Surah Al-Baqarah, Ayah 101-120 — Word by Word
البقرة
The Cow
Explanations are simplified from tafsirs by Ibn Kathir, Mufti Muhammad Shafi, and Maulana Wahiduddin Khan. Spot an inaccuracy? Let us know.
walammā jāahum rasūlun min ʿindi l-lahi muṣaddiqun limā maʿahum nabadha farīqun mina alladhīna ūtū l-kitāba kitāba l-lahi warāa ẓuhūrihim ka-annahum lā yaʿlamūna
And when a messenger from Allāh came to them confirming that which was with them, a party of those who had been given the Scripture threw the Scripture of Allāh [i.e., the Torah] behind their backs as if they did not know [what it contained].
wa-ittabaʿū mā tatlū l-shayāṭīnu ʿalā mul'ki sulaymāna wamā kafara sulaymānu walākinna l-shayāṭīna kafarū yuʿallimūna l-nāsa l-siḥ'ra wamā unzila ʿalā l-malakayni bibābila hārūta wamārūta wamā yuʿallimāni min aḥadin ḥattā yaqūlā innamā naḥnu fit'natun falā takfur fayataʿallamūna min'humā mā yufarriqūna bihi bayna l-mari wazawjihi wamā hum biḍārrīna bihi min aḥadin illā bi-idh'ni l-lahi wayataʿallamūna mā yaḍurruhum walā yanfaʿuhum walaqad ʿalimū lamani ish'tarāhu mā lahu fī l-ākhirati min khalāqin walabi'sa mā sharaw bihi anfusahum law kānū yaʿlamūna
And they followed [instead] what the devils had recited during the reign of Solomon. It was not Solomon who disbelieved, but the devils disbelieved, teaching people magic and that which was revealed to the two angels at Babylon, Hārūt and Mārūt. But they [i.e., the two angels] do not teach anyone unless they say, "We are a trial, so do not disbelieve [by practicing magic]." And [yet] they learn from them that by which they cause separation between a man and his wife. But they do not harm anyone through it except by permission of Allāh. And they [i.e., people] learn what harms them and does not benefit them. But they [i.e., the Children of Israel] certainly knew that whoever purchased it [i.e., magic] would not have in the Hereafter any share. And wretched is that for which they sold themselves, if they only knew.
walaw annahum āmanū wa-ittaqaw lamathūbatun min ʿindi l-lahi khayrun law kānū yaʿlamūna
And if they had believed and feared Allāh, then the reward from Allāh would have been [far] better, if they only knew.
yāayyuhā alladhīna āmanū lā taqūlū rāʿinā waqūlū unẓur'nā wa-is'maʿū walil'kāfirīna ʿadhābun alīmun
O you who have believed, say not [to Allāh's Messenger], "Rāʿinā" but say, "Unẓurnā" and listen. And for the disbelievers is a painful punishment.
mā yawaddu alladhīna kafarū min ahli l-kitābi walā l-mush'rikīna an yunazzala ʿalaykum min khayrin min rabbikum wal-lahu yakhtaṣṣu biraḥmatihi man yashāu wal-lahu dhū l-faḍli l-ʿaẓīmi
Neither those who disbelieve from the People of the Scripture [i.e., the Jews and Christians] nor the polytheists wish that any good should be sent down to you from your Lord. But Allāh selects for His mercy whom He wills, and Allāh is the possessor of great bounty.
mā nansakh min āyatin aw nunsihā nati bikhayrin min'hā aw mith'lihā alam taʿlam anna l-laha ʿalā kulli shayin qadīrun
We do not abrogate a verse or cause it to be forgotten except that We bring forth [one] better than it or similar to it. Do you not know that Allāh is over all things competent?
alam taʿlam anna l-laha lahu mul'ku l-samāwāti wal-arḍi wamā lakum min dūni l-lahi min waliyyin walā naṣīrin
Do you not know that to Allāh belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and [that] you have not besides Allāh any protector or any helper?
am turīdūna an tasalū rasūlakum kamā su-ila mūsā min qablu waman yatabaddali l-kuf'ra bil-īmāni faqad ḍalla sawāa l-sabīli
Or do you intend to ask your Messenger as Moses was asked before? And whoever exchanges faith for disbelief has certainly strayed from the soundness of the way.
wadda kathīrun min ahli l-kitābi law yaruddūnakum min baʿdi īmānikum kuffāran ḥasadan min ʿindi anfusihim min baʿdi mā tabayyana lahumu l-ḥaqu fa-iʿ'fū wa-iṣ'faḥū ḥattā yatiya l-lahu bi-amrihi inna l-laha ʿalā kulli shayin qadīrun
Many of the People of the Scripture wish they could turn you back to disbelief after you have believed, out of envy from themselves [even] after the truth has become clear to them. So pardon and overlook until Allāh delivers His command. Indeed, Allāh is over all things competent.
wa-aqīmū l-ṣalata waātū l-zakata wamā tuqaddimū li-anfusikum min khayrin tajidūhu ʿinda l-lahi inna l-laha bimā taʿmalūna baṣīrun
And establish prayer and give zakāh, and whatever good you put forward for yourselves - you will find it with Allāh. Indeed Allāh, of what you do, is Seeing.
waqālū lan yadkhula l-janata illā man kāna hūdan aw naṣārā til'ka amāniyyuhum qul hātū bur'hānakum in kuntum ṣādiqīna
And they say, "None will enter Paradise except one who is a Jew or a Christian." That is [merely] their wishful thinking. Say, "Produce your proof, if you should be truthful."
balā man aslama wajhahu lillahi wahuwa muḥ'sinun falahu ajruhu ʿinda rabbihi walā khawfun ʿalayhim walā hum yaḥzanūna
Yes, [on the contrary], whoever submits his face [i.e., self] in Islām to Allāh while being a doer of good will have his reward with his Lord. And no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve.
waqālati l-yahūdu laysati l-naṣārā ʿalā shayin waqālati l-naṣārā laysati l-yahūdu ʿalā shayin wahum yatlūna l-kitāba kadhālika qāla alladhīna lā yaʿlamūna mith'la qawlihim fal-lahu yaḥkumu baynahum yawma l-qiyāmati fīmā kānū fīhi yakhtalifūna
The Jews say, "The Christians have nothing [true] to stand on," and the Christians say, "The Jews have nothing to stand on," although they [both] recite the Scripture. Thus do those who know not [i.e., the polytheists] speak the same as their words. But Allāh will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning that over which they used to differ.
waman aẓlamu mimman manaʿa masājida l-lahi an yudh'kara fīhā us'muhu wasaʿā fī kharābihā ulāika mā kāna lahum an yadkhulūhā illā khāifīna lahum fī l-dun'yā khiz'yun walahum fī l-ākhirati ʿadhābun ʿaẓīmun
And who are more unjust than those who prevent the name of Allāh from being mentioned [i.e., praised] in His mosques and strive toward their destruction. It is not for them to enter them except in fear. For them in this world is disgrace, and they will have in the Hereafter a great punishment.
walillahi l-mashriqu wal-maghribu fa-aynamā tuwallū fathamma wajhu l-lahi inna l-laha wāsiʿun ʿalīmun
And to Allāh belongs the east and the west. So wherever you [might] turn, there is the Face of Allāh. Indeed, Allāh is all-Encompassing and Knowing.
waqālū ittakhadha l-lahu waladan sub'ḥānahu bal lahu mā fī l-samāwāti wal-arḍi kullun lahu qānitūna
They say, "Allāh has taken a son." Exalted is He! Rather, to Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and the earth. All are devoutly obedient to Him,
badīʿu l-samāwāti wal-arḍi wa-idhā qaḍā amran fa-innamā yaqūlu lahu kun fayakūnu
Originator of the heavens and the earth. When He decrees a matter, He only says to it, "Be," and it is.
waqāla alladhīna lā yaʿlamūna lawlā yukallimunā l-lahu aw tatīnā āyatun kadhālika qāla alladhīna min qablihim mith'la qawlihim tashābahat qulūbuhum qad bayyannā l-āyāti liqawmin yūqinūna
Those who do not know say, "Why does Allāh not speak to us or there come to us a sign?" Thus spoke those before them like their words. Their hearts resemble each other. We have shown clearly the signs to a people who are certain [in faith].
innā arsalnāka bil-ḥaqi bashīran wanadhīran walā tus'alu ʿan aṣḥābi l-jaḥīmi
Indeed, We have sent you, [O Muḥammad], with the truth as a bringer of good tidings and a warner, and you will not be asked about the companions of Hellfire.
walan tarḍā ʿanka l-yahūdu walā l-naṣārā ḥattā tattabiʿa millatahum qul inna hudā l-lahi huwa l-hudā wala-ini ittabaʿta ahwāahum baʿda alladhī jāaka mina l-ʿil'mi mā laka mina l-lahi min waliyyin walā naṣīrin
And never will the Jews and the Christians approve of you until you follow their religion. Say, "Indeed, the guidance of Allāh is the [only] guidance." If you were to follow their desires after what has come to you of knowledge, you would have against Allāh no protector or helper.