Surah 2, Verses 121-147

Tafseer of Surah al-Baqarah: vs. 121-147

Shaykh Muhammad al-Amîn ash-Shanqîti

121) Those to whom We gave the Book recite as it should be recited, they are the ones who believe in it. And whosoever disbelieves in it, they are the losers.

122) O Children of Israel! Remember My Favour which I bestowed upon you and that I preferred you to the universe.

123) And fear the Day when no person shall avail another, nor compensation be accepted from him, nor shall intercession be of use to him, nor shall they be helped.

124) And (remember) when the Lord of Abraham tried him with certain commands that he fulfilled. He said: "Verily, I am going to make you a leader of mankind." He said: "And of my offspring?" He said: "My Covenant does not extend to the wrong-doers."

125) And (remember) when We made the House a place resort and safety for mankind. And take you (people) the Station of Abraham as a place of prayer. And We commanded Abraham and Ismaa`eel that they should purify My House for those who are circumambulating it, or staying in it, or bowing or prostrating (themselves in prayer).

126) And (remember) when Abraham said: "My Lord! Make this city a place of security and provide its people with fruits, such as them as believe in Allaah and the Last Day." He said: "As for he who disbelieves, I shall leave him in contentment for a while, then I shall compel him to the torment of the Fire, what an evil destination!"

The saying of the Exalted,"My Covenant does not extend to the wrong-doers": It is understood from this verse that Allaah Knew that there would be wrong-doers from the progeny of Abraham. And He clarified in other verses that from his offspring would be those who were wrong-doers and those who were not, this in His sayings,

"And We blessed him and Ishaaq, and of their progeny are those that do right and those that clearly do wrong." (37:113)

"And He made it a Word lasting among his (Abraham) offspring so that they may turn back (in repentance)" (43:28)

127) And (remember) when Abraham and Ismaa`eel were raising the foundations of the House (saying): "Our Lord! Accept this from us. Indeed! You are the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.

128) "Our Lord! And make us submissive to You and of our offspring a nation submissive to You and show us our rituals and accept our repentance. Truly You are the Oft-Returning, The Most Merciful.

129) Our Lord! Send amongst them a Messenger from amongst them who shall recite unto them Your verses and instruct them in the Book and Wisdom and purify them. Indeed you are the All-Mighty, All-Wise."

130) And who turns away from the religion of Abraham except one who fools himself? Truly, We chose him in this world and verily in the Hereafter he will be amongst the righteous.

The saying of the Exalted,"and (remember) when Abraham and Ismaa`eel were raising the foundations of the House": It is mentioned in this verse that Abraham and Ismaa`eel raised the foundations of the House, and it is mentioned in Surah al-Hajj that He showed Abraham the place at which it was to be built with His saying, "and (remember) when We showed (Bawwa`naa) Abraham the site of the House." (22:26) Meaning (by bawwa`naa) that 'We showed him the site and made him to know that this was the place.' It is said that a rain cloud whose shade was the extent of the area of the House guided him to it. It is also said that he was guided to it by a type of wind called al-Khujooj which swept up the dust (covering) it's ancient foundation and Abraham and Ismaa`eel built the House upon these foundations, upon them and our Prophet be peace and blessings.

The saying of the Exalted,"Our Lord! And make us submissive to You and of our offspring a nation submissive to You and show us our rituals and accept our repentance. Truly You are the Oft-Returning, Most Merciful. Our Lord! Send amongst them a Messenger from amongst them": There is no explanation here as to who this nation is through which Allaah Answered the supplication of Abraham, just as there is no explanation here as to who this Messenger is that was to be sent from amongst them. But this is explained in Surah al-Jumu`ah that this nation is the Arabs, and the Messenger is the Master of Messengers, Muhammad (SAW). This in His saying,

"He it is Who sent among the unlettered ones a Messenger from among themselves, reciting to them His verses, purifying them, and teaching them the Book and Wisdom. And verily, they had been before in manifest error." (62:2)

Because the unlettered ones are the Arabs by consensus, the Messenger in this verse refers to our Prophet Muhammad (SAW) by consensus, and no Messenger has been sent from the progeny of Abraham and Ismaa`eel except for our Prophet, Muhammad (SAW).

And it is established in the Saheeh of Bukhaaree that he is the Messenger for which Abraham made a supplication for, and this does not negate that his (SAW) message was universal to whole of mankind - the black and red.

The saying of the Exalted,"and who turns away from the religion of Abraham except one who fools himself": There is no explanation here as to what the Religion of Abraham is but this is explained in His saying,

"Say: Truly my Lord has guided me to a Straight Path, a right religion, the religion of Abraham the upright." (6:161)

So it is clarified that his religion is the religion of Islaam with which Allaah sent His Messenger, Muhammad (SAW). This is similarly explained in His saying,

"Then We inspired you (saying): Follow the religion of Abraham" (16:123)

131) When his Lord said to him: "submit!" He said: "I have submitted myself to the Lord of the universe."

132) And this (submission) was enjoined by Abraham upon his sons and by Jacob (saying): "O my sons! Allaah has chosen for you the (true) religion, then die not except as Muslims."

133) Or were you witnesses when death approached Jacob? When he said unto his sons: "What will you worship after me?" They said: "We shall worship your God, and the God of your fathers, Abraham, Ismaa'eel and Ishaaq. One God and to Him we submit."

134) That was a nation who has passed away. They shall receive the reward of what they earned and you of what you earn. And you will not be asked about what they used to do.

The saying of the Exalted,"Allaah has chosen for you (the) true religion": Indicating that this religion is the Religion of Islaam in His saying, "and do not die except as Muslims" (2:132) and clearly stating this in His sayings,

"Indeed the religion in the Sight of Allaah is Islaam." (3:19)

"And whosoever seeks a religion other than Islaam, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers." (3:85)

135) And they say: "Be Jews or Christians then you will be rightly guided." Say: "Nay, rather the religion of Abraham, the upright, and he was not one of the polytheists."

136) Say: "We believe in Allaah and that which has been sent down to us and that which has been sent down to Abraham, Ismaa'eel, Ishaaq, Jacob and the tribes, and that which has been given to Moses and Jesus, and that which has been given to the Prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and to Him we have submitted."

137) So if they believe as you believe, then they are rightly guided, but if they turn away, then they are only in schism. So Allaah will suffice you against them. And He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.

138) Our hue is the hue of Allaah, and Who can be better than Allaah in colouring? And we worship him.

139) Say: "Dispute you with us about Allaah while He is our Lord and your Lord? And we are to be rewarded for our deeds and you for your deeds. And we are sincere to Him in worship and obedience."

140) Or say you that Abraham, Ismaa'eel, Ishaaq, Jacob and the tribes were Jews and Christians? Say: "Do you know better or does Allaah?" And who is more unjust than he who conceals the testimony he has from Allaah? And Allaah is not unaware of what you do."

141) That was a nation who has passed away. They shall receive the reward of what they earned, and you of what you earn. And you will not be asked about what they used to do.

The saying of the Exalted,"and what has been sent down to Abraham": There is no explanation here as to what was sent down to Abraham, but in Surah A`laa it is explained that they were Scrolls and that the sum and substance of what was in these scrolls was, "nay, you prefer the life of this world. Although the Hereafter is better and more lasting." (87: 16-17) This in his saying, "Indeed! This is in the former Scriptures. The Scrolls of Abraham and Moses." (87:19)

The saying of the Exalted,"and that which has been given to Moses and Jesus": There is no explanation here as to what has been given to Moses and Jesus but this is explained in other places. There it is mentioned that was given to Moses was the Torah which has been depicted as scrolls in His saying, "the Scrolls of Abraham and Moses." (87:19) This in His saying, "then we gave Moses the Book" (6:154) and this is the Torah by consensus.

And it is mentioned that what was given to Jesus was the Injeel in His saying, "and We sent Jesus, the son of Mary, and gave him the Injeel." (57:27)

The saying of the Exalted,"and the Prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them": Allaah has commanded the Prophet and all of the Muslims in this verse to believe in what was given to all of the Prophets without differentiating between any of them when He said, "say: We believe in Allaah and what has been revealed to us" and finished with, "and the Prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between them."But there is no mention as to whether they (the believers) actually did this and there is no mention as to what their reward would be if they did this. But this is explained in other places. So He clarified that they did indeed comply with this command in His saying, "

The Messenger believes in what has been sent down to him from his Lord and the believers. Each one believes in Allaah, His Angels, His Books, and His Messengers. They say: We make no distinction between any of His Messengers." (2:285)

And He mentioned their reward for doing this in His saying,

"And those who believe in Allaah and His Messengers and make no distinction between any of them, We shall give them their rewards, and Allaah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." (4:152)

142) The fools amongst the People will say: "What has turned them (Muslims) from their Qiblah to which they used to face (in their prayer)?" Say: "To Allaah belong both east and west. He guides whom He Wills to a Straight Way."

143) Thus We have made you a balanced and just nation, that you be witnesses over mankind and the Messenger be a witness over you. And We made the Qiblah which you used to face only to know those who followed the Messenger from those who would turn on their heels. Indeed it was a heavy burden except for those whom Allaah guided. And Allaah would never make your faith to be lost. Truly, Allaah is full of Kindness, the Most Merciful towards mankind.

144) Indeed We have seen the turning of your face towards the heaven. Surely, We shall turn you to a Qiblah that shall please you, so turn your face in the direction of the Holy Mosque. And wheresoever you people are, turn your faces (in prayer) to that direction. Certainly, the people who were given the Scriptures know well that this is the truth from their Lord. And Allaah is not unaware of what they do.

145) And even if you were to bring to the people of the Book all the Signs they would not follow your Qiblah, nor are you going to follow their Qiblah. And nor will they follow each other's Qiblah. Indeed if you were to follow their desires after what you have received of knowledge, then indeed you would be one of the wrong-doers.

146) Those to whom We gave the Scripture know him (i.e. Muhammad - or 'know it' i.e. the Qur'aan) as they know their sons. But verily, a party of them conceals the truth while they know.

147) (This is) the truth from your Lord. So be you not of those who doubt.

The saying of the Exalted,"Say: To Allaah belong both east and west. He guides whom He Wills to a Straight Way": There is no explanation here as to what is the Straight Way, but this is explained in His saying,

"Guide us to the Straight Path. The Path of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace. Not the Path of those who have earned Your Anger, nor of those who went astray." (1:6-7)

The saying of the Exalted,"Thus We have made you a balanced and just (wasat) nation": Meaning best and just nation, the proof that wasat means chosen and just lies in His saying,

"You are the best (khayr) nation raised for mankind." (3:110)

The saying of the Exalted, "and the Messenger be a witness over you ": There is no explanation here as to whether he is a witness over them in this life or in the Hereafter. But this is explained in another place that he is to be a witness over them in the Hereafter, this is in His saying,

"How (will it be) then, when We bring from each nation a witness and We bring you (O Muhammad) as witness against these people. On that day those who disbelieved and disobeyed the Messenger will wish that they were buried in the earth, but they will never be able to hide a single fact from Allaah." (4:41-42)

The saying of the Exalted, " and We made the Qiblah that you used to face only to know.": The literal meaning of this verse would suggest to the one who is ignorant that Allaah derives knowledge that He was previously unaware of from this test, glory be to Allaah, far removed is He from that! Rather He, Exalted is He, is Knowing of everything that will occur before it occurs, and He has explained that He does not derive any new knowledge from these tests in His saying,

"So that Allaah might test what is in your breasts and to purify that which is in your hearts. And Allaah is All-Knowing of what is in your breasts." (3:154)

So in His saying, "and Allaah is All-Knowing of what is in your breasts" after His saying, "might test" lies a categorical evidence that He did not derive any new knowledge from this test, far removed is He from that, because He is the All-Knowing of what is in the breasts, not in any need of these tests. So this verse contains a great clarification for all of those verses which mention Allaah's testing of His creation.

The meaning of 'only to know' is a knowledge that would lead to the realisation of reward or punishment, this does not negate that He was Knowing of this beforehand, and the benefit of the test is to make the matter clear to mankind. As for the One Who knows that which is secret and outward then He is Knowing of all that shall occur as is obvious.

The saying of the Exalted, "those who followed the Messenger": Indicating that this Messenger is Muhammad (SAW) by addressing him with the words,

"And We did not make the Qiblah which you used to face" (2:143)

Because this address was directed to him by consensus.

The saying of the Exalted,"and Allaah would never make your faith to be lost.": Meaning your 'prayer towards Bait al-Maqdis to be lost' according to the most correct opinion. This is derived from His saying, "and we did not make the Qiblah that you used to face."

Source: http://www.islaam.net/main/display.php?id=269&category=28

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