Surah Al-Baqarah

Time of Revelation

Most of Surah Al-Baqarah was revealed immediately after the Hijrah, while the last three verses were gifted to the Prophet (ﷺ) during the occasion of Mi’raj.

Different Names

• Surah Al-Baqarah

• Surah

• Fisṭat-ul-Qur’an

• Surah Sanam-ul-Qur’an

Reason for Naming

The word “Baqarah” means “cow” or “bull.” This Surah mentions a cow from the story of Bani Israel. It was named after this cow.

Virtue and Importance

The virtue of Surah Al-Baqarah:
When Surah Al-Baqarah is recited in a house, Satan flees from it. It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه) that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ “‏ لاَ تَجْعَلُوا بُيُوتَكُمْ مَقَابِرَ إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ يَنْفِرُ مِنَ الْبَيْتِ الَّذِي تُقْرَأُ فِيهِ سُورَةُ الْبَقَرَةِ “.‏ ‏.

Abu Hurayrah reported that the Prophet ﷺ said, “Do not turn your households into graveyards. Indeed, the devils flee from a household that has Sūrah al-Baqarah recited in it.” (Sahih Muslim 780)

Reciting Surah Al-Baqarah is a source of blessings, and abandoning it leads to regret

عَنْ زَيْدٍ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَبَا سَلاَّمٍ، يَقُولُ حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو أُمَامَةَ، الْبَاهِلِيُّ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ ‏ “‏ اقْرَءُوا الْقُرْآنَ فَإِنَّهُ يَأْتِي يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ شَفِيعًا لأَصْحَابِهِ اقْرَءُوا الزَّهْرَاوَيْنِ الْبَقَرَةَ وَسُورَةَ آلِ عِمْرَانَ فَإِنَّهُمَا تَأْتِيَانِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ كَأَنَّهُمَا غَمَامَتَانِ أَوْ كَأَنَّهُمَا غَيَايَتَانِ أَوْ كَأَنَّهُمَا فِرْقَانِ مِنْ طَيْرٍ صَوَافَّ تُحَاجَّانِ عَنْ أَصْحَابِهِمَا اقْرَءُوا سُورَةَ الْبَقَرَةِ فَإِنَّ أَخْذَهَا بَرَكَةٌ وَتَرْكَهَا حَسْرَةٌ وَلاَ تَسْتَطِيعُهَا الْبَطَلَةُ ‏”.‏ ‏.

Abu Umāmah said he heard Allah’s Messenger ﷺ say, “Recite the Qur’an, for on the Day of Resurrection it will come as an intercessor for those who recite it. Recite the two bright ones, al-Baqarah and Sūrah ale-Imran, for on the Day of Resurrection they will come as two clouds or two shades, or two flocks of birds in ranks, pleading for those who recite them. Recite Sūrah al-Baqarah, for to take recourse to it is a blessing and to give it up is a cause of grief, and the magicians cannot confront it.” (Sahih Muslim 804a)

Al-Baqarah and Aal-Imran will shade their reciter on the Day of Judgment and will intercede for him

عَنْ أَبِي أُمَامَةَ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسلم يَقُول: «اقْرَءُوا الْقُرْآنَ فَإِنَّهُ يَأْتِي يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ شَفِيعًا لِأَصْحَابِهِ اقْرَءُوا الزَّهْرَاوَيْنِ الْبَقَرَةَ وَسُورَةَ آلِ عِمْرَانَ فَإِنَّهُمَا تَأْتِيَانِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ كَأَنَّهُمَا غَمَامَتَانِ أَوْ كَأَنَّهُمَا غَيَايَتَانِ أَو فِرْقَانِ مِنْ طَيْرٍ صَوَافَّ تُحَاجَّانِ عَنْ أَصْحَابِهِمَا اقْرَءُوا سُورَةَ الْبَقَرَةِ فَإِنَّ أَخْذَهَا بَرَكَةٌ وَتَرْكَهَا حَسْرَةٌ وَلَا تستطيعها البطلة» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Abū Umāma said he heard God’s messenger say, “Recite the Qur’ān, for on the day of resurrection it will come as an intercessor for those who recite it. Recite the two shining ones, Baqara and sūra Āl Imrān (Qur’ān, 2 and 3). for on the day of resurrection they will come as two clouds or two shades, or two flocks of birds in ranks* pleading for those who recite them. Recite sūra al-Baqara, for using it produces blessing and abandoning it produces regret, and the slothful are unable to recite it.” *The alternative may indicate that the transmitter was not sure which word was used, “clouds” or “shades”.
Muslim transmitted it. (Mishkat al-Masabih 2120)

The recitation of Surah Al-Baqarah is a source of tranquility

Sayyidna Asid bin Hadhir (رضي الله عنه) narrates that:

He was reciting Surah Al-Baqarah at night while his horse was tethered nearby. Suddenly, the horse started to become agitated, so he stopped reciting, and the horse also calmed down. When he resumed the recitation, the horse began to act up again. Once again, when he stopped reciting, the horse became quiet. On the third occasion, when he started reciting again, the horse became restless. Since his son and daughter were near the horse, he stopped reciting out of concern that they might be harmed. He moved the children away from the horse and then looked up, but saw nothing unusual. The next morning, he narrated the incident to the Prophet (ﷺ). The Prophet (ﷺ) said:

اقْرَأْ يَا ابْنَ حُضَيْرٍ، اقْرَأْ يَا ابْنَ حُضَيْرٍ

Son of Hazir (رضي الله عنه)! You should have kept reading, and not stopped the recitation (it would have been better). Son of Hazir (رضي الله عنه)! You should have kept reading, and not stopped the recitation (it would have been better).

She (رضي الله عنها) said, “O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)! I was afraid that the horse might trample my child, as it was very close to him. Then I looked up at the sky and saw something like a canopy with shining lamps. When I came out again, I could no longer see it.” The Prophet (ﷺ) said:

وَتَدْرِي مَا ذَاكَ؟ ، قَالَ : لا ، قَالَ : تِلْكَ المَلائِكَةُ دَنَتْ لِصَوْتِكَ، وَلَوْ قَرَأْتَ لَأَصْبَحَتْ يَنظُرُ النَّاسُ إِلَيْهَا، لَا تَتَوَارَى مِنْهُمْ

Do you even know what that thing was?” Asid replied, “No.” You said, “They were angels who were coming closer to listen to your voice. If you had continued reading throughout the night, by morning, others would have seen them too. They do not hide from people.
Silsilat al-Ahadith al-Sahihah: 588

Surah Al-Baqarah is the hump of the Qur’an Majid

Abu Huraira (رضي الله عنه) reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

إِنَّ لِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ سَنَامًا، وَسَنَامُ الْقُرْآنِ سُورَةُ الْبَقَرَةِ

Every thing has a heart, and the heart of the Qur’an is Surah Al-Baqarah. Sahih Bukhari: 5018

Surah Al-Baqarah is the Surah of the Greatest Name

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الدِّمَشْقِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْعَلاَءِ، عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ، قَالَ اسْمُ اللَّهِ الأَعْظَمُ الَّذِي إِذَا دُعِيَ بِهِ أَجَابَ فِي سُوَرٍ ثَلاَثٍ الْبَقَرَةِ وَآلِ عِمْرَانَ وَطَهَ ‏.‏
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الدِّمَشْقِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، قَالَ ذَكَرْتُ ذَلِكَ لِعِيسَى بْنِ مُوسَى فَحَدَّثَنِي أَنَّهُ، سَمِعَ غَيْلاَنَ بْنَ أَنَسٍ، يُحَدِّثُ عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ، عَنْ أَبِي أُمَامَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ نَحْوَهُ ‏.‏

It was narrated that Al-Qasim said: The Greatest Name of Allah, if He is called by which He will respond, is in three Surah: Al-Baqarah, Al ‘Imran and Ta-Ha. (Hasan)Another chain for something similar from Al-Qasim, from Abu Umamah, from the Prophet (saas). (Sunan Ibn Majah 3856)

The Greatness of Surah Al-Baqarah

كَانَ رَجُلٌ يَكْتُبُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، قَدْ قَرَأَ الْبَقَرَةَ وَآلَ عِمْرَانَ، وَكَانَ الرَّجُلُ إِذَا قَرَأَ : الْبَقَرَةَ وَآلَ عِمْرَانَ، يُعَدُّ فِينَا عَظِيمًا

A person used to write in the presence of Rasulullah (ﷺ), and he recited Al-Baqarah and Aal-e-Imran. And the person who would recite Al-Baqarah and Aal-e-Imran was considered one of the great among us. (Musnad Ahmad)

The Virtue of Ayat-ul-Kursi

The most magnificent verse of the Qur’an:

Rasulullah (ﷺ) said to Sayyidina Ubayy bin Ka’b (رضي الله عنه):

يَا أَبَا الْمُنْذِرِ، أَتَدْرِي أَيُّ آيَةٍ مِنْ كِتَابِ اللهِ مَعَكَ أَعْظَمُ قَالَ : قُلْتُ : اللهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ. قَالَ : يَا أَبَا الْمُنْذِرِ أَتَدْرِي أَيُّ آيَةٍ مِنْ كِتَابِ اللهِ مَعَكَ أَعْظَمُ قَالَ : قُلْتُ : اللَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إلَّا هُوَ الحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ . قَالَ : فَضَرَبَ فِي صَدْرِي، وَقَالَ : وَاللَّهِ لِيَهْنِكَ الْعِلْمُ أَبَا الْمُنْذِرِ

Rasulullah (ﷺ) said, ‘O Abu al-Mundhir! Which verse in the Book of Allah is the greatest for you?’ I replied, ‘Allah and His Messenger know best.’ He said, ‘O Abu al-Mundhir! Which verse in the Book of Allah is the greatest for you?’ I said,
{اللہ لا اللہ الا هو الحي القيوم }
(which is Ayat al-Kursi). Upon this, Rasulullah (ﷺ) struck my chest (with joy) and said, ‘O Abu al-Mundhir! May knowledge be blessed upon you.

Reciting Ayat al-Kursi before sleeping protects you from Satan until morning

It is narrated from Sayyidna Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه) that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) appointed me to guard the Zakat al-Fitr. One night, a person came and began to steal. I caught him and told him that I would take him to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). He said, “I am in need and in great difficulty.” So, I let him go. In the morning, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) asked me, “Abu Hurairah! What did your prisoner say last night?” I replied, “He complained of his poverty and the burden of his family, so I let him go.” The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Be careful! He is a liar; he will come to you again.”

The next night, he came again and started stealing. I caught him and said, “This time, I will definitely take you to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).” He once again complained of his need and the burden of his family, and I let him go. In the morning, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) asked, “What did your prisoner say last night?” I told him, and he replied, “Be careful! He is a liar; he will come to you again.”

On the third night, he came again and started stealing. I told him, “This time, I will surely take you to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).” He said, “Let me go, and I will teach you a few words that will benefit you.” I asked, “What are they?” He replied, “When you go to sleep, recite Ayat al-Kursi. An angel will be assigned to protect you, and Satan will not come near you until morning.” So, I let him go.

In the morning, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) asked, “What did your prisoner say last night?” I told him everything, and he said:

أَمَا إِنَّهُ قَدْ صَدَقَكَ وَهُوَ كَذُوبٌ، تَعْلَمُ مَنْ تُخَاطِبُ مُنْذُ ثَلَاثِ لَيَالٍ يَا أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ : لا ، قَالَ : ذَاكَ شَيْطَانٌ

He spoke the truth, although he is a liar. Then you said to me: ‘Abu Huraira! Do you know who has been visiting you for the past three nights?’ I replied, ‘No.’ You then said: ‘It was Satan.

The Virtue of the Last Two Verses

The last two verses of Surah Al-Baqarah are the treasure of the Throne:

(Sahih al-Bukhari: 2311)
It is narrated by Sayyidina Hudhayfah bin Yaman (رضي الله عنه) that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

وأُوتِيتُ هَؤُلَاءِ الْآيَاتِ آخِرَ سُورَةِ الْبَقَرَةِ مِنْ كَنز تَحْتَ الْعَرْشِ لَمْ يُعْطَ مِنْهُ أَحَدٌ قَبْلِي، وَلَا يُعْطَى مِنْهُ أَحَدٌ بَعْدِي

These last verses of Surah Al-Baqarah have been given to me from the treasure beneath the Throne. Such verses have neither been given to anyone before, nor will they be given to anyone after. (Al-Sunan Al-Kubra by Al-Nasa’i: 7968, Hasan)

عَنِ النُّعْمَانِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏: ‏ “إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَتَبَ كِتَابًا قَبْلَ أَنْ يَخْلُقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ بِأَلْفَىْ عَامٍ أَنْزَلَ مِنْهُ آيَتَيْنِ خَتَمَ بِهِمَا سُورَةَ الْبَقَرَةِ وَلاَ يُقْرَآنِ فِي دَارٍ ثَلاَثَ لَيَالٍ فَيَقْرَبُهَا شَيْطَانٌ “.‏

An-Nu’mān bin Basheer reported that the Prophet ﷺ said: “Allah inscribed a book two thousand years before He created the heavens and the earth, from which the last two verses of Sūrat al-Baqarah were revealed. If they are recited for three nights in a home, no devil will come near it.” (Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2882)

The recitation of the last two verses of Surah Al-Baqarah is sufficient for everything

وعن أبي مسعود البدري رضي الله عنه عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال ‏: ‏‏ “‏ من قرأ بالآيتين من آخر سورة البقرة في ليلة كفتاه ‏”‏ ‏(‏‏(‏متفق عليه‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏

Abu Mas’ud Al-Badri (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Prophet (ﷺ) saying, “He who recites the two Ayat at the end of Surat Al-Baqarah at night, they will suffice him.” (Riyad as-Salihin 1017)

The meaning of “Kafi” is that it will protect from the mischiefs of the devil, and it will be a means of protection from unforeseen hardships and calamities.

The last two verses of Surah Al-Baqarah are a light that were not given to any prophet before

عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ بَيْنَمَا جِبْرِيلُ قَاعِدٌ عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم سَمِعَ نَقِيضًا مِنْ فَوْقِهِ فَرَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ فَقَالَ هَذَا بَابٌ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ فُتِحَ الْيَوْمَ لَمْ يُفْتَحْ قَطُّ إِلاَّ الْيَوْمَ فَنَزَلَ مِنْهُ مَلَكٌ فَقَالَ هَذَا مَلَكٌ نَزَلَ إِلَى الأَرْضِ لَمْ يَنْزِلْ قَطُّ إِلاَّ الْيَوْمَ فَسَلَّمَ وَقَالَ أَبْشِرْ بِنُورَيْنِ أُوتِيتَهُمَا لَمْ يُؤْتَهُمَا نَبِيٌّ قَبْلَكَ فَاتِحَةُ الْكِتَابِ وَخَوَاتِيمُ سُورَةِ الْبَقَرَةِ لَنْ تَقْرَأَ بِحَرْفٍ مِنْهُمَا إِلاَّ أُعْطِيتَهُ ‏.‏

Abdullāh b. Abbās reported that while Angel Jibreel was sitting with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, he heard a sound above him. He lifted his head, and said, “This is a gate which has been opened in heaven today. It was never opened before.” Then an Angel descended through it, he said, “This is an Angel who has come down to earth He never came down before.” He sent greetings and said, “Rejoice with two lights given to you. Such lights were not given to any Prophet before you. These (lights) are: Fātiḥatul-Kitāb (Sūrah al-Fātiḥah), and the concluding (Āyāt) of Sūrah Al-Baqarah. You will never recite a word from them without being granted (your du’ā).” (Sahih Muslim 806)

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سورة البقرة