Reflecting on Surah Al-Baqarah
Surah Al-Baqarah contains many commandments regarding the acts of worship and interactions
with people.
The First Lesson
Allah says in Ayah: 67 in Surah Al-Baqarah
“And [recall] when Moses said to his people, “Indeed, Allah commands you to slaughter a cow.”
They said, “Do you take us in ridicule?” He said, “I seek refuge in Allah from being among the
ignorant.”
In this Ayah, Allahعزوجل talks about the incident of the cow. Surah Al-Baqarah is called the cow.
When Musaعليه السلام said to his nation ‘No doubt it is Allah in fact commands you to slaughter a
cow’. Their first response was “Do you take us in ridicule?” ‘Do you take us for a joke, are you
kidding us? You want us to slaughter a cow? A murder just happened and your God’s response is
that we should slaughter a cow? This sounds a kind of ridiculous.’
Allah made it a story in The Quran to mention what their reaction was to Allah’s instructions.
A prophet is telling you on Allah’s behalf, to slaughter a cow. Whether or not that makes logical
sense to you or not, it’s Allah’s command and it’s validated because it is coming through His
messenger Musa عليه السلام.
But their response is ‘are you kidding?’ Actually, this is a timeless problem because this day you are
going to have people that hear of an instruction that is clearly from Allah’s messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم
and they will say, ‘Are you kidding me? Are you serious?’ That’s what Islam wants? That is what
Shari’ah says? That is what the Hadiths say? That is what Ayah says? No way, that doesn’t make
sense.”
And this kind of reaction that makes Musa عليه السلام extremely upset so within the same Ayah He
said ‘I seek Allah’s refuge’. From what?
‘That I should be from those who lose their emotional control.’
Ignorant= Jahil جاهلis the opposite of A’qilعاقل, is someone who controls his emotions, Jahil is
someone who loses them.
This Ayah is not just a warning to those who make a mockery out of Allah’s commandments, on the
another hand, it is also a warning to those who deliver Allah’s message, who try to do the of the
Prophets, who when they say something on behalf of Allah عزوجل and it is mocked and ridiculed they
shouldn’t lose their cool. Because Musa عليه السلام immediately says I seek refuge of Allah that I
should be from those who lose their cool.
In other words, this would enrage him, and he doesn’t want to lose his temper because then he will
not be able to do his job.
So, carrying the message of Islam and giving advice for the sake of Allah requires a thick skin and
you’ll need to deal with some obnoxious people who will say some ridiculous things and you will
have to say I seek refuge in Allah from being among the ignorant.
May Allah makes us of those who never make fun of Allah’s commandments and who are able to
control their emotions and control.
The second lesson
Allah says in Ayah 254 in Surah Al-Baqarah
“O you who have believed, spend from that which We have provided for you before there comes a
Day in which there is no exchange [i.e., ransom] and no friendship and no intercession. And the
disbelievers – they are the wrongdoers.”
• Allahعزوجل commands His servants to spend for His sake, in the path of righteousness, from what
He has granted them so that they acquire the reward of this righteous deed in the Day of
Resurrection.
• Allah عزوجل reminds us that the time to act and do righteous deeds is “now” because, on the Day of
Judgment, no one will be able to bargain on behalf of himself or ransom himself with any amount
from the earth’s fill of gold; nor will his friends or acquaintances to anyone benefit him. This is
similar to what Allah says in Surah Al-Mu’minun: 101
“So when the Horn is blown, no relationship will there be among them that Day, nor will they ask
about one another.”
Once caught by the punishment, one cannot be released on someone’s intercession, unless
Allahسبحانه وتعالى wills to forgive the person. Therefore, the time to act is now!
Why does Allahعزوجل keep encouraging us to spend in His cause?
• As stated in the beginning is that spending washes away the sins that we have committed
• Since most of us inherited religion from our parents and did not have to study or strive for it, we
do not know the value of being Muslim. We spend tons of money on whims and worldly
possessions but when it comes to spending in the cause of Allah عزوجلwe count our pennies and can
come up with several excuses for not spending on His cause.
• Do a small test when you get money from somewhere, what is the first thing that comes to your
mind? Generally, it is something related to the dunya: Buy new clothes, a new car, throw a dinner,
invite people, go on a vacation, etc. Why does the spending in the cause of Allah doesn’t come to our
mind first?
We can drive to shopping, restaurant, or a friend’s place but driving to a masjid or an Islamic class
is considered an expense?
How can Islam spread if people are not investing time and money in it?
People who invest their money in good causes (for the promotion of Islam) that money will benefit
them even after their death. Aren’t all of us in dire need of continuous good deeds?
Do not advertise your intention. Let it be a secret between you and Allah.
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