Surah Al-Baqarah Part Two: Verses 49 to 103 | Quran Study Guide

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Part one sorted the readers. This section sorts the rescued. It opens fourteen times with the same two words, and when, each one an entry in a ledger held against a single nation: a sea opened, a tyrant drowned, food dropped from the sky, water pulled out of a rock. Between the entries sits the record of what was done with each gift. The calf appears twice. The covenant is taken twice. Near the middle a cow is ordered slaughtered in six words, and four questions later the same cow is nearly impossible to find. The section closes on hearts compared to stone, and stone comes out ahead.

The Surah · Verses 49 to 103

﴾49﴿ وَإِذْ نَجَّيْنَٰكُم مِّنْ ءَالِ فِرْعَوْنَ يَسُومُونَكُمْ سُوٓءَ ٱلْعَذَابِ يُذَبِّحُونَ أَبْنَآءَكُمْ وَيَسْتَحْيُونَ نِسَآءَكُمْ ۚ وَفِى ذَٰلِكُم بَلَآءٌۭ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ عَظِيمٌۭ

Wa iz najjainaakum min Aali Fir'awna yasoomoonakum sooo'al azaabi yuzabbihoona abnaaa'akum wa yastahyoona nisaaa'akum; wa fee zaalikum balaaa'um mir Rabbikum 'azeem

And when We delivered you from the people of Pharaoh, who were setting on you the worst punishment, slaughtering your sons and sparing your women. In that was a tremendous trial from your Lord.

﴾50﴿ وَإِذْ فَرَقْنَا بِكُمُ ٱلْبَحْرَ فَأَنجَيْنَٰكُمْ وَأَغْرَقْنَآ ءَالَ فِرْعَوْنَ وَأَنتُمْ تَنظُرُونَ

Wa iz faraqnaa bikumul bahra fa anjainaakum wa agh-raqnaaa Aala Fir'awna wa antum tanzuroon

And when We parted the sea for you and saved you and drowned the people of Pharaoh while you were watching.

﴾51﴿ وَإِذْ وَٰعَدْنَا مُوسَىٰٓ أَرْبَعِينَ لَيْلَةًۭ ثُمَّ ٱتَّخَذْتُمُ ٱلْعِجْلَ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِۦ وَأَنتُمْ ظَٰلِمُونَ

Wa iz waa'adnaa Moosaaa arba'eena lailatan summattakhaztumul 'ijla mim ba'dihee wa antum zaalimoon

And when We appointed for Moses forty nights, then you took the calf after he was gone, and you were wrongdoers.

﴾52﴿ ثُمَّ عَفَوْنَا عَنكُم مِّنۢ بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ

Summa 'afawnaa 'ankum mim ba'di zaalika la'allakum tashkuroon

Then We pardoned you after that, so that you might be grateful.

﴾53﴿ وَإِذْ ءَاتَيْنَا مُوسَى ٱلْكِتَٰبَ وَٱلْفُرْقَانَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ

Wa iz aatainaa Moosal kitaaba wal Furqaana la'allakum tahtadoon

And when We gave Moses the Book and the criterion, so that you might be guided.

﴾54﴿ وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوْمِهِۦ يَٰقَوْمِ إِنَّكُمْ ظَلَمْتُمْ أَنفُسَكُم بِٱتِّخَاذِكُمُ ٱلْعِجْلَ فَتُوبُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ بَارِئِكُمْ فَٱقْتُلُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَكُمْ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌۭ لَّكُمْ عِندَ بَارِئِكُمْ فَتَابَ عَلَيْكُمْ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلتَّوَّابُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ

Wa iz qaala Moosaa liqawmihee yaa qawmi innakum zalamtum anfusakum bittikhaa zikumul 'ijla fatoobooo ilaa Baari'ikum faqtulooo anfusakum zaalikum khairul lakum 'inda Baari'ikum fataaba 'alaikum; innahoo Huwat Tawwaabur Raheem

And when Moses said to his people, my people, you have wronged yourselves by taking the calf, so turn back to your Maker and put yourselves to death. That is better for you in the sight of your Maker. Then He turned to you in forgiveness. He is the Ever Relenting, the Merciful.

﴾55﴿ وَإِذْ قُلْتُمْ يَٰمُوسَىٰ لَن نُّؤْمِنَ لَكَ حَتَّىٰ نَرَى ٱللَّهَ جَهْرَةًۭ فَأَخَذَتْكُمُ ٱلصَّٰعِقَةُ وَأَنتُمْ تَنظُرُونَ

Wa iz qultum yaa Moosaa lan nu'mina laka hattaa naral laaha jahratan fa akhazat kumus saa'iqatu wa antum tanzuroon

And when you said, Moses, we will not believe you until we see Allah openly. So the thunderbolt seized you while you were looking on.

﴾56﴿ ثُمَّ بَعَثْنَٰكُم مِّنۢ بَعْدِ مَوْتِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ

Summa ba'asnaakum mim ba'di mawtikum la'allakum tashkuroon

Then We raised you up after your death, so that you might be grateful.

﴾57﴿ وَظَلَّلْنَا عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلْغَمَامَ وَأَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلْمَنَّ وَٱلسَّلْوَىٰ ۖ كُلُوا۟ مِن طَيِّبَٰتِ مَا رَزَقْنَٰكُمْ ۖ وَمَا ظَلَمُونَا وَلَٰكِن كَانُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ

Wa zallalnaa 'alaikumul ghamaama wa anzalnaa 'alaikumul Manna was Salwaa kuloo min taiyibaati maa razaqnaakum wa maa zalamoonaa wa laakin kaanooo anfusahum yazlimoon

And We shaded you with the cloud and sent down to you the manna and the quail. Eat of the good things We have provided for you. They did not wrong Us, but they were wronging themselves.

﴾58﴿ وَإِذْ قُلْنَا ٱدْخُلُوا۟ هَٰذِهِ ٱلْقَرْيَةَ فَكُلُوا۟ مِنْهَا حَيْثُ شِئْتُمْ رَغَدًۭا وَٱدْخُلُوا۟ ٱلْبَابَ سُجَّدًۭا وَقُولُوا۟ حِطَّةٌۭ نَّغْفِرْ لَكُمْ خَطَٰيَٰكُمْ ۚ وَسَنَزِيدُ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ

Wa iz qulnad khuloo haazihil qaryata fakuloo minhaa haisu shi'tum raghadanw wadkhulul baaba sujjadanw wa qooloo hittatun naghfir lakum khataayaakum; wa sanazeedul muhsineen

And when We said, enter this town and eat from it freely wherever you wish, and enter the gate bowing low and say, hittah, lift the burden from us. We will forgive you your errors, and We will increase those who do good.

﴾59﴿ فَبَدَّلَ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ قَوْلًا غَيْرَ ٱلَّذِى قِيلَ لَهُمْ فَأَنزَلْنَا عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ رِجْزًۭا مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَفْسُقُونَ

Fabaddalal lazeena zalamoo qawlan ghairal lazee qeela lahum fa anzalnaa 'alal lazeena zalamoo rijzam minas samaaa'i bimaa kaanoo yafsuqoon

Those who did wrong swapped the word for one other than the word given to them, so We sent down on those who did wrong a plague from the sky for the defiance they kept up.

﴾60﴿ وَإِذِ ٱسْتَسْقَىٰ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوْمِهِۦ فَقُلْنَا ٱضْرِب بِّعَصَاكَ ٱلْحَجَرَ ۖ فَٱنفَجَرَتْ مِنْهُ ٱثْنَتَا عَشْرَةَ عَيْنًۭا ۖ قَدْ عَلِمَ كُلُّ أُنَاسٍۢ مَّشْرَبَهُمْ ۖ كُلُوا۟ وَٱشْرَبُوا۟ مِن رِّزْقِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا تَعْثَوْا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مُفْسِدِينَ

Wa izis tasqaa Moosaa liqawmihee faqulnad rib bi'asaakal hajara fanfajarat minhusnataaa 'ashrata 'aynan qad 'alima kullu unaasim mash rabahum kuloo washraboo mir rizqil laahi wa laa ta'saw fil ardi mufsideen

And when Moses asked for water for his people, We said, strike the rock with your staff. Twelve springs burst out of it, and every tribe knew its own drinking place. Eat and drink from the provision of Allah, and do not roam the earth spreading ruin.

﴾61﴿ وَإِذْ قُلْتُمْ يَٰمُوسَىٰ لَن نَّصْبِرَ عَلَىٰ طَعَامٍۢ وَٰحِدٍۢ فَٱدْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُخْرِجْ لَنَا مِمَّا تُنۢبِتُ ٱلْأَرْضُ مِنۢ بَقْلِهَا وَقِثَّآئِهَا وَفُومِهَا وَعَدَسِهَا وَبَصَلِهَا ۖ قَالَ أَتَسْتَبْدِلُونَ ٱلَّذِى هُوَ أَدْنَىٰ بِٱلَّذِى هُوَ خَيْرٌ ۚ ٱهْبِطُوا۟ مِصْرًۭا فَإِنَّ لَكُم مَّا سَأَلْتُمْ ۗ وَضُرِبَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلذِّلَّةُ وَٱلْمَسْكَنَةُ وَبَآءُو بِغَضَبٍۢ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ ۗ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ يَكْفُرُونَ بِـَٔايَٰتِ ٱللَّهِ وَيَقْتُلُونَ ٱلنَّبِيِّۦنَ بِغَيْرِ ٱلْحَقِّ ۗ ذَٰلِكَ بِمَا عَصَوا۟ وَّكَانُوا۟ يَعْتَدُونَ

Wa iz qultum yaa Moosaa lan nasbira 'alaa ta'aaminw waahidin fad'u lanaa rabbaka yukhrij lanaa mimmaa tumbitul ardu mimbaqlihaa wa qis saaa'ihaa wa foomihaa wa 'adasihaa wa basalihaa qaala atastabdiloonal lazee huwa adnaa billazee huwa khayr; ihbitoo misran fa inna lakum maa sa altum; wa duribat 'alaihimuz zillatu walmaskanatu wa baaa'oo bighadabim minal laah; zaalika bi annahum kaano yakfuroona bi aayaatil laahi wa yaqtuloonan Nabiyyeena bighairil haqq; zaalika bimaa 'asaw wa kaanoo ya'tadoon

And when you said, Moses, we will not hold out on one food, so call your Lord for us to bring out for us what the earth grows, its herbs and its cucumbers and its garlic and its lentils and its onions. He said, would you trade what is lower for what is better? Go down into a city and you will have what you asked for. Humiliation and poverty were stamped on them, and they came back carrying anger from Allah. That was because they kept rejecting the signs of Allah and killing the prophets without right. That was for their disobedience and for the limits they kept crossing.

﴾62﴿ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَٱلَّذِينَ هَادُوا۟ وَٱلنَّصَٰرَىٰ وَٱلصَّٰبِـِٔينَ مَنْ ءَامَنَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْءَاخِرِ وَعَمِلَ صَٰلِحًۭا فَلَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ

Innal lazeena aamanoo wallazeena haadoo wan nasaaraa was Saabi'eena man aamana billaahi wal yawmil aakhiri wa 'amila saalihan falahum ajruhum 'inda Rabbihim wa laa khawfun 'alaihim wa laa hum yahzanoon

Those who believe, and those who were Jews, and the Christians, and the Sabians, whoever believed in Allah and the Last Day and worked righteousness, they have their reward with their Lord. No fear is on them, and they will not grieve.

﴾63﴿ وَإِذْ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَٰقَكُمْ وَرَفَعْنَا فَوْقَكُمُ ٱلطُّورَ خُذُوا۟ مَآ ءَاتَيْنَٰكُم بِقُوَّةٍۢ وَٱذْكُرُوا۟ مَا فِيهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ

Wa iz akhaznaa meesaaqakum wa rafa'naa fawqakumut Toora khuzoo maaa aatainaakum biquwwatinw wazkuroo maa feehi la'allakum tattaqoon

And when We took your covenant and raised the mountain above you. Take hold of what We have given you with strength and remember what is in it, so that you may guard yourselves.

﴾64﴿ ثُمَّ تَوَلَّيْتُم مِّنۢ بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ ۖ فَلَوْلَا فَضْلُ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُهُۥ لَكُنتُم مِّنَ ٱلْخَٰسِرِينَ

Summa tawallaitum mim ba'di zaalika falawlaa fadlul laahi 'alaikum wa rahmatuhoo lakuntum minal khaasireen

Then after that you turned away. Without the favour of Allah on you and His mercy you would have been among the losers.

﴾65﴿ وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْتُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱعْتَدَوْا۟ مِنكُمْ فِى ٱلسَّبْتِ فَقُلْنَا لَهُمْ كُونُوا۟ قِرَدَةً خَٰسِـِٔينَ

Wa laqad 'alimtumul lazeena'-tadaw minkum fis Sabti faqulnaa lahum koonoo qiradatan khaasi'een

You already know those among you who broke the Sabbath, and We said to them, be apes, driven off.

﴾66﴿ فَجَعَلْنَٰهَا نَكَٰلًۭا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهَا وَمَا خَلْفَهَا وَمَوْعِظَةًۭ لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ

Faja'alnaahaa nakaalal limaa baina yadihaa wa maa khalfahaa wa maw'izatal lilmuttaqeen

We made it a deterrent for the generation before it and the one after it, and a lesson for those who guard themselves.

﴾67﴿ وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوْمِهِۦٓ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَن تَذْبَحُوا۟ بَقَرَةًۭ ۖ قَالُوٓا۟ أَتَتَّخِذُنَا هُزُوًۭا ۖ قَالَ أَعُوذُ بِٱللَّهِ أَنْ أَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْجَٰهِلِينَ

Wa iz qaala Moosaa liqawmiheee innal laaha yaamurukum an tazbahoo baqaratan qaalooo atattakhizunaa huzuwan qaala a'oozu billaahi an akoona minal jaahileen

And when Moses said to his people, Allah commands you to slaughter a cow. They said, are you making us a joke? He said, I take refuge with Allah from being one of the ignorant.

﴾68﴿ قَالُوا۟ ٱدْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُبَيِّن لَّنَا مَا هِىَ ۚ قَالَ إِنَّهُۥ يَقُولُ إِنَّهَا بَقَرَةٌۭ لَّا فَارِضٌۭ وَلَا بِكْرٌ عَوَانٌۢ بَيْنَ ذَٰلِكَ ۖ فَٱفْعَلُوا۟ مَا تُؤْمَرُونَ

Qaalud-'u lanaa rabbaka yubaiyil lanaa maa hee; qaala innahoo yaqoolu innahaa baqaratul laa faaridunw wa laa bikrun 'awaanum baina zaalika faf'aloo maa tu'maroon

They said, call your Lord for us to make clear to us what she is. He said, He says she is a cow neither old nor young, middle aged between the two. So do what you are commanded.

﴾69﴿ قَالُوا۟ ٱدْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُبَيِّن لَّنَا مَا لَوْنُهَا ۚ قَالَ إِنَّهُۥ يَقُولُ إِنَّهَا بَقَرَةٌۭ صَفْرَآءُ فَاقِعٌۭ لَّوْنُهَا تَسُرُّ ٱلنَّٰظِرِينَ

Qaalud-'u lanaa rabbaka yubaiyil lanaa maa lawnuhaa; qaala innahoo yaqoolu innahaa baqaratun safraaa'u faqi'ul lawnuhaa tasurrun naazireen

They said, call your Lord for us to make clear to us what colour she is. He said, He says she is a yellow cow, bright in her colour, pleasing to those who look at her.

﴾70﴿ قَالُوا۟ ٱدْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُبَيِّن لَّنَا مَا هِىَ إِنَّ ٱلْبَقَرَ تَشَٰبَهَ عَلَيْنَا وَإِنَّآ إِن شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَمُهْتَدُونَ

Qaalud-'u lanaa rabbaka yubaiyil lanaa maa hiya innal baqara tashaabaha 'alainaa wa innaaa in shaaa'al laahu lamuhtadoon

They said, call your Lord for us to make clear to us what she is. Cattle all look alike to us, and if Allah wills we will be guided.

﴾71﴿ قَالَ إِنَّهُۥ يَقُولُ إِنَّهَا بَقَرَةٌۭ لَّا ذَلُولٌۭ تُثِيرُ ٱلْأَرْضَ وَلَا تَسْقِى ٱلْحَرْثَ مُسَلَّمَةٌۭ لَّا شِيَةَ فِيهَا ۚ قَالُوا۟ ٱلْـَٰٔنَ جِئْتَ بِٱلْحَقِّ ۚ فَذَبَحُوهَا وَمَا كَادُوا۟ يَفْعَلُونَ

Qaala innahoo yaqoolu innahaa baqaratul laa zaloolun tuseerul arda wa laa tasqil harsa musallamatul laa shiyata feehaa; qaalul 'aana ji'ta bilhaqq; fazabahoohaa wa maa kaadoo yaf'aloon

He said, He says she is a cow not broken to turn the soil or water the field, sound, with no mark on her. They said, now you have brought the truth. So they slaughtered her, and they almost did not do it.

﴾72﴿ وَإِذْ قَتَلْتُمْ نَفْسًۭا فَٱدَّٰرَْٰٔتُمْ فِيهَا ۖ وَٱللَّهُ مُخْرِجٌۭ مَّا كُنتُمْ تَكْتُمُونَ

Wa iz qataltum nafsan faddaara'tum feehaa wallaahu mukhrijum maa kuntum taktumoon

And when you killed a soul and threw the blame back and forth over it, and Allah brings out what you were keeping hidden.

﴾73﴿ فَقُلْنَا ٱضْرِبُوهُ بِبَعْضِهَا ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يُحْىِ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْمَوْتَىٰ وَيُرِيكُمْ ءَايَٰتِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ

Faqulnad riboohu biba'dihaa; kazaalika yuhyil laahul mawtaa wa yureekum aayaatihee la'allakum ta'qiloon

So We said, strike him with part of her. That is how Allah gives life to the dead and shows you His signs, so that you may reason.

﴾74﴿ ثُمَّ قَسَتْ قُلُوبُكُم مِّنۢ بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ فَهِىَ كَٱلْحِجَارَةِ أَوْ أَشَدُّ قَسْوَةًۭ ۚ وَإِنَّ مِنَ ٱلْحِجَارَةِ لَمَا يَتَفَجَّرُ مِنْهُ ٱلْأَنْهَٰرُ ۚ وَإِنَّ مِنْهَا لَمَا يَشَّقَّقُ فَيَخْرُجُ مِنْهُ ٱلْمَآءُ ۚ وَإِنَّ مِنْهَا لَمَا يَهْبِطُ مِنْ خَشْيَةِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَمَا ٱللَّهُ بِغَٰفِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ

Summa qasat quloobukum mim ba'di zaalika fahiya kalhijaarati aw ashaddu qaswah; wa inna minal hijaarati lamaa yatafajjaru minhul anhaar; wa inna minhaa lamaa yashshaqqaqu fayakhruju minhul maaa'; wa inna minhaa lamaa yahbitu min khashyatil laah; wa mal laahu bighaafilin 'ammaa ta'maloon

Then after that your hearts hardened, so they are like stone, or harder still. Among stones there are some that burst open and rivers run out of them, and some that split and water comes out of them, and some that come down from the fear of Allah. Allah is not unaware of what you do.

﴾75﴿ أَفَتَطْمَعُونَ أَن يُؤْمِنُوا۟ لَكُمْ وَقَدْ كَانَ فَرِيقٌۭ مِّنْهُمْ يَسْمَعُونَ كَلَٰمَ ٱللَّهِ ثُمَّ يُحَرِّفُونَهُۥ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا عَقَلُوهُ وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ

Afatatma'oona ai yu'minoo lakum wa qad kaana fareequm minhum yasma'oona Kalaamal laahi summa yuharrifoonahoo mim ba'di maa 'aqaloohu wa hum ya'lamoon

Do you then expect them to believe you, when a group of them used to hear the speech of Allah and then bend it after they had understood it, and they knew what they were doing.

﴾76﴿ وَإِذَا لَقُوا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ قَالُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا وَإِذَا خَلَا بَعْضُهُمْ إِلَىٰ بَعْضٍۢ قَالُوٓا۟ أَتُحَدِّثُونَهُم بِمَا فَتَحَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْكُمْ لِيُحَآجُّوكُم بِهِۦ عِندَ رَبِّكُمْ ۚ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ

Wa izaa laqul lazeena aamanoo qaalooo aamannaa wa izaa khalaa ba'duhum ilaa ba'din qaalooo atuhaddisoonahum bimaa fatahal laahu 'alaikum liyuhaajjookum bihee 'inda rabbikum; afalaa ta'qiloon

When they meet those who believe they say, we believe. And when they are alone with one another they say, do you tell them what Allah has opened up to you, so they can use it against you before your Lord? Will you not reason?

﴾77﴿ أَوَلَا يَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا يُسِرُّونَ وَمَا يُعْلِنُونَ

Awalaa ya'lamoona annal laaha ya'lamu maa yusirroona wa maa yu'linoon

Do they not know that Allah knows what they keep secret and what they announce?

﴾78﴿ وَمِنْهُمْ أُمِّيُّونَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ إِلَّآ أَمَانِىَّ وَإِنْ هُمْ إِلَّا يَظُنُّونَ

Wa minhum ummiyyoona laa ya'lamoonal kitaaba illaaa amaaniyya wa in hum illaa yazunnoon

Among them are unlettered people who know nothing of the Book except wishes, and all they do is guess.

﴾79﴿ فَوَيْلٌۭ لِّلَّذِينَ يَكْتُبُونَ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ بِأَيْدِيهِمْ ثُمَّ يَقُولُونَ هَٰذَا مِنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ لِيَشْتَرُوا۟ بِهِۦ ثَمَنًۭا قَلِيلًۭا ۖ فَوَيْلٌۭ لَّهُم مِّمَّا كَتَبَتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَوَيْلٌۭ لَّهُم مِّمَّا يَكْسِبُونَ

Fawailul lillazeena yaktuboonal kitaaba bi aydeehim summa yaqooloona haazaa min 'indil laahi liyashtaroo bihee samanan qaleelan fawailul lahum mimmaa katabat aydeehim wa wailul lahum mimmaa yaksiboon

So woe to those who write the Book with their own hands and then say, this is from Allah, in order to buy with it a small price. Woe to them for what their hands have written, and woe to them for what they earn.

﴾80﴿ وَقَالُوا۟ لَن تَمَسَّنَا ٱلنَّارُ إِلَّآ أَيَّامًۭا مَّعْدُودَةًۭ ۚ قُلْ أَتَّخَذْتُمْ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ عَهْدًۭا فَلَن يُخْلِفَ ٱللَّهُ عَهْدَهُۥٓ ۖ أَمْ تَقُولُونَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

Wa qaaloo lan tamassanan Naaru illaaa ayyaamam ma'doodah; qul attakhaztum 'indal laahi 'ahdan falai yukhlifal laahu 'ahdahooo am taqooloona 'alal laahi maa laa ta'lamoon

And they said, the Fire will not touch us except for a counted number of days. Say, have you taken a covenant with Allah, and Allah never breaks His covenant? Or do you say about Allah what you do not know?

﴾81﴿ بَلَىٰ مَن كَسَبَ سَيِّئَةًۭ وَأَحَٰطَتْ بِهِۦ خَطِيٓـَٔتُهُۥ فَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَٰلِدُونَ

Balaa man kasaba sayyi'atanw wa ahaatat bihee khateee'atuhoo fa-ulaaa'ika Ashaabun Naari hum feehaa khaalidoon

The truth runs the other way. Whoever earns evil and is fenced in by his own sin, those are the companions of the Fire. They stay in it.

﴾82﴿ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْجَنَّةِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَٰلِدُونَ

Wallazeena aamanoo wa 'amilus saalihaati ulaaa'ika Ashaabul Jannati hum feehaa khaalidoon

And those who believe and do righteous work, those are the companions of the Garden. They stay in it.

﴾83﴿ وَإِذْ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَٰقَ بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ لَا تَعْبُدُونَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ وَبِٱلْوَٰلِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًۭا وَذِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَٱلْيَتَٰمَىٰ وَٱلْمَسَٰكِينِ وَقُولُوا۟ لِلنَّاسِ حُسْنًۭا وَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُوا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ ثُمَّ تَوَلَّيْتُمْ إِلَّا قَلِيلًۭا مِّنكُمْ وَأَنتُم مُّعْرِضُونَ

Wa iz akhaznaa meesaaqa Baneee Israaa'eela laa ta'budoona illal laaha wa bil waalidaini ihsaananw wa zil qurbaa walyataamaa walmasaakeeni wa qooloo linnaasi husnanw wa aqeemus salaata wa aatuz Zakaata summa tawallaitum illaa qaleelam minkum wa antum mu'ridoon

And when We took the covenant of the Children of Israel: worship none but Allah, and treat parents well, and relatives and orphans and the poor, and speak to people with what is good, and establish the prayer and give the zakat. Then you turned away, all but a few of you, and you were turning aside.

﴾84﴿ وَإِذْ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَٰقَكُمْ لَا تَسْفِكُونَ دِمَآءَكُمْ وَلَا تُخْرِجُونَ أَنفُسَكُم مِّن دِيَٰرِكُمْ ثُمَّ أَقْرَرْتُمْ وَأَنتُمْ تَشْهَدُونَ

Wa iz akhaznaa meesaaqakum laa tasfikoona dimaaa'akum wa laa tukhrijoona anfusakum min diyaarikum summa aqrartum wa antum tashhadoon

And when We took your covenant: do not spill your own blood and do not drive your own people out of their homes. Then you affirmed it, and you were witnesses to it.

﴾85﴿ 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

Summa antum haaa'ulaaa'i taqtuloona anfusakum wa tukhrijoona fareeqam minkum min diyaarihim tazaaharoona 'alaihim bil ismi wal'udwaani wa iny yaatookum usaaraa tufaadoohum wa huwa muharramun 'alaikum ikhraajuhum; afatu'minoona biba'dil Kitaabi wa takfuroona biba'd; famaa jazaaa'u mai yaf'alu zaalika minkum illaa khizyun fil hayaatid dunyaa wa yawmal qiyaamati yuraddoona ilaaa ashaddil 'azaab; wa mal laahu bighaafilin 'ammaa ta'maloon

Then here you are, killing your own people and driving a group of your own out of their homes, backing each other against them in sin and aggression. And when they come to you as captives you ransom them, while driving them out was forbidden to you in the first place. Do you believe in part of the Book and reject part of it? The payment for anyone among you who does that is disgrace in the life of this world, and on the Day of Resurrection they are sent back to the harshest punishment. Allah is not unaware of what you do.

﴾86﴿ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱشْتَرَوُا۟ ٱلْحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنْيَا بِٱلْءَاخِرَةِ ۖ فَلَا يُخَفَّفُ عَنْهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ وَلَا هُمْ يُنصَرُونَ

Ulaaa'ikal lazeenash tarawul hayaatad dunyaa bil aakhirati falaa yukhaffafu 'anhumul 'azaabu wa laa hum yunsaroon

Those are the ones who bought the life of this world at the price of the next. The punishment will not be lightened for them, and they will not be helped.

﴾87﴿ 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

Wa laqad aatainaa Moosal Kitaaba wa qaffainaa mim ba'dihee bir Rusuli wa aatainaa 'Eesab na Maryamal baiyinaati wa ayyadnaahu bi Roohil Qudus; afakullamaa jaaa'akum Rasoolum bimaa laa tahwaaa anfusukumus takbartum fafareeqan kazzabtum wa fareeqan taqtuloon

We gave Moses the Book and sent messengers after him one after another, and We gave Jesus son of Mary the clear proofs and strengthened him with the holy spirit. So every time a messenger came to you with what your own appetites did not want, you swelled with pride. One group you called liars, and one group you kill.

﴾88﴿ وَقَالُوا۟ قُلُوبُنَا غُلْفٌۢ ۚ بَل لَّعَنَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِكُفْرِهِمْ فَقَلِيلًۭا مَّا يُؤْمِنُونَ

Wa qaaloo quloobunaa ghulf; bal la'anahumul laahu bikufrihim faqaleelam maa yu'minoon

And they said, our hearts are sealed under cover. Allah has cursed them for their rejection, so little is what they believe.

﴾89﴿ وَلَمَّا جَآءَهُمْ كِتَٰبٌۭ مِّنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ مُصَدِّقٌۭ لِّمَا مَعَهُمْ وَكَانُوا۟ مِن قَبْلُ يَسْتَفْتِحُونَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ فَلَمَّا جَآءَهُم مَّا عَرَفُوا۟ كَفَرُوا۟ بِهِۦ ۚ فَلَعْنَةُ ٱللَّهِ عَلَى ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ

Wa lammaa jaaa'ahum Kitaabum min 'indil laahi musaddiqul limaa ma'ahum wa kaanoo min qablu yastaftihoona 'alal lazeena kafaroo falammaa jaaa'ahum maa 'arafoo kafaroo bih; fala'natul laahi 'alal kaafireen

And when a Book came to them from Allah confirming what they already had, and they had been praying for victory over those who rejected faith, then when the thing they recognised came to them, they rejected it. So the curse of Allah is on those who reject.

﴾90﴿ بِئْسَمَا ٱشْتَرَوْا۟ بِهِۦٓ أَنفُسَهُمْ أَن يَكْفُرُوا۟ بِمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ بَغْيًا أَن يُنَزِّلَ ٱللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِۦ عَلَىٰ مَن يَشَآءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِۦ ۖ فَبَآءُو بِغَضَبٍ عَلَىٰ غَضَبٍۢ ۚ وَلِلْكَٰفِرِينَ عَذَابٌۭ مُّهِينٌۭ

Bi'samash tarraw biheee anfusahum ai yakfuroo bimaaa anzalal laahu baghyan ai yunazzilal laahu min fadlihee 'alaa mai yashaaa'u min 'ibaadihee fabaaa'oo bighadabin 'alaa ghadab; wa lilkaafireena 'azaabum muheen

Wretched is the price they sold themselves for, rejecting what Allah sent down out of resentment that Allah sends His favour down on whichever of His servants He chooses. So they came back carrying anger on top of anger, and for those who reject there is a humiliating punishment.

﴾91﴿ وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ ءَامِنُوا۟ بِمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ قَالُوا۟ نُؤْمِنُ بِمَآ أُنزِلَ عَلَيْنَا وَيَكْفُرُونَ بِمَا وَرَآءَهُۥ وَهُوَ ٱلْحَقُّ مُصَدِّقًۭا لِّمَا مَعَهُمْ ۗ قُلْ فَلِمَ تَقْتُلُونَ أَنۢبِيَآءَ ٱللَّهِ مِن قَبْلُ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ

Wa izaa qeela lahum aaminoo bimaaa anzalal laahu qaaloo nu'minu bimaaa unzila 'alainaa wa yakfuroona bimaa waraaa'ahoo wa huwal haqqu musaddiqal limaa ma'ahum; qul falima taqtuloona Ambiyaaa'al laahi min qablu in kuntum mu'mineen

When they are told, believe in what Allah has sent down, they say, we believe in what was sent down to us. And they reject what came after it, while it is the truth confirming what they already hold. Say, then why did you kill the prophets of Allah before, if you were believers?

﴾92﴿ وَلَقَدْ جَآءَكُم مُّوسَىٰ بِٱلْبَيِّنَٰتِ ثُمَّ ٱتَّخَذْتُمُ ٱلْعِجْلَ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِۦ وَأَنتُمْ ظَٰلِمُونَ

Wa laqad jaaa'akum Moosaa bilbaiyinaati summat takhaztumul 'ijla mim ba'dihee wa antum zaalimoon

Moses came to you with the clear proofs, then you took the calf after he was gone, and you were wrongdoers.

﴾93﴿ وَإِذْ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَٰقَكُمْ وَرَفَعْنَا فَوْقَكُمُ ٱلطُّورَ خُذُوا۟ مَآ ءَاتَيْنَٰكُم بِقُوَّةٍۢ وَٱسْمَعُوا۟ ۖ قَالُوا۟ سَمِعْنَا وَعَصَيْنَا وَأُشْرِبُوا۟ فِى قُلُوبِهِمُ ٱلْعِجْلَ بِكُفْرِهِمْ ۚ قُلْ بِئْسَمَا يَأْمُرُكُم بِهِۦٓ إِيمَٰنُكُمْ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ

Wa iz akhaznaa meesaaqakum wa rafa'naa fawqakumut Toora khuzoo maaa aatainaakum biquwwatinw wasma'oo qaaloo sami'naa wa 'asainaa wa ushriboo fee quloobihimul 'ijla bikufrihim; qul bi'samaa yaamurukum biheee eemaanukum in kuntum mu'mineen

And when We took your covenant and raised the mountain above you. Take hold of what We have given you with strength, and listen. They said, we hear and we disobey. The calf was made to soak into their hearts by their rejection. Say, wretched is what your faith orders you to do, if you are believers.

﴾94﴿ قُلْ إِن كَانَتْ لَكُمُ ٱلدَّارُ ٱلْءَاخِرَةُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ خَالِصَةًۭ مِّن دُونِ ٱلنَّاسِ فَتَمَنَّوُا۟ ٱلْمَوْتَ إِن كُنتُمْ صَٰدِقِينَ

Qul in kaanat lakumud Daarul Aakhiratu 'indal laahi khaalisatam min doonin naasi fatamannawul mawta in kuntum saadiqeen

Say, if the home of the hereafter with Allah is yours alone, with no other people in it, then wish for death if you are truthful.

﴾95﴿ وَلَن يَتَمَنَّوْهُ أَبَدًۢا بِمَا قَدَّمَتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌۢ بِٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ

Wa lai yatamannawhu abadam bimaa qaddamat aydeehim; wallaahu 'aleemum bizzaalimeen

They will never wish for it, because of what their own hands have sent ahead. Allah knows the wrongdoers.

﴾96﴿ وَلَتَجِدَنَّهُمْ أَحْرَصَ ٱلنَّاسِ عَلَىٰ حَيَوٰةٍۢ وَمِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوا۟ ۚ يَوَدُّ أَحَدُهُمْ لَوْ يُعَمَّرُ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍۢ وَمَا هُوَ بِمُزَحْزِحِهِۦ مِنَ ٱلْعَذَابِ أَن يُعَمَّرَ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ بَصِيرٌۢ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ

Wa latajidannahum ahrasan naasi 'alaa hayaatinw wa minal lazeena ashrakoo; yawaddu ahaduhum law yu'ammaru alfa sanatinw wa maa huwa bimuzahzihihee minal 'azaabi ai yu'ammar; wallaahu baseerum bimaa ya'maloon

You will find them the greediest of people for life, greedier even than those who set up partners with Allah. Each one would love to be given a thousand years. Long life will not pull him back from the punishment. Allah sees what they do.

﴾97﴿ قُلْ مَن كَانَ عَدُوًّۭا لِّجِبْرِيلَ فَإِنَّهُۥ نَزَّلَهُۥ عَلَىٰ قَلْبِكَ بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ مُصَدِّقًۭا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَهُدًۭى وَبُشْرَىٰ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

Qul man kaana 'aduwwal li Jibreela fainnahoo nazzalahoo 'alaa qalbika bi iznil laahi musaddiqal limaa baina yadaihi wa hudanw wa bushraa lilmu'mineen

Say, whoever is an enemy to Gabriel, it is he who brought it down onto your heart by the permission of Allah, confirming what came before it, a guidance and good news for the believers.

﴾98﴿ مَن كَانَ عَدُوًّۭا لِّلَّهِ وَمَلَٰٓئِكَتِهِۦ وَرُسُلِهِۦ وَجِبْرِيلَ وَمِيكَىٰلَ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَدُوٌّۭ لِّلْكَٰفِرِينَ

Man kaana 'aduwwal lillaahi wa malaaa'ikatihee wa Rusulihee wa Jibreela wa Meekaala fa innal laaha 'aduwwul lilkaafireen

Whoever is an enemy to Allah and His angels and His messengers and Gabriel and Michael, then Allah is an enemy to those who reject.

﴾99﴿ وَلَقَدْ أَنزَلْنَآ إِلَيْكَ ءَايَٰتٍۭ بَيِّنَٰتٍۢ ۖ وَمَا يَكْفُرُ بِهَآ إِلَّا ٱلْفَٰسِقُونَ

Wa laqad anzalnaaa ilaika Aayaatim baiyinaatinw wa maa yakfuru bihaaa illal faasiqoon

We have sent down to you clear signs, and no one rejects them except those who break out of obedience.

﴾100﴿ أَوَكُلَّمَا عَٰهَدُوا۟ عَهْدًۭا نَّبَذَهُۥ فَرِيقٌۭ مِّنْهُم ۚ بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ

Awa kullamaa 'aahadoo 'ahdan nabazahoo fareequm minhum; bal aksaruhum laa yu'minoon

Every time they made a covenant, a group of them threw it away. Most of them do not believe.

﴾101﴿ وَلَمَّا جَآءَهُمْ رَسُولٌۭ مِّنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ مُصَدِّقٌۭ لِّمَا مَعَهُمْ نَبَذَ فَرِيقٌۭ مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ كِتَٰبَ ٱللَّهِ وَرَآءَ ظُهُورِهِمْ كَأَنَّهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

Wa lammaa jaaa'ahum Rasoolum min 'indil laahi musaddiqul limaa ma'ahum nabaza fareequm minal lazeena ootul Kitaaba Kitaabal laahi waraaa'a zuhoorihim ka annahum laa ya'lamoon

And when a messenger came to them from Allah confirming what they already had, a group of those who were given the Book threw the Book of Allah behind their backs as if they knew nothing about it.

﴾102﴿ وَٱتَّبَعُوا۟ مَا تَتْلُوا۟ ٱلشَّيَٰطِينُ عَلَىٰ مُلْكِ سُلَيْمَٰنَ ۖ وَمَا كَفَرَ سُلَيْمَٰنُ وَلَٰكِنَّ ٱلشَّيَٰطِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ يُعَلِّمُونَ ٱلنَّاسَ ٱلسِّحْرَ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ عَلَى ٱلْمَلَكَيْنِ بِبَابِلَ هَٰرُوتَ وَمَٰرُوتَ ۚ وَمَا يُعَلِّمَانِ مِنْ أَحَدٍ حَتَّىٰ يَقُولَآ إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ فِتْنَةٌۭ فَلَا تَكْفُرْ ۖ فَيَتَعَلَّمُونَ مِنْهُمَا مَا يُفَرِّقُونَ بِهِۦ بَيْنَ ٱلْمَرْءِ وَزَوْجِهِۦ ۚ وَمَا هُم بِضَآرِّينَ بِهِۦ مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَيَتَعَلَّمُونَ مَا يَضُرُّهُمْ وَلَا يَنفَعُهُمْ ۚ وَلَقَدْ عَلِمُوا۟ لَمَنِ ٱشْتَرَىٰهُ مَا لَهُۥ فِى ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ مِنْ خَلَٰقٍۢ ۚ وَلَبِئْسَ مَا شَرَوْا۟ بِهِۦٓ أَنفُسَهُمْ ۚ لَوْ كَانُوا۟ يَعْلَمُونَ

Wattaba'oo maa tatlush Shayaateenu 'alaa mulki Sulaimaana wa maa kafara Sulaimaanu wa laakinnash Shayaateena kafaroo yu'allimoonan naasas sihra wa maaa unzila 'alal malakaini bi Baabila Haaroota wa Maaroot; wa maa yu'allimaani min ahadin hattaa yaqoolaaa innamaa nahnu fitnatun falaa takfur fayata'allamoona minhumaa maa yufarriqoona bihee bainal mar'i wa zawjih; wa maa hum bidaaarreena bihee min ahadin illaa bi iznil laah; wa yata'allamoona maa yadurruhum wa laa yanfa'uhum; wa laqad 'alimoo lamanish taraahu maa lahoo fil Aakhirati min khalaaq; wa labi'sa maa sharaw biheee anfusahum; law kaanoo ya'lamoon

They followed what the devils recited during the reign of Solomon. Solomon did not reject faith, but the devils did, teaching people magic, and what was sent down to the two angels at Babylon, Harut and Marut. Neither of the two taught anyone until they said, we are only a test, so do not reject faith. From those two people learned what splits a man from his wife. They harm no one with it except by the permission of Allah. They learn what harms them and gives them nothing. They already knew that whoever buys it has no share in the hereafter. Wretched is the price they sold themselves for, if only they knew.

﴾103﴿ وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَٱتَّقَوْا۟ لَمَثُوبَةٌۭ مِّنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ خَيْرٌۭ ۖ لَّوْ كَانُوا۟ يَعْلَمُونَ

Wa law annahum aamanoo wattaqaw lamasoobatum min 'indil laahi khayrun law kaanoo ya'lamoon

Had they believed and guarded themselves, a reward from Allah would have been better, if only they knew.

The Tafsir · The Breakdown

What This Part Means

Verses 49 to 61

Fourteen Entries in a Ledger.

Count the openings. And when We delivered you. And when We parted. And when We appointed. And when We gave. And when Moses said. And when you said. The formula runs through this passage like a bookkeeper's pen, and each entry has two columns. The left column is what was given: rescue from a man who was killing infant boys, a sea that opened wide enough to walk through and closed on the army behind, a Book, a criterion for telling right from wrong, cloud for shade in open desert, food arriving without farming, water from struck rock in twelve separate streams so that no tribe had to queue behind another. The right column is what was done with it.

Verse 51 sets the interval. Forty nights. That is how long the man who parted the sea was absent before the nation that walked through it was worshipping metal. The gap between the sign and the forgetting is measured in weeks. Verse 55 raises the price of the demand: we will not believe you until we see Allah openly. The thunderbolt answers, and verse 56 records revival, and then verse 57 records the shade and the food, and the verdict lands in one clause. They did not wrong Us, but they were wronging themselves. The ledger is not kept because Allah loses anything. It is kept because they do.

Verse 58 is the smallest failure and the most instructive. One word was required at the gate: hittah, meaning lift the burden. Verse 59 says they swapped it for a different word. Ibn Kathir, in Tafsir al-Quran al-Azim, records the reports that they entered dragging themselves rather than bowing, and altered the word they had been given. The instruction cost nothing. The substitution cost everything, because the point of the word was submission, and a word you choose yourself is not submission.

Verse 61 completes the pattern. Food falling from the sky is refused because it is one food. The request is for herbs, cucumbers, garlic, lentils, onions. Moses names the trade in a single question: would you exchange what is lower for what is better? Al Tabari, in Jami al-Bayan, notes that the commentators differ over foom, some reading it as garlic and some as wheat. The dispute over the vegetable does not touch the argument. The complaint is that provision arriving directly from Allah felt monotonous, and the fix was to go back down into a city and grow it yourself.

Verses 62 to 66

The Verse With the Widest Door.

Verse 62 sits in the middle of an indictment and does something the indictment does not prepare you for. It names four communities, believers, Jews, Christians, Sabians, and then it stops naming and starts describing: whoever believed in Allah and the Last Day and worked righteousness. Reward with their Lord. No fear on them. No grief. The verse moves the criterion off the label and onto the two things a person actually does, what he holds true and what he builds with his hands.

Then the door narrows again, because the passage returns to the covenant. Verse 63 has the mountain raised above them while the terms are given. Take hold of what We have given you with strength. The word is quwwah, strength, not politeness. A covenant received limply is a covenant already broken, and verse 64 records exactly that. Then after that you turned away.

Verse 65 gives the Sabbath. Those who crossed the line on the day they had agreed to keep were told, be apes, driven off. Verse 66 explains what the event was for. A deterrent for the generation present and the one after, and a lesson for those who guard themselves. The point of a public consequence is the people watching it.

Verses 67 to 73

A Cow, and Four Questions.

This is the passage the whole surah is named after. Al-Baqarah means the cow, and out of two hundred and eighty six verses covering law, war, marriage, debt, and the greatest verse in the Book, the title comes from here. That is deliberate. The naming makes the lesson unavoidable.

The command was six words in Arabic and one action in English. Allah commands you to slaughter a cow. Any cow. The first response is not obedience and not refusal. It is a joke. Are you making us a joke. Moses does not argue, he takes refuge with Allah from ignorance, and then the questioning begins.

What is she. Answer: not old, not young, in between. That answer alone has already narrowed the herd. What colour is she. Answer: yellow, bright, pleasing to the eye. Narrower. What is she, again, because cattle look alike to us. Answer: not broken to the plough, not used for irrigation, sound, unmarked. By the fourth answer the animal barely exists. Ibn Kathir records the report from Ibn Abbas that had they slaughtered any cow at the start it would have been accepted, and that they made it hard on themselves, so Allah made it hard on them. Al Tabari transmits the same judgment in Jami al-Bayan.

Then verse 71 lands the sentence that should be read slowly. So they slaughtered her, and they almost did not do it. After four rounds of clarification, after being handed the exact specification they demanded, obedience still barely happened. Questions can be a way of learning. Questions can also be a way of not starting.

Verses 72 and 73 reveal what the cow was for. A murder had been committed and the community was passing blame back and forth. Strike him with part of her. The dead man speaks, the killer is exposed, and the verse names the real subject: that is how Allah gives life to the dead. The cow was never about cattle. It was a demonstration of resurrection, and they nearly talked themselves out of watching it.

Verses 74 to 79

Stone Splits, Hearts Do Not.

Verse 74 follows the resurrection immediately, and the placement is the argument. They watched a corpse return to life and then their hearts hardened. The comparison offered is stone, and then the comparison is withdrawn as too generous. Like stone, or harder still.

The verse then does something no other simile in the Quran does. It defends the stone. Among stones there are some that burst open and rivers run out of them. Some that split and water comes out. Some that come down from the fear of Allah. Three grades of responsiveness, and rock passes all three. Rivers out of rock is the direct callback to verse 60, where a struck stone gave twelve springs while the people who drank from them complained about the menu. The stone obeyed. They did not.

Verses 75 to 79 name the mechanism of hardening. A group used to hear the speech of Allah and then bend it after understanding it, and they knew what they were doing. That last clause removes the excuse of confusion. Verse 76 catches the two faced version: we believe when they meet the believers, and behind closed doors, do not tell them what Allah has opened up to you, they will use it against you. Verse 78 describes the layer below that, people who know the Book only as wishes and run on guesswork. Verse 79 names the worst layer, hands that write a book and a mouth that calls it revelation, and the motive is stated flatly. To buy with it a small price. Not a large one. Text is falsified for less than it costs.

Verses 80 to 103

Half a Book Is Not a Book.

Verse 80 opens with a comfortable doctrine. The Fire will not touch us except for a counted number of days. The reply is one question with no exit. Have you taken a covenant with Allah, or do you say about Allah what you do not know. Verses 81 and 82 replace the doctrine with the rule that actually runs: whoever earns evil and is fenced in by his own sin belongs to the Fire, and whoever believes and works righteousness belongs to the Garden. Ancestry is not mentioned in either sentence.

Verse 83 restates the covenant in six plain clauses. Worship none but Allah. Treat parents well. Then relatives, orphans, the poor. Speak to people with what is good. Establish the prayer. Give the zakat. Every clause is portable to any century. Verse 84 adds two prohibitions, do not spill your own blood, do not drive your own out of their homes, and records that they affirmed it as witnesses.

Verse 85 is where the section turns its knife. They were exiling their own and then paying ransom to free the captives among them, funding both sides of the same wrong, and the Book had forbidden the expulsion in the first place. The verse asks the question that names the whole disease. Do you believe in part of the Book and reject part of it. A book obeyed selectively is not being obeyed, it is being consulted.

The rest of the section shows the selection in operation. Verse 87 charges arrogance whenever a messenger arrived with something the appetite did not want. Verse 89 records that they had been praying for victory using the coming Book, and rejected it when it arrived recognisable. Verse 90 names the true motive as baghy, resentment that Allah gives His favour to whom He chooses. Verse 94 offers the test that settles the claim of exclusive salvation: if the hereafter is yours alone, wish for death. Verse 95 records that they never will. Verse 97 answers the objection about Gabriel by pointing out that hostility to the messenger who carries the message is hostility to the One who sent it. Verse 102 closes with what gets picked up when revelation is put down: magic at Babylon, knowledge that harms and does not benefit, bought at the cost of any share in the hereafter. Verse 103 states the whole ledger of this section in one line. Had they believed and guarded themselves, a reward from Allah would have been better, if only they knew.

Structural Summary

Verses 49 to 103. The Ledger and the Cow.

Verses 49 to 61. The ledger. Fourteen openings of and when, each pairing a rescue with a response.

Verses 62 to 66. The criterion and the covenant. Belief plus righteous work, then the mountain and the Sabbath.

Verses 67 to 73. The cow. One command, four questions, a slaughter that almost did not happen, and a corpse brought back to life.

Verses 74 to 103. The hardening. Hearts measured against stone, text bent by people who understood it, and a Book obeyed in part.

The Practice · Daily Integration

Verses 49 to 103. Name the Word You Substituted.

Write your own version of verse 58. Name one instruction you were given plainly, by Allah or by someone with the right to give it, and name the word you substituted. Not the instruction you refused. The one you edited into something easier and then performed.

Take one thing you have asked four clarifying questions about and have not started. Set the specification aside and do the first version today. Verse 71 records people who got every answer they demanded and still almost did not act.

Open the six clauses of verse 83 and mark yourself on each: worship of Allah alone, treatment of parents, relatives, orphans and the poor, speech to people, the prayer, the zakat. Verse 85 is about the clause you scored lowest on while still calling yourself a believer in the Book.

آمِين

Prepared with discipline · Ameen

Verse-By-Verse · Test Yourself

The Quiz

Two questions per verse. Translation and a key Arabic word. Walk through it slow. The goal is comprehension, not speed.

Verses 49 to 1031 / 12

Verse 51

How long was Moses appointed away before his people took the calf?