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Surah 2 of 114

Al-Baqarah

The Cow · 286 ayahs

البقرة
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Themes and purpose:

This surah establishes the truth and completeness of Islam by exposing false claims, recounting the failures of the past nations, cultivating the moral and spiritual refinement of the soul, and restoring the purity of Abraham’s original religion. It then builds and regulates the new Muslim society through a comprehensive legal and ethical framework governing worship, family life, finance, justice, and public order.

Context of Revelation:

Era: Madinan by unanimous agreement.

Time: It was the first surah revealed in Madīnah, with its revelation beginning in the 1st year AH and extending over most of the Madinan period.

Context (Prolonged Revelation): Its revelation was spread over the greater part of a decade. While it began with early laws like fasting, it includes ayahs on Hajj (6-8 AH). It is even said to contain the very last ayah of the Quran to be revealed [281]. Its unfolding revelation served the process of founding and purifying the new community, shaping it into a virtuous society free from the influences of hypocrisy, idolatry, and the moral failures of earlier nations.

Name and Ayah Count:

Name: The surah’s established name is "Sūrat al-Baqarah" (The Cow).

Reason for Name: It takes its name from the unique story of the cow that Allah commanded the Children of Israel to sacrifice, a narrative unique to this surah.

Honorific Titles: It is reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) described it as "Sanām al-Qur’ān" (The Summit of the Quran). It has also been called “Fusṭāṭ al-Qurʾān,” the great central tent of the Quran: this is because it gathers an unparalleled range of Quranic themes, foundations and branches of religion, creed and law, worship and ethics, worldly guidance and preparation for the afterlife. It has also been paired with Āl ʿImrān, with the Prophet (ﷺ) calling them "al-Zahrāwān" (The Two Radiant Ones), reflecting the light they bestow upon those who recite them.

Ayah Count: 285 (Madīnah/Makkah/Shām), 286 (Kūfah), or 287 (Baṣrah).

Surah Overview:

  • The Opening Challenge (implicit via Alif-Lām-Mīm and explicit). [1, 23]
  • Classification of Humanity (Believers, Disbelievers, Hypocrites). [2-20]
  • Creation of Man (Adam) and Satan's enmity. [30-39]
  • The History of the Israelites and their breaking of God’s covenant, causing a collapse in their moral authority. [40-123]
  • The mutual disputes of the Jews and Christians, and the collective hostility of all three groups (Jews, Christians, and polytheists) towards Islam. [105-121]
  • The Primacy of Abraham, builder of the Kaʿbah, and establishing Islam’s rightful inheritance of Abraham’s faith. [124-141]
  • The Changing of the Qiblah as sign of restored Abrahamic Continuity. [142-150]
  • Defining True Righteousness. [177]
  • The Principle of Abrogation in the service of Divine Wisdom. [106]
  • Signs in creation and refutation of shirk and fabricated prohibitions. [164-173]
  • Comprehensive Legislation for the emerging Muslim community, establishing the framework for worship, family life, financial ethics, justice, contracts, warfare, charity, inheritance, social responsibility, and public order. [177-283]
  • Reminders, parables, analogies, and moral-spiritual insights, together with affirmations of faith including the exaltation of God’s attributes in Āyat al-Kursī all interwoven throughout the surah to renew the alertness of the reader and the listener. [18-19, 74, 153, 189, 217, 243, 255]
  • Concluding supplication. [284-286]
وَإِذْAnd whenقُلْتُمْyou saidيَٰمُوسَىٰO MusaلَنNever (will)نَّصْبِرَwe endureعَلَىٰ[on]طَعَامٍfoodوَٰحِدٍ(of) one (kind)فَٱدْعُso prayلَنَاfor usرَبَّكَ(to) your Lordيُخْرِجْto bring forthلَنَاfor usمِمَّاout of whatتُنۢبِتُgrowsٱلْأَرْضُthe earthمِنۢofبَقْلِهَاits herbsوَقِثَّآئِهَا[and] its cucumbersوَفُومِهَا[and] its garlicوَعَدَسِهَا[and] its lentilsوَبَصَلِهَاand its onionsقَالَHe saidأَتَسْتَبْدِلُونَWould you exchangeٱلَّذِىthat whichهُوَ[it]أَدْنَىٰ(is) inferiorبِٱلَّذِىfor that whichهُوَ[it]خَيْرٌ(is) betterٱهْبِطُوا۟Go downمِصْرًا(to) a cityفَإِنَّso indeedلَكُمfor youمَّا(is) whatسَأَلْتُمْyou have asked (for)وَضُرِبَتْAnd were struckعَلَيْهِمُon themٱلذِّلَّةُthe humiliationوَٱلْمَسْكَنَةُand the miseryوَبَآءُوand they drew on themselvesبِغَضَبٍwrathمِّنَofٱللَّهِAllahذَٰلِكَThat (was)بِأَنَّهُمْbecause theyكَانُوا۟used toيَكْفُرُونَdisbelieveبِـَٔايَٰتِin (the) Signsٱللَّهِ(of) Allahوَيَقْتُلُونَand killٱلنَّبِيِّۦنَthe Prophetsبِغَيْرِwithout (any)ٱلْحَقِّ[the] rightذَٰلِكَThatبِمَا(was) becauseعَصَوا۟they disobeyedوَّكَانُوا۟and they wereيَعْتَدُونَtransgressing61
وَٱتَّبَعُوا۟And they followedمَاwhatتَتْلُوا۟recite(d)ٱلشَّيَٰطِينُthe devilsعَلَىٰoverمُلْكِ(the) kingdomسُلَيْمَٰنَ(of) SulaimanوَمَاAnd notكَفَرَdisbelievedسُلَيْمَٰنُSulaimanوَلَٰكِنَّ[and] butٱلشَّيَٰطِينَthe devilsكَفَرُوا۟disbelievedيُعَلِّمُونَthey teachٱلنَّاسَthe peopleٱلسِّحْرَ[the] magicوَمَآand whatأُنزِلَwas sent downعَلَىtoٱلْمَلَكَيْنِthe two angelsبِبَابِلَin BabylonهَٰرُوتَHarutوَمَٰرُوتَand MarutوَمَاAnd notيُعَلِّمَانِthey both teachمِنْanyأَحَدٍoneحَتَّىٰunlessيَقُولَآthey [both] sayإِنَّمَاOnlyنَحْنُweفِتْنَةٌ(are) a trialفَلَاso (do) notتَكْفُرْdisbelieveفَيَتَعَلَّمُونَBut they learnمِنْهُمَاfrom those twoمَاwhatيُفَرِّقُونَ[they] causes separationبِهِۦwith itبَيْنَbetweenٱلْمَرْءِthe manوَزَوْجِهِۦand his spouseوَمَاAnd notهُمthey (could)بِضَآرِّينَat all [be those who] harmبِهِۦwith itمِنْanyأَحَدٍoneإِلَّاexceptبِإِذْنِby permissionٱللَّهِ(of) AllahوَيَتَعَلَّمُونَAnd they learnمَاwhatيَضُرُّهُمْharms themوَلَاand notيَنفَعُهُمْprofits themوَلَقَدْAnd indeedعَلِمُوا۟they knewلَمَنِthat whoeverٱشْتَرَىٰهُbuys itمَاnotلَهُۥfor himفِىinٱلْءَاخِرَةِthe HereafterمِنْanyخَلَٰقٍshareوَلَبِئْسَAnd surely evilمَا(is) whatشَرَوْا۟they soldبِهِۦٓwith itأَنفُسَهُمْthemselvesلَوْifكَانُوا۟they wereيَعْلَمُونَ(to) know102
لَّيْسَIt is notٱلْبِرَّ[the] righteousnessأَنthatتُوَلُّوا۟you turnوُجُوهَكُمْyour facesقِبَلَtowardsٱلْمَشْرِقِthe eastوَٱلْمَغْرِبِand the westوَلَٰكِنَّ[and] butٱلْبِرَّthe righteous[ness]مَنْ(is he) whoءَامَنَbelievesبِٱللَّهِin Allahوَٱلْيَوْمِand the Dayٱلْءَاخِرِ[the] Lastوَٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةِand the Angelsوَٱلْكِتَٰبِand the Bookوَٱلنَّبِيِّۦنَand the Prophetsوَءَاتَىand givesٱلْمَالَthe wealthعَلَىٰinحُبِّهِۦspite of his love (for it)ذَوِى(to) thoseٱلْقُرْبَىٰ(of) the near relativesوَٱلْيَتَٰمَىٰand the orphansوَٱلْمَسَٰكِينَand the needyوَٱبْنَand (of)ٱلسَّبِيلِthe wayfarerوَٱلسَّآئِلِينَand those who askوَفِىand inٱلرِّقَابِfreeing the necks (slaves)وَأَقَامَand (who) establishٱلصَّلَوٰةَthe prayerوَءَاتَىand giveٱلزَّكَوٰةَthe zakahوَٱلْمُوفُونَand those who fulfillبِعَهْدِهِمْtheir covenantإِذَاwhenعَٰهَدُوا۟they make itوَٱلصَّٰبِرِينَand those who are patientفِىinٱلْبَأْسَآءِ[the] sufferingوَٱلضَّرَّآءِand [the] hardshipوَحِينَand (the) timeٱلْبَأْسِ(of) [the] stressأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَThoseٱلَّذِينَ(are) the ones whoصَدَقُوا۟are trueوَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَand thoseهُمُ[they]ٱلْمُتَّقُونَ(are) the righteous177
أُحِلَّPermittedلَكُمْfor youلَيْلَةَ(in the) nightsٱلصِّيَامِ(of) fastingٱلرَّفَثُ(is) the approachإِلَىٰtoنِسَآئِكُمْyour wivesهُنَّTheyلِبَاسٌ(are) garmentsلَّكُمْfor youوَأَنتُمْand youلِبَاسٌ(are) garmentsلَّهُنَّfor themعَلِمَKnowsٱللَّهُAllahأَنَّكُمْthat youكُنتُمْused toتَخْتَانُونَdeceiveأَنفُسَكُمْyourselvesفَتَابَso He turnedعَلَيْكُمْtowards youوَعَفَاand He forgaveعَنكُمْ[on] youفَٱلْـَٰٔنَSo nowبَٰشِرُوهُنَّhave relations with themوَٱبْتَغُوا۟and seekمَاwhatكَتَبَhas ordainedٱللَّهُAllahلَكُمْfor youوَكُلُوا۟And eatوَٱشْرَبُوا۟and drinkحَتَّىٰuntilيَتَبَيَّنَbecomes distinctلَكُمُto youٱلْخَيْطُthe threadٱلْأَبْيَضُ[the] whiteمِنَfromٱلْخَيْطِthe threadٱلْأَسْوَدِ[the] blackمِنَofٱلْفَجْرِ[the] dawnثُمَّThenأَتِمُّوا۟completeٱلصِّيَامَthe fastإِلَىtillٱلَّيْلِthe nightوَلَاAnd (do) notتُبَٰشِرُوهُنَّhave relations with themوَأَنتُمْwhile youعَٰكِفُونَ(are) secludedفِىinٱلْمَسَٰجِدِthe masajidتِلْكَTheseحُدُودُ(are the) limitsٱللَّهِ(set by) Allahفَلَاso (do) notتَقْرَبُوهَاapproach themكَذَٰلِكَThusيُبَيِّنُmakes clearٱللَّهُAllahءَايَٰتِهِۦHis versesلِلنَّاسِfor [the] peopleلَعَلَّهُمْso that they mayيَتَّقُونَ(become) righteous187
وَأَتِمُّوا۟And completeٱلْحَجَّthe Hajjوَٱلْعُمْرَةَand the Umrahلِلَّهِfor AllahفَإِنْAnd ifأُحْصِرْتُمْyou are held backفَمَاthen (offer) whateverٱسْتَيْسَرَ(can be) obtained with easeمِنَofٱلْهَدْىِthe sacrificial animalوَلَاAnd (do) notتَحْلِقُوا۟shaveرُءُوسَكُمْyour headsحَتَّىٰuntilيَبْلُغَreachesٱلْهَدْىُthe sacrificial animalمَحِلَّهُۥ(to) its destinationفَمَنThen whoeverكَانَisمِنكُمamong youمَّرِيضًاillأَوْorبِهِۦٓhe (has)أَذًىan ailmentمِّنofرَّأْسِهِۦhis headفَفِدْيَةٌthen a ransomمِّنofصِيَامٍfastingأَوْorصَدَقَةٍcharityأَوْorنُسُكٍsacrificeفَإِذَآThen whenأَمِنتُمْyou are secureفَمَنthen whoeverتَمَتَّعَtook advantageبِٱلْعُمْرَةِof the Umrahإِلَىfollowedٱلْحَجِّ(by) the Hajjفَمَاthen (offer) whateverٱسْتَيْسَرَ(can be) obtained with easeمِنَofٱلْهَدْىِthe sacrificial animalفَمَنBut whoeverلَّمْ(can) notيَجِدْfind فَصِيَامُthen a fastثَلَٰثَةِ(of) threeأَيَّامٍdaysفِىduringٱلْحَجِّthe Hajjوَسَبْعَةٍand seven (days)إِذَاwhenرَجَعْتُمْyou returnتِلْكَThisعَشَرَةٌ(is) ten (days)كَامِلَةٌin allذَٰلِكَThatلِمَن(is) for (the one) whoseلَّمْnotيَكُنْisأَهْلُهُۥhis familyحَاضِرِىpresentٱلْمَسْجِدِ(near) Al-MasjidٱلْحَرَامِAl-Haraamوَٱتَّقُوا۟And fearٱللَّهَAllahوَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟and knowأَنَّthatٱللَّهَAllahشَدِيدُ(is) severeٱلْعِقَابِ(in) retribution196
يَسْـَٔلُونَكَThey ask youعَنِaboutٱلشَّهْرِthe monthٱلْحَرَامِ[the] sacred قِتَالٍ(concerning) fightingفِيهِin itقُلْSayقِتَالٌFightingفِيهِthereinكَبِيرٌ(is) a great (sin)وَصَدٌّbut hindering (people)عَنfromسَبِيلِ(the) wayٱللَّهِ(of) Allahوَكُفْرٌۢand disbeliefبِهِۦin Himوَٱلْمَسْجِدِand (preventing access to) Al-MasjidٱلْحَرَامِAl-Haraamوَإِخْرَاجُand driving outأَهْلِهِۦits peopleمِنْهُfrom itأَكْبَرُ(is) greater (sin)عِندَnearٱللَّهِAllahوَٱلْفِتْنَةُAnd [the] oppressionأَكْبَرُ(is) greaterمِنَthanٱلْقَتْلِ[the] killingوَلَاAnd notيَزَالُونَthey will ceaseيُقَٰتِلُونَكُمْ(to) fight with youحَتَّىٰuntilيَرُدُّوكُمْthey turn you awayعَنfromدِينِكُمْyour religionإِنِifٱسْتَطَٰعُوا۟they are ableوَمَنAnd whoeverيَرْتَدِدْturns awayمِنكُمْamong youعَنfromدِينِهِۦhis religionفَيَمُتْthen diesوَهُوَwhile heكَافِرٌ(is) a disbelieverفَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَfor thoseحَبِطَتْbecame worthlessأَعْمَٰلُهُمْtheir deedsفِىinٱلدُّنْيَاthe worldوَٱلْءَاخِرَةِand the Hereafterوَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَAnd thoseأَصْحَٰبُ(are) companionsٱلنَّارِ(of) the Fireهُمْtheyفِيهَاin itخَٰلِدُونَ(will) abide forever217
وَٱلْوَٰلِدَٰتُAnd the mothersيُرْضِعْنَshall suckleأَوْلَٰدَهُنَّtheir childrenحَوْلَيْنِ(for) two yearsكَامِلَيْنِcompleteلِمَنْfor whoeverأَرَادَwishesأَنtoيُتِمَّcompleteٱلرَّضَاعَةَthe sucklingوَعَلَىAnd uponٱلْمَوْلُودِthe fatherلَهُۥ(on) himرِزْقُهُنَّ(is) their provisionوَكِسْوَتُهُنَّand their clothingبِٱلْمَعْرُوفِin a fair mannerلَاNotتُكَلَّفُis burdenedنَفْسٌany soulإِلَّاexceptوُسْعَهَاits capacityلَاNotتُضَآرَّmade to sufferوَٰلِدَةٌۢ(the) motherبِوَلَدِهَاbecause of her childوَلَاand notمَوْلُودٌ(the) fatherلَّهُۥ(be)بِوَلَدِهِۦbecause of his childوَعَلَىAnd onٱلْوَارِثِthe (father's) heirمِثْلُ(is a duty) likeذَٰلِكَthat (of the father)فَإِنْThen ifأَرَادَاthey both desireفِصَالًاweaningعَنthroughتَرَاضٍmutual consentمِّنْهُمَاof both of themوَتَشَاوُرٍand consultationفَلَاthen noجُنَاحَblameعَلَيْهِمَاon both of themوَإِنْAnd ifأَرَدتُّمْyou wantأَنtoتَسْتَرْضِعُوٓا۟ask another women to suckleأَوْلَٰدَكُمْyour childفَلَاthen (there is) noجُنَاحَblameعَلَيْكُمْon youإِذَاwhenسَلَّمْتُمyou payمَّآwhatءَاتَيْتُمyou giveبِٱلْمَعْرُوفِin a fair mannerوَٱتَّقُوا۟And fearٱللَّهَAllahوَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟and knowأَنَّthatٱللَّهَAllahبِمَاof whatتَعْمَلُونَyou doبَصِيرٌ(is) All-Seer233
أَوْOrكَٱلَّذِىlike the one whoمَرَّpassedعَلَىٰbyقَرْيَةٍa townshipوَهِىَand itخَاوِيَةٌ(had) overturnedعَلَىٰonعُرُوشِهَاits roofsقَالَHe saidأَنَّىٰHowيُحْىِۦ(will) bring to lifeهَٰذِهِthis (town)ٱللَّهُAllahبَعْدَafterمَوْتِهَاits deathفَأَمَاتَهُThen he was made to dieٱللَّهُ(by) Allahمِا۟ئَةَ(for) a hundredعَامٍyear(s)ثُمَّthenبَعَثَهُۥHe raised himقَالَHe saidكَمْHow longلَبِثْتَ(have) you remainedقَالَHe saidلَبِثْتُI remainedيَوْمًا(for) a dayأَوْorبَعْضَa partيَوْمٍ(of) a dayقَالَHe saidبَلNayلَّبِثْتَyou (have) remainedمِا۟ئَةَone hundredعَامٍyear(s)فَٱنظُرْThen lookإِلَىٰatطَعَامِكَyour foodوَشَرَابِكَand your drinkلَمْ(they did) notيَتَسَنَّهْchange with timeوَٱنظُرْand lookإِلَىٰatحِمَارِكَyour donkeyوَلِنَجْعَلَكَand We will make youءَايَةًa signلِّلنَّاسِfor the peopleوَٱنظُرْAnd lookإِلَىatٱلْعِظَامِthe bonesكَيْفَhowنُنشِزُهَاWe raise themثُمَّthenنَكْسُوهَاWe cover themلَحْمًا(with) fleshفَلَمَّاThen whenتَبَيَّنَbecame clearلَهُۥto himقَالَhe saidأَعْلَمُI knowأَنَّthatٱللَّهَAllahعَلَىٰ(is) onكُلِّeveryشَىْءٍthingقَدِيرٌAll-Powerful259
يَٰٓأَيُّهَاO youٱلَّذِينَwhoءَامَنُوٓا۟believe[d]إِذَاWhenتَدَايَنتُمyou contract with one anotherبِدَيْنٍany debtإِلَىٰٓforأَجَلٍa termمُّسَمًّىfixedفَٱكْتُبُوهُthen write itوَلْيَكْتُبAnd let writeبَّيْنَكُمْbetween youكَاتِبٌۢa scribeبِٱلْعَدْلِin justiceوَلَاAnd notيَأْبَ(should) refuseكَاتِبٌa scribeأَنthatيَكْتُبَhe writesكَمَاasعَلَّمَهُ(has) taught himٱللَّهُAllahفَلْيَكْتُبْSo let him writeوَلْيُمْلِلِand let dictateٱلَّذِىthe oneعَلَيْهِon whomٱلْحَقُّ(is) the rightوَلْيَتَّقِand let him fearٱللَّهَAllahرَبَّهُۥhis Lordوَلَاand (let him) notيَبْخَسْdiminishمِنْهُfrom itشَيْـًٔاanythingفَإِنThen ifكَانَisٱلَّذِىthe oneعَلَيْهِon himٱلْحَقُّ(is) the rightسَفِيهًا(of) limited understandingأَوْorضَعِيفًاweakأَوْorلَاnotيَسْتَطِيعُcapableأَنthatيُمِلَّ(can) dictateهُوَheفَلْيُمْلِلْthen let dictateوَلِيُّهُۥhis guardianبِٱلْعَدْلِwith justiceوَٱسْتَشْهِدُوا۟And call for evidenceشَهِيدَيْنِtwo witnessesمِنamongرِّجَالِكُمْyour menفَإِنAnd ifلَّمْnotيَكُونَاthere areرَجُلَيْنِtwo menفَرَجُلٌthen one manوَٱمْرَأَتَانِand two womenمِمَّنof whomتَرْضَوْنَyou agreeمِنَofٱلشُّهَدَآءِ[the] witnessesأَن(so) that (if)تَضِلَّ[she] errsإِحْدَىٰهُمَاone of the twoفَتُذَكِّرَthen will remindإِحْدَىٰهُمَاone of the twoٱلْأُخْرَىٰthe otherوَلَاAnd notيَأْبَ(should) refuseٱلشُّهَدَآءُthe witnessesإِذَاwhenمَاthatدُعُوا۟they are calledوَلَاAnd notتَسْـَٔمُوٓا۟(be) wearyأَنthatتَكْتُبُوهُyou write it صَغِيرًاsmallأَوْorكَبِيرًاlargeإِلَىٰٓforأَجَلِهِۦits termذَٰلِكُمْThatأَقْسَطُ(is) more justعِندَnearٱللَّهِAllahوَأَقْوَمُand more uprightلِلشَّهَٰدَةِfor evidenceوَأَدْنَىٰٓand nearerأَلَّاthat notتَرْتَابُوٓا۟you (have) doubtإِلَّآexceptأَنthatتَكُونَbeتِجَٰرَةًa transactionحَاضِرَةًpresentتُدِيرُونَهَاyou carry outبَيْنَكُمْamong youفَلَيْسَthen notعَلَيْكُمْon youجُنَاحٌany sinأَلَّاthat notتَكْتُبُوهَاyou write itوَأَشْهِدُوٓا۟And take witnessإِذَاwhenتَبَايَعْتُمْyou make commercial transactionوَلَاAnd notيُضَآرَّ(should) be harmedكَاتِبٌ(the) scribeوَلَاand notشَهِيدٌ(the) witnessوَإِنand ifتَفْعَلُوا۟you doفَإِنَّهُۥthen indeed itفُسُوقٌۢ(is) sinful conductبِكُمْfor youوَٱتَّقُوا۟and fearٱللَّهَAllahوَيُعَلِّمُكُمُAnd teachesٱللَّهُAllahوَٱللَّهُAnd Allahبِكُلِّof everyشَىْءٍthingعَلِيمٌ(is) All-Knower282

Grammar and morphology data based on the Quranic Arabic Corpus. Source: corpus.quran.com. Copyright Kais Dukes.