An explanation for the speech of Allaah, the Bestower of abundant favours, which was facilitated by Allaah Himself, the Most Generous and Most Merciful
by al-Imaam 'Abdur-Rahmaan ibn Naasir as-Sa'dee
English translation along with occasional brief explanatory notes
al-Baqarah (2):40-57
Allaah โ the Most Exalted โ then began to remind the descendants of Israaโeel about His favours and kindness to them. He said:
[2:40] ููุง ุจูููู ุฅูุณูุฑูุงุฆูููู ((Descendants of Israaโeel)). The name Israaโeel refers to the Prophet Yaโqoob (may Allaah grant him continued protection). Here, Allaah addressed the various groups among the descendants of Israaโeel who lived in al-Madeenah and its vicinity [at the time of the Prophet Muhammad (may Allaah grant him commendation and protection)], as well as those who would come after them.
Allaah began by giving them commands of a comprehensive nature. He said, ุงุฐูููุฑููุง ููุนูู ูุชููู ุงูููุชูู ุฃูููุนูู ูุชู ุนูููููููู ู ((recall the favours that I bestowed upon you)). This includes all of the favours that Allaah bestowed upon them, some of which He will mention in this Soorah. Recalling those blessings is to be done with the heart, by acknowledging them; with words, by praising Allaah for them; and with the limbs, by using them to do what Allaah loves and is pleased with. ููุฃููููููุง ุจูุนูููุฏูู ((fulfil your covenant with Me)) meaning the duty Allaah gave them to have sound beliefs about Him and His Messengers, and to comply with His directives. ุฃูููู ุจูุนูููุฏูููู ู ((and I will fulfil My covenant with you)) which means giving them the reward He promised them if they fulfil their covenant. This is in reference to what Allaah mentioned in His statement, ((Allaah certainly established a covenant with the descendants of Israaโeel, and We โ Allaah โ appointed twelve leaders among them. Furthermore, Allaah said, โI will certainly be with you if you fulfil your covenant. I swear that if you establish obligatory prayers, give obligatory charity, have correct beliefs about My Messengers [and support them, and give a wholesome loan to Allaah by spending in His path, I will most certainly pardon your sins for you and admit you to gardens in Jannah beneath which rivers flow. However, if anyone among you rejects the truth after this, such a person] has indeed strayed from the correct pathโ)) [5:12]. Allaah then instructed them to do what would drive them to fulfil their covenant with Him. [He said: ููุฅููููุงูู ููุงุฑูููุจูููู ((and have reverential fear of none besides Me))], since anyone who has genuine reverential fear of Allaah would necessarily fulfil Allaahโs commands and avoid His prohibitions.
[2:41] Allaah then gave them a command of a specific nature regarding something without which their eemaan is neither complete, nor valid to begin with. He said, ย ููุขู ููููุง ุจูู ูุง ุฃูููุฒูููุชู ((And have eemaan in what I sent down)), namely the Qurโaan which Allaah sent down to His worshipping servant and Messenger, Muhammad (may Allaah grant him commendation and protection). Hence, Allaah commanded them to have sound beliefs about it and follow the directives it contains. This necessitates that they also have eemaan in the one to whom it was sent down [by having correct beliefs about him and following him as well].
Allaah then mentioned the reason they should have eemaan in what He revealed, by saying that it was sent down ู ูุตูุฏููููุง ููู ูุง ู ูุนูููู ู ((confirming the truth in the scriptures you already have with you)), meaning it agrees with the truth they contain and does not oppose or contradict it in any way. Therefore, since the Qurโaan is in agreement with the scriptures you already have with you and does not oppose them, nothing should prevent you from having eemaan in the Qurโaan. It came with the same message that all the previous Messengers brought; thus, it is expected of you in particular โ before anyone else โ to have eemaan in the Qurโaan and accept it as the truth since you are people who possess scriptures and knowledge.
Additionally, the statement of Allaah ((confirming the truth in the scriptures you already have with you)) alludes to the fact that if you do not have eemaan in the Qurโaan, that means you essentially deny that the scriptures you have contain the truth. That is because the message brought by the Qurโaan is the same message brought by Moosaa, โEesaa, and other Prophets as well. Hence, rejecting the Qurโaan is tantamount to rejecting the scriptures you already have with you.
Furthermore, the scriptures you have with you contain the description of this Prophet who brought this Qurโaan, and those scriptures conveyed glad tidings of his coming. Therefore, if you do not have eemaan in him, then you have rejected some of what was sent down to you; and whoever rejects some of what has been sent down to him has, in fact, rejected all of it. Similarly, whoever rejects one Messenger has, in fact, rejected all the Messengers.
After Allaah commanded them to have eemaan in the Qurโaan and the Messenger, He prohibited them from โ and warned them against โ the opposite, which is rejecting either of them: ููููุง ุชูููููููุง ุฃูููููู ููุงููุฑู ุจููู ((and do not be the first group of people to reject that)) meaning either the Qurโaan or the Messenger. The phrase (([do not be] the first group of people to reject that)) is more emphatic than simply saying โdo not reject thatโ; because if they were the first group of people to reject it, this would indicate that they hastened to do the opposite of what they should have done, and it would also indicate that they would bear sin for their own rejection as well as sin for having others follow their example after them.
Allaah then mentioned the factor which prevented them from having eemaan, and that factor was preferring the immediate and inferior gains of this world over the endless happiness of the hereafter. He said, ููููุง ุชูุดูุชูุฑููุง ุจูุขููุงุชูู ุซูู ูููุง ูููููููุง ((Furthermore, do not sell My evidences for a paltry price)). The price referred to here are positions of prominence and worldly gains which they falsely perceived they would lose if they were to have eemaan in Allaah and His Messenger. Hence, they opted to give up the evidences Allaah revealed in exchange for those gains which they preferred and to which they gave priority.
ููุฅููููุงูู ููุงุชููููููู ((Rather, you must observe taqwaa of none besides Me)). That is because when you observe taqwaa of Allaah alone [i.e. protect yourselves from His punishment by fulfilling His commands and avoiding His prohibitions], that taqwaa requires that you give priority to having eemaan in Allaahโs evidences over the paltry price. In contrast, if you prefer the paltry price, that would be an indication of the absence of taqwaa from your hearts.
[2:42] Allaah then said, ููููุง ุชูููุจูุณููุง ุงููุญูููู ุจูุงููุจูุงุทููู ููุชูููุชูู ููุง ุงููุญูููู [ููุฃูููุชูู ู ุชูุนูููู ูููู]ย ((And you must neither mix the truth with falsehood, nor conceal the truth [knowingly])). Here, Allaah prohibited them from two things: the first is mixing the truth with falsehood, and the second is concealing the truth. People who possess scriptures and knowledge are expected to distinguish truth from falsehood and make the truth apparent in order to guide those who seek direction, assist those who are misguided in returning to the truth, and establish proof against those who obstinately reject the truth such that they are left with no further excuse. Allaah clarified His evidences in detail so that truth would be unmistakably distinguished from falsehood, and so that the path of those who follow sound guidance could be clearly told apart from the path of those who oppose and reject the truth.
Therefore, anyone who possesses knowledge of the truth from Allaah, distinguishes between truth and falsehood, and makes the truth apparent is, in fact, among the successors of Allaahโs Messengers and of those who lead people to sound guidance.
On the other hand, anyone who possesses knowledge yet deliberately mixes the truth with falsehood without distinguishing between the two, and conceals the truth which he knows and which he has been commanded to clarify, is among the callers to the hellfire. That is because when it comes to matters of religion, people must not take anyone besides scholars as examples for themselves to follow.
Based on what preceded, you may choose for yourselves which of those two courses you want to traverse.ย
[2:43] Next, Allaah said,ููุฃููููู ููุง ุงูุตููููุงุฉูย ((In addition, you must establish obligatory prayers)) meaning both outwardly and inwardly, ููุขุชููุง ุงูุฒููููุงุฉู ((give obligatory charity)) to those who are entitled to receive it, ููุงุฑูููุนููุง ู ูุนู ุงูุฑููุงููุนูููู ((and bow in worship with those who bow)) meaning perform prayers along with others who are performing prayers. If you do those things, along with having eemaan in Allaahโs Messengers and evidences, you would have combined outward actions along with inward actions; combined sincerity to Allaah by worshipping Him in the best way along with sincerity to His servants by treating them in the best manner; and combined various acts of worship that take place with oneโs heart, body, and property.
The phrase ((and bow in worship with those who bow)), which means perform prayers along with others who are performing prayers, is a command to perform prayers in congregation and it indicates that doing so is an obligation. The phrase also indicates that bowing in the rukooโ position is one of the pillars of prayer. This is understood because prayer itself was referred to here as bowing in rukooโ, and when a particular portion of an act of worship is used to refer to the entire act, it shows that the particular portion is an obligatory and necessary portion within that act of worship.ย
[2:44] ุฃูุชูุฃูู ูุฑูููู ุงููููุงุณู ุจูุงููุจูุฑูู ((Do you instruct people to do what is correct)), meaning to have correct beliefs and perform righteous deeds, ููุชูููุณููููู ุฃูููููุณูููู ูย ((but forget all about your own selves)) by neglecting to instruct them to do the same, ููุฃูููุชูู ู ุชูุชูููููู ุงููููุชูุงุจู ((even though you read the Scripture?)).
ุฃูููููุง ุชูุนูููููููู ((Will you not put your intellects to optimal use?)). The intellect is referred to as โaql in Arabic, because the โaql enables a person to comprehend (yaโqil) the good things that benefit him, and it also enables him to exercise restraint (yanโaqil) from what is detrimental to him. [The Arabic terms for both comprehension and restraint have the same root letters as the Arabic term for the intellect: โaql]. A personโs intellect urges him to be the first to do what he instructs others to do, and the first to avoid what he instructs others to avoid. When a person instructs others to do what is correct, but does not do what is correct himself; or forbids others from doing wrong, but does not restrain himself from doing wrong; that indicates his ignorance and the fact that he does not put his intellect to optimal use. This is especially the case when he knowingly acts in that manner, while aware of what is correct and incorrect, such that evidence is established against him which leaves him with no excuse.
Although this passage [2:44] was sent down concerning the descendants of Israaโeel in particular, its meaning is still general and applies to everyone. This can be understood from the statement of Allaah, the Most Exalted, ((People of eemaan, why do you say things that you do not actually do? It is utterly detestable to Allaah for you to say things that you do not actually do)) [61:2-3].
Additionally, the passage under discussion does not imply in any way that a person who fails to comply with Allaahโs directives must not instruct others to do what is correct or forbid them from doing wrong. In fact, the passage censures falling short in both of those duties. It should be clearly understood that each individual has two duties: one duty is instructing others to do what is correct and avoid what is wrong, and the other duty is doing likewise for his own self. Neglecting either of those duties does not provide an individual with a concession to also neglect the other. Completion for a person lies in fulfilling both duties, whereas total deficiency lies in neglecting both. As for fulfilling one of those duties but not the other, it is not as complete as the first, yet it is still not as deficient as the latter.
Something else to keep in mind is that peopleโs souls have the tendency to not follow the lead of those whose deeds contradict their words. Hence, they are more inclined to emulate deeds rather than heed mere words.ย
[2:45] [ููุงุณูุชูุนูููููุง ((You must seek assistance))]. Here, Allaah instructed [the descendants of Israaโeel] to seek assistance in all matters pertaining to them ุจูุงูุตููุจูุฑู ((by way of perseverance)). This refers to all its types: [a] perseverance in obeying Allaah, such that one fulfils His commands; [b] perseverance in refraining from disobeying Allaah, such that one avoids His prohibitions; and [c] perseverance in bearing any of Allaahโs decrees that one may find painful, and doing that without becoming angry or discontent. Therefore, persevering in the ways that Allaah instructed people to persevere provides immense assistance in all matters. When anyone expends effort to persevere, Allaah will enable him to persevere.
ููุงูุตููููุงุฉู ((as well as by way of prayer)). Similarly, prayer โ which is a reflection of oneโs eemaan, and which prevents people from immorality and wrongdoing โ is also a means by which assistance is to be sought in all matters. ููุฅููููููุง ((and that)), meaning prayer, ููููุจููุฑูุฉู ((is certainly difficult)), meaning burdensome, ย ุฅููููุง ุนูููู ุงููุฎูุงุดูุนูููู ((except for those who maintain their humility towards Allaah)). They are the ones who find it simple and light. That is because when a person maintains khushooโ [translated here as โhumility towards Allaahโ] while also having reverential fear of Allaah as well as hope for what Allaah has with Him, that person would perform prayers eagerly, driven by his hope for Allaahโs reward and his fear of Allaahโs punishment. This is unlike the person who lacks the aforementioned qualities, since there is nothing that motivates him to pray; and even if he were to pray, it would be one of the most burdensome tasks for him.
Khushooโ (humility towards Allaah) refers to the heart submitting to Allaah, finding tranquility and solace with Him, and remaining meek before Him; and being that way out of complete servitude to Allaah, absolute dependence upon Him, and holding correct beliefs about Him and about meeting Him.ย
[2:46] ุงูููุฐูููู ููุธููููููู ุฃููููููู ู ู ูููุงููู ุฑูุจููููู ู ((They are the ones who remain certain that they will meet their Lord)) who will then recompense them for their deeds, ููุฃููููููู ู ุฅููููููู ุฑูุงุฌูุนูููู ((and that to Him alone all of them shall return)). This is what makes acts of worship easier for them, consoles them during trials, relieves them during crises, and deters them from wrongdoing. Those are people who will be granted everlasting enjoyment in lofty dwellings in Jannah. As for the type of person who does not have correct beliefs about meeting his Lord, prayer and other acts of worship are among the most difficult things for him.ย
[2:47] Allaah then reminded the descendants of Israaโeel yet again of the blessings He bestowed upon them. [ููุง ุจูููู ุฅูุณูุฑูุงุฆูููู ุงุฐูููุฑููุง ููุนูู ูุชููู ุงูููุชูู ุฃูููุนูู ูุชู ุนูููููููู ู ููุฃููููู ููุถููููุชูููู ู ุนูููู ุงููุนูุงููู ูููู ((Descendants of Israaโeel, recall the favours that I bestowed upon you, as well as the fact that I favoured your forefathers over all other people of their time))]. This was repeated{1} to admonish them, warn them against doing wrong, and urge them to do what is correct.
\Notes:
{1} Referring to the first half of the passage. See what preceded in [2:40].
\End of notes.
[2:48] Allaah then reminded them about the Day of Resurrection in order to instil fear in them: ููุงุชูููููุง ููููู ูุง ููุง ุชูุฌูุฒูู ููููุณู ((And guard yourselves against a day when no person)) even if among the noblest of people, such as the Prophets and righteous individuals, ุนููู ููููุณู ((will avail another)) even if the latter is the closest of family members ุดูููุฆูุง ((in any way)) at all, no matter how great or little. Rather, the only thing that will benefit an individual is the righteous deeds that he sent ahead for himself.
ููููุง ููููุจููู ู ูููููุง ุดูููุงุนูุฉู ููููุง ููุคูุฎูุฐู ู ูููููุง ุนูุฏููู ((neither intercession nor ransom will be accepted)). No ((intercession)) will be accepted from any person without Allaah granting permission to the person interceding, and being pleased with the person interceded for. Allaah is not pleased with any deeds except ones that are performed sincerely seeking His face, and while adhering to the correct path and the Sunnah. Furthermore, no ((ransom)) will be accepted. If every single person who perpetrated wrongdoing had all that the Earth contains and a similar amount along with it, they would all certainly offer it to ransom themselves from the punishment of Allaah; however, that would not be accepted from them.{1}
ููููุง ููู ู ููููุตูุฑูููู ((and people will not be defended)), meaning that harm will not be warded off from them.
Thus, in this passage [2:48], Allaah negated attaining any type of advantage at all from created beings. His statement ((no person will avail another in any way)) negates obtaining benefit, and His statement ((and people will not be defended)) negates having harm warded off. These negations pertain to advantages that may be attained from one who is independently able to offer them, without any request. As for Allaahโs statement ((neither intercession nor ransom will be accepted)), these negations pertain to advantages that may be attained by requesting them from one who is able to offer them. The request may involve giving something in exchange, as in the case of ransom; or it may not involve giving anything in exchange, as in the case of intercession.
The preceding necessitates that a worshipping servant of Allaah not let his heart be attached to created beings, since he must realize that it is not within their independent ability to bring about for him even the least amount of benefit. It further necessitates that he keep his heart attached to Allaah, the One who brings about all benefits and wards off all harms; and that he worship Allaah alone, without any partner, and seek Allaahโs assistance in worshipping Him.
\Notes:
{1} See 5:36, 13:18, 39:47.
\End of notes:
[2:49-50] Here, Allaah began enumerating in detail blessings which He had granted the descendants of Israaโeel. He said, ููุฅูุฐู ููุฌููููููุงููู ู ู ููู ุขูู ููุฑูุนููููู ((And remember when We delivered you from the people of Firโawn)). That referred to Firโawn himself, as well as his followers and his troops. Prior to being delivered, it was those people ููุณููู ููููููู ู ((who were subjecting you to)), meaning that they were exploiting you and they were inflicting upon you ุณููุกู ุงููุนูุฐูุงุจู ((grievous torment)), meaning its harshest forms. That took place by them ููุฐูุจููุญูููู ุฃูุจูููุงุกูููู ู ((slaughtering masses of your sons)) out of fear that your numbers would grow otherwise. ููููุณูุชูุญูููููู ููุณูุงุกูููู ู ((and leaving your women alive)) by not killing them. Thus, you either ended up killed on the one hand; or left alive on the other, but only to be subjected to hard labour by others and treated as though that was a favour they did for you which made you subservient to them. That was ultimate humiliation. [However, Allaah further said, ููุฅูุฐู ููุฑูููููุง ุจูููู ู ุงููุจูุญูุฑู ููุฃูููุฌูููููุงููู ู ููุฃูุบูุฑูููููุง ุขูู ููุฑูุนููููู ููุฃูููุชูู ู ุชูููุธูุฑูููู ((And remember when We parted the sea for you and then rescued you, and We drowned Firโawnโs people while you yourselves watched it happen))]. Thus, Allaah blessed you by rescuing you completely, and by drowning your enemy while you watched it happen so that what you saw with your own eyes would be a source of solace for you.ย ููููู ุฐูููููู ู ((In that)) deliverance and rescue ุจูููุงุกู ู ููู ุฑูุจููููู ู ุนูุธููู ู ((was an immense test from your Lord)), meaning that it was an immense favour, and this is one of the things that requires you to be duly grateful to Him and fulfil His directives.ย
[2:51] Allaah then mentioned the blessing He granted them by appointing a duration of forty nights for the Prophet Moosaa in order to send down to him the Tawraah, which was a scripture that contained immense goodness and comprehensive benefits. [Allaah said, ููุฅูุฐู ููุงุนูุฏูููุง ู ููุณูู ุฃูุฑูุจูุนูููู ููููููุฉู ุซูู ูู ุงุชููุฎูุฐูุชูู ู ุงููุนูุฌููู ู ููู ุจูุนูุฏููู ((And remember when We appointed forty nights for Moosaa, and you then took the calf for yourselves as an object of worship after Moosaaโs departure))]. You did not wait until the completion of that appointed duration. Rather, you began worshipping a statue of a calf after Moosaa had left. You did that ููุฃูููุชูู ู ุธูุงููู ูููู ((while committing grave wrongdoing)). In other words, you were aware of your wrongdoing since evidence had already been established which left you with no excuse. That made what you did an even greater offence and a more grievous sin.ย
[2:52-54] Allaah then [said, ุซูู ูู ุนูููููููุง ุนูููููู ู ู ููู ุจูุนูุฏู ุฐููููู ููุนููููููู ู ุชูุดูููุฑูููู . ููุฅูุฐู ุขุชูููููุง ู ููุณูู ุงููููุชูุงุจู ููุงููููุฑูููุงูู ููุนููููููู ู ุชูููุชูุฏูููู . ููุฅูุฐู ููุงูู ู ููุณูู ููููููู ููู ููุง ููููู ู ุฅููููููู ู ุธูููู ูุชูู ู ุฃูููููุณูููู ู ุจูุงุชููุฎูุงุฐูููู ู ุงููุนูุฌููู ููุชููุจููุง ุฅูููู ุจูุงุฑูุฆูููู ู ููุงููุชููููุง ุฃูููููุณูููู ู ุฐูููููู ู ุฎูููุฑู ููููู ู ุนูููุฏู ุจูุงุฑูุฆูููู ู ููุชูุงุจู ุนูููููููู ู ุฅูููููู ูููู ุงูุชูููููุงุจู ุงูุฑููุญููู ูย ((We โ Allaah โ then pardoned you after that, so that you would be grateful. And remember when We gave Moosaa the Scripture and the criterion that distinguishes between right and wrong, so that you would be soundly guided. And remember when Moosaa said to his people, โMy people, you have indeed wronged yourselves by taking the calf for yourselves as an object of worship. Thus, you must repent to your Maker such that you apply capital punishment among yourselves. That will be best for you with your Maker.โ Allaah then accepted your repentance. Indeed, He is the One who is the Continuous Accepter of repentance, the Bestower of mercy)). Allaah] commanded you, through the words of His Prophet Moosaa, to repent by way of some among you applying capital punishment to others; and due to your compliance with that command, Allaah pardoned you ((so that you would be grateful)) to Allaah.ย
[2:55-56] ููุฅูุฐู ููููุชูู ู ููุง ู ููุณูู ูููู ููุคูู ููู ูููู ุญูุชููู ููุฑูู ุงูููููู ุฌูููุฑูุฉูย ((And remember when you said, โMoosaa, we will not believe what you tell us until we see Allaah with our own eyesโ)). This reflected the utmost audacity towards Allaah and towards the Messenger whom Allaah had sent. ููุฃูุฎูุฐูุชูููู ู ุงูุตููุงุนูููุฉู ((Consequently, a devastating punishment seized you)) referring to either death or deep unconsciousness ููุฃูููุชูู ู ุชูููุธูุฑูููู ((while you were looking on)). You saw it take place, and each one of you could see what was happening to others around him. ุซูู ูู ุจูุนูุซูููุงููู ู ู ููู ุจูุนูุฏู ู ูููุชูููู ู ููุนููููููู ู ุชูุดูููุฑูููู ((We โ Allaah โ then brought you back to life after your death, so that you would be grateful)).ย
[2:57] Allaah then mentioned favours you received from Him while you wandered through the barren wilderness, as He bestowed upon you shade and ample provisions. He said, ููุธููููููููุง ุนูููููููู ู ุงููุบูู ูุงู ู ููุฃูููุฒูููููุง ุนูููููููู ู ุงููู ูููู ููุงูุณููููููู ((And We shaded you with clouds, and sent down to you foods called mann and salwaa)). The word ((mann)) is a generic term that applies to any type of provision attained without difficulty, including [certain types of roots like] ginger, [types of edible fungus like] truffles, [a type of] bread, and other things as well; while ((salwaa)) is a type of small bird whose flesh is palatable, and it may be referred to as a quail. The mann and salwaa would come down to them in sufficient quantities to nourish them. ูููููุง ู ููู ุทููููุจูุงุชู ู ูุง ุฑูุฒูููููุงููู ู ((We said, โYou may eat of the wholesome things We have provided for youโ)). In other words, you may consume these provisions that are not available to even those who dwell in populated areas and live a life of comfort.
However, they were not duly grateful for Allaahโs blessings, and they continued being hardhearted and committing many sins. ููู ูุง ุธูููู ููููุง ((And they did not do any wrong to Us)) by way of those actions that opposed Our directives. That is because just as Allaah does not benefit from the obedience of those who obey Him, He is also not harmed by the disobedience of those who disobey Him. ูููููููู ููุงูููุง ุฃูููููุณูููู ู ููุธูููู ูููู ((Rather, it was their own selves that they continued to wrong)) since the harmful consequences of those actions return back to themselves.ย
