The Qur�an in English
Dar-us-Salam Publications
Chapter 2: Al-Baqarah
174. Verily, those who conceal
what Allah has sent down of the Book, and purchase a small gain therewith (of
worldly things), they eat into their bellies nothing
but fire. Allah will not speak to them on the Day of Resurrection, nor purify
them, and theirs will be a painful torment.
175. Those are they who have
purchased error at the price of Guidance, and torment at the price of
Forgiveness. So how bold they are (for evil deeds which will push them) to the
Fire.
176. That is because Allah has
sent down the Book (the Qur'an) in truth. And verily, those who disputed as
regards the Book are far away in opposition.
177. It is not Al-Birr (piety, righteousness, and each
and every act of obedience to Allah, etc.) that you turn your faces towards
east and (or) west (in prayers); but Al-Birr
is (the quality of) the one who believes in Allah, the Last Day, the
Angels, the Book, the Prophets and gives his wealth, in spite of love for it,
to the kinsfolk, to the orphans, and to Al-Masakin
(the poor), and to the wayfarer, and to those who ask, and to set slaves free,
performs As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat), and gives the Zakat, and who fulfill their covenant
when they make it, and who are As-Sabirin
(the patient ones, etc.) in extreme poverty and ailment (disease) and at
the time of fighting (during the battles). Such are the people of the truth and
they are Al-Muttaqun (pious - see V.2:2).
178. O you who believe! Al-Qisas (the Law of Equality in
punishment) is prescribed for you in case of murder: the free for the free, the
slave for the slave, and the female for the female. But if the killer is
forgiven by the brother (or the relatives, etc.) of the killed against blood
money, then adhering to it with fairness and payment of the blood money, to the
heir should be made in fairness. This is an alleviation
and a mercy from your Lord. So after this whoever transgresses the limits (i.e.
kills the killer after taking the blood money), he shall have a painful
torment.
179. And there is (a saving of)
life for you in Al-Qisas (the Law of
Equality in punishment), O men of understanding, that you may become Al-Muttaqun (the pious - see V.2:2).
180. It is prescribed for you,
when death approaches any of you, if he leaves wealth, that he make a bequest
to parents and next of kin, according to reasonable manners. (This is) a duty
upon Al-Muttaqun (the pious - see V.2:2).
181. Then whoever changes the
bequest after hearing it, the sin shall be on those who make the change. Truly,
Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower.
182. But he who fears from a
testator some unjust act or wrong-doing, and thereupon
he makes peace between the parties concerned, there shall be no sin on him.
Certainly, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
183. O you who believe!
Observing As-Saum (the fasting) is
prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may
become Al-Muttaqun (the pious - see
V.2:2).
184. [Observing Saum (fasts)] for a fixed number of
days, but if any of you is ill or on a journey, the same number (should be made
up) from other days. And as for those who can fast with difficulty, (e.g. an old
man, etc.), they have (a choice either to fast or) to feed a Miskin (poor person) (for every day).
But whoever does good of his own accord, it is better
for him. And that you fast, it is better for you if only you know.
185. The month of Ramadan in
which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the
guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong). So
whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month (of
Ramadan i.e. is present at his home), he must observe Saum (fasts) that month, and whoever is ill or on a journey, the
same number [of days which one did not observe Saum (fasts) must be made up] from other days. Allah intends
for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you. (He wants
that you) must complete the same number (of days), and that you must magnify
Allah [i.e. to say Takbir (Allahu-Akbar; Allah is the Most Great)
on seeing the crescent of the months of Ramadan and Shawwal] for having guided
you so that you may be grateful to Him.
186. And when My slaves ask you
(O Muhammad ) concerning Me, then (answer them), I am
indeed near (to them by My Knowledge). I respond to the invocations of the
supplicant when he calls on Me (without any mediator
or intercessor). So let them obey Me and believe in
Me, so that they may be led aright.
187. It is made lawful for you
to have sexual relations with your wives on the night of As-Saum (the fasts). They are Libas
[i.e. body cover, or screen, or Sakan,
(i.e. you enjoy the pleasure of living with her - as in Verse 7:189) Tafsir At-Tabari], for you and you are
the same for them. Allah knows that you used to deceive yourselves, so He
turned to you (accepted your repentance) and forgave you. So now have sexual
relations with them and seek that which Allah has ordained
for you (offspring), and eat and drink until the white thread (light) of
dawn appears to you distinct from the black thread (darkness of night), then
complete your Saum (fast) till the
nightfall. And do not have sexual relations with them (your wives) while you
are in I'tikaf (i.e. confining
oneself in a mosque for prayers and invocations leaving the worldly activities)
in the mosques. These are the limits (set) by Allah, so approach them not. Thus
does Allah make clear His Ayat (proofs,
evidences, lessons, signs, revelations, verses, laws, legal and illegal things,
Allah's set limits, orders, etc.) to mankind that they may become Al-Muttaqun (the pious - see V.2:2).
188. And eat up not one
another's property unjustly (in any illegal way e.g. stealing, robbing,
deceiving, etc.), nor give bribery to the rulers (judges before presenting your
cases) that you may knowingly eat up a part of the property of others sinfully.
189. They ask you (O Muhammad ) about the new moons. Say: These are signs to mark
fixed periods of time for mankind and for the pilgrimage. It is not Al-Birr (piety, righteousness, etc.)
that you enter the houses from the back but Al-Birr
(is the quality of the one) who fears Allah. So enter houses through their
proper doors, and fear Allah that you may be successful.
190. And fight in the Way of
Allah those who fight you, but transgress not the limits. Truly, Allah likes
not the transgressors. [This Verse is the first one that was revealed in
connection with Jihad, but it was
supplemented by another (V.9:36)].
191. And kill them wherever you
find them, and turn them out from where they have turned you out. And Al-Fitnah is worse than killing. And
fight not with them at Al-Masjid-al-Haram
(the sanctuary at Makkah), unless they (first) fight you there. But if they
attack you, then kill them. Such is the recompense of the disbelievers.
192. But if they cease, then
Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
193. And fight them until there
is no more Fitnah (disbelief and
worshipping of others along with Allah) and (all and every kind of) worship is
for Allah (Alone). But if they cease, let there be no transgression except
against Az-Zalimun (the polytheists,
and wrong-doers, etc.)
194. The sacred month is for the
sacred month, and for the prohibited things, there is the Law of Equality (Qisas). Then whoever transgresses the
prohibition against you, you transgress likewise against him. And fear Allah,
and know that Allah is with Al-Muttaqun (the
pious - see V.2:2) .
195. And spend in the Cause of
Allah (i.e. Jihad of all kinds, etc.)
and do not throw yourselves into destruction (by not spending your wealth in
the Cause of Allah), and do good. Truly, Allah loves Al-Muhsinun (the good-doers).
196. And perform properly (i.e.
all the ceremonies according to the ways of Prophet Muhammad
), the Hajj and 'Umrah (i.e. the pilgrimage to Makkah)
for Allah. But if you are prevented (from completing them), sacrifice a Hady (animal, i.e. a sheep, a cow, or a
camel, etc.) such as you can afford, and do not shave your heads until the Hady reaches the place of sacrifice. And
whosoever of you is ill or has an ailment in his scalp (necessitating shaving),
he must pay a Fidyah (ransom) of
either observing Saum (fasts) (three
days) or giving Sadaqah (charity -
feeding six poor persons) or offering sacrifice (one sheep). Then if you are in
safety and whosoever performs the 'Umrah in
the months of Hajj, before
(performing) the Hajj, (i.e. Hajj-at-Tamattu' and Al-Qiran), he must slaughter a Hady such as he can afford, but if he
cannot afford it, he should observe Saum
(fasts) three days during the Hajj and
seven days after his return (to his home), making ten days in all. This is for
him whose family is not present at Al-Masjid-al-Haram
(i.e. non-resident of Makkah). And fear Allah much and know that Allah is
Severe in punishment.
197. The Hajj (pilgrimage) is (in) the well-known (lunar year) months (i.e.
the 10th month, the 11th month and the first ten days of the 12th month of the
Islamic calendar, i.e. two months and ten days). So whosoever intends to
perform Hajj therein by assuming Ihram), then he should not have sexual
relations (with his wife), nor commit sin, nor dispute unjustly during the Hajj. And whatever good you do, (be
sure) Allah knows it. And take a provision (with you) for the journey, but the
best provision is At-Taqwa (piety,
righteousness, etc.). So fear Me, O men of understanding!
198. There is no sin on you if
you seek the Bounty of your Lord (during pilgrimage by trading, etc.). Then
when you leave 'Arafat, remember
Allah (by glorifying His Praises, i.e. prayers and invocations, etc.) at the Mash'ar-il-Haram. And remember Him (by
invoking Allah for all good, etc.) as He has guided you, and verily, you were,
before, of those who were astray.
199. Then depart from the place whence all the people depart and ask Allah for His Forgiveness. Truly, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most-Merciful.