Surat Al Baqarah (146-156)

{الَّذِينَ آتَيْنَاهُمُ الْكِتَابَ يَعْرِفُونَهُ كَمَا يَعْرِفُونَ أَبْنَاءهُمْ وَإِنَّ فَرِيقاً مِّنْهُمْ لَيَكْتُمُونَ الْحَقَّ وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ} [البقرة: 146]

146- The people of the Scriptures of the Jews and the Christians recognize Muhammad [peace be upon him) and the authenticity of what he brought to them as they recognize their own children. This is an example presented to assert the authenticity of something because recognizing one's children is the most certain knowledge. This is due to the accurate description of the Messenger Muhammad [peace be upon him) and his nation in their Scriptures. This certain knowledge includes also the recognition of the Qiblah to which they direct their faces in Salah. Yet, a group of them, in spite of this certainty regarding recognizing him, hides from people what is written in their Scriptures in this regard while they know.

{الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكَ فَلاَ تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْمُمْتَرِينَ} [البقرة: 147]

147- The truth which the Messenger [peace be upon him) was sent with is the truth that his Lord taught him. There is no doubt in that, so [O Messenger] do not be one of those who doubt.

This is an inspiration from the Lord to the nation of Muhammad [peace be upon him) in order not to be affected by the fabrications of the Jews and to beware of their plots.

{وَلِكُلٍّ وِجْهَةٌ هُوَ مُوَلِّيهَا فَاسْتَبِقُواْ الْخَيْرَاتِ أَيْنَ مَا تَكُونُواْ يَأْتِ بِكُمُ اللّهُ جَمِيعاً إِنَّ اللّهَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ} [البقرة: 148]

148– For every nation who follow a certain religion there is a Qiblah to which they willingly direct their faces to in Salah. None of them will follow each other's Qiblah. So, Muslims should not bother themselves with that and dedicate themselves to do good deeds, compete in pleasing Allah, busy themselves with what is beneficial to them, and to keep away from the doubts of enemies and their distorted ideas. Verily, Allah [the Almighty) will bring together both the obedient and the disobedient of you, even if their bodies scattered. Allah is Able to cause people to die, to bring them to life, and to gather them all for nothing can fail Allah.

{وَمِنْ حَيْثُ خَرَجْتَ فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ وَإِنَّهُ لَلْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكَ وَمَا اللّهُ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ} [البقرة: 149]

149– This is an emphasis that wherever you, O Muhammad, start forth and wherever you are, turn your face towards Al Masjid Al Haram [the Sacred Mosque) in your Salah because it is the exclusive Qiblah that Allah chose for you. This is what has been precisely stated in the Qur'an and in conformity with His Wisdom. Allah is not heedless of your obedience and compliance to His Orders. Then, He shall reward you for your compliance and obedience with the best way.

{وَمِنْ حَيْثُ خَرَجْتَ فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ وَحَيْثُ مَا كُنتُمْ فَوَلُّواْ وُجُوهَكُمْ شَطْرَهُ لِئَلاَّ يَكُونَ لِلنَّاسِ عَلَيْكُمْ حُجَّةٌ إِلاَّ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ مِنْهُمْ فَلاَ تَخْشَوْهُمْ وَاخْشَوْنِي وَلأُتِمَّ نِعْمَتِي عَلَيْكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ} [البقرة: 150]

150- There is a reaffirmation for the third time on the importance of directing the faces to the Qiblah so as to block the way before doubts which escalated in the new Muslim community by the enemies ambushing to eliminate it while it is still at its beginning, and to think of nothing other than it. It is the last Qiblah for the people who have believed in Islam until the Last Day. So, whenever and wherever you start forth, O Prophet Muhammad, turn your face in Salah towards Al Masjid Al Haram [the Sacred Masjid). Likewise, wherever you Muslims are, turn your faces in Salah towards it so that the people of the Scriptures would have no doubts or argument that you are the promised nation of Muhammad [peace be upon him) since they find in their Scriptures that your Qiblah is towards the Ka`bah. Had they found out that you do not direct your faces towards the Ka`bah, they would have exploited this as an argument against you to prove that you are not that promised nation.
Thereby, polytheists or disbelievers will have no argument to use against you in terms of arguing with you or the doubts and rumors they spread because of a purpose in themselves. For example, some of them will say to you: As long as you turned your faces to the House in your Salah, you will turn back to the religion of your forefathers! So, do not pay any attention to them nor to their saying. They have no authority over you nor will they harm you, rather fear your Lord secretly and openly because it is He Who can cause you harm, bring about benefit, He is worthy to be feared, and in Whose Hands are all affairs. This way also, I will perfect My Favor upon you regarding turning your faces towards the Qiblah that I have ordained for you so that you may be guided to matters that the other nations were strayed from. We guided you and singled you with in order to be the most noble and the best of all nations.

{كَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا فِيكُمْ رَسُولاً مِّنكُمْ يَتْلُو عَلَيْكُمْ آيَاتِنَا وَيُزَكِّيكُمْ وَيُعَلِّمُكُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَيُعَلِّمُكُم مَّا لَمْ تَكُونُواْ تَعْلَمُونَ} [البقرة: 151]

151– In addition to the blessing of Qiblah, let you, O Muslims, remember the blessing of sending the Messenger [peace be upon him) to you. He recites to you the Words of Almighty Allah, purifies you from vices, acts of the Pre-Islamic Period, and from low manners. The Messenger [peace be upon him) will bring you out of darkness into light, with the permission of his Lord, and will teach you the Qur'an and the Sunnah. In the Pre-Islamic Period you were ignorant, enemies, and disparity but Allah gave you in return what you would not dream of and what would not know. So, now you have scholars, the people of truth, the pious people, the leaders of conquests, and the callers to the great religion; Islam.

{فَاذْكُرُونِي أَذْكُرْكُمْ وَاشْكُرُواْ لِي وَلاَ تَكْفُرُونِ} [البقرة: 152]

152– Do not forget these great blessings that I have bestowed upon you. Remember Me through worship and obedience, and I will remember you through giving you the reward. Be grateful to Me for My countless Favors and never be ungrateful to Me, and I will endow you with much more blessings and favors in return.

{يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ اسْتَعِينُواْ بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلاَةِ إِنَّ اللّهَ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَ} [البقرة: 153]

153- If gratitude is one of the ethics of the believers, they must be patient as well. So, keep to patience for it is the best quality you have to endure trials, afflictions, the hardships of calling to Islam, to strengthen your will to perform the acts of worship, draw nearer to Allah, and to abandon sins and forbidden acts.

As you keep to patience, you should keep to Salah as well which strengthens the one's determination, renews one's energy, and fills one's heart with light. Therefore, when any matter or any difficulty bothered the Messenger of Allah [peace be upon him) i.e. if some matter overwhelmed him, he would offer Salah as stated in a good Hadith recorded by Ahmad and Abu Dawud.
This is because Allah is with the patient ones. He gives confidence to their hearts, supports them, keeps them firm, and increases their weak strength.

{وَلاَ تَقُولُواْ لِمَنْ يُقْتَلُ فِي سَبيلِ اللّهِ أَمْوَاتٌ بَلْ أَحْيَاء وَلَكِن لاَّ تَشْعُرُونَ} [البقرة: 154]

154– None is able to endure the hardships and difficulties of Jihad but those who are patient and have strong wills. If those people are to die as martyrs in the battlefield, do not think that they have died by souls. Verily, they are alive with their Lord Who provides them with food and drink as a reward for sacrificing their own lives in His Cause. Yet, you do not feel them because they are in another kind of life [i.e. a transition state between this life and the next) other than they life you live.

{وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُمْ بِشَيْءٍ مِّنَ الْخَوفْ وَالْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ الأَمَوَالِ وَالأنفُسِ وَالثَّمَرَاتِ وَبَشِّرِ الصَّابِرِينَ} [البقرة: 155]

155– We shall test you, O Muslims, so as to see the reality of your faith and how firm you are in term of your religion. Something of fear shall possess you during fighting battles against the evil. Likewise, something of hunger such as poverty and loss of wealth such as to be ruined, drowned or lost. Some of your relatives and beloved ones will be killed or died, some of your plants and fruits will be reduced by cold, burning or blight. So, if you stay patient and be contented with the Divine Decree, you shall be prosperous and shall gain the great reward in the Hereafter.

{الَّذِينَ إِذَا أَصَابَتْهُم مُّصِيبَةٌ قَالُواْ إِنَّا لِلّهِ وَإِنَّـا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعونَ} [البقرة: 156]

156– Verily, those who truly obtain the rank of the patience are those who if afflicted with a catastrophe will show more belief, keep to patience, find condolence in their belief, and say: To Allah we belong and to Him we shall return. This is because they know that they belong to Allah Who disposes the affairs of His Servants as He wills and nothing is wasted with Allah on the Day of the Recompense.