Explanation of Al-Baqarah Surah

Verses: 6-20.

{إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا سَوَاءٌ عَلَيْهِمْ أَأَنْذَرْتَهُمْ أَمْ لَمْ تُنْذِرْهُمْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ}

"Verily, those who disbelieve by denying your message or becoming arrogant and by resisting or doubting or turning away from it, it is the same to them whether you (O Muhammad Peace be upon him) convey the message to them and warn them or do not do, they will not believe and submit anyway." (Al-Baqarah 2:6)

So pay not attention to those people and go forth on conveying the message (of Islam) and those who accept your message shall gain the great reward and those who turn away feel not sorry for them. Care not for their deviation as; {your duty is only to convey (the Message) and on Us is the reckoning. (Ra'd 13:40)}.

And as a result to their disbelief as well as a punishment for them…

{خَتَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَى قُلُوبِهِمْ وَعَلَى سَمْعِهِمْ وَعَلَى أَبْصَارِهِمْ غِشَاوَةٌ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ}

"Allâh has set a seal on their hearts and on their hearings, (i.e. they are closed from accepting Allâh's Guidance), and on their eyes there is a covering. Theirs will be a great torment," (Al-Baqarah 2:7)

Just like what Allah [Exalted be He] says:

"So when they turned away (from the Path of Allâh), Allâh turned their hearts away (from the Right Path)." (As-Saff 61:5)

And He also says:

"And We shall turn their hearts and their eyes away (from guidance), as they refused to believe therein for the first time, and We shall leave them in their trespass to wander blindly." (Al-An'aam 6:110)

So, do not you ever think that Allah [Exalted be He] has forced them to be disbelievers and at the same time applies a great torment upon them, Allah is far free from this but has set a seal on their hearts and on their hearings as a punishment for them due to their refusal of Allah's guidance.

Allah has set a seal on their hearts means that He closed their hearts so tightly that the eeman (faith) which was therein and went out-when they disbelieved-cannot enter their hearts again, so their hearts shall keep the disbelief inside while eeman shall not enter therein.

…and on their hearings means that he sealed their hearings so that they are unable to hear the truth and make benefit of it. Moreover, Allah has placed a covering on their eyes so they are unable to see the truth. All of these are torments due to their disbelief, yet there will be a greater torment waiting for them in the day after.

Ibn Katheer (May Allah have mercy upon him) said:

"Allah [Exalted be He] has described the believers at the beginning of the surah then He exposed the disbelievers in these two verses and after that He began to expose the hypocrites; those who show their faith while they hide their disbelief inside their hearts. And because their state is ambiguous among so many people, Allah has described them in detail exposing their several hypocritical characteristics."

} وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يَقُولُ آمَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَبِالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَمَا هُمْ بِمُؤْمِنِينَ ، يُخَادِعُونَ اللَّهَ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَمَا يَخْدَعُونَ إِلَّا أَنْفُسَهُمْ وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ {

"And of mankind, there are some (hypocrites) who say: "We believe in Allâh and the Last Day" while in fact they believe not. They (think to) deceive Allâh and those who believe, while they only deceive themselves, and perceive (it) not!" (Al-Baqarah 2:8-9)

So, those people (hypocrites) behave like believers in front of the people; they utter the shahaadah (saying: There is no God who is worthy of being worshiped except Allah and that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah), they say they believe in the day after and they perform the prayers yet they are in fact disbelievers; their hearts never have faith. They showed their acceptance of Islam because the power was in the hands of Muslims. These descriptions are exactly the descriptions of hypocrites whom Allah has mentioned in several surahs.

Hypocrisy means: showing good and hide evil inside, and it has two types:

1. Hypocrisy of belief (i'tiqad). 2. Hypocrisy of action.

1. Hypocrisy of belief (i'tiqad): It is showing faith and hiding disbelief inside the heart. Abdullah bin Salool-who lived at the time of the Prophet (Peace be upon him)-was of this type, yet he was the leader of hypocrites. Ar-rafidhah (extremist Shiites) -these days- are likewise; they utter the two testimonies (shahaadah) while they hide their creeds of disbelief like; the creed of falsification of the book of Allah (Qur'an), the creed of charging the companions with kufr (disbelief) and the likes. The people who hold this type of hypocrisy will end up to be in the bottom of the hellfire. Allah [Exalted be He] says:

"Verily, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths (grade) of the Fire; no helper will you find for them." (An-Nisa 4:145)

2. Hypocrisy of action: It is to act as a decent showing people a good behavior while hiding the opposite. This meaning is derived from the Prophet's (peace be upon him) hadeeth:

"It is narrated on the authority of Abdullah bin 'Amr bin al-'Aas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Four characteristics made anyone who possessed them, a sheer hypocrite; anyone who possessed one of them possessed a characteristic of hypocrisy till he abandons it: when he was trusted he betrayed, when he talked he lied, when he made a covenant he acted treacherously, and when he quarreled he deviated from the truth." (Reported by Bukharee and Muslim) and in another narration of Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) the Prophet said: "when he made a promise he failed to keep it" (Reported by Bukharee and Muslim).

As you notice these actions mentioned in this hadeeth have good appearance while evil is hidden therein, yet this evil does not reach the degree of kufr (disbelief).

These hypocrites –by their treacherous actions-think that they deceive Allah [Exalted be He] as well as the believers, yet they do not recognize that in fact they deceive not except their selves. They behave this way in order to avoid applying the rulings of Allah, like killing, captivating…ets, upon them. Their deception result into bad consequences upon them whether in life or in the hereafter, as Allah [Exalted be He] informs his messenger (peace be upon him) through revelation about the reality of those hypocrites so they become exposed in this life and a great torment is awaiting for them in the day after.

} فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ مَرَضٌ فَزَادَهُمُ اللَّهُ مَرَضًا وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْذِبُونَ{

"In their hearts is a disease (of doubt and hypocrisy) and Allâh has increased their disease. A painful torment is theirs because they used to tell lies." (Al-Baqarah 2:10)

The disease in their hearts is a disease in their religiousness not in their bodies and it is known as the disease of Doubt (shakk) and Outright Rejection (taktheeb). So, Allah [Exalted be He] increased their disease by increasing their doubt and adding evil to their evil while a painful torture is waiting for them in the hereafter. All of this is because of their lying and their rejection.

}وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ لَا تُفْسِدُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ قَالُوا إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ مُصْلِحُونَ{

"And when it is said to them: "Make not mischief on the earth," they say: "We are only peacemakers." (Al-Baqarah 2:11)

Making mischief on earth means; disobeying Allah's orders and committing what Allah [Exalted be He] has warned against. So, when it is said to the hypocrites: "Make not mischief on earth by committing evil actions and disbelief as well as pretending to be pious while hiding evil inside your hearts, hatred against Muslims and adherence to disbelievers," they say: "We are only peacemakers." i.e. although they commit sins, evil actions and mischief they still think that they are peacemakers. Yet this thinking does not benefit them anyway, as Allah [Exalted be He] has ordained for them dwelling in the lowest degree of the hellfire suffering the painful torment.

If you examine the state of Ar-rafidhah (extremist Shiites) -these days-closely you will find them alive example of the hypocrites mentioned in the previous verses.

Then Allah [Exalted be He] says:

}أَلَا إِنَّهُمْ هُمُ الْمُفْسِدُونَ وَلَكِنْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ{

"Verily! They are the ones who make mischief, but they perceive not." (Al-Baqarah 2:12)

Allah is exposing those hypocrites and clarifying that they are mere liars when claimed that they are peacemakers, yet they know not that they are the ones who make mischief.

}وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ آمِنُوا كَمَا آمَنَ النَّاسُ قَالُوا أَنُؤْمِنُ كَمَا آمَنَ السُّفَهَاءُ أَلَا إِنَّهُمْ هُمُ السُّفَهَاءُ وَلَكِنْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ{

"And when it is said to them (hypocrites): "Believe as the people (followers of Muhammad Peace be upon him, Al-Ansâr and Al-Muhajirûn) have believed," they say: "Shall we believe as the fools have believed?" Verily, they are the fools, but they know not." (Al-Baqarah 2:13)

When it is said to them: "believe in Muhammad the messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and accept the message he brought with as the believers did," they say: "Do you want us to do like what the fools have done? Then we shall be fools just like them"

Sufahaa' (fools) lingually means: ignorant, weak-minded and has no knowledge of the good and evil. They mean by this the companions (may Allah be pleased with them) of the Prophet (peace be upon him). Therefore Allah made it clear that they are the real fools. And as a sign of their ignorance and foolishness they do not know the reality of their being fools. This state shows how blind and how far are they from guidance.

}وَإِذَا لَقُوا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا قَالُوا آمَنَّا وَإِذَا خَلَوْا إِلَى شَيَاطِينِهِمْ قَالُوا إِنَّا مَعَكُمْ إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ مُسْتَهْزِئُونَ. اللَّهُ يَسْتَهْزِئُ بِهِمْ وَيَمُدُّهُمْ فِي طُغْيَانِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ {

"And when they meet those who believe, they say: "We believe," but when they are alone with their Shayâtin (devils - polytheists, hypocrites, etc.), they say: "Truly, we are with you; verily, we were but mocking. Allâh mocks at them and gives them increase in their wrong-doings to wander blindly." (Al-Baqarah 2:14-15)

When the hypocrites meet the believers they say: "We believe," i.e. they show them faith and loyalty in order to deceive the believers and harvest the fruits; like living safe in peace and take their share of spoils or any other benefits.

Yet, when they are alone with their Shayâtin (devils), i.e. their superiors in disbelief, the hypocrites assure them that they are still upon their creed of disbelief and that they are only mocking and deceiving the Muslims to avoid any probable harm and to benefit from them. And that is exactly what Ar-rafidhah (Shiites) do nowadays. Meanwhile some ignorant callers to Allah have got caught in the trap of the rafidhah.

Allâh mocks at them means: Allah [Exalted be He] has informed his messenger (peace be upon him) through revelation about what the hypocrites hide and Allah mocks at them by showing them that their blood and property is protected and giving them increase in their wrong-doings leaving them wandering in deviation, while He is preparing for them the great torment in the hereafter.

}أُولَئِكَ الَّذِينَ اشْتَرَوُا الضَّلَالَةَ بِالْهُدَى فَمَا رَبِحَتْ تِجَارَتُهُمْ وَمَا كَانُوا مُهْتَدِينَ{

"These are they who have purchased error for guidance, so their commerce was profitless. And they were not guided." (Al-Baqarah 2:16)

These, i.e. the hypocrites whom Allah [Exalted be He] has described previously, are who have bought the deviation and paid the guidance as a price for that. Therefore they have lost the profit of the deal and have led themselves to destruction. So, they were not successful nor were they guided in what they have done.

} مَثَلُهُمْ كَمَثَلِ الَّذِي اسْتَوْقَدَ نَارًا فَلَمَّا أَضَاءَتْ مَا حَوْلَهُ ذَهَبَ اللَّهُ بِنُورِهِمْ وَتَرَكَهُمْ فِي ظُلُمَاتٍ لَا يُبْصِرُونَ. صُمٌّ بُكْمٌ عُمْيٌ فَهُمْ لَا يَرْجِعُونَ {

"Their likeness is as the likeness of one who kindled a fire; then, when it lighted all around him, Allâh took away their light and left them in darkness. (So) they could not see. They are deaf, dumb, and blind, so they return not (to the Right Path). "(Al-Baqarah 2:17-18)

Ibn Katheer (may Allah have mercy upon him) said:

"The meaning of this example: is that Allah [Exalted be He] has compared what the hypocrites have done, when they have purchased error for guidance which caused them to be blind after they were sighted, with the one who kindled a fire; then, when it lighted all around him and he benefited from it and felt at ease, Allâh took away his light and left him in darkness; neither he could see nor he could find his way out, moreover he was deaf and dumb and he was unable to return back . Likewise were those hypocrites they replaced guidance with deviation and sight and reasoning with blindness. This example shows that they have believed at the beginning then they have become disbelievers as Allah has clarified this fact in other verses and Allah knows best."

Allâh took away their light: i.e. took away the light which benefits them and left what harm them which are the burning and smoke.

And left them in darkness: i.e. the darkness of doubt, disbelief and hypocrisy.

(So) they could not see: i.e. they are unable to find their way to good and guidance.

They are deaf, dumb, and blind: They are dear so they cannot hear the good, dumb so they do not utter what benefits them and blind so they lost reasoning and wander in deviation. Thus, Allah [Exalted be He] says:

"Verily, it is not the eyes that grow blind, but it is the hearts which are in the breasts that grow blind." (Al-Hajj 22:46)

Therefore they are unable to return back to guidance which they have exchanged with deviation.

}أَوْ كَصَيِّبٍ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ فِيهِ ظُلُمَاتٌ وَرَعْدٌ وَبَرْقٌ يَجْعَلُونَ أَصَابِعَهُمْ فِي آذَانِهِمْ مِنَ الصَّوَاعِقِ حَذَرَ الْمَوْتِ وَاللَّهُ مُحِيطٌ بِالْكَافِرِينَ . يَكَادُ الْبَرْقُ يَخْطَفُ أَبْصَارَهُمْ كُلَّمَا أَضَاءَ لَهُمْ مَشَوْا فِيهِ وَإِذَا أَظْلَمَ عَلَيْهِمْ قَامُوا وَلَوْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ لَذَهَبَ بِسَمْعِهِمْ وَأَبْصَارِهِمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ {

"Or like a rainstorm from the sky, wherein is darkness, thunder, and lightning. They thrust their fingers in their ears to keep out the stunning thunderclap for fear of death. But Allâh ever encompasses the disbelievers (i.e. Allâh will gather them all together). The lightning almost snatches away their sight, whenever it flashes for them, they walk therein, and when darkness covers them, they stand still. And if Allâh willed, He could have taken away their hearing and their sight. Certainly, Allâh has power over all things." (Al-Baqarah 2:19-20)

"Or" here, as Ibn Uthaimeen said, expresses diversity as the second example is from another type.

Ibn Uthaimeen (may Allah have mercy upon his soul) also said:

"As-sayyeb" is the rain which is falling from the sky and "sky" here represents highness. "Wherein is darkness": the darkness is accompanied by the rain and this darkness has three types; the darkness of the night, the darkness of the clouds and the darkness of rain. Yet there might be more types of darkness, as when the weather is sandy. "thunder, and lightning": The thunder is the sound we hear from the clouds. Yet, the lightning is the light that glitters within the clouds. So those hypocrites have darkness rooted in their hearts from the beginning, yet that darkness has been hit by the sayyeb (the rain; which is the Qur'an), yet the sayyeb has thunder therein. This thunder is the threatening in the Qur'an which appears to the hypocrites, out of their fear like a severe thunder. The lightning is the promise in the Qur'an. It looks so because of the brightness and guidance therein. "They thrust their fingers in their ears": They do so to keep out the stunning thunderclap for fear of death. Yet their behavior will not survive them, though they are just like the ostrich when it sees the hunter, it buries its head into the sands thinking that this may survive it. Therefore Allah [Exalted be He] says after that: "But Allâh ever encompasses the disbelievers (i.e. Allâh is surrounding them so they cannot run away).

Then Allah says: "The lightning almost snatches away their sight, whenever it flashes for them, they walk therein, and when darkness covers them, they stand still. And if Allâh willed, He could have taken away their hearing and their sight. Certainly, Allâh has power over all things." Allah [Exalted be He] is able to take away their hearing and their sight without the use of the thunder and lightning as He has power over all things and able of doing what He wants without means, so the hearing may vanish without thunder and the sight may disappear without lightning. This example expresses hypocrites whom they have never believed before, but they were originally disbelievers like Jews as some of the hypocrites were Arabs from the two tribes of 'Aws and Khazraj and the others were from among the Jews. Jews have never experienced faith, they are original disbelievers, yet some of them pretended to be Muslims out of fear from Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) specially after he was granted the victory of Badr battle. So, these people of the second example were never been upon guidance before, but those of the first example have kindled a fire and gained some brightness out of it, then-to Allah we refuge-they relapsed. But the people of the second example were originally in darkness. Certainly the hypocrites vary in types and the thunder resembles the fear and warning in Qur'an, therefore Allah [Exalted be He] says in another verse of another surah:

"They think that every cry is against them. They are the enemies, so beware of them…" (Al-Munafiqun 63:4)

The lightning is the brightness of Islam and it is not continuous as the lightning flashes then fades away. So, the eeman (faith) has never entered the hearts of these hypocrites and they never think of it. They just see the great brightness which has shined and benefit of it just for one step then they halt. Also the lightning almost snatches away their sight because they are not able to see the brightness which the Prophet (peace be upon him) has brought. Because of their pride and envy of Arabs, this lightning almost snatches away their sight as it is too powerful so they cannot stand still against it"