Verses 204–211
2. Al-Baqara · The Cow
Madinan286 verses
وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يُعْجِبُكَ قَوْلُهُۥ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَيُشْهِدُ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا فِى قَلْبِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَلَدُّ ٱلْخِصَامِ
2:204Among the people is he whose talk about worldly life impresses you, and he holds Allah witness to what is in his heart, though he is the staunchest of enemies.
وَإِذَا تَوَلَّىٰ سَعَىٰ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ لِيُفْسِدَ فِيهَا وَيُهْلِكَ ٱلْحَرْثَ وَٱلنَّسْلَ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْفَسَادَ
2:205If he were to wield authority, he would try to cause corruption in the land and to ruin the crop and the stock, and Allah does not like corruption.1
وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُ ٱتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ أَخَذَتْهُ ٱلْعِزَّةُ بِٱلْإِثْمِ ۚ فَحَسْبُهُۥ جَهَنَّمُ ۚ وَلَبِئْسَ ٱلْمِهَادُ
2:206And when he is told, ‘Be wary of Allah,’ conceit seizes him sinfully; so let hell suffice him, and it is surely an evil resting place!
وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يَشْرِى نَفْسَهُ ٱبْتِغَآءَ مَرْضَاتِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ رَءُوفٌۢ بِٱلْعِبَادِ
2:207And among the people is he who sells his soul seeking the pleasure of Allah, and Allah is most kind to [His] servants.*
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱدْخُلُوا۟ فِى ٱلسِّلْمِ كَآفَّةًۭ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا۟ خُطُوَٰتِ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنِ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّۭ مُّبِينٌۭ
2:208O you who have faith! Enter into submission, all together, and do not follow in Satan’s steps; he is indeed your manifest enemy.2
فَإِن زَلَلْتُم مِّنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَتْكُمُ ٱلْبَيِّنَٰتُ فَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ
2:209And should you stumble after the manifest proofs that have come to you, know that Allah is all-mighty, all-wise.
هَلْ يَنظُرُونَ إِلَّآ أَن يَأْتِيَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ فِى ظُلَلٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْغَمَامِ وَٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ وَقُضِىَ ٱلْأَمْرُ ۚ وَإِلَى ٱللَّهِ تُرْجَعُ ٱلْأُمُورُ
2:210Do they await anything but that Allah [’s command] should come to them in the shades of the clouds, with the angels, and the matter be decided [once for all]? To Allah all matters are returned.
سَلْ بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ كَمْ ءَاتَيْنَٰهُم مِّنْ ءَايَةٍۭ بَيِّنَةٍۢ ۗ وَمَن يُبَدِّلْ نِعْمَةَ ٱللَّهِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَتْهُ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ
2:211Ask the Children of Israel how many a manifest sign We had given them. Whoever changes Allah’s blessing after it has come to him, indeed Allah is severe in retribution.3
Tafsir
Commentary on this passage
Verse 204
1.This character of hypocrites is found in every age. Yesterday they spoke nicely to the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and today they are talking with other responsible people of religion. Their intention is only to create mischief. They try to destroy the people with their material inventions and mislead the new generations from spirituality. In their view loyalty to Islam is only in comparing them with the Prophet (s.a.) and after that their responsibility is over. And the religious duties are only for the common people and the ruler is allowed every kind of mischief and evil. Their greatest fault is that they do not accept the moral advice and consider those who advise them to be lowly than them and they disregard them. Rather they begin to harm them physically. The end of such people is the worst type of punishment and their abode is hell and nothing else.
Verse 207
2.This is the other side of the picture of human character. Where for the pleasure of Allah even the life is sacrificed. The holy verse has presented both types of people to the Prophet (s.a.) and both are said to be ‘minnanaas’ (from the people). Both of them were present in the assembly of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.s.) and if one character was an insult of humanity the other one was the cause of the exaltation of the humanity. According to traditions the second verse implies Ali (a.s.) when he was asked to sleep in the bed of Prophet (s.a.) to save his (Prophet’s) life and he did this by endangering his own life. Allah challenged the Angels that there are some among His servants who are prepared to give up their life and the angels were also invited for it. But they expressed their inability to give such a sacrifice. Inni a’alamo maa laa ta’lamoon (You are all-knowing whatever we do not know) was once again shown here. The claimants of Islam on the occasion of open and conscious sins must beware of sudden heavenly chastisements as they can be sudden and no one could prevent them.
Footnotes
Explanations of words and phrases in these verses
- 1
Some commentators think that this word denotes turning away the face or going away. Some think it is for acquiring kingdom. The proof is arrogance, which is not present in the subjects; it is in the rulers, and they do not want to become anyone’s subjects.
Benefit
There is such a great merit of Ali (a.s.) in the 207th ayat that Muawiyah gave 400000 Dirhams to Samarah bin Jundab to forge a tradition that this ayat was in praise of Ibne Muljim (l.a.). But the forged hadith could not gain currency, and the merits of Ali (a.s.) continued to became famous day-by-day. It is the clear announcement of the ayat that those who sell their lives for the pleasure of Allah are those who achieve immortality.
- 2
Salama is in the meaning of safe and sound and from this aspect Islam is named thus as it has peace as well as safety.
- 3
It is not a real question and neither there is any need for Allah and the Prophet to inquire. It is a type of restriction and warning. That if the bounties are not valued one would have to face serious chastisement.
Benefit
(i) It is said that the 206th ayat was revealed for Akhannas bin Shareeq. (ii) In the 207th ayat Rauf bil Ibaad indicates that the sacrifice of Ali (a.s.) is a mercy for all the people otherwise the religion would have been completely destroyed. (iii) In the 210th ayat the rhetorical question indicates negation and there is no need to think that the divine affair is destined.