Discover the Holy Quran, Surah 2 Al Baqarah Verses 237-256

[taul]

---In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.


238- Guard strictly your (habit of) prayers, especially the Middle Prayer, and stand before Allah in a devout (frame of mind).

239- If ye fear (an enemy), pray on foot, or riding, (as may be most convenient), but when ye are in security, celebrate Allah.s praises in the manner He has taught you, which ye know not (before).

240- Those of you who die and leave widows should bequeath for their widows a year's maintenance and residence; but if they leave (The residence), there is no blame on you for what they do in themselves, provided it is reasonable. And Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise.

241- For divorced women Maintenance (should be provided) on a reasonable (scale). This is a duty on the righteous.

242- Thus doth Allah Make clear His Signs to you: In order that ye may understand.

243- Didst thou not Turn by vision to those who abandoned their homes, though they were thousands (In number), for fear of death? Allah said to them: "Die": Then He restored them to life. For Allah is full of bounty to mankind, but Most of them are ungrateful.

244- Then fight in the cause of Allah, and know that Allah Heareth and knoweth all things.

245- Who is he that will loan to Allah a beautiful loan, which Allah will double unto his credit and multiply many times? It is Allah that giveth (you) Want or plenty, and to Him shall be your return.

246- Has thou not Turned thy vision to the Chiefs of the Children of Israel after (the time of) Moses? they said to a prophet (That was) among them: "Appoint for us a king, that we May fight in the cause of Allah." He said: "Is it not possible, if ye were commanded to fight, that that ye will not fight?" They said: "How could we refuse to fight in the cause of Allah, seeing that we were turned out of our homes and our families?" but when they were commanded to fight, they turned back, except a small band among them. But Allah Has full knowledge of those who do wrong.

247- Their Prophet said to them: "(Allah) hath appointed Talut as king over you." They said: "How can he exercise authority over us when we are better fitted than he to exercise authority, and he is not even gifted , with wealth in abundance?" He said: "(Allah) hath Chosen him above you, and hath gifted him abundantly with knowledge and bodily prowess: Allah Granteth His authority to whom He pleaseth. Allah careth for all, and He knoweth all things."

248- And (further) their Prophet said to them: "A sign of his authority is that there shall come to you the Ark of the covenant, with (an assurance) therein of security from your Lord, and the relics left by the family of Moses and the family of Aaron, carried by angels. In this is a symbol for you if ye indeed have faith."

249- When Talut set forth with the armies, he said: "(Allah) will test you at the stream: if any drinks of its water, He goes not with my army: Only those who taste not of it go with me: A mere sip out of the hand is excused." but they all drank of it, except a few. When they crossed the river,- He and the faithful ones with him,- they said: "This day We cannot cope with Goliath and his forces." but those who were convinced that they must meet Allah, said: "How oft, by Allah.s will, Hath a small force vanquished a big one? Allah is with those who steadfastly persevere."

250- When they advanced to meet Goliath and his forces, they prayed: "Our Lord! Pour out constancy on us and make our steps firm: Help us against those that reject faith."

251- By Allah.s will they routed them; and David slew Goliath; and Allah gave him power and wisdom and taught him whatever (else) He willed. And did not Allah Check one set of people by means of another, the earth would indeed be full of mischief: But Allah is full of bounty to all the worlds.

252- These are the Signs of Allah. We rehearse them to thee in truth: verily Thou art one of the apostles.

253- Those apostles We endowed with gifts, some above others: To one of them Allah spoke; others He raised to degrees (of honour); to Jesus the son of Mary We gave clear (Signs), and strengthened him with the holy spirit. If Allah had so willed, succeeding generations would not have fought amongst each other, after clear (Signs) had come to them, but they (chose) to wrangle, some believing and others rejecting. If Allah had so willed, they would not have fought each other; but Allah Fulfilleth His plan.

254- O ye who believe! Spend out of (the bounties) We have provided for you, before the Day comes when no bargaining (Will avail), nor friendship nor intercession. Those who reject Faith they are the wrong-doers.

255- Allah. There is no god but He,-the Living, the Self-subsisting, Eternal. No slumber can seize Him nor sleep. His are all things in the heavens and on earth. Who is there can intercede in His presence except as He permitteth? He knoweth what (appeareth to His creatures as) before or after or behind them. Nor shall they compass aught of His knowledge except as He willeth. His Throne doth extend over the heavens and the earth, and He feeleth no fatigue in guarding and preserving them for He is the Most High, the Supreme (in glory).

256- Let there be no compulsion in religion. Truth stands out clear from Error: whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold, that never breaks. And Allah heareth and knoweth all things.

May Allah Bless us with the understanding of the Holy Quran and Help us follow It.

 

[patriot]

Re: Discover the Holy Quran, Surah 2 Al Baqarah Verses 238-256

2:238 (While describing some important marital Laws), it is reiterated that, your Central Duty remains the guarding of the System in which individuals and families can develop their potentials to the maximum. Stay alert in obedience to God.

2:239 Whether fear threatens you from without, or you are strolling, riding, relaxing in peace, remember God as He has taught you (the Right and Wrong) that you did not know. [3:3,3:190-191, 4:103]

2:240 Men must testify in a written, legal will that, after their death, their widows will receive one years maintenance without their being obliged to leave the house. But, if they leave on their own accord, there is nothing wrong in letting them do whatever they wish to do with their own lives in a lawful manner. And God is Almighty, the Wise (and He grants this permission).

2:241 The widowed and divorced women must be provided for in kindness and equity. This is a duty for those who wish to live upright. [65:6-7]

2:242 Thus, God makes His revelations clear for you. Now, it is up to you to use your intellect.

2:243 The Ideal Society that you must strive to establish shall have sound socio-economic fabric and Rule of Law. That would enable you to thwart aggression from any quarters. You would not then, behave cowardly like those who were thousands in numbers, but when challenged by the enemy, they ran in droves leaving their homes behind. They feared death. Then they realized that the Divine Law of mortality is inescapable, hence the fear of death is vain. Soon, they stood up on their feet and defeated the enemy. They lived again. God's Guidance is a Bounty to mankind but most people do not appreciate this fact.

2:244 Fight in the Cause of God, and know that God is Hearer, Knower.
[Fight only in self-defense, and against oppression since God does not love aggressors. 2:190-194]

2:245 Who shall come forward and give a beautiful loan to God that He shall multiply manifolds? The Divine Order in the society will pay you handsome dividends. Add to this, the tremendous reward in the Hereafter. The wealth of nations and individuals is not exempt from the Laws of God. Every step of the way you are returning to Him.

2:246 (Sustained commitment to the Divine Order with wealth and person is not an easy undertaking.) After the times of Moses, some leaders of the Israelites promised their Prophet (Samuel), If you appoint a king for us, we will fight in the Cause of God. The Prophet said, Is it your intention to refrain from fighting if it was decreed to you? They said Why should we not fight in the Cause of God when we have been driven out of our homes with our children? Yet when fighting was ordained for them, they turned away all but a few. God is Aware of the wrongdoers.

2:247 Their Prophet said, God has appointed Taloot (Saul) as your king. They objected, How can he have kingship over us when we are more worthy of kingship than he; he is not even rich? The Prophet said, God has chosen him over you, and has blessed him with wisdom and stature. God bestows His kingship according to His Laws. He is Infinite, Knowing.

2:248. Their Prophet (Samuel) said, The sign of his kingdom is that the Ark of the Covenant will be restored to you, reassuring you from your Lord, and the relics left by the house of Moses and the house of Aaron and preserved by the forces of Nature. This will be a convincing sign for the believers among you.

2:249. The Commander Saul then marched along with his soldiers to face the armies of Jaloot (Goliath). A stream came along in their way. Saul, in order to create discipline among his soldiers and to test their resolve commanded them to refrain from drinking that water, except a sip out of the hand. But except a few, they drank it. When they crossed the stream, he and the believers with him, they complained, "This day we cannot cope with Goliath and his armies." But those who were convinced that they must meet God (those who were marching forward in the Cause of God) said, How often, by Gods leave, has a small force overwhelmed a big army! For, God is with the steadfast!

2:250 Thus praying to their Lord with full conviction in the Law of Cause and Effect, they advanced toward the invading armies of Goliath.

2:251 And, they routed the much bigger force by the Law of God, as David, who was one of the officers of Saul, slew the mighty Commander, Goliath. Then God honored David with a powerful kingdom, along with wisdom, sound judgment, and knowledge. We have decreed that those who spend their youth in righteousness (doing works that benefit humanity) shall be granted knowledge and wisdom. Annihilation of the mighty armies of Goliath bears a historical lesson for mankind that if Balance in Nature were not one of the Laws, tyrants would ransack the earth and its inhabitants unopposed. But, oppression brings revolution and eventually, the oppressed overthrow the oppressors. God is Limitless in His Bounties to the Worlds. [12:22, 22:39, 28:14]

2:252 These are the verses of God that We recite to you in absolute Truth. And (O Muhammad) You are among Our messengers.

2:253 (All messengers were one in Purpose. They were assigned different strategies suitable to their times, locations and people.) We caused some of those messengers to excel others. God spoke to some of them. Others He raised in degrees of high honor. Jesus son of Mary was one of those messengers whom We gave clear signs of Truth and helped him with Sacred Revelation. If God had so willed, the later generations would not have fought among themselves after clear evidence of the Truth had come to them. But they chose to differ, some believing and others rejecting. (Again) if God had so willed, they would not have fought. But God makes Laws as He wills.
[All messengers one in purpose - 2:136, 2:285. God did not create human beings like programmed robots. He endowed men and women with free will, and never ordained compulsion in religion (2:256). God makes His Laws in the World of Command as He wills, and implements them in the World of Creation. (7:54). And He never changes His Laws. 6:15, 6:34, 7:54, 10:64, 17:77, 30:30, 33:62, 35:43, 48:23. Roohul Qudus = The Noble Revelation = Gabriel 2:87, 5:110, 16:102]

2:254 O You who have chosen to be graced with belief! Use Our Provision to satisfy the needs of fellow human beings and for the betterment of the society. Do that before the day comes when no bargaining, friendship or intercession shall be of any avail. Those who reject such sensible admonition, do grave injustice to themselves.

2:255 (These directions, tidings and warnings come from God, the One True God.) There is no god but He, the Living, the Originator of life, the Self-Subsisting Sustainer of all creation. Neither slumber, nor sleep overtakes Him. All that exists in the Highs and the Lows, in the heavens and the earth, belongs to Him alone. Who can intercede in His Court except by His Leave, and then, only in accordance with His Laws? He knows which lies open before humans and what is hidden from them. His knowledge transcends time and space. No one can encompass a trace of His knowledge but through His Laws. The Throne of His Supreme Control extends over the Highs and the Lows. No fatigue touches Him as He benevolently guards His Dominion and creation. He is the Glorious, the Supreme.
[Verse 2:255, commonly known as Ayat-al-Kursi (Verse of the Throne), is greatly revered by many Muslims for its grandeur and eloquence. Shafaah = Commonly translated as Intercession = To stand up as witness = Give evidence = Vindicate the truth. 2:48, 2:123, 4:85, 6:51, 6:70, 10:3, 19:87, 20:109, 21:28, 32:4, 34:23, 39:44, 43:86, 74:48]

2:256 (Although this Message has been sent down by the Almighty) there is absolutely no compulsion or coercion in Religion. Whoever rejects false gods (such as the clergy, human authorities) and attains conviction in God, has grasped the Unbreakable Support. And God is Hearer, Knower.

[18:29, 31:22. No compulsion in matters of religion - This Rule shall have no exceptions since Right has been distinguished from Wrong. (3:4). At-Taaghoot = Those who, in rebellion to the One True God, claim to have Divine powers or try to portray themselves as His representatives = Sufis, mystics, priesthood, clergy, tyrants. Tagha = Rebellion. Idols of stones cannot rebel, hence, they cannot be At-Taaghoot]