Surah Al-Baqarah, Ayah 141-160 — 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.
til'ka ummatun qad khalat lahā mā kasabat walakum mā kasabtum walā tus'alūna ʿammā kānū yaʿmalūna
That is a nation which has passed on. It will have [the consequence of] what it earned, and you will have what you have earned. And you will not be asked about what they used to do.
sayaqūlu l-sufahāu mina l-nāsi mā wallāhum ʿan qib'latihimu allatī kānū ʿalayhā qul lillahi l-mashriqu wal-maghribu yahdī man yashāu ilā ṣirāṭin mus'taqīmin
The foolish among the people will say, "What has turned them away from their qiblah, which they used to face?" Say, "To Allāh belongs the east and the west. He guides whom He wills to a straight path."
wakadhālika jaʿalnākum ummatan wasaṭan litakūnū shuhadāa ʿalā l-nāsi wayakūna l-rasūlu ʿalaykum shahīdan wamā jaʿalnā l-qib'lata allatī kunta ʿalayhā illā linaʿlama man yattabiʿu l-rasūla mimman yanqalibu ʿalā ʿaqibayhi wa-in kānat lakabīratan illā ʿalā alladhīna hadā l-lahu wamā kāna l-lahu liyuḍīʿa īmānakum inna l-laha bil-nāsi laraūfun raḥīmun
And thus We have made you a median [i.e., just] community that you will be witnesses over the people and the Messenger will be a witness over you. And We did not make the qiblah which you used to face except that We might make evident who would follow the Messenger from who would turn back on his heels. And indeed, it is difficult except for those whom Allāh has guided. And never would Allāh have caused you to lose your faith [i.e., your previous prayers]. Indeed Allāh is, to the people, Kind and Merciful.
qad narā taqalluba wajhika fī l-samāi falanuwalliyannaka qib'latan tarḍāhā fawalli wajhaka shaṭra l-masjidi l-ḥarāmi waḥaythu mā kuntum fawallū wujūhakum shaṭrahu wa-inna alladhīna ūtū l-kitāba layaʿlamūna annahu l-ḥaqu min rabbihim wamā l-lahu bighāfilin ʿammā yaʿmalūna
We have certainly seen the turning of your face, [O Muḥammad], toward the heaven, and We will surely turn you to a qiblah with which you will be pleased. So turn your face [i.e., yourself] toward al-Masjid al-Ḥarām. And wherever you [believers] are, turn your faces [i.e., yourselves] toward it [in prayer]. Indeed, those who have been given the Scripture [i.e., the Jews and the Christians] well know that it is the truth from their Lord. And Allāh is not unaware of what they do.
wala-in atayta alladhīna ūtū l-kitāba bikulli āyatin mā tabiʿū qib'lataka wamā anta bitābiʿin qib'latahum wamā baʿḍuhum bitābiʿin qib'lata baʿḍin wala-ini ittabaʿta ahwāahum min baʿdi mā jāaka mina l-ʿil'mi innaka idhan lamina l-ẓālimīna
And if you brought to those who were given the Scripture every sign, they would not follow your qiblah. Nor will you be a follower of their qiblah. Nor would they be followers of one another's qiblah. So if you were to follow their desires after what has come to you of knowledge, indeed, you would then be among the wrongdoers.
alladhīna ātaynāhumu l-kitāba yaʿrifūnahu kamā yaʿrifūna abnāahum wa-inna farīqan min'hum layaktumūna l-ḥaqa wahum yaʿlamūna
Those to whom We gave the Scripture know him [i.e., Prophet Muḥammad (ﷺ)] as they know their own sons. But indeed, a party of them conceal the truth while they know [it].
al-ḥaqu min rabbika falā takūnanna mina l-mum'tarīna
The truth is from your Lord, so never be among the doubters.
walikullin wij'hatun huwa muwallīhā fa-is'tabiqū l-khayrāti ayna mā takūnū yati bikumu l-lahu jamīʿan inna l-laha ʿalā kulli shayin qadīrun
For each [religious following] is a [prayer] direction toward which it faces. So race to [all that is] good. Wherever you may be, Allāh will bring you forth [for judgement] all together. Indeed, Allāh is over all things competent.
wamin ḥaythu kharajta fawalli wajhaka shaṭra l-masjidi l-ḥarāmi wa-innahu lalḥaqqu min rabbika wamā l-lahu bighāfilin ʿammā taʿmalūna
So from wherever you go out [for prayer, O Muḥammad], turn your face toward al-Masjid al-Ḥarām, and indeed, it is the truth from your Lord. And Allāh is not unaware of what you do.
wamin ḥaythu kharajta fawalli wajhaka shaṭra l-masjidi l-ḥarāmi waḥaythu mā kuntum fawallū wujūhakum shaṭrahu li-allā yakūna lilnnāsi ʿalaykum ḥujjatun illā alladhīna ẓalamū min'hum falā takhshawhum wa-ikh'shawnī wali-utimma niʿ'matī ʿalaykum walaʿallakum tahtadūna
And from wherever you go out [for prayer], turn your face toward al-Masjid al-Ḥarām. And wherever you [believers] may be, turn your faces toward it in order that the people will not have any argument against you, except for those of them who commit wrong; so fear them not but fear Me. And [it is] so I may complete My favor upon you and that you may be guided,
kamā arsalnā fīkum rasūlan minkum yatlū ʿalaykum āyātinā wayuzakkīkum wayuʿallimukumu l-kitāba wal-ḥik'mata wayuʿallimukum mā lam takūnū taʿlamūna
Just as We have sent among you a messenger from yourselves reciting to you Our verses and purifying you and teaching you the Book and wisdom and teaching you that which you did not know.
fa-udh'kurūnī adhkur'kum wa-ush'kurū lī walā takfurūni
So remember Me; I will remember you. And be grateful to Me and do not deny Me.
yāayyuhā alladhīna āmanū is'taʿīnū bil-ṣabri wal-ṣalati inna l-laha maʿa l-ṣābirīna
O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allāh is with the patient.
walā taqūlū liman yuq'talu fī sabīli l-lahi amwātun bal aḥyāon walākin lā tashʿurūna
And do not say about those who are killed in the way of Allāh, "They are dead." Rather, they are alive, but you perceive [it] not.
walanabluwannakum bishayin mina l-khawfi wal-jūʿi wanaqṣin mina l-amwāli wal-anfusi wal-thamarāti wabashiri l-ṣābirīna
And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient,
alladhīna idhā aṣābathum muṣībatun qālū innā lillahi wa-innā ilayhi rājiʿūna
Who, when disaster strikes them, say, "Indeed we belong to Allāh, and indeed to Him we will return."
ulāika ʿalayhim ṣalawātun min rabbihim waraḥmatun wa-ulāika humu l-muh'tadūna
Those are the ones upon whom are blessings from their Lord and mercy. And it is those who are the [rightly] guided.
inna l-ṣafā wal-marwata min shaʿāiri l-lahi faman ḥajja l-bayta awi iʿ'tamara falā junāḥa ʿalayhi an yaṭṭawwafa bihimā waman taṭawwaʿa khayran fa-inna l-laha shākirun ʿalīmun
Indeed, aṣ-Ṣafā and al-Marwah are among the symbols of Allāh. So whoever makes ḥajj [pilgrimage] to the House or performs ʿumrah - there is no blame upon him for walking between them. And whoever volunteers good - then indeed, Allāh is Appreciative and Knowing.
inna alladhīna yaktumūna mā anzalnā mina l-bayināti wal-hudā min baʿdi mā bayyannāhu lilnnāsi fī l-kitābi ulāika yalʿanuhumu l-lahu wayalʿanuhumu l-lāʿinūna
Indeed, those who conceal what We sent down of clear proofs and guidance after We made it clear for the people in the Scripture - those are cursed by Allāh and cursed by those who curse,
illā alladhīna tābū wa-aṣlaḥū wabayyanū fa-ulāika atūbu ʿalayhim wa-anā l-tawābu l-raḥīmu
Except for those who repent and correct themselves and make evident [what they concealed]. Those - I will accept their repentance, and I am the Accepting of Repentance, the Merciful.