Sura al-Baqara

Sura al-Baqara

al-Fatiha
Sura Number	2
Juz'	1,2,3
Revelation
Revelation Number	87
Makki/Madani	Madani
Information
Verse Count	286
Word Count	6156
Letter Count	26256\

This article is an introduction to the Sura al-Baqara; to read its text see text:Sura al-Baqara.

Sūra al-Baqara (Arabic: سورة البقرة) is the largest sura of the Qur'an. It is the second sura, and it is a Madani sura located in first, second, and third juz's. It is called "al-Baqara" (cow) because it involves a reference to the story of the cow of the Children of Israel.

The main theme of Sura al-Baqara is said to be the guidance of human beings; that people should come to believe what God has revealed to His messengers, without differentiating among the messengers. Sura al-Baqara is believed to have a comprehensive content because it touches principles of beliefs and rulings of worships, as well as social, political, and economic matters. Stories and historical narrations in Sura al-Baqara include those of the Children of Israel, Abraham (a), the revival of the dead, and Saul and Goliath.

Sura al-Baqara includes al-Kursi Verse, Aman al-Rasul Verse, al-Qibla Verse, and the longest verse of the Qur'an (verse 282). According to a hadith from the Prophet (s), Sura al-Baqara is the most virtuous sura of the Qur'an, and al-Kursi Verse is the most virtuous verse in the Qur'an.

Introduction

• Naming

The sura is called "al-Baqara" (female cow) because it narrates the story of the cow of the Children of Israel (verses 67-73) in which their excuse-makings are recounted. The sura is also variously called "Qustat al-Qur'an," "Sanam al-Qur'an," "Sayyid al-Qur'an," and "Zahra'." Sura al-Baqara and Sura Al 'Imran are jointly called "Zahrawan."

• Place and Order of Revelation

Sura al-Baqara is a Madani sura of the Qur'an. In the order of revelation, it is the 86th sura revealed to the Prophet (s). In the present order of compilation, it is the second sura, located in first, second, and third juz's of the Qur'an. It is the first sura revealed to the Prophet (s) in Medina after Sura al-Mutaffifin and before Sura Al 'Imran.

• Number of Verses and Other Features

Sura al-Baqara has 286 verses and 6156 words. It is the largest sura of the Qur'an, occupying about two and a half juz's thereof. It is the first of the seven Tiwal (long) suras, and the first of the twenty-nine suras opening with disjoined letters. The longest word, "fa-sayakfikahumullah" (and Allah will be sufficient for you against them), and the longest verse (verse 282), occur in this sura.

Content

'Allama Tabataba'i takes the main theme of the sura to be that people should believe what God revealed to His messengers, without differentiating among the messengers. Other themes of the sura, according to him, include reprehension of disbelievers and hypocrites as well as the People of the Book because of their heresies.

Content of Sura al-Baghara, Part 1

Islam as the only way for the happiness of the human community

First part: verses 1-39 Importance of faith in the religion

Second part: verses 40-162 The calling of opponents to Islam

First speech: verses 1-20 Humans and faith in Islam

Second speech: verses 21-27 Call of humans to Islam

Third speech: verses 28-39 Reasons for the falsity of disbelief and polytheism

First speech: verses 40-48 Obligations of the Children of Israel towards Islam

Second speech: verses 49-74 Instances of the resistance of the Jews against the truth

Third speech: verses 75-90 Reasons why the Jews do not believe the Prophet of Islam

Fourth speech: verses 91-152 Response to excuses made by opponents of Islam

Fifth speech: verses 153-162 Obligations of believers and opponents towards Islam

First group: verses 3-5 Believers

First subject-matter: verses 21-22 Reasons for worshiping God

First reason: verses 28-29 The dependence of the human material life on God

First obligation: verse 40 Commitment to the divine pledge

Introduction: verses 49-50 The great test of the Children of Israel after their emancipation from oppressions of the Pharaoh

First reason: verse 75 Tendency to the distortion of the Book of God

First excuse: verse 91-93 We only believe what is revealed to the prophet of the Children of Israel

First subject-matter: verses 153-158 Obligations of believers: patience against troubles, revival of religious rituals

Second group: verses 6-7 Disbelievers

Second subject-matter: verses 23-24 Punishment for fighting against the Qur'an

Second reason: verses 30-39 The human happiness lies in following God’s religion

Second obligation: verses 41-42 Belief in the Qur'an and the Prophet of Islam

First instance: verses 41-54 The worship of a calf by the Children of Israel

Second reason: verses 76-77 Attempt to conceal the rightfulness of the Prophet of Islam

Second excuse: verse 94-96 Afterlife happiness is exclusive to the Jews

Second subject-matter: verses 159-162 Obligations of opponents of Islam: not concealing religious truths, repentance

Third group: verses 8-20 Hypocrites

Third subject-matter: verse 25 The reward for believers in the Qur'an

Third obligation: verse 43 Acting upon the Islamic sharia

Second instance: verses 55-56 Their request to see God

Third reason: verses 78-79 Ignoring the importance of the content of the Torah

Third excuse: verse 97-98 Since the revelation was brought by Gabriel, we do not believe it

Fourth subject-matter: verses 26-27 The role of wrongdoing and sins in opposing the Qur'an

Verses 44-48 Three recommendations to the Children of Israel for discharging their obligations

Third instance: verse 57 Their squander of, and ungratefulness about, divine blessings

Fourth reason: verses 80-82 Belief in the immunity of the Jews from divine punishment

Fourth excuse: verse 99-103 Quranic verses are not clear and intelligible

Fourth instance: verses 58-59 Mocking God’s command when arriving the Promised Land

Fifth reason: verses 83-86 Not being committed to divine covenants

Fifth excuse: verse 104-105 Muslims are illiterate and rude

Fifth instance: verse 60 Corruption on the Earth after enjoying the blessings

Sixth reason: verses 87-90 Constant opposition of jews against prophets

Sixth excuse: verse 106-107 Why did Islam abrogate the Jewish sharia?

Sixth instance: verses 61-62 Ungratefulness and indolence

Seventh excuse: verse 108-110 Request of other miracles from the Prophet (s)

Seventh instance: verses 63-66 Ignoring the divine covenant

Eighth excuse: verse 111-117 Only Jews and Christians go to the Heaven

Eighth instance: verses 67-74 Stubbornness against the performance of God’s commands

Ninth excuse: verse 118-123 Why does not God talk to us directly?

Tenth excuse: verse 124-134 Abraham's recommendation to follow Judaism and Christianity

Eleventh excuse: verse 135-139 The only way to guidance is to follow Judaism and Christianity

Twelfth excuse: verse 140-141 Abraham and other prophets were either Jews or Christians

Thirteenth excuse: verse 142-152 why did Muslims redirect their qibla?

Sura al-Baqara is said to be comprehensive with respect to contents, since it tackles with principles of beliefs, and rulings of worships, as well as social, political, and economic matters.

The contents of Sura al-Baqara are summarized in Tafsir-i nimuna as follows:

• Monotheism and knowledge of God,

• Resurrection and afterlife,

• The miracle of the Qur'an and its importance,

• The Jews and hypocrites, and their actions against Islam,

• Histories of prophets, particular Prophets Abraham (a) and Moses (a),

• Rulings of prayer,

• Rulings of fasting,

• Jihad in the way of God,

• Hajj and the redirection of qibla,

• Marriage and divorce,

• Rulings of business and debts,

• Rulings of usury,

• Donation in the way of God,

• Qisas,

• Haram meat,

• Gambling,

• Wine,

• Rulings of Will.

Content of Sura al-Baghara, Part 2

Islam is the only way for the happiness of the human community

Third part: verses 163-242 Superiority of Islamic laws and rulings

Fourth part: verses 243-284 Factors contributing to the preservation and spread of religious rulings in the society

Conclusion: verses 285-286 Characteristics of believers in Islam

First factor: verses 243-254 Jihad against enemies of the religion

Second factor: verses 255-260 The spread of the monotheistic culture in the society

Third factor: verses 261-284 Healthy economic relations

Introduction: verses 163-167 Reasons for following God’s laws in one’s life

First law: verses 168-177 Rulings of foods

First subject-matter: verses 243-245 Escape from the jihad leads to the humiliation of a powerful nation

First subject-matter: verse 255 God's attributes

First principle: verses 261-274 Spread of donations in the society

Second principle: verses 275-281 Fight against usury

Third principle: verses 282-284 Securing the safety of economic investments

First subject-matter: verse 285 Beliefs of believers

Third law: verses 183-187 Rulings of the will

Second law: verses 178-179 Rulings of qisas

Second subject-matter: verses 246-252 Jihad as a factor in the power of a group of displaced Jews

Second subject-matter: verses 256-257 Effects of a true belief in monotheism

First subject-matter: verse 261 Effects of donations

First subject-matter: verse 275 The unbalanced character of usurers

First subject-matter: verse 282 Precise recording of transactions

Second subject-matter: verse 286 Believer's requests from God

Fourth law: verses 183-187 Rulings of obligatory fasting

Fifth law: verse 188 Prohibition of earning haram money

Third subject-matter: verses 253-254 Factors of victory in a jihad

Third subject-matter: verses 258-260 Stages of a human guidance to monotheistic doctrines

Second subject-matter: verses 262-263 Conditions of donations

Second subject-matter: verse 275 Falsity of economic justification for usury

Second subject-matter: verse 282 Having a witness when recording a transaction

Seventh law: verses 190-195 Jihad against enemies of the religion

Sixth law: verse 189 Prohibition of changing the style of performing worships

Third subject-matter: verses 264-266 Factors invalidating a donation

Third subject-matter: verse 275 Muslims who used to be usurers (before Islam)

Third subject-matter: verse 282 More serious recording of non-cash transactions

Eighth law: verses 196-207 Rulings and manners of Hajj al-Tamattu'

Ninth law: verses 208-214 Avoiding disputes in the Islamic community

Fourth subject-matter: verse 267 Possessions that are worthy of donation

Fourth subject-matter: verses 276-277 Comparison of the consequences of usury with those of donation

Fourth subject-matter: verse 282 Observing the rights of witness and scribes of documents of a transaction

Eighth law: verses 196-207 Rulings and manners of Hajj al-Tamattu'

Ninth law: verses 208-214 Avoiding disputes in the Islamic community

Fourth subject-matter: verse 267 Possessions that are worthy of donation

Fourth subject-matter: verses 276-277 Comparison of the consequences of usury with those of donation

Fourth subject-matter: verse 282 Observing the rights of witness and scribes of documents of a transaction

Eleventh law: verses 216-218 The ruling of waging wars in haram months

Tenth law: verse 215 Things for which donations should be spent

Fifth subject-matter: verses 268-270 Reasons for abandoning donations and how to treat it

Fifth subject-matter: verses 278-281 Obligations of Muslims after the issuance of the ruling of usury

Fifth subject-matter: verse 283 Permission for not recording transactions in certain cases

Twelfth law: verses 219-220 The ruling of wine and gambling

Thirteenth law: verse 220 How to treat orphans

Sixth subject-matter: verse 271 Ways of donating

Sixth subject-matter: verses 283-284 obligations of witnesses of a transaction

Fifteenth law: verses 222-223 Relationships with women during their monthly periods

Fourteenth law: verse 221 Prohibition of marriage with polytheists

Seventh subject-matter: verse 272 How to expand the culture of donation

Sixteenth law: verses 224-227 Prohibition of taking an oath to abandon sexual intercourse with one’s wife

Seventeenth law: verses 228-231 Rulings of divorce

Eighth subject-matter: verse 273 Who to donate to?

Eighteenth law: verses 232-242 Rights of widows

Ninth subject-matter: verse 274 Importance of persistence on donating

Historical Stories and Narrations

There are references, in Sura al-Baqara, to numerous historical events, including the creation of Adam (a), birds coming back to life at Abraham's will, and stories of Saul and Goliath.

• The Story of the Creation of Adam (a): The story appears in Sura al-Baqara, as well as suras al-A'raf, al-Hijr, al-Isra', and Taha.

• The story of the Forbidden Tree, Verses 35 -37

• Stories of the Children of Israel:

• Rescue from the Pharaoh

• The Children of Israel worshiping calf

• The Children of Israel asking to see God

• Altering the words

• The miracle of Twelve Springs

• Request for numerous foods, and the impoverishment of the Children of Israel

• The covenant of the Children of Israel

• Transgression concerning the Sabbath

• The story of the Cow of the Children of Israel (this story appears only in Sura al-Baqara)

• The story of Harut and Marut in the verse 102: it concerns two angels called "Harut" and "Marut" who were commissioned by God to neutralize the spells of magicians.

• The test of Abraham (a), and the reconstruction of the Ka'ba

• The redirection of the qibla during the life of the Prophet (s)

• The story of Saul and Goliath

• Abraham's argument concerning death

• Abraham and the observation of dead birds coming back to life

• The story of Ezra

Occasions of Revelations of Certain Verses

There are occasions of revelations for about eighty verses of Sura al-Baqara. Below are references to some of these:

Muslims being Mocked by Hypocrites

According to Ibn 'Abbas, the verse fourteen of Sura al-Baqara "When they meet the faithful, they say, ‘We believe,’ but when they are alone with their devils, they say, ‘We are with you; we were only deriding [them].’" is concerned with 'Abd Allah b. Ubayy and his hypocrite friends who praised some of the Prophet's companions in their face, and then mocked and showed disgust to them in their own circle.

Followers of Other Religions Can Go to the Heaven

According to Mujahid, when Salman recounted the story of his friends back home and how they worshiped God, the Prophet (s) said that they will then go to the Hell. Salman was saddened by this, until the verse sixty-two of Sura al-Baqara was revealed, according to which if followers of other religions believe in God and resurrection and do righteous actions, then they will be rewarded by God. Salman said: "this verse lifted a bulk of sadness from my breast."

The Story of the Cow of the Children of Israel

Verses sixty-seven to seventy-four of Sura al-Baqara recount the well-known story of the cow of the Children of Israel. It points to excuses made by them and their hardheartedness. The story is narrated in Tafsir-i nimuna as follows: a person from the Children of Israel was killed, and then a dispute emerged within tribes as to who the murderer was. To settle the dispute, they went to Moses (a), and with the help of God, he hit the corpse with part of the body of a special cow, as a consequence of which the dead person miraculously came back to life, and introduced his murderer. According to Tafsir-i nimuna, the story teaches God's endless power, resurrection, and the necessity of avoiding strictness.

Permission of Some Actions on Nights of Ramadan

'Ali b. Ibrahim al-Qummi transmitted a hadith from Imam al-Sadiq (a) according to which early after Islam, sexual intercourse was forbidden throughout the whole Ramadan month, and if one fell asleep before the time of breaking the fast, then he was not allowed to eat anything until the next time of breaking the fast. According to 'Ali b. Ibrahim, during the Battle of Ahzab, a companion of the Prophet (s) who was a senile fell asleep at the time of breaking the fast, and the next day he fell unconscious while digging the trench. Moreover, some Muslims had sexual intercourses with their wives on nights of the Ramadan month. Thus, the verse 187 of Sura al-Baqara was revealed, abrogating the earlier ruling.

Forbiddance of Marriage with Polytheists

The verse 221 of Sura al-Baqara was revealed about a man called Marthad b. Marthad al-Ghanawi, who was courageous and strong. At the command of the Prophet (s), he went to Mecca to save some Muslims who were still there. When Marthad was in Mecca, a woman called 'Inaq expressed her love for him and asked him to marry her. However, since Marthad was committed to Islamic laws, he conditioned the marriage upon the Prophet's permission. When he met the Prophet (s) in Medina and told him about the story, the verse 221 was revealed, in which marriage with polytheists was banned.

How the Dead Are Revived

There are different hadiths about the occasion of the revelation of the verse 260 of Sura al-Baqara. According to one hadith, the Prophet Abraham (a) saw the corpse of a whale half of which was in the sea and the other half on the land, and it was eaten by marine and terrestrial animals. Iblis told Abraham (a) how God could reassemble all these parts from the stomachs of all these creatures. Abraham (a) asked God to show him how He would bring life back into the dead. A Heavenly voice said, "Have you not believed?" Abraham replied: "Yes, but only that my heart may be satisfied and be freed from the Satan's temptations."

Well-Known Verses

Well-known verses of Sura al-Baqara include the Verse of Human Khilafa, al-Kursi Verse, al-Shira' Verse, al-Istirja' Verse, the Verse of Trial of Ibrahim (a), and Aman al-Rasul Verse.

The Verse of Human Succession (30)

Main article: The Verse of Human Succession

“

وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ إِنِّي جَاعِلٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ خَلِيفَةً ۖ قَالُوا أَتَجْعَلُ فِيهَا مَن يُفْسِدُ فِيهَا وَيَسْفِكُ الدِّمَاءَ وَنَحْنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَ ۖ قَالَ إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

"When your Lord said to the angels, ‘Indeed I am going to set a viceroy on the earth,’ they said, ‘Will You set in it someone who will cause corruption in it and shed blood, while we celebrate Your praise and proclaim Your sanctity?’ He said, ‘Indeed I know what you do not know.’"

” — Qur'an 2:30

The verse 30 of Sura al-Baqara is about the human khilafa or succession of God on the Earth, and a conversation between God and angels concerning the succession. The verse is the first of ten verses concerning the human place in the system of creation, his features, dispositions, and capabilities, the nature and effects of his succession of God, and his fall to the Earth.

According to the verse 30 of Sura al-Baqara, when God informs angels that He is about to appoint a successor on the Earth, the angels immediately knew that this would lead to corruptions and blood-shedding on the face of the Earth. Many exegetes infer from their response that they were aware of previous creatures on the Earth who had caused corruptions thereon. In Majma' al-bayan, Ibn 'Abbas and Ibn Mas'ud are quoted as saying that the angels knew that Adam (a) himself was infallible, but they asked the question because God had told them that children of Adam (a) would cause corruptions on the Earth.

According to 'Allama Tabataba'i, the angels' response was grounded in their knowledge of the earthly nature of human beings, which is a combination of anger and lust.

The Verse of Magic (102)

Main article: Verse of Magic

“

وَاتَّبَعُوا مَا تَتْلُو الشَّيَاطِينُ عَلَىٰ مُلْكِ سُلَيْمَانَ ۖ وَمَا كَفَرَ سُلَيْمَانُ وَلَـٰكِنَّ الشَّيَاطِينَ كَفَرُوا يُعَلِّمُونَ النَّاسَ السِّحْرَ وَمَا أُنزِلَ عَلَى الْمَلَكَيْنِ بِبَابِلَ هَارُوتَ وَمَارُوتَ...

And they followed what the devils pursued during Solomon’s reign —and Solomon was not faithless but it was the devils who were faithless—teaching the people magic and what was sent down to the two angels at Babylon, Harut and Marut,...

” — Qur'an 2:102

The verse 102 is known as the Verse of Magic, since it refers to the popularity of magic among the Jews, and responds to the accusation that Solomon (a), Harut, and Marut were magicians.

The Abrogation Verse (106)

Main article: Abrogation Verse

“

مَا نَنسَخْ مِنْ آيَةٍ أَوْ نُنسِهَا نَأْتِ بِخَيْرٍ مِّنْهَا أَوْ مِثْلِهَا ۗ أَلَمْ تَعْلَمْ أَنَّ اللَّـهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

"For any verse that We abrogate or cause to be forgotten, We bring another which is better than it, or similar to it. Do you not know that Allah has power over all things?"

” — Qur'an 2:106

The majority of exegetes interpret the verse as a response to Jews who insulted Muslims because Muhammad (s) commanded them to do something and the next day he changed the command, while if his words were revelations from God, there would be no such conflicts in his words. The verse is taken as evidence for God's sovereignty and for His power to determine the interests of His servants. Thus, believers should not listen to the words of partial people and doubt the abrogation of rulings.

The Verse of the Originator (117)

Main article: Verse of the Originator

“

بَدِيعُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۖ وَإِذَا قَضَىٰ أَمْرًا فَإِنَّمَا يَقُولُ لَهُ كُن فَيَكُونُ

"the Originator of the heavens and the earth. When He decides on a matter, He just says to it, ‘Be!’ and it is."

” — Qur'an 2:117

'Allama Tabataba'i appeals to a hadith from Imam al-Baqir (a) to interpret God's being the originator (badi') as the creation of everything with His knowledge and without a prior pattern. Thus, there is always a difference between every two creatures in the world, and so every creature has an "original" (badi') existence; that is, it exists without there being anything else similar to it. Therefore, God is the originator of the skies and the Earth.

The Verse of the Abraham’s Test (124)

Main article: Verse of the Abraham's Test

“

وَإِذِ ابْتَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ رَبُّهُ بِكَلِمَاتٍ فَأَتَمَّهُنَّ ۖ قَالَ إِنِّي جَاعِلُكَ لِلنَّاسِ إِمَامًا ۖ قَالَ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِي ۖ قَالَ لَا يَنَالُ عَهْدِي الظَّالِمِينَ

"When his Lord tested Abraham with certain words and he fulfilled them, He said, ‘I am making you the Imam of mankind.’ Said he, ‘And from among my descendants?’ He said, ‘My pledge does not extend to the unjust.’"

” — Qur'an 2:124

The verse 124 of Sura al-Baqara is known as the Verse of the Abraham's Test. Debates about this verse go back to the period of Imams of the Shiites in which their companions sought to establish their infallibility via this verse. Shiite scholars believe that the verse implies the infallibility of Imams (a), and the word, "Imam," in the verse refers to a position other than prophethood or messengership of God. In contrast, Sunni scholars take "Imam" to refer to prophets or messengers of God.

Al-Istirja' Verse

Main article: Al-Istirja' Verse

“

الَّذِينَ إِذَا أَصَابَتْهُم مُّصِيبَةٌ قَالُوا إِنَّا لِلَّـهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ

"—those who, when an affliction visits them, say, ‘Indeed we belong to Allah and to Him do we indeed return.’"

” — Qur'an 2:156

The last part of the verse 156 of Sura al-Baqara pointing to the return of human beings to God is known as al-Istirja' Verse or the Verse of Return. According to the verse, the patient people are those "who, when disaster strikes them, say, "Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return". According to this verse as well as some hadiths, Muslims recite this verse when a disaster or loss strikes them. In Majma' al-bayan, the Prophet (s) is quoted as saying that a person who recites this verse in disasters will inhabit the Heaven.

The Verse of Responding to Supplications (186)

Main article: Fulfillment of Supplications

“

وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنِّي فَإِنِّي قَرِيبٌ ۖ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ ۖ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُوا لِي وَلْيُؤْمِنُوا بِي لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُونَ

"When My servants ask you about Me, [tell them that] I am indeed nearmost. I answer the supplicant’s call when he calls Me. So let them respond to Me, and let them have faith in Me, so that they may fare rightly."

” — Qur'an 2:186

The verse is said to have features that highlight God's will to respond to invocations of supplications:

• The verb form is singular first-person.

• It talks about "My servants" rather than people.

• It talks to people directly.

• It emphasizes on God's closeness to His servants.

• It ties God's response to people's supplications.

The Verse of Selling (207)

Main article: Al-Shira' Verse

“

وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَشْرِي نَفْسَهُ ابْتِغَاءَ مَرْضَاتِ اللَّـهِ ۗ وَاللَّـهُ رَءُوفٌ بِالْعِبَادِ

"And among the people is he who sells his soul seeking the pleasure of Allah, and Allah is most kind to [His] servants."

” — Qur'an 2:207

The verse 207 of Sura al-Baqara is known as the Verse of Selling or al-Shira' Verse. The verse praises those who sell their lives for the sake of God. Muslim exegetes debated the occasion of the revelation of the verse. Shiite as well as some Sunni scholars believe that the verse was revealed about Imam 'Ali (a) and the story of Laylat al-Mabit.

Al-Kursi Verse (255)

Main article: Al-Kursi Verse

“

اللَّـهُ لَا إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ ۚ لَا تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلَا نَوْمٌ ۚ لَّهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ ۗ مَن ذَا الَّذِي يَشْفَعُ عِندَهُ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ ۚ يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ ۖ وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَيْءٍ مِّنْ عِلْمِهِ إِلَّا بِمَا شَاءَ ۚ وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ ۖ وَلَا يَئُودُهُ حِفْظُهُمَا ۚ وَهُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيمُ

"Allah—there is no god except Him—is the Living One, the All-sustainer. Neither drowsiness befalls Him nor sleep. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who is it that may intercede with Him except with His permission? He knows what is before them and what is behind them, and they do not comprehend anything of His knowledge except what He wishes. His seat embraces the heavens and the earth and He is not wearied by their preservation, and He is the All-exalted, the All-supreme."

” — Qur'an 2:255

Al-Kursi Verse is very well-known among, and honored and respected by, Muslims. It was already known as "Ayat al-Kursi" during the lifetime of the Prophet (s). The Prophet (s) is quoted as saying: "al-Kursi Verse is the greatest verse of the Qur'an."

There are many hadiths from Ahl al-Bayt (a) about the importance and interpretation of al-Kursi Verse. 'Allama Tabataba'i attributes the greatness of al-Kursi Verse to the fact that it contains precise information about pure monotheism and God's absolute sovereignty, believing that all God's great names, except the names of His essence, go back to His sovereignty.

According to a hadith from Imam al-Sadiq (a), "al-Kursi" is God's exclusive knowledge of which He has never informed any of His prophets and messengers and other authorities.

The Verse of No Compulsion in the Religion (256)

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لَا إِكْرَاهَ فِي الدِّينِ ۖ قَد تَّبَيَّنَ الرُّشْدُ مِنَ الْغَيِّ ۚ فَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِالطَّاغُوتِ وَيُؤْمِن بِاللَّـهِ فَقَدِ اسْتَمْسَكَ بِالْعُرْوَةِ الْوُثْقَىٰ لَا انفِصَامَ لَهَا ۗ وَاللَّـهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ

"There is no compulsion in religion: rectitude has become distinct from error. So one who disavows fake deities and has faith in Allah has held fast to the firmest handle for which there is no breaking; and Allah is all-hearing, all-knowing."

” — Qur'an 2:256

The verse 256 of Sura al-Baqara is taken to refer to non-compulsory acceptance of the religion. In particular, Islam cannot be forced upon disbelievers, polytheists, and others, because "the right course has become clear from the wrong." According to this verse, coerced words and actions have no this-worldly or afterlife value from the viewpoint of the sharia.

About the occasion of the revelation of the verse, it is said that a companion of the Prophet (s) asked him to make his two sons return to Islam after they had converted to Christianity. In response, the verse 256 of Sura al-Baqara was revealed according to which there is no compulsory belief. According to Makarim Shirazi in Tafsir-i nimuna, the verse shows that Islam never advanced through coercions or the force of swords or military power. In his view, since the preceding verse talks about fundamental religious beliefs, such as monotheism and divine attributes, and these beliefs can be proved via reason, this verse implies that there is no need for compulsion in the acceptance of the religion.

'Allama Tabataba'i speculates that the "compulsion" in the verse might refer to existential compulsion, that is, since believing is an act of heart, it is ontologically impossible to coerce someone to believe something.

Aman al-Rasul Verse (285)

Main article: Aman al-Rasul Verse

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آمَنَ الرَّسُولُ بِمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مِن رَّبِّهِ وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ ۚ كُلٌّ آمَنَ بِاللَّـهِ وَمَلَائِكَتِهِ وَكُتُبِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِّن رُّسُلِهِ ۚ وَقَالُوا سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا ۖ غُفْرَانَكَ رَبَّنَا وَإِلَيْكَ الْمَصِيرُ...

"The Apostle and the faithful have faith in what has been sent down to him from his Lord. Each [of them] has faith in Allah, His angels, His scriptures and His apostles. [They declare,] ‘We make no distinction between any of His apostles.’ And they say, ‘We hear and obey. Our Lord, forgive us, and toward You is the return.’"

” — Qur'an 2:285

The verses of Aman al-Rasul, known as the Verse of Aman al-Rasul consist of verses 285 and 286 of Sura al-Baqara. The themes of the two verses consist in the belief in God, endorsement of prophets, the belief in resurrection, observing God's right for worship, heartfelt faith and practical obedience by believers, God's forgiveness, people not being charged beyond their capacity, and Islam being easy to practice.

Other Well-Known Verses

Other well-known verses of Sura al-Baqara include the verse 23 concerning the Qur'an's challenge for opponents, the verse 112 concerning pure submission to God, the verse 115 concerning God's presence in east and west, the verse 155 concerning the trial and test of patient people, the verse 159 known as the Verse of Concealment, the verse 177 concerning the nature of goodness, the verse 201 concerning the dhikr of qunut, the verse 207 known as the Verse of Submission, the verse 213 concerning one nation, the verse 238 concerning the importance of observing the times of the prayer, and the verse 269 according to which God gives wisdom to whom He wills.

Jurisprudential Verses

There are verses in Sura al-Baqara to which Muslims jurists have appealed to glean jurisprudential rulings. Verses involving a jurisprudential ruling or verses from which such rulings can be inferred are called "Ayat al-Ahkam" or Jurisprudential Verses. Some Jurisprudential Verses of Sura al-Baqara are pointed out in the following table:

Verse	Text	Chapter	Subject
3 -5	who believe in the Unseen, maintain the prayer, and spend out of what We have provided for them;	Worships	Faith as a condition of the correctness of worships
21	O mankind! Worship your Lord, who created you and those who were before you,	Worships	Obligation of worship for all human persons
22	So do not set up equals to Allah, while you know...	Worships	Prohibition of polytheism in worships
27	—those who break the covenant made with Allah after having pledged it solemnly,	Nadhr, Oath and Promise	Prohibition and consequences of violating one's promises]]
29	It is He who created for you all that is in the earth,	Foods and Drinks	The principle of permissibility of everything that does not cause a corruption
43	And maintain the prayer, and give the zakat, and bow along with those who bow [in prayer].	Prayer and Zakat	Obligation of performing one's prayer and paying one's zakat
114	Who is a greater wrongdoer than those who deny access to the mosques of Allah lest His Name be celebrated therein, and try to ruin them?...	Prayer	Prohibition of obstructing the performance of prayers in mosques
124	When his Lord tested Abraham with certain words and he fulfilled them, He said, ‘I am making you the Imam of mankind...	Prayer	Righteousness of the Imam of a congregational prayer, and...
125	And [remember] when We made the House a place of reward for mankind and a sanctuary, [declaring],...	Hajj	Legislation of hajj, the prayer of circumambulation, and...
140	And who is a greater wrongdoer than someone who conceals a testimony that is with him from Allah? And Allah is not oblivious of what you do...	Testimony	Prohibition of concealing one's testimony
‍144	We certainly see you turning your face about in the sky. We will surely turn you to a qiblah of your liking:‏...	Prayer	Qibla and its rulings
158	Indeed Safa and Marwah are among Allah’s sacraments...	Hajj	Sa'y al-Safa wa l-Marwa
168	O mankind! Eat of what is lawful and pure in the earth...	Foods and Drinks	The principle of the permissibility of everything that does not cause corruptions
170	What, even if their fathers neither exercised their reason nor were guided?!...	Taqlid	Impermissibility of following a non-mujtahid or a non-expert
172	O you who have faith! Eat of the good things We have provided you,...	Foods and Drinks	The principle of the permissibility of everything that does not cause corruptions
170	He has forbidden you only carrion, blood, the flesh of the swine, ...	hunting and slaughtering	Haram foods such as dead animals, blood, pork, non-slaughtered animals, and...
177	and those who fulfill their covenants, when they pledge themselves,	Nadhr, Oath and Promise	Obligation of keeping one's promise
178-179	Retribution is prescribed for you regarding the slain: freeman for freeman, slave for slave, and female for female...	Hudud and Diyat	Legislation of qisas, and its types
180	Prescribed for you, when death approaches any of you and he leaves behind any property, is that he make a bequest for his parents...	Will	Obligation of writing one’s will for one’s close relatives
182	But should someone, fearing deviance or sin on the testator’s behalf, set things right between them,...	Will	The goodness of peace between two hostile parties
183- 185	O you who have faith! Prescribed for you is fasting as it was prescribed for those who were before you,...	Fasting	Legislation of fasting for Muslims and some of its rulings
187	You are permitted on the night of the fast to go into your wives: ...	Fasting	Rulings of fasting
188	Do not eat up your wealth among yourselves wrongfully,...	Tradings	Prohibition of consuming another person's wealth unjustly
190- 191	Fight in the way of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress...	Jihad	Legislation of jihad and observing justice in jihad
194	So should anyone aggress against you, assail him in the manner he assailed you,...	Hudud and Diyat	Observing equality in qisas
196	Complete the hajj and the ‘umrah for Allah’s sake,...	Hajj	Some actions of Hajj and 'Umra
198	Then when you stream out of ‘Arafat remember Allah at the Holy Mash‘ar,...	Hajj	Sojourn in the land of Mash'ar al-Haram
203	Remember Allah in the appointed days...	Hajj	Actions of Tashriq days
217	They ask you concerning warfare in the holy month. Say, ‘It is an outrageous thing to fight in it,...	Jihad	Rulings of haram months
221	Do not marry idolatresses until they embrace faith...	Marriage	Prohibition of marriage with polytheists
222	They ask you concerning [intercourse during] menses. Say, ‘It is hurtful.’ So keep away from wives during the menses,...	Tahara and Najasa	Rulings of menopause
223	Your women are a tillage for you, so come to your tillage whenever you like,...	Marriage	Sexual relationships
‍224-225	Do not make Allah an obstacle, through your oaths,...	Nadhr, Oath and Promise	Prohibition of a false oath
226-227	For those who forswear their wives shall be a waiting [period]of four months...	Divorce	Ila' and its rulings
228	Divorced women shall wait by themselves for three periods of purity [after menses],...	Divorce	'Idda for divorce
229- 232	[Revocable] divorce may be only twice; then [let there be] either an honourable retention, or a kindly release...	Divorce	Rulings of divorce
233	Mothers shall suckle their children for two full years...	Marriage	Rulings of suckling, obligation of breastfeeding the baby
234	As for those of you who die leaving wives, they shall wait by themselves four months and ten days,...	Marriage	'Idda for death
235	There is no sin upon you in what you may hint in proposing to [recently widowed] women,...	Marriage	Marriage proposal
236-237	There is no sin upon you if you divorce women while you have not yet touched them or settled a dowry for them...	Divorce	Rulings of divorce without having had a sexual intercourse
‍238	Be watchful of your prayers, and [especially] the middle prayer, and stand in obedience to Allah	Prayer	Observing the times of prayers
240	Those of you who die leaving wives shall bequeath for their wives...	Will	Will for one's wife
245	Who is it that will lend Allah a good loan that He may multiply it for him severalfold?...	lending money	Importance and goodness of lending money
264	O you who have faith! Do not render your charities void by reproaches and affronts,...	lending money	Invalidation of divine rewards for lending
270	Allah indeed knows whatever charity you may give, or vows that you may vow	Nadhr, Oath and Promise	Obligation of complying with one's nadhr
275- 276	Those who exact usury will not stand but like one deranged by the Devil’s touch...	Bay'	Prohibition of Usury
278- 280	O you who have faith! Be wary of Allah and abandon [all claims to] what remains of usury, should you be faithful.	Bay'	Rulings of usury
282- 283	O you who have faith! When you contract a loan for a specified term, write it down...	lending money	Recording and witnesses for a lending contract
283	And if one of you entrusts [an asset] to another, let him who is trusted deliver his trust,...	Trust	Rendering the trusts

Merits and Benefits

According to a hadith cited in Majma' al-bayan, the Prophet (s) referred to Sura al-Baqara as the most virtuous sura in the Qur'an, and al-Kursi Verse as the most virtuous verse in Sura al-Baqara. Its virtue is said to be grounded in its comprehensiveness, and the virtue of al-Kursi Verse is said to be grounded in its monotheistic content.

As to the effects of the sura, Imam al-Sajjad (a) quoted the Prophet (s) as saying that if one recites the first four verses of Sura al-Baqara, al-Kursi Verses and its following two verses, and the last three verses of Sura al-Baqara, he will see no harm in his life and possessions, he will not be approached by the Satan, and he will never forget the Qur'an.