not realize it!

[Since reason is a faculty that has to be exercised and they have forsaken it, they are little aware of what opportunity of personal development they are missing. They live in a state of denial]