Al-BAQARAH

1- ALEF LAM MEEM

This is the first Ayah of the Sorah Albaqarah, just those three Arabic letters. Similar letters are found at the beginning of other Sorahs. The meaning of such letters is not totally understood.

One explanation is that here there are some letters of the Arabic Alphabet, which when placed haphazardly; they appear to have no meaning, but Allah the Highest made such miraculous Quran, so that it is our present lack of knowledge which makes these letters not yet understood. The Quran is, Miraculous in its wisdom as well as in its beauty and elegance. Allah the Highest challenged the disbelievers to compose as little as one of the shortest Sorahs of the Quran, that is three Ayahs, but warning them in Advance that they can not and will not “AND IF YOU ARE IN DOUBT CONCERNING WHAT WE SENT DOWN UPON OUR SLAVE, THEN PRODUCE A SORAH OF THE LIKE THEREOF, AND CALL UPON YOUR HELPERS BESIDES ALLAH IF YOU ARE TRUTHFUL * BUT IF YOUU DO NOT AND YOU WILL NOT, THEN GUARD YOURSELVES FROM A FIRE, WHO’S FUEL IS PEOPLE AND STONES, PREPARED FOR THE DISBELIEVERS”. (S: 2 A: 23-24)

This challenge still stands, but it has never been taken up, and will never. One of the first things the disbelieving Arabs at the time of the prophet Mohamed prayer and peace upon him knew about the Quran, its beauty, both linguistically, in style and wisdom. Its style was neither poetry nor prose. Not in the form of a story, article, play, essay, or any other. It has a style of its own, which was never used before or since, hence can only be called Quranic style.

The beauty of its language has been remarked upon by scholars of the Arabic language, from the time of its first appearance until the present day. Scholars, both believing and non-believing, one said that it is “The supreme classic of Arabic literature”.

Recently a Muslim man called Rashad Khalifa studied these letters, aided by computers. He found that in such Sorahs starting with letters like Alef Lam Meem, these letters were the most frequently used letters of the alphabet in this Sorah. This and the fact that they came at the beginning of the Sorah not the end is another miracle from Allah the Highest in the Quran.

Such Miracles are a proof of the authenticity of this Book, the Quran. That it is not written by a human being, but by the Creator of the heavens and earth. We will meet many other such Miracles in the Quran as we go along, and they are further proof of the authenticity of this Book, the Quran.

When we are dead and buried, people after us will find more such Miracles and such proofs of authenticity. Such proofs are placed in the Quran, so that no one should have any doubt about it and its authenticity.

2- THIS BOOK, ABOUT WHICH THERE IS NO DOUBT, IS GUIDANCE FOR THE RIGHTEOUS THAT GUARD THEMSELVES FROM ALLAH’S DISPLEASURE.

After the Miracle of “ALEF LAM MEEM”, Allah the Highest tells us that there should be no doubt about this book, the Quran. There should be no doubt about its origin, it’s guidance and that it is Allah’s Very Word. No human words or additions are included. Nothing has been added and nothing has been taken away from the Quran.

Then Allah the Highest tells us that this book, the Quran is guidance. That it contains guidance but not for everyone, only for the righteous people who seek to protect themselves from Allah’s displeasure. They are the ones who seek this guidance.

The guidance in the Quran is clear and unambiguous. It tells us the right from the wrong, the good from the evil. Allah the Highest said “THE MONTH OF RAMADAN DURING WHICH THE QURAN WAS SENT DOWN, GUIDANCE FOR MANKIND AND CLEAR SINGS, and AND DIFFIRENTIATING THE RIGHT FROM THE WRONG”. (S: 2 A: 185)

“TA SEEN * THESE ARE THE AIAHS OF THE CLEAR BOOK”. (S: 26 A: 1-2)

The Quran is the last of Allah’s Books to be sent down. Other Books were sent down beforehand, the papers on Ibrahim, Tawrah on Moses, Engeel on Jesus and others. Yet, the Quran is the only one preserved and kept intact just as it was sent down. This is not a Muslim opinion, but the opinion of many western scholars who found that the texts we have at present of the Tawrah and Engeel have been written by many writers. Indeed, the claim now is that the Bible has been inspired by God rather that written by God.

Allah the Highest promised to keep the Quran and preserve it when He said “WE SENT THE ZEKR (QURAN) DOWN AND WE WILL PRESERVE IT”. (S: 15 A: 7)

The righteous and those who wish to be righteous should take heed of the guidance in this Book, the Quran. This is how we guard ourselves from falling on the wrong side of Allah. This is how we may protect ourselves from his displeasure.

Then Allah the Highest mentions some of the characteristics of those righteous people who wish to protect themselves from His Displeasure.

3- THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN THE UNSEEN, STEADFAST IN SALAH, AND SPEND OUT OF WHAT WE PROVIDED FOR THEM.

4- AND THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN WHAT WE SENT DOWN TO YOU AND WHAT WE SENT DOWN BEFORE YOU AND ARE CERTAIN OF THE HEREAFTER.

5- THEY ARE ON THE RIGHT GUIDANCE FROM THEIR LORD AND THOSE ARE THE SUCCESSFUL ONES.

In these Ayahs, Allah the Highest describes “Al-Motaqeen”. It is difficult to translate this word accurately for it is one of those words which have wide meaning. The nearest to its meaning I found to be “the righteous who guard themselves from Allah’s displeasure”. Those people are described in many Ayahs in different Sorahs of the Quran. Their Characteristics are to do with their faith, worship, character and the way they deal with people. In these three Ayahs, Allah the Highest tells us about some of their characteristics.

a- They believe in what we were told about but not seen.
These are Allah Himself, for we do not see him but only see the evidence of His presence. The Angels, the Resurrection, the Judgement, the Hereafter, the Paradise and Hellfire are all unseen for us. Even Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him, we have been told about, but did not see, and so are all Allah’s prophets and messengers, prayer and peace upon them all.
Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “Blessings for those who believe in me without seeing me (repeated it seven times)”. (A: 5; 248,257,264)

A man of Allah’s messenger’s companions called Abi Jomaah reported: “We ate lunch with Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him and Abu Obida Ibn Al-Jarah said: “Allah’s messenger, will there be any people better than us? We embraced Islam with you and fought in the cause of Allah with you. Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “Yes, people who come after you and believe in me without seeing me”. (A: 4; 106)

Abu Hurairah reported: “Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him went to visit the graves and there he said: “Peace be upon you, home of believers, and we will join you Allah willing. Wish we can see our brethren”. They said: “Are we not your brethren Allah’s messenger? He said: “No, you are my companions, but my brethren are those who did not come yet”. (M: Taharah, 39 & N: Taharah; 109 & Ma: Zohd; 30 & Mal: Taharah; 28)

b- “STEADFAST IN SALAH”

Mentioning Salah comes directly after articles of faith. Salah is the most important act of worship of Allah the Highest and worshipping Allah the Almighty is the reason for our creation “I CREATED JINN AND MANKIND ONLY TO WORSHIP ME” (S:51 A:56)
Allah the Highest made the Salah a duty upon us. Upon the rich and the poor and those in good health and poor health, unlike Hajj and Fasting. It is the first of our deeds we will have to answer for, when we are judged. The Fard Salah and other Fard worship are the most important means of worship for getting nearer to Allah and gaining His Pleasure. Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him said, that Allah the Highest said: “My slave does not draw closer to me by doing anything that I love more than doing what I made a duty upon him”. (A: 6:256)

In order to be Steadfast in Salah, one has to fulfil a number of criteria:

a- Pray regularly. One of the important features of the righteous is to pray regularly. Allah the Highest mentioned this more than once in the Quran.
“THOSE WHO KEEP THEIR SALAH REGULARLY” (S: 70 A: 23)
“AND THEY KEEP THEIR SALAH”. (S: 6 A: 92)
“KEEP REGULAR SALAH AND THE MIDDLE SALAH”. (S: 2 A: 238)

b- Not to be neglectful of their Salah. Allah the Highest said : “WOE TO THE WORSHIPPERS * WHO ARE NEGLECTFUL OF THEIR SALAH” (S:107 A:4,5)
c- To be humble in the Salah: “SUCCESSFUL ARE THE WORSHIPPERS, WHO ARE HUMBLE IN THEIR SALAH” (S:23 A:1,2)
d- Worldly gains and pleasures do not distract them from the Salah “MEN WHOM NEITHER COMMERCE NOR TRADE WILL DISTRACT THEM FROM REMEMBERING ALLAH, KEEPING REGULAR SALAH AND GIVING ZAKAH, FEARING A DAY WHEN THE HEARTS AND EYES WILL BE TURNING * ALLAH REWARDS THEM ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF THEIR DEEDS AND EVEN MORE FROM HIS BOUNTY, FOR ALLAH PROVIDES TO WHOM HE WILLS WITHOUT LIMIT”. (S:24 A:37,38)
e- To seek Allah’s help, assistance and guidance through Salah. “YOU WHO BELIEVE, SEEK HELP IN SALAH, PATIENCE AND PERSEVERANCE, FOR ALLAH IS WITH THOSE WHO ARE PATIENT AND PERSEVERE”. (S:24 A:153)
f- The Salah should restrain the Muslim from sinning. “AND STEADFAST IN SALAH, FOR THE SALAH RESTRAINS YOU FROM DOING WHAT IS SHAMEFUL, FORBIDDEN AND EVIL”. (S:29 A:45)
These are some of the characteristics of steadfastness in Salah. The next characteristic of those who are Motaqeen is

c- “AND SPEND OUT OF WHAT WE PROVIDED FOR THEM”.

Spending here does not mean being extravagant, but it is spending in the cause of Allah the Highest.

Allah the Highest commanded us to be charitable and to spend in His cause long before the Zakah was made Fard. When the Zakah was prescribed and made a duty upon the Muslims, it stated what should be spent as a minimum and how it should be spent. The Zakah is the Fard of spending, and spending in charity and in the cause of Allah does not have to be limited to it.

We should not fear that our wealth will diminish if we are charitable and spend in the cause of Allah, for Allah the Highest said: “AND WHATEVER YOU SPEND, ALLAH WILL REPLACE IT, FOR HE IS THE BEST OF THE PROVIDERS”. (S: 34 A: 39)
And He said: “WHATEVERYOU SPEND WILL BE RENDERED BACK TO YOU AND YOU WILL NOT BE UNJUSTLY TREATED”. (S: 2 A: 272)

Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, said that, Allah the Highest said: “Son of Adam, spend, and I will spend upon you”. (B: Tafseer Sorah 11 & M: Zakah, 36, 37 & a: 2:242)

Allah the Highest reassures us that our charity will never be the cause of our poverty, for it will be rewarded in this life and the Hereafter “SATAN THREATENS YOU WITH POVERTY AND COMMANDS YOU TO SINFUL DEEDS, WHILE ALLAH PROMISES YOU HIS FORGIVENESS AND BOUNTY FOR ALLAH IS ALL EMBRACING AND KNOWS ALL THINGS” (S:25 A:268)

However, Allah the Highest wants us to be reasonable in our spending even in His cause, He says about His righteous slaves “THOSE WHOM WHEN THEY SPEND THEY ARE NEITHER EXTRAVEGANT NOR MISERLY, BUT HAVE A BALANCE BETWEEN THOSE EXTREMS” (S: 25 A: 67)

Indeed, we are expected to spend out of what remains after we have fulfilled our needs “THEY ASK YOU WHAT THEY SPEND, SAYS:’WHAT IS BEYOND YOUR NEEDS” (S: 2 A: 219)

There is always an element of sacrifice in spending in the cause of Allah. The more one feels that what is spent is not lost, the easier it is to part with it. Therefore, out of this certainty that some people can even part easily with the things they love and cherish, this reflects a greater faith and certainty in what is with Allah. Allah the Highest said: “YOU WILL NOT ATTAIN RIGHTEOUSNESS UNTIL YOU SPEND FROM THE THINGS YOU LOVE”. (S: 3 A: 92)
It is interesting that Allah the Highest spoke of the most loved and cherished possessions rather than the most valuable possessions.

Giving has to be from the good and pure. This is in physical terms and in morale terms as well. We should not give the food which went off, or just worn out cloth, but the good things. In morale terms, we should give out of our pure and legitimate earnings, not the earnings from immoral means. Allah the Highest said : “YOU WHO BELIEVE, SPEND OUT OF THE GOOD AND PURE THINGS YOU EARNED AND WHAT WE BROUGHT FORTH FOR YOU FROM THE EARTH AND DO NOT SEEK THE BAD AND EVIL OF IT TO SPEND, THE THINGS WHICH YOU WILL NOT TAKE YOURSELVES EXCEPT WITH CLOSED EYES, AND KNOW THAT ALLAH IS FREE FROM ALL WANTS AND WORTHY OF ALL PRAISE”. (S: 2 A: 267)

Allah the Highest commands us to be decent and kind when we give charity and not to keep reminding those we have given of our favours, or cause them any harm because of it. These actions render the charity null and void. “YOU, WHO BELIEVE, DO NOT RENDER YOUR CHARITY IN VAIN THROUGHT REMINDERS OF YOUR CHARITY OR THROUGH HURT”. (S: 2 A: 264)

The reward and recompense for the charity which Allah the Highest accepts is great, He illustrated it with this parable “THE PARABLE OF THOSE WHO SPEND OF THEIR WEALTH IN THE CAUSE OF ALLAH IS THAT OF A GRAIN OF CORN WHICH GREW FORTH SEVEN EARS, IN EVERY EAR THERE IS A HUNDRED GRAIN, AND ALLAH MULTIPLIES MORE TO WHOM HE WILLS, AND ALLLAH IS ALL EMBRACING AND KNOWS ALL THINGS”. (S: 2 A: 261)

d- “AND THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN WHAT WE SENT DOWN TO YOU AND WHAT WE SENT DOWN BEFORE YOU”

Another important feature is to believe in the Quran which was sent down upon Mohamed, prayer and peace upon him, and the other books which were sent down before. This is because Islam is the Faith and the Submission to Allah the Highest since the beginning of time.

At present, sadly Allah’s books before the Quran are not available in their original authenticated form. They have been totally or partly lost or adulterated. There were books given to Noah, Ibrahim, Ismael, Dawood (David), Moses and Jesus, peace is upon them all. However, the only book that is still currently available without alterations or perversions is the Quran. Allah the Highest promised to preserve it so that it will remain as the only and final Book “WE SENT DOWN THE ZEKR (QURAN) AND WE WILL PRESERVE IT”. (S: 15 A: 9)

In Islam it is essential that a believer, believes in all Allah’s Prophets and Messengers peace be upon them all, as well as the final prophet, Mohamed, prayer and peace upon him. “SAY : ‘WE BELIEVE IN ALLAH AND WHAT WAS SENT DOWN TO US, AND WHAT WAS SENT DOWN TO IBRAHIM, ISMAEL, IS,HAQ, YACOB, AND THE TRIBES, AND WHAT WAS GIVEN TO MOSES AND JESUS AND THE PROPHETS FROM THEIR LORD, WE MAKE NO SEPARATION BETWEEN ONE AND ANOTHER, AND TO ALLAH WE ARE MUSLIMS”. (S: 3 A: 84)

The Quran is the only preserved Book of Allah and the only complete one. It is also the book which has the Complete and Perfect Guidance “TODAY I HAVE PERFECTED YOUR RELIGION FOR YOU, COMPLETED MY BOUNTY UPON YOU AND AM SATISFIED WITH ISLAM AS YOUR RELIGION”. (S: 5 A: 3)

e- AND ARE CERTAIN OF THE HEREAFTER.

Another feature of the Motaqeen is the certainty of the Hereafter. This certainty, to believe it as if one sees it, or saw it, is what gives a believer both, incentive and deterrent.

5- THEY ARE ON THE RIGHT GUIDANCE FROM THEIR LORD AND THOSE ARE THE SUCCESSFUL ONES.

Those Motaqeen described above, are those who are rightly guided, and therefore will succeed. In gaining Allah’s pleasure, avoiding His displeasure and entering the Paradise, may Allah make us be with them. Amen.

B: Bukhari M: Muslim Mal: Malek A: Ahmed D: Abu Dawood
Da: Daremy Ma: Ibn Magah N: Nesae T: Termezi