Surah Baqarah (142-162)
Qur’anic Exegesis
سَيَقُولُ السُّفَهَاء مِنَ النَّاسِ مَا وَلاَّهُمْ عَن قِبْلَتِهِمُ الَّتِي كَانُواْ عَلَيْهَا قُل لِّلّهِ الْمَشْرِقُ وَالْمَغْرِبُ يَهْدِي مَن يَشَاء إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ وَكَذَلِكَ جَعَلْنَاكُمْ
[O Prophet! Now that We have decided to make the mosque built by Abraham (sws) as your Qiblah[1]] the foolish[2]among them will ask: ‘What has made them turn away from their Qiblah[3]?’ Tell them: ‘The East and the West are God’s[4]. He guides whom He
أُمَّةً وَسَطًا لِّتَكُونُواْ شُهَدَاء عَلَى النَّاسِ وَيَكُونَ الرَّسُولُ عَلَيْكُمْ شَهِيدًا وَمَا جَعَلْنَا الْقِبْلَةَ الَّتِي كُنتَ عَلَيْهَا إِلاَّ لِنَعْلَمَ مَن يَتَّبِعُ الرَّسُولَ مِمَّن يَنقَلِبُ عَلَى
will [from such prejudices] to the right path’. [We have done precisely this] and [just as We made the Ka‘bah your Qiblah] in a similar manner, We have made you an intermediate people[5]so that you may bear witness [to this religion] upon all the people of the world and the Prophet of Allah may bear this witness upon you[6]. And We appointed your former Qiblah only to see who
عَقِبَيْهِ وَإِن كَانَتْ لَكَبِيرَةً إِلاَّ عَلَى الَّذِينَ هَدَى اللّهُ وَمَا كَانَ اللّهُ لِيُضِيعَ إِيمَانَكُمْ إِنَّ اللّهَ بِالنَّاسِ لَرَؤُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ (142-143)
follows the Prophet and who turns away[7]. This was indeed a grave test, but not for those whom God has guided[8]. And [through such trials] God is not One who wants to make your faith fruitless[9]. He is Compassionate and Merciful to men[10]. (142-143)
قَدْ نَرَى تَقَلُّبَ وَجْهِكَ فِي السَّمَاء فَلَنُوَلِّيَنَّكَ قِبْلَةً تَرْضَاهَا فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ وَحَيْثُ مَا كُنتُمْ فَوَلُّواْ وُجُوِهَكُمْ شَطْرَهُ وَإِنَّ الَّذِينَ
We are seeing your face turn towards the sky again and again,[11]so [O Prophet] We have decided[12]to turn you towards the Qiblah you like[13]. So now turn your face towards the Holy Mosque[14]and wherever you be turn your faces [while praying]
أُوْتُواْ الْكِتَابَ لَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ وَمَا اللّهُ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا يَعْمَلُونَ وَلَئِنْ أَتَيْتَ الَّذِينَ أُوْتُواْ الْكِتَابَ بِكُلِّ آيَةٍ مَّا تَبِعُواْ قِبْلَتَكَ وَمَا أَنتَ بِتَابِعٍ قِبْلَتَهُمْ
towards it[15]. Those to whom the Book was given know this to be the truth[16]from their Lord and [in spite of this], God is not unaware of what theydo[17].And [O Prophet!] even if you present
وَمَا بَعْضُهُم بِتَابِعٍ قِبْلَةَ بَعْضٍ وَلَئِنِ اتَّبَعْتَ أَهْوَاءهُم مِّن بَعْدِ مَا جَاءكَ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ إِنَّكَ إِذَاً لَّمِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ الَّذِينَ آتَيْنَاهُمُ الْكِتَابَ يَعْرِفُونَهُ كَمَا يَعْرِفُونَ أَبْنَاءهُمْ وَإِنَّ فَرِيقاً مِّنْهُمْ لَيَكْتُمُونَ الْحَقَّ وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكَ فَلاَ تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْمُمْتَرِينَ (144-147)
before these Peopleof the Book all the signs, they will not follow your Qiblah and [this too is a reality that on the basis of the knowledge revealed to you] you too cannot accept their Qiblah and [it is not that they are just disputing with you; in reality] they also do not accept the Qiblah of one another. [So if there is anything that can satisfy them, then it is that you accept their Qiblah] and [you should know that] if, after the knowledge [that has been revealed to you], you yield to their desires, then you will surely be among these transgressors[18]. [It is a fact that] those to whom We gave the Book recognize this as they recognize their own sons[19]. And this is one group among them who deliberately conceals the truth. [It should be clear to you that] this is the truth from your Lord[20]: therefore you should never doubt it[21]. (144-147)
وَلِكُلٍّ وِجْهَةٌ هُوَ مُوَلِّيهَا فَاسْتَبِقُواْ الْخَيْرَاتِ أَيْنَ مَا تَكُونُواْ يَأْتِ بِكُمُ اللّهُ جَمِيعًا إِنَّ اللّهَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ (148)
And every one [among them] has fixed a direction for his Qiblah][22]towards which he turns[23]. So [leave them aside and] try to excel one another in virtues[24]. Wherever you are, God will
وَمِنْ حَيْثُ خَرَجْتَ فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ وَإِنَّهُ لَلْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكَ وَمَا اللّهُ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ (149)
gather you all [for judgement][25]. God has power over all things. (148)
[Leave them aside] and [while travelling also] whichever way you depart, face towards the Holy Mosque[26][while praying].
وَمِنْ حَيْثُ خَرَجْتَ فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ وَحَيْثُ مَا كُنتُمْ فَوَلُّواْ وُجُوهَكُمْ شَطْرَهُ لِئَلاَّ يَكُونَ لِلنَّاسِ عَلَيْكُمْ حُجَّةٌ إِلاَّ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ
Undoubtedly, this is the truth from your Lord and [bear in mid that] God is never unaware of what you do[27]. (149)
And [listen again that while travelling] whichever way you depart, face towards the Holy Mosque [for the prayer] and [in normal circumstances too] wherever you are, face towards this [Mosque][28]so that men will have no argument against you[29]; as
مِنْهُمْ فَلاَ تَخْشَوْهُمْ وَاخْشَوْنِي وَلأُتِمَّ نِعْمَتِي عَلَيْكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ كَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا فِيكُمْ رَسُولاً مِّنكُمْ يَتْلُو عَلَيْكُمْ آيَاتِنَا وَيُزَكِّيكُمْ وَيُعَلِّمُكُمُ الْكِتَابَ
far as the evil-doers are concerned [nothing can shut their mouths] and so have no fear of them and so that you fear Me and so that I may complete My favour upon you[30]and so that you may know the right way[31]. Consequently[32], [for these very objectives] We have sent forth to you a Messenger from among you who reads out to you Our revelations[33]and purifies you[34]
وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَيُعَلِّمُكُم مَّا لَمْ تَكُونُواْ تَعْلَمُونَ فَاذْكُرُونِي أَذْكُرْكُمْ وَاشْكُرُواْ لِي وَلاَ تَكْفُرُونِ (150-152)
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ اسْتَعِينُواْ بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلاَةِ إِنَّ اللّهَ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَ وَلاَ
[and for this] instructs you in the law and wisdom[35]and [in this manner] teaches you that which you knew not. So remember Me; I will remember you[36]and be grateful to Me[37]and don’t be ungrateful to Me[38]. (150-152)
Believers! [now that you have been blessed with these favours you will face hardships from your opponents and to combat them] seek help from perseverance and the prayer. Indeed, God
تَقُولُواْ لِمَنْ يُقْتَلُ فِي سَبيلِ اللّهِ أَمْوَاتٌ بَلْ أَحْيَاء وَلَكِن لاَّ تَشْعُرُونَ وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُمْ
is with those who persevere [in times of hardship][39]. And do not
بِشَيْءٍ مِّنَ الْخَوفِ وَالْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ الأَمَوَالِ وَالأنفُسِ وَالثَّمَرَاتِ وَبَشِّرِ
say that those slain in this cause of God are dead; [they are not dead; in fact] they are alive[40], but you are not aware of [the manner they live][41]. We[42][in this cause] shall test you with some[43]
الصَّابِرِينَ الَّذِينَ إِذَا أَصَابَتْهُم مُّصِيبَةٌ قَالُواْ إِنَّا لِلّهِ وَإِنَّـا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعونَ أُولَـئِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ صَلَوَاتٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ وَرَحْمَةٌ وَأُولَـئِكَ هُمُ الْمُهْتَدُونَ (153-157)
fear[44]and some famine[45]and some loss of property and life[46]and some loss in fruits[47]. And [O Prophet!] give glad tidings [of success in this world and in that to come] to those who persevere [in this cause]. [Those] who when afflicted with some calamity say: ‘We belong to God, and to Him [one day] we shall return[48]’. On such men will be God’s blessing[49]and mercy and it is they
إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِن شَعَآئِرِ اللّهِ فَمَنْ حَجَّ الْبَيْتَ أَوِ اعْتَمَرَ فَلاَ جُنَاحَ
who will be rightly guided. (153-157)
[Like the sacred mosque, these Jews have also tried to conceal the reality of Safa and Marwa, so at this instance of change of Qiblah you should also be clear that] Safa and Marwa[50]are indeed two of God’s symbols[51]. So it shall be no offence[52]for
عَلَيْهِ أَن يَطَّوَّفَ بِهِمَا وَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًا فَإِنَّ اللّهَ شَاكِرٌ عَلِيمٌ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَكْتُمُونَ مَا أَنزَلْنَا مِنَ الْبَيِّنَاتِ وَالْهُدَى مِن بَعْدِ مَا بَيَّنَّاهُ لِلنَّاسِ فِي الْكِتَابِ أُولَـئِكَ يَلعَنُهُمُ اللّهُ وَيَلْعَنُهُمُ اللَّاعِنُونَ إِلاَّ الَّذِينَ تَابُواْ وَأَصْلَحُواْ وَبَيَّنُواْ فَأُوْلَـئِكَ أَتُوبُ
those who come for Hajj or ‘Umrah of this Sacred House to walk around them[53]. [In fact, this is a virtuous deed] and He that does a virtue of his own will[54]God will accept it[55]and is fully aware of it. Those who conceal the clear proofs and the guidance We have revealed[56][in this matter]even though We had openly proclaimed them for these people in our Book[57]it is they who shall be cursed by God and cursed by those who curse; however, [those among them] who repent and mend their ways[58]and make known clearly what they used to conceal[59], I shall accept their
عَلَيْهِمْ وَأَنَا التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ (158-160)
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَمَاتُوا وَهُمْ كُفَّارٌ أُولَئِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ لَعْنَةُ اللّهِ وَالْمَلآئِكَةِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا لاَ يُخَفَّفُ عَنْهُمُ الْعَذَابُ وَلاَ هُمْ يُنظَرُونَ(161-162)
repentance[60]with My grace. And [in reality] I greatly accept repentance and My Mercy is eternal. (158-160)
[On the other hand], those who persisted in disbelief and died as disbelievers[61], indeed they shall incur the curse of God, the angels, and all mankind[62]. They shall remain in it forever[63]; their punishment shall not be mitigated, nor shall they be given respite. (161-162)