Anwar Al-Quran

Verses 178–184

2. Al-Baqara · The Cow

Madinan286 verses

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلْقِصَاصُ فِى ٱلْقَتْلَى ۖ ٱلْحُرُّ بِٱلْحُرِّ وَٱلْعَبْدُ بِٱلْعَبْدِ وَٱلْأُنثَىٰ بِٱلْأُنثَىٰ ۚ فَمَنْ عُفِىَ لَهُۥ مِنْ أَخِيهِ شَىْءٌۭ فَٱتِّبَاعٌۢ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ وَأَدَآءٌ إِلَيْهِ بِإِحْسَٰنٍۢ ۗ ذَٰلِكَ تَخْفِيفٌۭ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَرَحْمَةٌۭ ۗ فَمَنِ ٱعْتَدَىٰ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ فَلَهُۥ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌۭ

2:178O you who have faith! Retribution is prescribed for you regarding the slain: freeman for freeman, slave for slave, and female for female. But if one is granted any extenuation by his brother, let the follow up [for the blood-money] be honourable, and let the payment to him be with kindness. That is a remission from your Lord and a mercy; and should anyone transgress after that, there shall be a painful punishment for him.1

وَلَكُمْ فِى ٱلْقِصَاصِ حَيَوٰةٌۭ يَٰٓأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَلْبَٰبِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ

2:179There is life for you in retribution, O you who possess intellects! Maybe you will be Godwary!2

كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذَا حَضَرَ أَحَدَكُمُ ٱلْمَوْتُ إِن تَرَكَ خَيْرًا ٱلْوَصِيَّةُ لِلْوَٰلِدَيْنِ وَٱلْأَقْرَبِينَ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ ۖ حَقًّا عَلَى ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ

2:180Prescribed for you, when death approaches any of you and he leaves behind any property, is that he make a bequest for his parents and relatives, in an honourable manner—an obligation on the Godwary.

فَمَنۢ بَدَّلَهُۥ بَعْدَمَا سَمِعَهُۥ فَإِنَّمَآ إِثْمُهُۥ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ يُبَدِّلُونَهُۥٓ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌۭ

2:181And should anyone alter it after hearing it, its sin shall indeed lie on those who alter it. Indeed Allah is all-hearing, all-knowing.

فَمَنْ خَافَ مِن مُّوصٍۢ جَنَفًا أَوْ إِثْمًۭا فَأَصْلَحَ بَيْنَهُمْ فَلَآ إِثْمَ عَلَيْهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ

2:182But should someone, fearing deviance or sin on the testator’s behalf, set things right between them, there is no sin upon him. Indeed Allah is all-forgiving, all-merciful.3

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ

2:183O you who have faith! Prescribed for you is fasting as it was prescribed for those who were before you, so that you may be Godwary.4

أَيَّامًۭا مَّعْدُودَٰتٍۢ ۚ فَمَن كَانَ مِنكُم مَّرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍۢ فَعِدَّةٌۭ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ ۚ وَعَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ يُطِيقُونَهُۥ فِدْيَةٌۭ طَعَامُ مِسْكِينٍۢ ۖ فَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًۭا فَهُوَ خَيْرٌۭ لَّهُۥ ۚ وَأَن تَصُومُوا۟ خَيْرٌۭ لَّكُمْ ۖ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ

2:184That for known days. But should any of you be sick or on a journey, let it be a [similar] number of other days. Those who find it straining shall be liable to atonement by feeding a needy person. Should anyone do good of his own accord, that is better for him, and to fast is better for you, should you know.56

Tafsir

Commentary on this passage

Verse 178

1.Before Islam, there was no fixed custom among irreligious people regarding Qasas (retaliation). Some were not at all in favour of this custom. In revenge of some others entire communities were killed. Even in pious people there was system of revenge but there was no blood money (Diyat). While in some there was diyat and not Qasas. Islam announced a comprehensive law. In which first of all the irreligious customs were criticized and the law of one for one is framed. Qasas is called as life and then in amending the rules of religions it classified diyat, forgiveness, and qasas in three kinds and the successors were convinced for remission and the killer was encouraged to pay up the compensation in the right way.

Verse 180

2.Making a will is a very good act through which the rights are saved from being destroyed. And by which the good deeds are continued. A dying person does not take with him a desire for good deeds alone. Islam has greatly emphasized upon this. And in some cases made it obligatory. It has also assured the dying people that even if the act is not performed afterwards they would in any case get the rewards for the same and one who has changed it will have to face the punishment.

Verse 183

3.Fasting is the best to way to create piety in man. This deed is for Allah alone and there is no chance of show-off in it. Fasting is only an intention and only Allah knows the intention. Then fasting is the best way to improve the will power where man gives up his needs, desires and tastes for the sake of his Lord. If only the same spirit had continued for the rest of the year one would be able 10 achieve a great position of Taqwa (piety). Keeping the difficulty of Fasting in view Allah has reminded the people of the past nations. And then announced concession for sickness and journey. There is no condition that the sickness has to be severe and the journey has to be difficult. It is the ignorance of people that Allah wants to give them ease and they compare the journey of the present age and the past and create difficulties for themselves and in this way they fast but against the order of Allah. In Holy Quran the word ‘perhaps’ is not because of the weakness of knowledge of Allah but it is used for the weakness of people’s mind. Only fasting is not enough for Taqwa. One should remain in the situation of fasting for the whole life. He must not cultivate dirty thoughts and manners. Fasting is the best worship act for seeking help from Allah and Aale Muhammad.(a.s.) also resorted to fasting or sometimes by prayer to solve the difficulties. It was the barakat (blessings) of fasting that in sickness the Aale Muhammad (a.s.) look a vow to fast and in fulfillment of the vow they kept the fasts and Allah revealed the whole of Surah Dahr. The followers of Aale Muhammad (a.s.) and those who recite the verses of Surah Dahr will never become careless of fasting. Not only in the month of Ramadhan; they will make fasting as their support in all difficulties.

Footnotes

Explanations of words and phrases in these verses

  1. 1

    The ayat mentions only one of a kind. The killer and the killed must be of different types. Slave and freeman, man or woman, their rule has to be derived from the traditions.

  2. 2

    In Qasaas there is apparently death but in reality it accords protection to life as after this the killings stop and the lives of common people are safe.

  3. 3

    Janaf is a mistake committed unknowingly and Ithm is a sin committed knowingly. Sometimes those who make a bequest are so much emotional that they ignore others. In such a condition changes could be made in the will with the permission of the heirs.

  4. 4

    It is the eloquence of Quran that since the work is difficult, it is mentioned in the passive voice. While for mercy it is clearly mentioned that ‘Your Lord has decreed mercy for his soul’.

  5. 5

    In the second period the command of fasting is only on the basis of travel or sickness. Which means that the difficulty or ease of travel would not be taken into account and one has no right to fast during a journey. That is, leaving of fast is compulsory and not optional.

  6. 6

    These are the people who are naturally unable to fast and there is no external factor. Like the old man, old woman, a person who is suffering from the disease of thirst etc.

  7. Benefit

    It should be clear that Birr means goodness. Here after the word of Birr the mention of Man Aman shows that the believers are goodness personified. After this six kinds of needy people are mentioned: The relatives, orphans, destitute, traveller, beggar and slave. And all their needfulness is also graded differently.