Surat Al Baqarah (212-222)

{زُيِّنَ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا الحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا وَيَسْخَرُونَ مِنَ الَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا وَالَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْا فَوْقَهُمْ يَوْمَ القِيَامَةِ وَاللهُ يَرْزُقُ مَنْ يَشَاءُ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ} [البقرة: 212]

212- The worldly life has been decorated in the eyes of the unbelievers who have contented with its welfare, fought for it, hold firm with it, and were satisfied with it. They did not think of something higher and nobler, mocked at the believers who did not yearn for it, preferred the life of jihad, Call and worship; and spent what they have for the sake of Allah even if they have got few. So, they were of the honorable people who won the best chance and the highest degress, while the other people were degraded and humiliated in the lowest degrees of Hell.

Allah saves goodness for the pious. He is the Sustainer who gives whomever of His Servants the best reward without count as a reward for what they have spent of their monies, time and power in the way of Allah.

{كَانَ النَّاسُ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً فَبَعَثَ اللهُ النَّبِيِّينَ مُبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنْذِرِينَ وَأَنْزَلَ مَعَهُمُ الكِتَابَ بِالحَقِّ لِيَحْكُمَ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ فِيمَا اخْتَلَفُوا فِيهِ وَمَا اخْتَلَفَ فِيهِ إِلَّا الَّذِينَ أُوتُوهُ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا جَاءَتْهُمُ البَيِّنَاتُ بَغْيًا بَيْنَهُمْ فَهَدَى اللهُ الَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا لِمَا اخْتَلَفُوا فِيهِ مِنَ الحَقِّ بِإِذْنِهِ وَاللهُ يَهْدِي مَنْ يَشَاءُ إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ} [البقرة: 213]

213- People used to believe in one shari`ah [lesgislation] full of truth. Then, they differed and became idol worshippers, therefore, Allah sent to them the prophets to give them glad tidings with the best reward if they obeyed and hold fast to the truth. They also were sent to warn them against the severe punishment they shall face if they disagreed and disobeyed. Allah has sent down with them the Scriptures with truth, justice, and the final decisions for the people so as to consider and resort to their orders and prohibitions because they contained the ruth and nothing but the truth.

Only those to whom [the Scripture] was given differed concerning it after clear proofs had come to them, the matter had been crystAl Clear to them and the truth has been established in their minds. The only motive to this difference was only envy and greed, injustice and passion, rivalry and dispute, stubbornness and rebellion against the truth, and yearning for the world.

By the will of Allah, Allah has guided the believers to the truth in matters that they differed about because of the purity of their soul, and their willingness to accept the truth, they settled on devotion to God alone, and worship of the evidence and integrity, and Atzloa dispute, and left the whims and caprices, and hostility and intransigence.

Verily, Allah guides whom He wills of His Creation to the straight path; those whom He knows that they have the desire to follow the guidance and accept the truth. He also guides people to the Straight Path.

{أَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ أَنْ تَدْخُلُوا الجَنَّةَ وَلَمَّا يَأْتِكُمْ مَثَلُ الَّذِينَ خَلَوْا مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ مَسَّتْهُمُ البَأْسَاءُ وَالضَّرَّاءُ وَزُلْزِلُوا حَتَّى يَقُولَ الرَّسُولُ وَالَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا مَعَهُ مَتَى نَصْرُ اللهِ أَلَا إِنَّ نَصْرَ اللهِ قَرِيبٌ} [البقرة: 214]

214- O Muslims, did you think that you enter Paradise without being tested and afflicted as those who were before you. They were afflicted with diseases, pains, calamities, disasters, poverty, tiredness, and fear in order to test your patience, faith, and perseverance on the truth that cannot be affected by trials and afflictions. They were terribly alarmed, feared the enemies, and test greatly to the extent that the Prophet and his believing followers were supplicating Allah for victory and a way out of this terrible distress.

Indeed, the victory of Allah is close to those who observed patience and fought for the sake of Allah. Those are the most entitled to be victorious. Verily, with hardship come ease, success, victory and a way out.

{يَسْأَلُونَكَ مَاذَا يُنْفِقُونَ قُلْ مَا أَنْفَقْتُمْ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَلِلْوَالِدَيْنِ وَالأَقْرَبِينَ وَاليَتَامَى وَالمَسَاكِينِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ وَمَا تَفْعَلُوا مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَإِنَّ اللهَ بِهِ عَلِيمٌ} [البقرة: 215]

215- O Messenger of Allah, your friends ask you how much should they spend of their own money and to whom shall they give it? Say to them: The priority is to spend your charity to those who have right on you, they are: The parents who must be honored and your family: The nearest then the nearer, the young orphans who have lost their parents because they need someone to support them because of their inability to earn a living, the poor who do not have enough money to support themselves, and wayfarers who are away from their homeland and cannot find anything [money, mount, provision] to take them back home.

Whatever amount of money you spend on those needy, and whatever you do of the acts of worship and obedience, Allah knows them well, shall save them for you and shall reward you the best for them.

{كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ القِتَالُ وَهُوَ كُرْهٌ لَكُمْ وَعَسَى أَنْ تَكْرَهُوا شَيْئًا وَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ وَعَسَى أَنْ تُحِبُّوا شَيْئًا وَهُوَ شَرٌّ لَكُمْ وَاللهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنْتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ} [البقرة: 216]

216- Allah has ordained jihad, yet it is hard on you. Yourselves hate it but it may contain good for you. The outcome of such Jihad – with Allah’s Will – is gaining victory over the enemy, conquering the homeland of the infidels, and raising the banner of Islam, or you will die as myrtars and enter the Paradise. You may love something and that thing contains evil for you. Indeed, abstaining from Jihad and relying on laziness and welfare give you an opposite result. Thereby, the enemies will take over the country, the Muslims shall be defeated, and the infidels take control over Muslims’ affairs.

Jihad is the reason for gaining victory and security.

Allah knows better than you the consequences of things and things which contain the good for you in thir world and the next, so stick to Jihad and power. The Messenger of Allah [peace be upon him] said in Sahih Muslim: "Whoever died though did not take part in Jihad or have an self-dialogue about it, they will die while having something of hypocrisy."

{يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الشَّهْرِ الحَرَامِ قِتَالٍ فِيهِ قُلْ قِتَالٌ فِيهِ كَبِيرٌ وَصَدٌّ عَنْ سَبِيلِ اللهِ وَكُفْرٌ بِهِ وَالمَسْجِدِ الحَرَامِ وَإِخْرَاجُ أَهْلِهِ مِنْهُ أَكْبَرُ عِنْدَ اللهِ وَالفِتْنَةُ أَكْبَرُ مِنَ القَتْلِ وَلَا يَزَالُونَ يُقَاتِلُونَكُمْ حَتَّى يَرُدُّوكُمْ عَنْ دِينِكُمْ إِنِ اسْتَطَاعُوا وَمَنْ يَرْتَدِدْ مِنْكُمْ عَنْ دِينِهِ فَيَمُتْ وَهُوَ كَافِرٌ فَأُولَئِكَ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَالُهُمْ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالآَخِرَةِ وَأُولَئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ} [البقرة: 217]

217- They ask you about fighting in the Sacred Months, namely Rajab, Dhul-Qa`dah Dhul-Hijjah, and Muharram, then say: This is not permissible; however, this is a real catastrophe and a major sin.

Preventing people from the true religion and from disbelief in Allah [the Almighty] and in the Sacred Masjid when the polytheists violated its sanctity, harmed Muslims, tried them in their religion, tortured them to force them go back to disbelief, and drove them out of their sanctuary, is the severer and greater than killing in these Months.

They are still fighting you non-stoppingly until they get you back into disbelief and misguidance, if they were able to do so.

It is due from you about religion and die on the disbelief, the whole mess of work and lost the gain from the advantages in the course of Islam, faith no longer benefit him before, and it will be the people of Hell, remaining therein forever.

The scholars differed concerning the prohibition on fighting during the Sacred Months, is it valid or abrogated? The most famous opinion is: it is abrogated because of other proofs such as Allah's saying: ( Kill the infidels wherever you find them ) [At-Tawbah: 5]. And Allah knows best.

{إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا وَالَّذِينَ هَاجَرُوا وَجَاهَدُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ أُولَئِكَ يَرْجُونَ رَحْمَةَ اللهِ وَاللهُ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ} [البقرة: 218]

218- As for those who believed; followed the straight way; migrated and left their money, homes, and their families; fought for the sake of Allah; and observed patience to Allah's obedience, their reward will be either victory or martyrdom. They are awaiting the glad tiding of their faith and patience: Winning and mercy, and Allah forgives their past sins and bestow His Wide Mercy upon them.

{يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الخَمْرِ وَالمَيْسِرِ قُلْ فِيهِمَا إِثْمٌ كَبِيرٌ وَمَنَافِعُ لِلنَّاسِ وَإِثْمُهُمَا أَكْبَرُ مِنْ نَفْعِهِمَا وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ مَاذَا يُنْفِقُونَ قُلِ العَفْوَ كَذَلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللهُ لَكُمُ الآَيَاتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَفَكَّرُونَ} [البقرة: 219]

219- They ask you about the ruling on alcohol and gambling, say:

In drinking wine and gambling there are a great sin, en evil, and some benefits. They cause the lost of mind, money, and religion; and cause adversity, dispute, and rivalry. They also include temporary physical and psychological benefits such as: digestion, enjoyment, and perhaps profit from gambling, but the guilty and the loss which they include are much bigger than their benefits.

This was the first step in their prohibition, in a wise divine educational manner, then the total and final prohibition was made in Allah's saying:

O you who believe! Intoxicants [all kinds of alcoholic drinks], and gambling, and Al Ansâb, and Al Azlâm [arrows for seeking luck or decision] are an abomination of Shaitân's [Satan] handiwork. So avoid [strictly all] that [abomination] in order that you may be successful.[Al Ma'idah: 90].

They ask you what they should spend of their money? Say to them: Things which are supplementary to your needs.

Thus, Allah shows and explains to you the rulings in wisdom so that you may consider and know the truth.

{فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالآَخِرَةِ وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ اليَتَامَى قُلْ إِصْلَاحٌ لَهُمْ خَيْرٌ وَإِنْ تُخَالِطُوهُمْ فَإِخْوَانُكُمْ وَاللهُ يَعْلَمُ المُفْسِدَ مِنَ المُصْلِحِ وَلَوْ شَاءَ اللهُ لَأَعْنَتَكُمْ إِنَّ اللهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ} [البقرة: 220]

220- Of that which shall benefit you in the world and ease to you the matters of the Hereafter.

They ask you how to deal with orphans regarding their money, say to them: If you separated their money and food from that which belongs to you so as not to cause them loss, that will be good and if you mix them with your money, there is no harm because they are your brethren in religion. Allah knows your intentions in terms of reform and corruption. Reforming the conditions of the orphans is better and associating with them to bring benefits for them is more beloved than keeping away from them.

If Allah willed, He would make the matter hard for you to fulfil, but He made it flexible for you, removed the hardships away from you, and permitted that you associate with them in the best way. Verily, Allah is Able to fulfil what He wills and Wise in what He commands.

{وَلَا تَنْكِحُوا المُشْرِكَاتِ حَتَّى يُؤْمِنَّ وَلَأَمَةٌ مُؤْمِنَةٌ خَيْرٌ مِنْ مُشْرِكَةٍ وَلَوْ أَعْجَبَتْكُمْ وَلَا تُنْكِحُوا المُشْرِكِينَ حَتَّى يُؤْمِنُوا وَلَعَبْدٌ مُؤْمِنٌ خَيْرٌ مِنْ مُشْرِكٍ وَلَوْ أَعْجَبَكُمْ أُولَئِكَ يَدْعُونَ إِلَى النَّارِ وَاللهُ يَدْعُو إِلَى الجَنَّةِ وَالمَغْفِرَةِ بِإِذْنِهِ وَيُبَيِّنُ آَيَاتِهِ لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَذَكَّرُونَ} [البقرة: 221]

221- Do not marry the polytheist women who worship idols but after they embrace Islam. Indeed, a Muslim female slave is better than a disbelieving woman even if she is more beautiful than the Muslim woman.

Do not give the hands of Muslim women to the idolaters in marriage until they embrace Islam. Indeed, a believing Muslim, whatsoever his status is, is better than the polytheist even if he is of high status, well to do, and of prestige.

The polytheists are included in the group that shall be cast into Hell. Associating and mixing with those infidels entail the love of the world, sticking to it, and giving it preference to the Next Life; verily the consequence of that is terrible. Allah [Glory be to Him] calls to heaven, mercy, and blessing with the rulings that He legislated to pave the way of forgiveness and happiness. This is what your Lord explained to you in order to remember, believe, work, and thank Him.

{وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ المَحِيضِ قُلْ هُوَ أَذًى فَاعْتَزِلُوا النِّسَاءَ فِي المَحِيضِ وَلَا تَقْرَبُوهُنَّ حَتَّى يَطْهُرْنَ فَإِذَا تَطَهَّرْنَ فَأْتُوهُنَّ مِنْ حَيْثُ أَمَرَكُمُ اللهُ إِنَّ اللهَ يُحِبُّ التَّوَّابِينَ وَيُحِبُّ المُتَطَهِّرِينَ } [البقرة: 222]

222- They ask you about the ruling on having sexual intercourse with their wives during their menses, say to them: Indeed, it contains harm, damage, and pain. So, keep away from your wives during their menses and do not have sexual intercourse with them until they are pure. When they are pure, have sexual intercourse with them in their vagina and not in the anus. Verily, Allah loves those who repent of sins even if they do those sins frequently. He also loves those who avoid harm and dirt such as having sexual intercourse with menstruating women, or having sex with them in their anus.