SHORT REMINDERS FROM SURAH BAQARAH

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This Book has no doubt in it - a guidance for the God-fearing (2:2)

Surely for those who have disbelieved, it is all the same whether you warn them or you warn them not: they do not believe. (2:6)

...the Qur’ān was revealed as guidance for mankind, and as clear signs that show the right way and distinguish between right and wrong… (2:185)

When we study the Quran with an open heart, we find it a treasure, recognizing the truth of revelation. Consequently, if we study it with malice or discord, it will become a source of misguidance for us

The human soul craves permeance, companionship and beauty, all of which are promised to us by Allah in Jannah

And when We said to the angels: “Prostrate yourselves before ’Ādam!” So, they prostrated themselves, all but Iblīs (Satan). He refused, and became one of the infidels. (2:34)

We must guard our heart against arrogance, because it can ruin our deen and dunya. To counter arrogance, we should engage in self reflection; be so focused on improving your own flaws, that you don’t look towards gloating about your strengths, accept and acknowledge your mistakes, be the one to apologize first, make peace with others, be the one to offer Salaam first, and do tasks you would have considered ‘beneath you’

Then ’Ādam learned certain words (to pray with) from his Lord; so, Allah accepted his repentance. No doubt, He is the Most-Relenting, the Very-Merciful. (2:37)

Man is fallible, and will continue to make mistakes, however, as believers, it is upon us to keep repenting for our sins. Accept your weakness in not being able to obey the commands set down by Allah, repent, and make dua to have istaqama, rather than rationalizing or justifying your sins

Seek help through patience and prayer. It is indeed exacting, but not for those who are humble in their hearts, (2:45)

Patience entails reminding ourselves at every step that something better will emerge, but this mindframe comes with practice and strengthening our relationship with Allah—work on improving the quality of your salah to achieve beautiful patience

Whenever Allah bestows us with triumph, victory or grace, the response of a believer should be humility and gratitude, of attributing their success to Allah alone, rather than gloating in their own abilities

There is infinite wisdom behind the hurdles Allah makes us go through, if He wills, He can do anything without any effort from us

The stories Allah mentions in the Quran are lessons for the believers, for them to ponder over them and be mindful of our actions

Not repenting from your sins blackens the heart, and too many layers of it can make the heart impermeable: a sign of this is not feeling remorse or regret when we sin. Introspection over our conduct removes these layers

As for those who believe, and do good deeds, they are the people of Paradise - there they will live forever. (2:82)

And be steadfast in Salāh (prayer), and give Zakāh. Whatever good you send forth for yourselves, you will find it with Allah. Certainly, Allah is watchful of what you do. (2:110)

Allah will not allow your faith go to waste. Certainly Allah is very kind, very merciful to the people. (2:143)

No matter how small the deed may be, if we have done good in this world, we will find it with Allah. go to waste. There are times when our sacrifices and efforts go unseen in daily life, but we should find solace in the fact that nothing goes to waste in the court of Allah, He is All-Watching.

Do you think that you will enter Paradise while you have not yet been visited by (difficult) circumstances like those that were faced by the people who passed away before you? They were afflicted by hardship and suffering, and were so shaken down that the prophet, and those who believed with him, started saying: “When (will come) the help of Allah?” (Then, they were comforted by the Prophet who said to them) ‘Behold, the help of Allah is near.’ (2:214)

Tests and trials will come to us throughout our lives, however their frequency, nature and intensity will vary and change with the stages of our life; some tests will be through fear, some through loss of provision, some through loss of relationships

Loving Allah will never result in hurt, whereas in any other relationship or activity or person, we cannot guarantee that we won’t be disappointed or won’t get hurt. Loving Allah means knowing that He will never turn away from us

Yet, those who repent and correct and declare (what they used to conceal), their repentance is accepted by Me. I am the Most-Relenting, the Most-Merciful. (2:160)

You could be as pure and sin free as a newborn baby, but should still continue to seek forgiveness, because we fail to worship Allah in the way He deserves

Righteousness is not (merely) that you turn your faces to the East and the West; but righteousness is that one believes in Allah and the Last Day and the angels and the Book and the Prophets, and gives wealth, despite (his) love for it, to relatives, and to orphans, the helpless,the wayfarer, and to those who ask, and (spends) in (freeing) slaves and observes the Salāh (prayers) and pays Zakah-and (the act of) those who fulfill their covenant when they enter into a covenant, and, of course, those who are patient in hardship and suffering and when in battle! Those are the ones who are truthful, and those are the God - fearing. (2:177)

Adorned is the present life for those who disbelieve, and they laugh at those who believe, while those who fear Allah shall be above them on the Day of Resurrection. Allah gives provision to whom He wills without measure. (2:212)

This world has been adorned for those who disbelieve. If we are living in this world like this is our final place, then we will be imitating the believers. We live in this dunya with the mindsight that living here will lead to our next life, that the dunya is a mere resting place towards our destination, and that we are to live here according to the manual Allah had give us

The origin of your blessings is from Allah, therefore your giving in charity is actually giving not from yourself, but from what Allah has given you

Sincerity in action elevates that action, so even a small amount of charity with good intentions can weigh heavy. Similarly, not having the correct intentions or boasting of your good deeds can make the deed null and void in reward

Allah is the one who decides what is right or wrong, it is not up to us with our small and limited minds to decide what is halal or haram. Every rule in the shariah has a wisdom behind it, one we cannot usually see. 

And when you said, “Mūsā , we will no longer confine ourselves to a single food: So, pray for us to your Lord that He may bring forth for us of what the earth grows - of its vegetable, its cucumbers, its wheat, its lentils and its onions.” He said, “Do you want to take what is inferior in exchange for what is better? Go down to a town, and you will have what you ask for.” Then they were stamped with disgrace and misery, and they returned with wrath from Allah… (2:61)

They said, “Pray for us to your Lord that He makes it clear to us what sort (of cow) should she be.” He said, “He says she should be a cow neither too old, nor too young - of some middle age in between. Now, do what you are being asked to do.” (2:68)

So, woe to those who write the Book with their hands and then say, “This is from Allah”, so that they may gain thereby a trifling price. Then, woe to them for what their hands have written, and woe to them for what they earn. (2:79)

O you who believe, eat of the good things We have provided to you and be grateful to Allah, if it is He whom you worship (in real terms). (2:172)

Do not be like the Bani Israel, who were ungrateful despite Allah’s abundant mercy, who got into the nitty gritty of commandments and made their own task difficult, who returned to shirk after Allah’s help, who changed the scripture for worldly gains, who made a mockery of Allah’s commands and tried to find loopholes in order to fulfill their desires