Surah 2. Al-Baqarah

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Verses [Section]: 1-7[1], 8-20 [2], 21-29 [3], 30-39 [4], 40-46 [5], 47-59 [6], 60-61 [7], 62-71 [8], 72-82 [9], 83-86 [10], 87-96 [11], 97-103 [12], 104-112 [13], 113-121 [14], 122-129 [15], 130-141 [16], 142-147 [17], 148-151 [18], 152-163 [19], 164-167 [20], 168-176 [21], 177-182 [22], 183-188 [23], 189-196 [24], 197-210 [25], 211-216 [26], 217-221 [27], 222-228 [28], 229-231 [29], 232-235 [30], 236-242 [31], 243-248 [32], 249-253 [33], 254-257 [34], 258-260 [35], 261-266 [36], 267-273 [37], 274-281 [38], 282-283 [39], 284-286 [40]

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Quran Text of Verse 122-129یٰبَنِیْۤO Childrenاِسْرَآءِیْلَ(of) Israel!اذْكُرُوْاRememberنِعْمَتِیَMy FavorالَّتِیْۤwhichاَنْعَمْتُI bestowedعَلَیْكُمْupon youوَ اَنِّیْand that Iفَضَّلْتُكُمْ[I] preferred youعَلَیoverالْعٰلَمِیْنَ the worlds وَ اتَّقُوْاAnd fearیَوْمًاa dayلَّاnotتَجْزِیْwill availنَفْسٌa soulعَنْ(of)نَّفْسٍ(another) soulشَیْـًٔاanythingوَّ لَاand notیُقْبَلُwill be acceptedمِنْهَاfrom itعَدْلٌany compensationوَّ لَاand notتَنْفَعُهَاwill benefit itشَفَاعَةٌany intercessionوَّ لَاand notهُمْtheyیُنْصَرُوْنَ will be helped وَ اِذِAnd whenابْتَلٰۤیtriedاِبْرٰهٖمَIbrahimرَبُّهٗhis Lordبِكَلِمٰتٍwith wordsفَاَتَمَّهُنَّ ؕand he fulfilled themقَالَHe saidاِنِّیْIndeed Iجَاعِلُكَ(am) the One to make youلِلنَّاسِfor the mankindاِمَامًا ؕa leaderقَالَHe saidوَ مِنْAnd fromذُرِّیَّتِیْ ؕmy offspringقَالَHe saidلَا(Does) notیَنَالُreachعَهْدِیMy Covenantالظّٰلِمِیْنَ (to) the wrongdoers وَ اِذْAnd whenجَعَلْنَاWe madeالْبَیْتَthe Houseمَثَابَةًa place of returnلِّلنَّاسِfor mankindوَ اَمْنًا ؕand (a place of) securityوَ اتَّخِذُوْاand (said) Takeمِنْ[from]مَّقَامِ(the) standing placeاِبْرٰهٖمَ(of) Ibrahimمُصَلًّی ؕ(as) a place of prayerوَ عَهِدْنَاۤAnd We made a covenantاِلٰۤیwithاِبْرٰهٖمَIbrahimوَ اِسْمٰعِیْلَand Ismailاَنْ[that]طَهِّرَا[You both] purifyبَیْتِیَMy Houseلِلطَّآىِٕفِیْنَfor those who circumambulateوَ الْعٰكِفِیْنَand those who seclude themselves for devotion and prayerوَ الرُّكَّعِand those who bow downالسُّجُوْدِ and those who prostrate وَ اِذْAnd whenقَالَsaidاِبْرٰهٖمُIbrahimرَبِّMy Lordاجْعَلْmakeهٰذَاthisبَلَدًاa cityاٰمِنًاsecureوَّ ارْزُقْand provideاَهْلَهٗits peopleمِنَwithالثَّمَرٰتِfruitsمَنْ(to) whoeverاٰمَنَbelievedمِنْهُمْfrom themبِاللّٰهِin Allahوَ الْیَوْمِand the Dayالْاَخِرِ ؕthe LastقَالَHe saidوَ مَنْAnd whoeverكَفَرَdisbelievedفَاُمَتِّعُهٗ[then] I will grant him enjoymentقَلِیْلًاa littleثُمَّthenاَضْطَرُّهٗۤI will force himاِلٰیtoعَذَابِ(the) punishmentالنَّارِ ؕ(of) the Fireوَ بِئْسَand evilالْمَصِیْرُ (is) the destination 2. Al-Baqarah Page 20وَ اِذْAnd whenیَرْفَعُ(was) raisingاِبْرٰهٖمُIbrahimالْقَوَاعِدَthe foundationsمِنَofالْبَیْتِthe Houseوَ اِسْمٰعِیْلُ ؕand Ishmaelرَبَّنَا(saying), "Our LordتَقَبَّلْAcceptمِنَّا ؕfrom usاِنَّكَIndeed Youاَنْتَ[You] (are)السَّمِیْعُthe All-Hearingالْعَلِیْمُ the All-Knowing رَبَّنَاOur Lord!وَ اجْعَلْنَا[and] Make usمُسْلِمَیْنِboth submissiveلَكَto Youوَ مِنْAnd fromذُرِّیَّتِنَاۤour offspringاُمَّةًa communityمُّسْلِمَةًsubmissiveلَّكَ ۪to Youوَ اَرِنَاAnd show usمَنَاسِكَنَاour ways of worshipوَ تُبْand turnعَلَیْنَا ۚto usاِنَّكَIndeed You!اَنْتَ[You] (are)التَّوَّابُthe Oft-returningالرَّحِیْمُ the Most Merciful رَبَّنَاOur Lord!وَ ابْعَثْ[And] raise upفِیْهِمْin themرَسُوْلًاa Messengerمِّنْهُمْfrom themیَتْلُوْا(who) will reciteعَلَیْهِمْto themاٰیٰتِكَYour Versesوَ یُعَلِّمُهُمُand will teach themالْكِتٰبَthe Bookوَ الْحِكْمَةَand the wisdomوَ یُزَكِّیْهِمْ ؕand purify themاِنَّكَIndeed You!اَنْتَYou (are)الْعَزِیْزُthe All-Mightyالْحَكِیْمُ۠the All-Wise

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Translation of Verse 122-129

122. O Children of Israel! Remember that I bestowed special favour upon you and exalted you over all the communities of the world.

123. And fear the Day when no soul will be of use to another, when no compensation shall be accepted from it nor shall any intercession profit it nor will they receive help (from any where).

124. And (recall) when Ibrahim (Abraham) was put to tests by his Lord with certain commands, which he carried out¹³⁸ He (Allah) (then) said: “I will make you the Leader of mankind.” He (Ibrahim) asked: “ And also (Leaders) from my progeny?” He (Allah) answered: “My promise¹³⁹ will not apply to the transgressors.”¹⁴⁰

125. And (remember) when We made the House¹⁴¹ (Ka’aba) a place of assembly for men and a place of safety, (saying) : “Take as your place of worship the place where Ibrahim stood (to pray); and We imposed a duty on Ibrahim and Ismail, (saying): that they keep My House pure for those who go around¹⁴² My house and those who retire there for devotion and meditation¹⁴³ and those who bow down and prostrate¹⁴⁴ themselves there (in worship)¹⁴⁵.

126. And (remember) Ibrahim said: “My Lord make this a city of peace and feed with fruits¹⁴⁶ such of its people as believe in Allah and the last day.” He said: “Yes, and also to those who reject faith, I will grant them provisions for a while but will soon drag them to the torment of Fire (Hell) the worst abode.”

127. And when Ibrahim and Ismail were raising the walls of the House, (They prayed): ‘Our Lord; accept service from us; You and only You are the Hearer and Knower.

128. Our Lord ! And make us Muslims¹⁴⁸ (submissive) to you and raise from our progeny a community submissive¹⁴⁹ to you; and show us our ways of worship and forgive us (for our failings); verily you and only you, are the Forgiving, the Merciful.

129. “Our Lord! And raise in their midst a Messenger from amongst them who shall recite to them Your verses and shall instruct them in the Book and in wisdom, and purify¹⁴⁹ them. Verily, You and only You are the Mighty, the Wise.”¹⁵⁰

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Commentary

138. Allah had given certain commands to Ibrahim (Abraham) to test his loyalty and steadfastness in the way of Allah. Ibrahim obeyed those commands satisfactorily, for example he raisd his voice fearlessly against the prevailing practice of idolatry. For this ‘crime , he was to be thrown into fire Ibrahim jumped into the fire unhesitatingly. He also left his home and family for his mission He was prepared to personally sacrifice his beloved son as beckoned by Allah. These and other great deeds and sacrifices that he performed as a loyal slave of Allah made him a great personality.

139. According to this promise, Allah created two great peoples (communities or nations) from the progeny of Ibrahim’s two sons, Ishaq and Ismail, Ibrahim was the forbearer of both Bani Israel and Bani Ismail. He is considered the religious leader by the Jews, Christians and the Muslims alike Even today a majority of people in the world over consider Ibrahim as their religious leader .

140. Evil-doers or tyrants are those who act tyrannously against their own souls i.e. those who by rejecting Faith harm themselves.

141. House here means the House of Ka’ba, which was built in Macca so that it may become a centre for believers in the oneness of Allah. Its construction was started about. 4000 ‘ years ago by Ibrahim and Ismail as commanded by Allah, and the selection of the place Macca, was also made by Allah. This is the House which was chosen by the Shariah as a place for Hajj (Pilgrimage). This practice of Hajj or pilgrimage at this House is continued since the time of Ibrahim. While offering prayers, Muslims face this House.

142. Going around the Ka’ba is known as ‘Tawaf.’ This is a kind of prayer and from this activity a feeling of love for Allah is generated and the slave is fully engrossed in the sense of his loyalty towards his Lord. It should be borne in mind that going around the House of Ka’ba is the only lawful tawaf allowed in Islam. It is not permitted to go around any other place, not even a mosque.

143. ’E’tikaf which is translated as Medditation, actually means staying for a considerable length of time in a mosque for a set period for worshipping only. The proper way of doing this is explained in the Hadith.

144. Bowing down and prostrating (Ruku’ and Sajda) are two important items of the Salat (Prayer) These items were also practised in Ibrahim’s Shariah.

145. To keep the House pure means keeping it clean and free from not only the discernible dirt but also from the impurities of idolatry and of worshipping beings other than Allah.

146. Fruits also mean grains besides fruits. This prayer was offered by Ibrahim particularly because Macca was situated in a region which was not amenable to agriculture. The main occupations of the people were tending animals and hunting.

The prayer of Ibrahim was answered and Allah provided fruits for the people of the region, particularly dates. The blessing of Ibrahim on this city can be seen even today when plenty of fruits are available in Macca.

147. Muslim means ‘Totally obedient and submissive to Allah.’ Ibrahim and Ismail were Muslim, which only shows that they aspired to reach the highest pinnacle of submissiveness. On this historical occasion, their prayer to make them Muslim shows that their religion was Islam and not Judaism or Christianity or any other religion.

148. This prayer of his was answered, since Muhammad (Peace be upon him) was born among the children of Ismail and his followers have adopted Islam as their religion and formed themselves into a Muslim Ummah.

149. Here four duties of the prophets are enumerated: first, to recite Allah’s revelations to the people so that Allah’s message is conveyed to them and they may think over them and accept the Faith; secondly to give to them education of the Book, i,e. Quran. Here particularly is meant the teachings in the Laws of Shariah. Those who have accepted the Faith are taught how to lead their lives according to the Laws of the Shariah. Thirdly, to impart instruction in wisdom, that is the prophet teaches his people the wisdom behind the Laws of the Shariah and explains to them their aim and purpose and the spirit behind the Divine injunctions; fourthly to purify the people. This is the main purpose of all these things. The prophet purifies the creed, the conduct, the character and the deeds of his followers from all kinds of impurities, and develops in them righteousness and virtuous character and conduct.

150. Allah is Mighty and Wise. It is a pointer to the fact that Allah is the sole administrator of the world and the Universe. He has everything under His control and submissive to Him. He does not manage the affairs of the Universe haphazardly but purposefully and with wisdom.