Surah Baqara- Ayah no. 6-20
Surah Al-Baqarah – Ayah no. 6-20 i.e. 2:6-20
A- Translation
٦ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا سَوَاءٌ عَلَيْهِمْ أَأَنْذَرْتَهُمْ أَمْ لَمْ تُنْذِرْهُمْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ
[Quran 2:06] Those who do Kufr* (كَفَرُوا), it is Sawa’a (سَوَاءٌ) for them, whether you Anzartahum (أَأَنْذَرْتَهُمْ) them or not Tunzirhum (تُنْذِرْهُمْ) them; they will not Yuminun (يُؤْمِنُونَ).
٧ خَتَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ وَعَلَىٰ سَمْعِهِمْ ۖ وَعَلَىٰ أَبْصَارِهِمْ غِشَاوَةٌ ۖ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ
[Quran 2:07] Khatama (خَتَمَ) Allah A’ala (عَلَىٰ) their Quloob (قُلُوبِهِمْ) and A’ala (عَلَىٰ) their Sama’ahim (سَمْعِهِمْ), and A’ala (عَلَىٰ) Abs’arehim (أَبْصَارِهِمْ)- Ghishawata (غِشَاوَةٌ), and for them is a great Azaab (عَذَابٌ);
٨ وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يَقُولُ آمَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَبِالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَمَا هُمْ بِمُؤْمِنِينَ
[Quran 2:08] And from the Annase (النَّاسِ) is the one who Yaqulu (يَقُولُ), ‘Ammana (آمَنَّا) with Allah and with the Youme (بِالْيَوْمِ) Akhira (الْآخِرِ)’. And what they with Momineen (بِمُؤْمِنِينَ)?
٩ يُخَادِعُونَ اللَّهَ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَمَا يَخْدَعُونَ إِلَّا أَنْفُسَهُمْ وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ
[Quran 2:09] They Yukhada’una (يُخَادِعُونَ) Allah and those who Amanu (آمَنُو). And what they Yukhada’una (يَخْدَعُونَ) except their Nafs (أَنْفُسَهُمْ) and what they Yasha’run (يَشْعُرُونَ)?
١٠ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ مَرَضٌ فَزَادَهُمُ اللَّهُ مَرَضًا ۖ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْذِبُونَ
[Quran 2:10] In their Quloob (قُلُوبِهِمْ) is Maraza (مَرَضٌ), then Allah has increased in Marazan (مَرَضًا). And for them is a terrible Azaab (عَذَابٌ) with what Kanu (كَانُوا) Yakzebuna (يَكْذِبُونَ).
١١ وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ لَا تُفْسِدُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ قَالُوا إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ مُصْلِحُونَ
[Quran 2:11] And when Qeela (قِيلَ) to them, ‘Do not Tufsedu (تُفْسِدُو) on the earth’, Qalu (قَالُوا), ‘Indeed, we’re only Mus’lehun (مُصْلِحُونَ)’.
١٢ أَلَا إِنَّهُمْ هُمُ الْمُفْسِدُونَ وَلَٰكِنْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ
[Quran 2:12] Except indeed, they are the Mufsedun (لْمُفْسِدُونَ), but they do not Yasha’run (يَشْعُرُونَ).
١٣ وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ آمِنُوا كَمَا آمَنَ النَّاسُ قَالُوا أَنُؤْمِنُ كَمَا آمَنَ السُّفَهَاءُ ۗ أَلَا إِنَّهُمْ هُمُ السُّفَهَاءُ وَلَٰكِنْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
[Quran 2:13] And when Qeela (قِيلَ) to them, ‘Amanu (آمِنُوا) as what Amana (آمَنَ) the Annasu (النَّاسُ)’, Qalu (قَالُوا), ‘Should we Nominu (أَنُؤْمِنُ) like what Amana (آمَنَ) the Sufaha’u (السُّفَهَاءُ)?’ Except indeed, they are the Sufaha’u (السُّفَهَاءُ), but they do not Ya’lamun (يَعْلَمُونَ).
١٤ وَإِذَا لَقُوا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا قَالُوا آمَنَّا وَإِذَا خَلَوْا إِلَىٰ شَيَاطِينِهِمْ قَالُوا إِنَّا مَعَكُمْ إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ مُسْتَهْزِئُونَ
[Quran 2:14] And when they meet those who Amanu (آمَنُوا), Qalu (قَالُوا), ‘Ammana (آمَنَّا)’. And when they go away to their Shayateen (شَيَاطِينِهِمْ), Qalu (قَالُوا), ‘Indeed, we are with you; we were only Mustahzeun (مُسْتَهْزِئُونَ)’.
١٥ اللَّهُ يَسْتَهْزِئُ بِهِمْ وَيَمُدُّهُمْ فِي طُغْيَانِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ
[Quran 2:15] Allah Yastahzi (يَسْتَهْزِئُ) with them and prolongs them in their T’ughyany (طُغْيَانِهِمْ) Ya’mahun (يَعْمَهُونَ).
١٦ أُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ اشْتَرَوُا الضَّلَالَةَ بِالْهُدَىٰ فَمَا رَبِحَتْ تِجَارَتُهُمْ وَمَا كَانُوا مُهْتَدِينَ
[Quran 2:16] Those are the ones who have exchanged the Zalalat (الضَّلَالَةَ) with Huda (بِالْهُدَىٰ). Then what benefited their trade and what Kanu (كَانُوا) Mohtedeen (مُهْتَدِينَ)?
١٧ مَثَلُهُمْ كَمَثَلِ الَّذِي اسْتَوْقَدَ نَارًا فَلَمَّا أَضَاءَتْ مَا حَوْلَهُ ذَهَبَ اللَّهُ بِنُورِهِمْ وَتَرَكَهُمْ فِي ظُلُمَاتٍ لَا يُبْصِرُونَ
[Quran 2:17] Their example is like the one who Astuqada (اسْتَوْقَدَ) fire, but when it illuminated his/her Mahoolahu (مَا حَوْلَهُ), Zahaba (ذَهَبَ) Allah with their Noor (بِنُورِهِمْ) and Tarkahum (تَرَكَهُمْ) them in Zulumaat (ظُلُمَاتٍ)- he/she do not Yubs’erun (يُبْصِرُونَ).
١٨ صُمٌّ بُكْمٌ عُمْيٌ فَهُمْ لَا يَرْجِعُونَ
[Quran 2:18] S’ummun (صُمٌّ) Bukum (بُكْمٌ) A’umyun (عُمْيٌ), then they do not Yarja’un (يَرْجِعُونَ).
١٩ أَوْ كَصَيِّبٍ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ فِيهِ ظُلُمَاتٌ وَرَعْدٌ وَبَرْقٌ يَجْعَلُونَ أَصَابِعَهُمْ فِي آذَانِهِمْ مِنَ الصَّوَاعِقِ حَذَرَ الْمَوْتِ ۚ وَاللَّهُ مُحِيطٌ بِالْكَافِرِينَ
[Quran 2:19] Or, as S’aeebin (كَصَيِّبٍ) from the sky in which there is Zulumaat (ظُلُمَاتٌ) and thunder, and lightning. They Yaja’luna (يَجْعَلُونَ) their fingers (أَصَابِعَهُمْ) in their Azaanehim (آذَانِهِمْ) from the S’waa’iq (الصَّوَاعِقِ) Hazara (حَذَرَ) the Mout (الْمَوْتِ). And Allah is All-encompassing with the Kaafireen (الْكَافِرِينَ).
٢٠ يَكَادُ الْبَرْقُ يَخْطَفُ أَبْصَارَهُمْ ۖ كُلَّمَا أَضَاءَ لَهُمْ مَشَوْا فِيهِ وَإِذَا أَظْلَمَ عَلَيْهِمْ قَامُوا ۚ وَلَوْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ لَذَهَبَ بِسَمْعِهِمْ وَأَبْصَارِهِمْ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
[Quran 2:20] The lightning almost snatches their Abs’arehim (أَبْصَارَهُمْ). Whenever it brightens for them, they walk therein; but when it Azlama (أَظْلَمَ) upon them, Qaamu (قَامُوا). And if Sha’a (شَاءَ) Allah so that to Zahaba (لَذَهَبَ) with their Sama’ehim (بِسَمْعِهِمْ) and Abs’arehim (أَبْصَارِهِمْ), that Allah is A’ala (عَلَىٰ) every Shayyin (شَيْءٍ) Qadeer (قَدِيرٌ).
C- THE CONCEPT:
Keeping in mind the discussion so far in Surah Baqara about those who are Muttaqueen, who are successful as a result of both their Emaan and Deeds, these ayahs from 6th Ayah and onwards of Surah Baqara are basically talking about those who do Kufr, i.e., opposite of those who Amanu. Keeping the meanings of Kufr and Kafir in mind, we would realize that in these ayahs Allah has linked Kufr with Azaab e Aleem, I.e., painful and terrible punishment in contrast to the earlier ayahs in 2:4-5 where Allah has linked Emaan and Righteous Deeds with Al- Muflehoon- the successful ones.
The key criteria that distinguish these two distinct behaviors is Emaan on the day of Akhira. The concept of accountability and the gift of freewill is at the root of our Emaan on Akhira. Each and every one of us as a human being, the whole of mankind has been given the freewill, the freedom to choose and decide each and every action and our beliefs. It means, once humanity has been given this freedom to choose, and the Hidayah in the forms of Books of Revelations to identify the right and the wrong path, we are then free to choose either of these routes. Having a firm Emaan and conviction on the fact that whatever deeds and actions we do in this world, we will be held accountable for those deeds based on the scales of justice; this conviction and Emaan reflects in one’s conduct, behaviors and actions. On the other end, Kafireen by definition are those who don’t Amanu, especially on the day of Akhira. Hence their behavior and conducts reflect this kufr and their belief as if they will not be held accountable for their deeds. Therefore because of this behavior of a kafir, these ayahs are telling us in no unclear terms that for the Kafiroon, whether we inform them or not, it will not matter. They have already chosen a side, as an opposite of those who Amanu- that is Kufr, denial, rejection, hiding- and they will not Amanu, whether we inform them or not, it doesn’t matter. Because of their Kufr, their hearts and hearing have been sealed and they have a veil on their sight and other intellectual faculties, which they cannot use anymore, and thus there will be Azaab e Aleem- the terrible punishment for them.
In these ayahs, when Allah is saying that Allah has sealed their hearts, hearing and a veil on sights- this is an expression of Quran. It basically means that since their faculties are not being used, because of the strong influence of their preconceived ideas and their kufr of Allah’s Ayaat- this leads to non-utilization of their God-Given faculties of thinking, pondering, reasoning, and understanding- leading them as blind followers of others, their egoistic selfish interests, their pride and arrogance, and their partners and associates are Shaytyaan – i.e. those who are led by their ego and those who do not follow Allah’s commandments. This behavior of Kufr leads them towards tremendous sufferings which is a logical consequence of their own choice of Kufr. These ayahs are also talking about the specific types of these kafireen who are hypocrites these are those who claim, “We believe in Allah and the day of Akhira while they are not those who Amanu” due to the lack of Emaan on Akhira, their actions and deeds contradict their claim. In Ayah 2:9, while describing the Kaafireen, when Allah says, “They Yukhaduna Allah and those who Amanu- Amanu, but they do not Yukhaduna except their own Nafs and they do not realize.” Here if we translate the word as deceive, it would mean that they seek to deceive Allah, which is not humanly possible, and this is not what this Ayah is telling us. The concept of Kufar is someone who does not seek knowledge and Haqq by the use of one’s faculties, and therefore ends up concealing and hiding the Haqq and the truth of Allah as well as one’s own faculties. Therefore, here in this Ayah, while describing those who do Kufar, Allah is giving us a description of these Kaafireen in their attempts to blindfold others from the reality, truth of Allah and to blindfold the one who has Emaan from the Haqq and the reality. But Allah is telling us that they do not blindfold anyone else but their own selves from the Haqq and Allah which they do not realize due to their Kufar- they do not perceive it due to their lack of Amanu.
Not accepting an absolute truth is a disease in their hearts, which is in terms of lying and Kufr. Being rejecter of Allah’s Ayaat, which is an absolute truth, this disease keeps on increasing. Since likes attract likes, they become partners with those who are led by ego, do evil acts, astray people as shayateen. So not only the disease keeps on increasing within their hearts but also amongst those around them. They are the ones spreading Fasaad on earth, creating disorder, disturbance among people and the disease in their heart makes them lie to people, and they say “We are but Saleheen- peacemakers and reformers, setting things right”. They are also delusional calling the Momineen as fools whereas they themselves are the ones who are the fools, going against the commandments of Allah. To these people Allah will return their mockery to them, and leave them to stray in their arrogance, blindly following, lost and confused. They have bought straying at the expense of guidance, which is a trade of loss. And for them there is a painful and terrible suffering and punishment.
Two Broad Examples- In order to depict their sufferings, punishment and conditions, Allah has given us two broad examples- The first example is of the one who kindled a fire, and although it illuminated things all around him/her, but the person can’t see and is in utter and complete darkness. This is the example of those Kafireen who go against Allah and those who Amanu to the extent that their heart and ears are blocked due to the disease and a covering is there on their sight and their intellectual faculties of thinking, pondering, reasoning and understanding; since they don’t use these faculties, these faculties are of no use to them anymore. They cannot get the hidayah which is all around them just like this example of a man who has kindled a fire, but cannot see- They are undergoing a severe Azaab in the sense that there is no eyesight for them which could enable them to see the light, the hidayah, Allah’s guidance all around them. They are like deaf, dumb and blind as they have reached a stage where they will not return to the hidayah.
The second example given by Allah is of those people who are in a rainstorm from the sky with darkness, thunder and lightning. They are scared to death, by thunder and lightning, unable to walk in darkness. The lighting gives them a little glimpse to walk few steps then they stand still due to darkness. Unlike the first example, in this example they still have their eyesight. These are those people who are with Kafireen; they still have a little fear in their heart- they have not gone too far in the Kufr as yet, but they are still under the influence of those Shayateen and Kafireen who have gone too deep in Kufr. The doors of Hidayah are still open for them as their eyesight is not yet taken away; i.e., currently there is no blockage of their heart and ears and there is no veil on their sight and intellectual faculties of thinking, pondering, reasoning and understanding. They are still able to find light for a temporary period, which means that they can still use their faculties of sight and hearing for a little while- there is still some hope left for them to return to the path. Unlike the earlier example where Allah said “they will never return”, in this example Allah is saying “Allah could have taken away their hearing and their sight”- which means that for these people they are still have the privilege of their faculties and Allah is giving them a chance a hope to be able to come back to the right path.
At the end of all these ayahs from 1-20 of Surah Baqra, Allah is saying that Indeed, Allah is omnipotent i.e. all-powerful, supreme over everything. Which means Allah is the All- powerful; Allah has all authority over each and every thing in this world, in whole of the universe; Allah can do whatever is required as per Allah’s infinite wisdom and greatness, but Allah keep things in order- giving chances to people who have the potential to get back on the right path. Although Allah is All powerful, by giving us the freewill and the freedom to choose, Allah has made us responsible for our own actions, Emaan, beliefs and choices. At the end of the day, it all depends on our own choices, as we all are given the free will to choose and decide the path for us. Once we have taken the path, the consequence of that decision is applicable on us, whether we will be amongst the successful ones or amongst those who face terrible punishment is all in our own hands.
D- IMPLEMENTATION IN TODAY’S LIFE
Through these beginning ayahs of Chapter 2, Surah Baqara, from Ayah no. 1 to 20, Allah is giving us a very important message. Emaan is not just blind faith, but the belief that comes out of conviction and full knowledge. When we Amanu on Akhira as the concept of Accountability, our actions and deeds would speak louder than our words and would be in accordance with the rules and commandments given in Quran. Then and only then we would use God-given faculties including our reasoning and thinking to their maximum to strengthen our Emaan and to seek knowledge and Allah’s bounties and Na’mat- this Emaan would be visible in our conducts and behaviors. Once we have achieved this knowledge and Allah’s bounties, we would be following the Hidayah, the rules and commandments to spend these, our knowledge, our efforts, our wealth and Allah’s Rizq for the benefits of others, the whole of mankind and Allah’s creations. And that’s how we would be amongst the Muflehoon- the successful ones, both in this world and the hereafter.
Allah had given us freedom to choose and decide whichever path we want to take. Do we want to use our God-given faculties of six senses, reasoning thinking and pondering to its maximum in pursuit of knowledge and Allah’s bounties and spend these for the benefit of others and Allah’s creations or do we want to reject, conceal, hide the truth/faculties and the day of Akhira, becoming one of the Kafireen? Whichever path we take will lead us to the consequences designed for that path. Whether we want to be among the Muflehoon- those who are the successful ones, in this world and the next or we want to be those on whom there is Azaab e Aleem, a state of confusion, deprivation and self-denial, causing Fasaad on earth. The choice is always in our own hands to make and shape our future and destiny.
Foot Notes:
B- THE KEY-WORD VOCABULARY:
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