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Surah Al-Baqarah, The Cow

Brief Introductory Note

This Surah begins the ‘Huroof al-Muqatta’aat’ or the Alphabetical Symbolic Abbreviations of some secured secret knowledge, the meanings of which none knows save God and those firmly established in knowledge (the Holy Ahl Al-Bayt). These letters Alif Lam Mim (ALM) are found prefixed to this Surah and also: Surah Aali ‘Imran, 3; Surah Al-Qasas, 29; Surah Ar-Room, 30; Surah Luqman, 31; Surah As-Sajda, 32, six in total.

This is the longest Surah of the Qur’an, therein is the longest verse 2:282.

The names of the Surahs of the chapters of the Qur’an were also revealed along with the matter.

The name ‘Baqarah’ or the Cow, given to this Surah is derived from the incident of the slaughter of a cow referred to in verses 2:67 - 77.

The compilation of the Qur’an had already taken place during the time of the Holy Prophet as its revelation took place, in the form of a complete book. The whole book in its perfect completeness, did exist with Ali Ibn Abu Talib, Abd Allah Ibn Mas’ood, and Ka’b Ibn Obai, Ma’aaz Ibn Jabal and this fact is vouched for by many prominent authorities. For details about the compilation of the Qur’an see the note referring to it in the introduction.

At the very start of the Holy Book, in the second verse of this Surah, it is clearly announced that the Qur’an is a guide only for the pious, which definitely means that the impious will not be benefited by it and arguing conversely the impious will not be able to derive the guidance from it. It is further asserted by verse 3:138 that the Qur’an will only be a book of stories for ordinary men but an exhortation and a guidance to the pious. Thus, to be duly guided by the Qur’an, the first and foremost requisite for its reader, is piety which results from cleanliness, both physical and mental.

This pre-requisite of cleanliness, to the study of the Qur’an is established by another important announcement in 56:79 that none shall touch it save the purified ones. The word ‘touch’, if taken as physical touch, will mean that it must be touched only after the prescribed cleanliness, and if taken as the mental touch, it will mean that only the purified ones shall have the proper grasp of its correct meaning and thus, be duly guided1.

A Summary Of The Surah Al-Baqarah

This Surah contains enlightenment on many factors of great import.

The All-Mighty Authority of God over the Universe - the great incident of the slaughter of the Cow during Moses’ time from which the name for this Surah has been derived - to adopt piety - to shun disbelief and mischief - to acknowledge with sincerity the ordinances of God and to act according to them in practical life - to believe every word of the Qur’an to be the Word of God - never to insist upon vain points of ignorance and foolishness - to draw lessons from past incidents - to observe perfect mutual love and harmony among the members of the human family - to be helpful to each other - particularly to kith and kin - to believe (and deal accordingly with) the world, as merely transitory and a mean object for attachment to - never to believe in witchcraft and never to take omens - to revere all apostles of God as holy, truthful and sinless - to believe in the existence of the angels and be friendly to them - to be conscious of virtue against vice - Apostles of God and their successors being chosen and appointed only by God and never by the people - all Apostles of God and their successors having been endowed with knowledge by God Himself - everyone to pray turning only towards the Kaa’ba to exercise patience during afflictions and sufferings - and many similar allied directions essential for the reformation and the discipline of the self in man.

Important Topics In The Surah

  1. The Surah starts with the letter symbols Alif Lam Meem’. For the meanings of such mystic statements which are nothing but secret signals to the Holy Prophet2.

  2. The Holy Qur’an is a guidance to the pious ones 3:138

  3. A description of the faithful (V.3 & 4)

  4. Appointment of a ‘Khalif’ of God in the earth (V.30)

  5. The Angels commanded to prostrate before Adam (V.34)

  6. Adam seeking pardon through some Names (V.37)

  7. The Day of Judgment - No soul shall intercede for another (V.86)

  8. The miraculous springs created for Moses (V.60)

  9. The conduct of the Isra’ilites (V.61)

  10. The dead one raised by striking the body with a bit of the flesh of the cow (V.73)

  11. The covenant made with the children of Isra’il (V.83)

  12. Jesus helped with the Holy Ghost - (V.87)

  13. God selects whomsoever he liketh for His Mercy (V.105)

  14. No sign of God is taken away but a better than it, or an equal to it, is brought in its place (V.106)

  15. Submission to God (V.112)

  16. Preventing people from the use of mosques (V.l14)

  17. Abraham tested ‘Imamah’ conferred upon Abraham and his divinely chosen seed (V.124)

  18. Abraham and Ishmael build the Ka’ba (V.125)

  19. Prayer of Abraham for an Apostle to be raised in his seed (V.129)

  20. The Religion of Abraham the Upright One (V.l35)

  21. To seek assistance of God through patience and prayers (V.153)

  22. Those slain in the way of God are alive (V.154)

  23. Everyone to be tested with a little of fear, hunger, loss of property and lives and fruits (V.155)

  24. The curse on those who hide the truth (V.159, 161)

  25. Real Righteousness not in mere turning to any directions (V.177)

  26. The ‘Muttaqeen’ or the Pious - described (V.177)

  27. Fasting prescribed (V.183)

  28. To enter a house through its door (V.189)

  29. To spend in the way of God and do good to others (V.195)

  30. The Pilgrimage ‘Hajj’ (V. 196)

  31. He who sells his soul for the pleasure of God (V.207)

  32. The whole humanity one people (V.213)

  33. The order in which charity to be given away (V.215)

  34. The sacred month (V.217)

  35. Liquor - Prohibited (V.219)

  36. Treatment to the orphans (V.220)

  37. Marrying an idolater man or woman prohibited (V.221)

  38. About menstruation among women (V.222)

  39. Taking oaths in vain (V.225)

  40. Divorce (V.227)

  41. To be careful about constant observance of prayer (V.238)

  42. ‘Qarz al-Husana’ a goodly loan (V.245)

  43. Physical strength and knowledge - the criterion for the divine selection of Talut (V.247)

  44. Jesus helped with the Holy Ghost (V.253)

  45. Intercession with permission (V.255)

  46. Abraham argues with Namrod about God (V.258)

  47. Abraham asks for proof as to how the dead are raised by God (V.260)

  48. The Parable of those who spend in the way of God (V.261)

  49. Charity wipes out sins (V.271)

  50. Whatever good done here, is recompensed (V.272)

  51. Faith in God, His Angels, His Books, His apostles, and not to differentiate between apostles (V.285)

  52. The prayer of a true Muslim (V. 286)

Sections

  1. The essential requisites of the correct belief.

  2. The Hypocrites.

  3. A challenge to the disbelievers in the Qur’an.

  4. The Divine Plan in man’s creation.

  5. Fulfilment of the covenants.

  6. Children of Isra’il warned.

  7. Moses prayer and the providential supply of water.

  8. Salvation guaranteed for believers in God, and in the Day of Judgment and for the Doers of good.

  9. The hard heartedness of the Isra’ilites, perverting the revealed word of God.

  10. The covenant with the children of Isra’il and their pledge.

  11. Rejection of and the murder of the apostles of God.

  12. Enmity against Gabriel and the Apostles of God

  13. Abrogation of the former Scriptures.

  14. Islam alone provides perfect guidance.

  15. Abraham made an Imam (guide) for mankind.

  16. The Religion of Abraham the Correct Religion.

  17. The Ka’ba fixed as the ‘Qiblah’ of the Muslims.

  18. House built by Abraham sanctified as the ‘Qiblah’ of the Muslims

  19. Hard trials and the necessity of patience and steadfastness.

  20. Unity of God, Fate of the polytheists.

  21. To take only lawful and clean food.

  22. Genuine righteousness - Retaliation - Bequest.

  23. Fasting during Ramadan - Rights of property.

  24. Fighting in self-defence - Pilgrimage under restrictions.

  25. No warfare during the pilgrimage - warnings against the hypocrites.

  26. Rejection of the signs and the apostles from God.

  27. Questions about various important topics.

  28. Regulation about Divorce.

  29. Divorce and the respect for the Law.

  30. Discipline during the prescribed term - Remarriage negotiations.

  31. Extra provisions for divorced women and widows.

  32. Fight in the cause of God - References to the conduct of the ancient people.

  33. Saul’s victory over Goliath.

  34. No compulsion in Religion.

  35. How dead are again raised alive by God.

  36. Spending money in the way of God.

  37. Spending wealth in charity.

  38. Interest prohibited.

  39. Business contracts to be recorded in writing.

  40. Everything in the heavens and the earth belongs only to God.

Detailed Summary - Al-Baqarah (The Cow)

Revealed at Madina, Verses 286, Sections 40

  • 1. Vide: 33:33.
  • 2. The disjointed letters are called Al-Huruf al-muqattaʿa الحُروف المُقَطَّعة. They appear at the beginning of 29 Surahs: 2–3, 7, 10–15, 19–20, 26–32, 36, 38, 40–46, 50 and 68. Multiple letters are written together like a word, but each letter is pronounced separately. There are many speculations on their significance, the autor and some other scholars, such as Allama Tabataba'i and Sayyid Mahmud Taliqani, believe that the disjoined letters are secrets between God and the Prophet (s), that God has concealed from others. See for example: 10:1; 11:1; 12:1; 13:1; 14:1; in light of the Verse 29:49. [Note Al-Islam.org]
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