Surah Baqarah (178-195)
Qur’anic Exegesis
Tr. by Shehzad Saleem
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْقِصَاصُ فِي الْقَتْلَى الْحُرُّ بِالْحُرِّ وَالْعَبْدُ بِالْعَبْدِ وَالأُنثَى بِالأُنثَى فَمَنْ عُفِيَ لَهُ مِنْ أَخِيهِ شَيْءٌ فَاتِّبَاعٌ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَأَدَاء إِلَيْهِ
O you who believe! Qisas[1]is decreed[2] for you of those [among you] who are killed such that if the murderer is a free-man, then the same free-man should be killed in his place and if he is a slave, then the same slave should be killed in his place and if the murderer is a woman, then the same woman shall be killed in her place[3]. Then for whom there has been some pardon[4] from his brother, then
بِإِحْسَانٍ ذَلِكَ تَخْفِيفٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَرَحْمَةٌ فَمَنِ اعْتَدَى بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ فَلَهُ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
this should be followed according to the custom[5] and [whatever is
وَلَكُمْ فِي الْقِصَاصِ حَيَاةٌ يَاْ أُولِيْ الأَلْبَابِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ (178-179)
the Diyat] should be paid with kindness[6]. This is a concession and a mercy from your Lord[7]. After this, whoever exceeds the limits shall be in a torment afflictive[8] [on the Day of Judgement] – there
كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذَا حَضَرَ أَحَدَكُمُ الْمَوْتُ إِن تَرَكَ خَيْرًا الْوَصِيَّةُ لِلْوَالِدَيْنِ
is life for you in Qisas[9]O men of insight that you may follow the
وَالأقْرَبِينَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ حَقًّا عَلَى الْمُتَّقِينَ فَمَن بَدَّلَهُ بَعْدَمَا سَمِعَهُ فَإِنَّمَا إِثْمُهُ
limits set by Allah. (178-9)
[Similarly in order to protect you from financial disputes] it is decreed that whenever death approaches anyone of you and he is leaving behind some wealth[10], then he should make a will[11] for
عَلَى الَّذِينَ يُبَدِّلُونَهُ إِنَّ اللّهَ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ فَمَنْ خَافَ مِن مُّوصٍ جَنَفًا أَوْ إِثْمًا فَأَصْلَحَ بَيْنَهُمْ فَلاَ إِثْمَ عَلَيْهِ إِنَّ اللّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ (180-182)
his parents and near relatives according to the custom[12]. This is a duty incumbent on those who fear God[13]. Then he who alters this will after hearing it then the sin thereof is only upon those who alter it. [They should know that] God hears all and knows all. However, he who fears[14] partiality or injustice[15] on the part of
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ أَيَّامًا مَّعْدُودَاتٍ فَمَن كَانَ مِنكُم مَّرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ
a testator and brings about a settlement among the parties[16] incurs no sin. Indeed, God is Forgiving and Ever-Merciful. (180-182)
[These are the limits set by God and only they cannot cross them who fear Him; so] Believers! The fast[17] has been made obligatory upon you as it was made upon those before you[18] so that you become fearful of God[19]. These are but a few days[20], but if any one among you is ill or on a journey, let him fast a similar number of days later; and those who have the capacity[21] [to feed
فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ وَعَلَى الَّذِينَ يُطِيقُونَهُ فِدْيَةٌ طَعَامُ مِسْكِينٍ فَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًا فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّهُ وَأَن تَصُومُواْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ (183-184)
شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِيَ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِّنَ الْهُدَى وَالْفُرْقَانِ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ
a needy] should feed a needy in place of every fast[22]. Then he who does a virtuous deed out of his own desire, it is better for him[23] and if you fast, then this is even better for you[24] if you but knew. (183-184)
It is the month of Ramadan[25] in which the Qur’an was revealed, as a book of guidance for mankind and in the form of manifest arguments[26] which are a means of total guidance and a means of distinguishing right from wrong. Therefore, whoever among you is present in this month, he should fast[27]. And he who
مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ يُرِيدُ اللّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلاَ يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُواْ الْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُواْ اللّهَ عَلَى مَا هَدَاكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ (185)
is ill or on a journey[28] should fast a similar number of days later on[29]. [This concession[30] is because] God desires ease for you and not discomfort. And [the permission given to travellers and the sick to feed the needy has been withdrawn because] you can complete the fasts [and thus not be deprived of the blessings of fasting] and [for this purpose the month of Ramadan has been fixed so that in the form of the Qur’an] the guidance God has bestowed to you, you glorify God and express your gratitude to Him[31].(185)
وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنِّي فَإِنِّي قَرِيبٌ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُواْ لِي وَلْيُؤْمِنُواْ بِي لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُونَ (186)
أُحِلَّ لَكُمْ لَيْلَةَ الصِّيَامِ الرَّفَثُ إِلَى نِسَآئِكُمْ هُنَّ لِبَاسٌ لَّكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ لِبَاسٌ لَّهُنَّ عَلِمَ
And [O Prophet!] if My servants question you about [this guidance that I have given, tell them:] ‘I am near them [at this time]’[32]. I answer the prayer[33] of the suppliant when he calls Me; therefore, let them follow My directive and put their faith in Me[34] that they may be rightly guided. (186)
[Since you want to ask this, let Me answer this that[35]] it has been made lawful[36] for you to lie with your wives in the nights
اللّهُ أَنَّكُمْ كُنتُمْ تَخْتانُونَ أَنفُسَكُمْ فَتَابَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَعَفَا عَنكُمْ فَالآنَ بَاشِرُوهُنَّ وَابْتَغُواْ مَا كَتَبَ اللّهُ لَكُمْ وَكُلُواْ وَاشْرَبُواْ حَتَّى يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ الْخَيْطُ الأَبْيَضُ مِنَ
of the fast[37]; they are a garment to you as you are to them[38]. God knew that you were deceiving yourselves[39]. He has relented towards you and pardoned you[40]. Therefore, [without any hesitation] you may now lie with them and [without any hesitation] seek[41] what [result] God has ordained for you. And
الْخَيْطِالأَسْوَدِمِنَ الْفَجْرِ ثُمَّ أَتِمُّواْ الصِّيَامَ إِلَى الَّليْلِ وَلاَ تُبَاشِرُوهُنَّ وَأَنتُمْ عَاكِفُونَ فِي الْمَسَاجِدِ تِلْكَ حُدُودُ اللّهِ فَلاَ تَقْرَبُوهَا كَذَلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللّهُ آيَاتِهِ لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَّقُونَ (187)
eat and drink until the white thread of the dawn is totally evident to you from the black thread of night[42]. Then complete the fast till nightfall and do not lie with them [even at night][43] when you are stationed for I‘tikaf[44] in the mosques. These are the bounds set by God: so do not go near them[45]. Thus He makes known His revelations to mankind that they may attain piety[46]. (187)
وَلاَ تَأْكُلُواْ أَمْوَالَكُم بَيْنَكُم بِالْبَاطِلِ وَتُدْلُواْ بِهَا إِلَى الْحُكَّامِ لِتَأْكُلُواْ فَرِيقًا مِّنْ أَمْوَالِ النَّاسِ بِالإِثْمِ وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ (188)
يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الأهِلَّةِ قُلْ هِيَ مَوَاقِيتُ لِلنَّاسِ وَالْحَجِّ وَلَيْسَ الْبِرُّ بِأَنْ تَأْتُوْاْ الْبُيُوتَ
And [it is the requirement to attain piety that] do not devour one another’s wealth by unjust means[47], nor[48] bribe those in authority with it[49] in order that you may wrongfully and knowingly usurp a part of the wealth of others[50]. (188)
They question you about the sacred months[51]. Tell them: ‘They
مِن ظُهُورِهَا وَلَـكِنَّ الْبِرَّ مَنِ اتَّقَى وَأْتُواْ الْبُيُوتَ مِنْ أَبْوَابِهَا وَاتَّقُواْ اللّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ (189)
are a time for the welfare of people and for the pilgrimage[52]’; [therefore, their sanctity shall stand the way it was[53]] And [now that you have raised the question then you should know that] virtue does not consist in entering your dwellings from the back [while wearing the Ahram and returning from Hajj][54]. But real virtue is of the person who fears God[55]. And [this answer also
وَقَاتِلُواْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللّهِ الَّذِينَ يُقَاتِلُونَكُمْ وَلاَ تَعْتَدُواْ إِنَّ اللّهَ لاَ يُحِبِّ الْمُعْتَدِينَ وَاقْتُلُوهُمْ حَيْثُ ثَقِفْتُمُوهُمْ وَأَخْرِجُوهُم مِّنْ حَيْثُ أَخْرَجُوكُمْ وَالْفِتْنَةُ أَشَدُّ مِنَ الْقَتْلِ
that] enter your dwellings by their doors and keep fearing God, so that you may prosper. (189)
And fight in the way of Allah[56]with those who fight against you [to stop you from offering Hajj] and do not transgress bounds [in this fighting][57]. God does not love the transgressors. And kill them wherever you find them and drive them out [of the place] from which they drove you out[58]and [remember] persecutionis worse than killing[59]. And do not initiate war with them near
وَلاَ تُقَاتِلُوهُمْ عِندَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ حَتَّى يُقَاتِلُوكُمْ فِيهِ فَإِن قَاتَلُوكُمْ فَاقْتُلُوهُمْ كَذَلِكَ جَزَاء الْكَافِرِينَ فَإِنِ انتَهَوْاْ فَإِنَّ اللّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ وَقَاتِلُوهُمْ حَتَّى لاَ تَكُونَ
the Holy Ka‘bah unless they attack you there[60]. But if they attack you, put them to the sword [without any hesitation]. Thus should such disbelievers be rewarded[61]. However, if they desist, Allah is Forgiving and Ever-Merciful[62]. Keep fighting against them, until persecution ends and [in the land of Arabia] Allah’s religions reigns supreme[63]. But if they mend [you should know
فِتْنَةٌ وَيَكُونَ الدِّينُ لِلّهِ فَإِنِ انتَهَواْ فَلاَ عُدْوَانَ إِلاَّ عَلَى الظَّالِمِينَ (190-193)
that] an offensive[64]is only their ways, then allowed against the
الشَّهْرُ الْحَرَامُ بِالشَّهْرِ الْحَرَامِ وَالْحُرُمَاتُ قِصَاصٌ فَمَنِ اعْتَدَى عَلَيْكُمْ فَاعْتَدُواْعَلَيْهِ بِمِثْلِ مَا اعْتَدَى عَلَيْكُمْ وَاتَّقُواْ اللّهَ وَاعْلَمُواْ أَنَّ اللّهَ مَعَ الْمُتَّقِينَ (194)
evil-doers[65]. (190-3)
A sacred month for a sacred month[66]; and [similarly] othersacred things too are subject to retaliation. So if any one transgresses against you, you should also pay back in equal coins. Have fear of Allah and [keep in mind that] Allah is with those
وَأَنفِقُواْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللّهِ وَلاَ تُلْقُواْ بِأَيْدِيكُمْ إِلَى التَّهْلُكَةِ وَأَحْسِنُوَاْ إِنَّ اللّهَ
who remain within the bounds [set by Him][67]. (194)
[And for this Jihad], give generously for the cause of God and [by evading it] do not with your own hands cast yourselves into destruction[68]. And [spend] graciously[69]; God loves those
يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ (195)
who are gracious. (195)