Blogging the Quran -Surah 2 ( Al Baqara): 2-5

In this post I will discuss four important concepts in these verses: doubt رَيْب , reflecting on the Quran تَدَبَّر الْقُرْآن ; god consciousness التَّقْوَى and carefully observing prayers أقَامة الصَّلَاة .

2:2 This Book (Scripture/Divine Writ) – la rayba fihi لاَ رَيْبَ فِيهِ- a guidance for all the God-conscious (God mindful).

The English translations give different shades of meaning to – la rayba fihi لاَ رَيْبَ فِيهِ- :
there is no doubt in this book, there is no doubt about this book, there is no doubt that this book is a guide.
To me, all these meanings are possible and complimentary. But are they intimidating? Do they somehow imply that I am not supposed to have doubts about the interpretation of the verses, or to question certain concepts of the Quran? Is God telling me here not to question but to have “blind faith”?
I think not. This verse assures me about the authority and authenticity of the Scripture (10:37-38), (15:9), (75: 17-19) but in no way does it deter me from thinking while I am reading the Quran. I know it is the Truth from God, so if I have doubts about any verse I explore these doubts till I come up with an answer. Many verses in the Quran encourage us to think about God’s messages and commands.
38:29 This is A blessed Book that We have revealed to you (O Messenger), so that people may ponder over its messages, and that those who are endowed with insight may take them to heart.

كِتَابٌ أَنزَلْنَاهُ إِلَيْكَ مُبَارَكٌ لِّيَدَّبَّرُوا آيَاتِهِ وَلِيَتَذَكَّرَ أُوْلُوا الْأَلْبَابِ

4: 82 Will they not, then, try to understand this Qur’an? Had it issued from any but God, they would surely have found in it many contradictions!

أَفَلاَ يَتَدَبَّرُونَ الْقُرْآنَ وَلَوْ كَانَ مِنْ عِندِ غَيْرِ اللّهِ لَوَجَدُواْ فِيهِ اخْتِلاَفًا كَثِيرًا

2:219 They will ask you about intoxicants and easy money (gambling/games of chance). Say: “In both there is great evil as well as some benefit for man; but the evil which they cause is greater than the benefit which they bring.” And they will askyou as to what they should spend [in God's cause]. Say: “Whatever you can spare.” In this way God makes clear to you His messages, so that you might reflect.

يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الْخَمْرِ وَالْمَيْسِرِ قُلْ فِيهِمَا إِثْمٌ كَبِيرٌ وَمَنَافِعُ لِلنَّاسِ وَإِثْمُهُمَآ أَكْبَرُ مِن نَّفْعِهِمَا وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ مَاذَا يُنفِقُونَ قُلِ الْعَفْوَ كَذَلِكَ يُبيِّنُ اللّهُ لَكُمُ الْآيَاتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَفَكَّرُونَ

The story of Abraham( 2:260) assures us that we are encouraged to seek knowledge and proofs in order to strengthen our faith. If we read the Quran with an open mind we will find answers that will leave us with no lingering doubts.

Another concept introduced in 2:2 is that of the God -consciousness. Asad explains this as “the awareness of His all-presence and the desire to mold one’s existence in the light of this awareness”.

The God-conscious are those who believe in that which lies beyond the range of human perception , carefully observe prayer, spend on others out of what God provided for them (be it money, skills, knowledge , etc) , believe in the message of God, which is essentially the same throughout the history of mankind, and are certain of the life to come.

2:177 True piety does not consist in turning your faces towards the east or the west – but truly pious is he who believes in God, and the Last Day; and the angels, and revelation, and the prophets; and spends his money – however much he himself may cherish it – on his near of kin, and the orphans, and the needy, and the wayfarer, and the beggars, and for the freeing of human beings from bondage; and is constant in prayer, and renders the purifying dues; and [truly pious are] they who keep their promises whenever they promise, and are patient in misfortune and hardship and in time of peril: it is they that have proved themselves true, and it is they who are conscious of God.

لَّيْسَ الْبِرَّ أَن تُوَلُّواْ وُجُوهَكُمْ قِبَلَ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ وَلَـكِنَّ الْبِرَّ مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَالْمَلآئِكَةِ وَالْكِتَابِ وَالنَّبِيِّينَ وَآتَى الْمَالَ عَلَى حُبِّهِ ذَوِي الْقُرْبَى وَالْيَتَامَى وَالْمَسَاكِينَ وَابْنَ السَّبِيلِ وَالسَّآئِلِينَ وَفِي الرِّقَابِ وَأَقَامَ الصَّلاةَ وَآتَى الزَّكَاةَ وَالْمُوفُونَ بِعَهْدِهِمْ إِذَا عَاهَدُواْ وَالصَّابِرِينَ فِي الْبَأْسَاءِ وَالضَّرَّاءِ وَحِينَ الْبَأْسِ أُولَـئِكَ الَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا وَأُولَـئِكَ هُمُ الْمُتَّقُونَ

God loves those conscious of Him (3:76), protects them (45: 19) and considers them to be the noblest of people (49:13) . They are promised success and happiness in this life and the life to come (16:30).
49: 13 O mankind! We have created you male and female, and have made you nations and tribes so that you might know one another. Surely, the noblest of you in the sight of God is the one who is most deeply conscious of Him. Behold, God is all-knowing, all-aware.

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَاكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ وَأُنثَى وَجَعَلْنَاكُمْ شُعُوبًا وَقَبَائِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوا إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ

Finally, carefully observing prayer or “iqamat assalah” , purifying ourselves or “eeta’ azzkah” and serving others through sharing our resources are essential to achieving God-consciousness, and are a recurring theme in the Quran. Carefully observing prayer”iqamat assalah” is different from just performing prayer (Surah 107 ), “Iqamat Asslah” shapes our morals, attitudes and behaviors so its influence extends far beyond the actual time spent in praying to encompass all our life.

Blogging the Quran -Surah 2 ( Al Baqara): 1-2

2:1-2 Alif. Lam. Mim This Book – let there be no doubt about it – is a guidance for all the God-conscious.

This is a very important message and statement, that is reiterated throughout the Quran. Again and again , many chapters (Surahs) begin with reminding us that the Quran is a revelation from God, it is a clear , perfect and detailed book, full of wisdom and truth, meant as a guidance for mankind .

3:1-4 Alif. Lam. Mim. God – there is no deity save Him, the Ever-Living, the Self-Subsistent Fount of All Being! He has sent down to you the Book with truth, confirming that which was revealed before it; for he had formerly sent down the Torah, and the gospel, as a guidance to mankind, and it is He who has bestowed [upon man] the standard by which to discern the true from the false. Behold, as for those who are bent on denying God’s messages – grievous suffering awaits them: for God is almighty, an avenger of evil.

7:1-3 Alif. Lam. Mim. Sad. A Book that has been sent down to you, so let there not be any burden in your chest from it, that you may warn with it; and a reminder to the believers. Follow that which has been sent down to you from your Lord; and follow no guides besides Him: How seldom do you keep this in mind!

10: 1 Alif. Lam. Ra. These are the Verses of a Book that is full of Wisdom.

11: 1 Alif. Lam. Ra. This is a Book, with messages that have been perfected , expounded and made clear in and by themselves, and have been distinctly as well- [bestowed upon you] out of the grace of One who is wise, all-aware.

12:1-3 Alif. Lam. Ra. These are the verses (messages) of a Book clear in itself and clearly showing the truth. We have sent it down an Arabic Quran, perhaps you will comprehend. In revealing this Quran to you, We tell you the best of the stories of which you were unaware.

13:1 Alif. Lam. Mim. Ra. These are the verses of the Book : And that which has been sent down to you from your Lord, is the truth; but the greater part of men will not believe.

14:1 Alif. Lam. Ra. A Book which We have revealed to you in order that you might bring forth all mankind, by their Sustainer’s leave, out of the depths of darkness into the light: to the way that leads to the Almighty, the One to whom all praise is due -

15:1 Alif. Lam. Ra.These are the verses of the Book- of a discourse clear in itself and clearly showing the truth.

20:1-3 Ta.Ha. We did not send down to you the Quran so you may suffer. But as a Reminder to all who stand in awe [of God].

26:1-2 Ta. Sin. Mim.These are the verses of the Book- clear in itself and clearly showing the truth.

27:2 Ta. Sin. These are messages of the Quran – a Book clear in itself and clearly showing the truth. A guidance and a glad tiding to the believers.

28:1-2 Ta. Sin. Mim. These are messages of the Book clear in itself and clearly showing the truth.

31:1-3 Alif. Lam. Mim. These are the messages of the Book, full of wisdom. A guidance and grace to the doers of good.

32:1-2 Alif. Lam. Mim. The revelation of this Book, which contains no doubt, is from the Lord of all the worlds.

36:1-2 Ya-Seen. Consider this Quran full of wisdom.

38:1 Saad. This Quran is a Profound Reminder.

40:1 Ha. Mim.The revelation of this Book is from God, the Almighty, the Knower.

43:1-3 Ha. Mim. Consider this Book, clear in itself and clearly showing the truth:behold, We have caused it to be a discourse in the Arabic tongue, so that you might encompass it with your reason.

44:1-3 Ha. Mim. Consider this Book, clear in itself and clearly showing the truth. Behold, We have revealed it on a Blessed Night, for, surely We have always been warning.

45:1-2 Ha. Mim. The Revelation of the Book is from God, the Mighty, the Wise.

46:1-2 Ha. Mim. The Revelation of the Book is from God, the Mighty, the Wise.

50:1 Qaf. Consider this Glorious Quran.

For more about the letter-symbols called muqatta’at (“disjointed letters”) or, occasionally, fawatih (“openings”) please refer to What is Alif Lam Mim

Blogging the Quran -Surah 1- Al Fatihah- The last verse

We ask Allah daily,”Guide us to the Straight Path. The path of those whom You have blessed, not (the path) of those who earn Your Anger, nor of those who go astray.”

During our lifetime, we are always faced with different choices, and many paths to travel. There is a path that leads straight to God and a good life in the Hereafter, and there are other paths that will not. We ask God to guide us to the Straight Path, the one traveled by those God blessed and to keep us away from the paths traveled by those who earn God’s anger or those who go astray.

Who are those blessed? Who are those who earn God’s anger? And who are those who go astray?

It is important to know because that will help us to choose the right path to take.

Who are those blessed?

4:69 And whoever obeys God and the Messenger shall be among those God has blessed: the prophets, and those who never deviated from the truth, and those who [with their lives] bore witness to the truth, and the righteous: and how goodly a company are these!

وَمَن يُطِعِ اللّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ فَأُوْلَـئِكَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ اللّهُ عَلَيْهِم مِّنَ النَّبِيِّينَ وَالصِّدِّيقِينَ وَالشُّهَدَاءِ وَالصَّالِحِينَ وَحَسُنَ أُولَـئِكَ رَفِيقًا

What is meant by God’s Anger?

Mohammad Asad in his book Message of the Quran comments, “According to almost all the commentators, God’s “condemnation” (Arabic : ghadab, literally, “wrath”) is synonymous with the evil consequences which man brings upon himself by willfully rejecting God’s guidance and acting contrary to His injunctions.”

Who are those condemned?

16:106 As for anyone who denies God after having once believed- except him who shall be compelled against his will, the while his heart remains true to his faith- and willingly opens up his heart to denial of the truth-: upon all such falls God’s condemnation, and tremendous suffering awaits them.

مَن كَفَرَ بِاللّهِ مِن بَعْدِ إيمَانِهِ إِلاَّ مَنْ أُكْرِهَ وَقَلْبُهُ مُطْمَئِنٌّ بِالْإِيمَانِ وَلَـكِن مَّن شَرَحَ بِالْكُفْرِ صَدْرًا فَعَلَيْهِمْ غَضَبٌ مِّنَ اللّهِ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ

48:6 And [God has willed] to impose suffering [in the life to come] on the hypocrites, both men and women, and on those who ascribe divinity to anything beside Him, both men and women: all who entertain evil thoughts about God [who deny His existence or man's responsibility to Him, or offend against the concept of His oneness] Evil encompasses them from all sides, and God’s condemnation rests upon them; and He has rejected them [from His grace], and has readied hell for them: and how evil a journey’s end!

وَيُعَذِّبَ الْمُنَافِقِينَ وَالْمُنَافِقَاتِ وَالْمُشْرِكِينَ وَالْمُشْرِكَاتِ الظَّانِّينَ بِاللَّهِ ظَنَّ السَّوْءِ عَلَيْهِمْ دَائِرَةُ السَّوْءِ وَغَضِبَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَعَنَهُمْ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُمْ جَهَنَّمَ وَسَاءَتْ مَصِيْرًا

4:93 But whoever deliberately slays another believer, his requital shall be hell, therein to abide; and God will condemn him, and will reject him, and will prepare for him awesome suffering.

وَمَن يَقْتُلْ مُؤْمِنًا مُّتَعَمِّدًا فَجَزَآؤُهُ جَهَنَّمُ خَالِدًا فِيهَا وَغَضِبَ اللّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَلَعَنَهُ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُ عَذَابًا عَظِيمًا

8:15-16 O you who have attained to faith! When you meet in battle those who are bent on denying the truth, advancing in great force, do not turn your backs on them [to flee]: for, whoever on that day turns his back on them-unless it be in a battle stratagem or in an endeavor to join another troop [of the believers] – shall indeed have earned the burden of God’s condemnation, and his goal shall be hell: and how vile a journey’s end!

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ إِذَا لَقِيتُمُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ زَحْفاً فَلاَ تُوَلُّوهُمُ الْأَدْبَارَ

وَمَن يُوَلِّهِمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ دُبُرَهُ إِلاَّ مُتَحَرِّفاً لِّقِتَالٍ أَوْ مُتَحَيِّزاً إِلَى فِئَةٍ فَقَدْ بَاءَ بِغَضَبٍ مِّنَ اللّهِ وَمَأْوَاهُ جَهَنَّمُ وَبِئْسَ الْمَصِيرُ

20:81 “Partake of the good things which We have provided for you as sustenance,” but do not transgress therein the bounds of equity lest My condemnation fall upon you: for, he upon whom My condemnation falls has indeed thrown himself into utter ruin!”

كُلُواْ مِن طَيِّبَاتِ مَا رَزَقْنَاكُمْ وَلَا تَطْغَوْا فِيهِ فَيَحِلَّ عَلَيْكُمْ غَضَبِي وَمَن يَحْلِلْ عَلَيْهِ غَضَبِي فَقَدْ هَوَى

Who are those lost or gone astray?

3:90 Indeed, those who are bent on denying the truth after having attained to faith, and then grow [ever more stubborn] in their refusal to acknowledge the truth, their repentance [of other sins] shall not be accepted: for it is they who have truly gone astray.

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ بَعْدَ إِيمَانِهِمْ ثُمَّ ازْدَادُواْ كُفْرًا لَّن تُقْبَلَ تَوْبَتُهُمْ وَأُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الضَّآلُّونَ

4:136 O you who have believed! Hold fast to your belief in God and His Apostle, and in the divine writ which He has bestowed from on high upon His Apostle, step by step, as well as in the revelation which He sent down before that: for he who denies God, and His angels, and His revelations, and His apostles, and the Last Day, has indeed gone far astray.

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ آمِنُواْ بِاللّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَالْكِتَابِ الَّذِي نَزَّلَ عَلَى رَسُولِهِ وَالْكِتَابِ الَّذِيَ أَنزَلَ مِن قَبْلُ وَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِاللّهِ وَمَلاَئِكَتِهِ وَكُتُبِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ ضَلاَلاً بَعِيدًا

3:164 Indeed, God bestowed a favor upon the believers when he raised up in their midst an apostle from among themselves, to convey His messages to them, and to cause them to grow in purity, and to impart to them the the Book and Wisdom therein [Quran] – whereas before that they were indeed, most obviously, lost in error.

لَقَدْ مَنَّ اللّهُ عَلَى الْمُؤمِنِينَ إِذْ بَعَثَ فِيهِمْ رَسُولاً مِّنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ يَتْلُواْ عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتِهِ وَيُزَكِّيهِمْ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَإِن كَانُواْ مِن قَبْلُ لَفِي ضَلَالٍ مُّبِينٍ

So what about the interpretations claiming that those who have earned Allah’s anger are the Jews, and those who have gone astray are the Christians?

After a careful reading of the Quran, I dare say these interpretations are narrow minded. Indeed, there are verses (2:61) that tell us that God condemns those among the Children of Israel who killed the prophets or worshiped the calf. But they are condemned not because they are Jews but because they are disbelievers or murderers. We have other verses (2:40, 2:47, 2:122) that tell us that God has blessed the Children of Israel, and also a clear verse (3:113) that teaches us not to make generalizations about the People of the Book (both Jews and Christians).

Finally this is the interpretation given by Asad, “As regards the two categories of people following a wrong course, some of the greatest Islamic thinkers (e.g., Al-Ghazali or, in recent times, Muhammad `Abduh) held the view that the people described as having incurred “God’s condemnation” – that is, having deprived themselves of His grace – are those who have become fully cognizant of God’s message and, having understood it, have rejected it; while “those who go astray”are people whom the truth has either not reached at all (3:164 above) , or to whom it has come in so garbled and corrupted a form as to make it difficult for them to recognize it as the truth.”
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Next: Surah 2 – Al-Baqara – the first verse