Verses 84–88
2. Al-Baqara · The Cow
Madinan286 verses
وَإِذْ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَٰقَكُمْ لَا تَسْفِكُونَ دِمَآءَكُمْ وَلَا تُخْرِجُونَ أَنفُسَكُم مِّن دِيَٰرِكُمْ ثُمَّ أَقْرَرْتُمْ وَأَنتُمْ تَشْهَدُونَ
2:84And when We took a pledge from you, [saying]: ‘You shall not shed your [own people’s] blood, and you shall not expel your folks from your homes,’ you pledged, and you testify [to this pledge of your ancestors].
ثُمَّ أَنتُمْ هَٰٓؤُلَآءِ تَقْتُلُونَ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَتُخْرِجُونَ فَرِيقًۭا مِّنكُم مِّن دِيَٰرِهِمْ تَظَٰهَرُونَ عَلَيْهِم بِٱلْإِثْمِ وَٱلْعُدْوَٰنِ وَإِن يَأْتُوكُمْ أُسَٰرَىٰ تُفَٰدُوهُمْ وَهُوَ مُحَرَّمٌ عَلَيْكُمْ إِخْرَاجُهُمْ ۚ أَفَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِبَعْضِ ٱلْكِتَٰبِ وَتَكْفُرُونَ بِبَعْضٍۢ ۚ فَمَا جَزَآءُ مَن يَفْعَلُ ذَٰلِكَ مِنكُمْ إِلَّا خِزْىٌۭ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَيَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ يُرَدُّونَ إِلَىٰٓ أَشَدِّ ٱلْعَذَابِ ۗ وَمَا ٱللَّهُ بِغَٰفِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ
2:85Then there you were, killing your folks and expelling a part of your folks from their homes, backing one another against them in sin and aggression! And if they came to you as captives, you would ransom them, though their expulsion itself was forbidden you. What! Do you believe in part of the Book and deny another part? So what is the requital of those of you who do that except disgrace in the life of this world? And on the Day of Resurrection, they shall be consigned to the severest punishment. And Allah is not oblivious of what you do.12
أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱشْتَرَوُا۟ ٱلْحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنْيَا بِٱلْءَاخِرَةِ ۖ فَلَا يُخَفَّفُ عَنْهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ وَلَا هُمْ يُنصَرُونَ
2:86They are the ones who bought the life of this world for the Hereafter; so their punishment shall not be lightened, nor will they be helped.
وَلَقَدْ ءَاتَيْنَا مُوسَى ٱلْكِتَٰبَ وَقَفَّيْنَا مِنۢ بَعْدِهِۦ بِٱلرُّسُلِ ۖ وَءَاتَيْنَا عِيسَى ٱبْنَ مَرْيَمَ ٱلْبَيِّنَٰتِ وَأَيَّدْنَٰهُ بِرُوحِ ٱلْقُدُسِ ۗ أَفَكُلَّمَا جَآءَكُمْ رَسُولٌۢ بِمَا لَا تَهْوَىٰٓ أَنفُسُكُمُ ٱسْتَكْبَرْتُمْ فَفَرِيقًۭا كَذَّبْتُمْ وَفَرِيقًۭا تَقْتُلُونَ
2:87Certainly, We gave Moses the Book and followed him with the apostles, and We gave Jesus, the son of Mary, manifest proofs and confirmed him with the Holy Spirit. Is it not that whenever an apostle brought you that which was not to your liking, you would act arrogantly; so you would impugn a group [of them], and slay a[nother] group?34
وَقَالُوا۟ قُلُوبُنَا غُلْفٌۢ ۚ بَل لَّعَنَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِكُفْرِهِمْ فَقَلِيلًۭا مَّا يُؤْمِنُونَ
2:88And they say, ‘Our hearts are uncircumcised.’ Rather, Allah has cursed them for their unfaith, so few of them have faith.
Tafsir
Commentary on this passage
Verse 84
1.This promise is taken from the people of every age that they must not cause bloodshed among themselves and people should not be forced out of the land. But like the Jews of yesterday the Muslim people and rulers are busy in this breach of promise. Except for themselves they are not prepared to give the right to anyone to live. In the Quranic terminology this is not faith by the book. Its punishment in addition to the chastisement of the Hereafter is degradation and exposure in the world. Like the Jews, the majority of Muslims are also busy in this.
Verse 85
2.The Jew nobles used to Slay the poor people and banish them from the city and when they were arrested they used to pay the ransom and buy their freedom. This is a double policy that first you put fire unto something then run with a bucket of water to douse the flames. The majority of the Muslim leaders have adopted this policy. First they oppress the people and when oppression becomes common they express their concern, so that the attention of the people is diverted from their injustice and they will be known as the helpers of the people. Then those who have the insight must gain lesson from this.
Verse 87
3.Selfish desires are such a calamity of human life that man is not able to gain freedom from it. Rather the further he goes from the divine law he becomes more surrounded by desires. This desire deviates the poor and makes the rich even the murderers of the prophets. They cause man to blatantly and knowingly deny. Just as it is seen in the history of Islam in the opposition of the people to the sayings of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and in the background of the killing of the Masoomeen (a.s.) that man is not ready to hear anything against his own desires.
Footnotes
Explanations of words and phrases in these verses
Benefit
The expulsion of the self is the best indication towards the unity of the mankind. But it’s a pity that selfish people never pay attention to these points.
- 1
Tazahir: Co-operation - It is derived from Zuhr. That is to hide behind the backs of each other, Like some of the wives of the Prophet (s.a.) had secretly plotted against him.
- 2
Ithm - Every action that distances a man from divine rewards. Drinking wine is called Ithm in the Arabic literature and it is due to the same reason.
- 3
Qaza is used in the method of following. That is the series of prophets coming one after the other has been established.
- 4
Ruhul Qudus - It is the name of Jibraeel. Ruh because his revelation is the cause of life and Qudus because he is pure of every blemish and defect.
Benefit
There were two tribes of polytheists in Medina. Aws and Khazraj and there were two tribes of the Jews, Bani Nuzayr and Bani Qurayza. And each of the tribe had made a pact with a tribe of the polytheists and helped it, whether it was justified or not. The Holy Quran has severely criticized this deed of the Jews, that those who claimed to be the believers of God helped the polytheists, It is a lesson for the Muslims who in spite of claiming to be the standard bearers of monotheism help the polytheists and infidels in every conspiracy and they are nothing but tools in the hands of the enemies of Islam.