Surah al-Baqarah (Verses 87 to 96) Explained

We gave Moses the Book and followed him up with a succession of messengers; We gave Jesus the son of Mary Clear (Signs) and strengthened him with the holy spirit. Is it that whenever there comes to you a messenger with what ye yourselves desire not, ye are puffed up with pride?- Some ye called impostors, and others ye slay!‎ (2:87)

They say, "Our hearts are the wrappings (which preserve Allah's Word: we need no more)." Nay, Allah's curse is on them for their blasphemy: Little is it they believe.‎ (2:88)
And when there comes to them a Book from Allah, confirming what is with them,- although from of old they had prayed for victory against those without Faith,- when there comes to them that which they (should) have recognised, they refuse to believe in it but the curse of Allah is on those without Faith.‎ (2:89)
Miserable is the price for which they have sold their souls, in that they deny (the revelation) which Allah has sent down, in insolent envy that Allah of His Grace should send it to any of His servants He pleases: Thus have they drawn on themselves Wrath upon Wrath. And humiliating is the punishment of those who reject Faith.‎ (2:90)

When it is said to them, "Believe in what Allah Hath sent down, "they say, "We believe in what was sent down to us:" yet they reject all besides, even if it be Truth confirming what is with them. Say: "Why then have ye slain the prophets of Allah in times gone by, if ye did indeed believe?"‎ (2:91)

There came to you Moses with clear (Signs); yet ye worshipped the calf (Even) after that, and ye did behave wrongfully.‎ (2:92)

And remember We took your covenant and We raised above you (the towering height) of Mount (Sinai): (Saying): "Hold firmly to what We have given you, and hearken (to the Law)": They said:" We hear, and we disobey:" And they had to drink into their hearts (of the taint) of the calf because of their Faithlessness. Say: "Vile indeed are the behests of your Faith if ye have any faith!"‎ (2:93)

Say: "If the last Home, with Allah, be for you specially, and not for anyone else, then seek ye for death, if ye are sincere."‎ (2:94)

But they will never seek for death, on account of the (sins) which their hands have sent on before them. and Allah is well-acquainted with the wrong-doers.‎ (2:95)

Thou wilt indeed find them, of all people, most greedy of life,-even more than the idolaters: Each one of them wishes He could be given a life of a thousand years: But the grant of such life will not save him from (due) punishment. For Allah sees well all that they do.‎ (2:96)

AL-KITAB

In verse No. 87 the book refered to is the Torah which contained all the covenants made by the Banu Isra’il with Allah Almighty. The most significant of those covenants was to believe in Prophets of every time and to obey them and to honour and respect them.

The Holy Qur’an says:

Those who follow the Messenger, the Prophet who can neither read nor write (i.e.Muhammad ) whom they find written with them In the Taurât (Torah) (Deut, xviii, 15) and the Injeel (Gospel) (John xiv, 16) , - He commands them for Al-Ma'rûf (i.e. Islâmic Monotheism and All that Islâm has ordained); and forbids them from Al-Munkar (i.e. disbelief, polytheism of All kinds, and All that Islâm has forbidden); He allows them as lawful At-Taiyibât [(i.e. All good and lawful) as regards things, deeds, beliefs, persons, foods, etc.], and prohibits them as unlawful Al-Khabâ'ith (i.e. All evil and unlawful as regards things, deeds, beliefs, persons, foods, etc.), He releases them from their heavy burdens (of Allâh's Covenant), and from the fetters (bindings) that were upon them. so those who believe In Him (Muhammad), honour him, help him, and follow the light (the Qur'ân) which has been sent down with him, it is they who will be successful .

Say (O Muhammad ): "O mankind! Verily, I am sent to You All as the Messenger of Allâh - to whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. Lâ ilâha illa Huwa (none has the Right to be worshipped but He); it is He who gives life and causes death. so believe In Allâh and his Messenger (Muhammad), the Prophet who can neither read nor write (i.e. Muhammad ) who believes In Allâh and his Words [(this Qur'ân), the Taurât (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel) and also Allâh's Word: "Be!" - and He was, i.e. 'Iesa (Jesus) son of Maryam (Mary),], and follow Him so that You may be guided." [7:157 and 158]

THE CONTINUOUS ARRIVAL OF THE PROPHETS FROM THE PERIOD OF HADRAT MUSA(علیہ السلام) AND HADRAT `ISA (علیہ السلام)

Four thousand prophets (عَلَیۡہِم ُالسَّلَام) came during the said period.They were all protectors of the Shari`at of Hadrat Musa (علیہ السلام) as the Prophet hood was to come to an end on the arrival of Hadrat Muhammad Mustafa Ahmad Mujtaba (صلی اللہ علیہ و آ لہ وسلم) hence the protection and further dissemination of the Shari`at Muhammadaiyyah was made the duty of the God fearing scholars and the mujaddidin of the Millat.

MIRACLES BESTOWED UPON HADRAT `ISA (علیہ السلام)

Hadrat `Isa (علیہ السلام) was born without father and is called Ibn Maryam.

By the leave of Allah,-

he made the dead alive

he made the born blind a healthy seeing person,

he healed the leper,

he created the birds, and

he informed of the unseen.

RUH AL-QDUS

This refers to Hadrat Jibra’il (علیہ السلام), the Arch Angel, the Sacred Spirit, who brings revlation which causes life to the deadened hearts. He was commanded to live with Hadrat `Isa (علیہ السلام). When Hadrat `Isa (علیہ السلام) became 33 years old he was raised high into the heavens. During all that period Hadrat Jibra’il (علیہ السلام) never left Hadrat `Isa (علیہ السلام) alone whether at home or at journey. The support of Ruh al-Quds is a majestic merit of Hadrat `isa (علیہ السلام). For the sake of the last Messenger of Allah (صلی اللہ علیہ و آ لہ وسلم) Allah Almighty also blessed some of the Ummatis of the last Messenger of Allah (صلی اللہ علیہ و آ لہ وسلم) with the support of Ruh al-Quds. It is mentioned in the Sahih al-Bukhari that for Hadrat Hassan bin Thabit (رضی اللہ تعالی عنہ ) the dice was set and he recited eulogy of the Messenger of Allah (صلی اللہ علیہ و آ لہ وسلم) and the Messenger of Allah (صلی اللہ علیہ و آ لہ وسلم) supplicated before Allah Almighty for him saying : اللھم ایدہ بروح القدس (O God! Support him with the Sacred Soul).

Despite all these favours the Banu Isra’il did not stop their arrogance even to the least.

BAD HABITS OF THE JEWS

When the Jews found the Divine commandments against their vain desires they denied them and finding every opportunity to kill the Prophets as the day did kill Hadrat Sha`ya (علیہ السلام) and Hadrat Zakariyya (علیہ السلام). They also tried their level best to kill the Messenger of Allah (صلی اللہ علیہ و آ لہ وسلم) and at times attacked with sorcery and at times gave poison and made many plots to kill him.

THE JEWS MOCKED AT THE DIVIN GUIDANCE

The Jews argued that there was cover over their hearts. This was a remark of playing joke with the Divine message. They said that the guidance provided by the last Messenger of Allah (صلی اللہ علیہ و آ لہ وسلم) had no way to reach their hearts. Allah Almighty refuted their argument and said that they were faithless and liars. All hearts have been created on the nature and they are blessed with the capability to accept the True message. It is the eveil consequence of their denial after acceptance of the favour i.e. knowing the Prophethood and Messengership of the Messenger of Allah (صلی اللہ علیہ و آ لہ وسلم), hence they were deprived of the favour of acceptance of Islam. Allah Almighty has cursed them and they have been deprived of the favour of acceptance of the truth.

At another place Allah Almighty has described the consequence of their evil attitude. The Holy Qur’an says;

Because of their breaking the covenant, and of their rejecting the Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allâh, and of their killing the Prophets unjustly, and of their saying: "Our hearts are wrapped (with coverings, i.e. we do not understand what the Messengers say)" - Nay, Allâh has set a seal upon their hearts because of their disbelief, so they believe not but a little. [4:155]إِنَّمَا السَّبِيلُ عَلَى الَّذِينَ يَسْتَأْذِنُونَكَ وَهُمْ أَغْنِيَاءُ ۚ رَضُوا بِأَنْ يَكُونُوا مَعَ الْخَوَالِفِ وَطَبَعَ اللَّهُ عَلَى قُلُوبِهِمْ فَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ (9:93)The ground (of complaint) is against such as claim exemption while they are rich. They prefer to stay with the (women) who remain behind: Allah hath sealed their hearts; so they know not (What they miss).‎ (9:93)أُولَئِكَ الَّذِينَ طَبَعَ اللَّهُ عَلَى قُلُوبِهِمْ وَسَمْعِهِمْ وَأَبْصَارِهِمْ ۖ وَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْغَافِلُونَ(16:108)Those are they whose hearts, ears, and eyes Allah has sealed up, and they take no heed.‎ (16:108)وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَسْتَمِعُ إِلَيْكَ حَتَّى إِذَا خَرَجُوا مِنْ عِنْدِكَ قَالُوا لِلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ مَاذَا قَالَ آنِفًا ۚ أُولَئِكَ الَّذِينَ طَبَعَ اللَّهُ عَلَى قُلُوبِهِمْ وَاتَّبَعُوا أَهْوَاءَهُمْ

And among them are men who listen to thee, but in the end, when they go out from thee, they say to those who have received Knowledge, "What is it he said just then?" Such are men whose hearts Allah has sealed, and who follow their own lusts

(47:16)

Then after him We sent (many) messengers to their peoples: they brought them Clear Signs, but they would not believe what they had already rejected beforehand. Thus do We seal the hearts of the transgressors.

(‎ (10:74

Such were the towns whose story We (thus) relate unto thee: There came indeed to them their messengers with clear (signs): But they would not believe what they had rejected before. Thus doth Allah seal up the hearts of those who reject faith

‎ (7:101)

Thus does Allah seal up the hearts of those who understand not.‎ (30:59)

(40:35)"

(Such) as dispute about the Signs of Allah, without any authority that hath reached them, grievous and odious (is such conduct) in the sight of Allah and of the Believers. Thus doth Allah, seal up every heart - of arrogant and obstinate Transgressors."‎ (40:35)

They prefer to be with (the women), who remain behind (at home): their hearts are sealed and so they understand not.‎ (9:87)

That is because they believed, then they rejected Faith: So a seal was set on their hearts: therefore they understand not.‎ (63:3)

In short, Allah Almighty does not misguide anyone. It is the attitude and behaviour of the person which causes his deprivation from Divine Guidance. Disbeleif, pride, arrogance, following carnal desires, commission of excesses, lack of knowledge, exercising force and compulsion upon innocent people and deny their lawful rights to them, are the manifest causes of such deprivation.

JEWS USED TO ASK FOR VICTORY OVER THEIR ENEMIES BY INVOKING THE SACRED NAME OF THE LAST MESSENGER OF ALLAH (صلی اللہ علیہ و آ لہ وسلم):

This did the forefathers of the Jews and is well known to the generations of the Jews. The Jews supplicated: اَللّھُمَّ افۡتَحۡ عَلَیۡنَا وَانۡصُرۡنَا بِالنّبِیِّ الامیّ [(O God! Grant us victory for the sake of the unlettered Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ و آ لہ وسلم)] but when Hadrat Muhammad (صلی اللہ علیہ و آ لہ وسلم) came and declared that “There is no God save Allah and Hadrat Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah
(صلی اللہ علیہ و آ لہ وسلم) لا الہ الا اللہ محمد رسول اللہ they became his enemies. They apprehended that now on ward their chieftainship will be no more there nor any fraudulent behaviour would be used by them. They also know it fully well that all truth was with the last Messenger of Allah

(صلی اللہ علیہ و آ لہ وسلم) and that believing in him was the only way to get salvationin the Hereafter.

In Tafsir Jalalayn the supplication of the Jews is mentioned in the following words:

اللھم انصرنا علیہم بالنبی المبعوث آخرالزمان

O God! Give us victory on the (enemy/the disbelievers) for the sake of the Holy Prophet who will be raised in the Last of all times.

[Tafsir Jalalayn, p. 14]

It shows that the supplication is accepted by the wasilah of the people who are the accepted ones in the Divine Court.

It also come to light that there was much awareness among the people about the arrival of the Messenger of Allah (صلی اللہ علیہ و آ لہ وسلم) and even at that time the people used his sacred name for fulfilment of their wants and needs.

DENIAL OF THE DIVINE MESSAGE AND THE DIVINE MESSENGER BY THE JEWS WAS A BAD BARGAIN ON THEIR PART

A person must do that which is good for this final release on the Day of judgment. The bargain the Jews struck by way of denying the Divine Message and the last Messenger of Allah

(صلی اللہ علیہ و آ لہ وسلم) was not good. It has darkened their whole career Here and brought them to the worst consequence in the Hereafter.

JEALOUSY

The Jews expected the arrival of the Last Prophet and Messenger among them but they forgot that it was the favour of Allah and it is His pleasure and will to choose any people for any of his favours. This favour came to the lot of Banu Isma’il. This generated jealousy in the hearts of the Banu Isra’il and they committed wrong after wrong.

Jealousy is unlawful and cause of all deprivations.

WRATH OF GOD

The denial of the truth brought angerof God on the Jews and they became guilty of many wrongs and thus liable to many kinds of punishments.

THE HONOUR AND RESPECT BELONGS TO ALLAH ALMIGHTY

The Holy Qur’an says:

None of Our revelations do We abrogate or cause to be forgotten, but We substitute something better or similar: Knowest thou not that Allah Hath power over all things?‎ (2:106)

Yea, to those who take for friends unbelievers rather than believers: is it honour they seek among them? Nay,- all honour is with Allah.‎ (4:139)

Let not their speech grieve thee: for all power and honour belong to Allah: It is He Who heareth and knoweth (all things).(10:65)
So they threw their ropes and their rods, and said: "By the might of Pharaoh, it is we who will certainly win!"‎ (26:44)

Whosoever desires honour, power and Glory Then to Allâh belong All honour, power and Glory [and one can get honour, power and Glory Only by obeying and worshipping Allâh (Alone)]. to Him ascend (all) the goodly words, and the righteous deeds exalt it (the goodly Words i.e. the goodly Words are not accepted by Allâh unless and until they are followed by good deeds), but those who plot evils, Theirs will be Severe torment. and the plotting of such will perish. [35:10]

Glorified be Your Lord, the Lord of honour and Power! (He is Free) from what they attribute unto him! [37:180]

Nay, those who desbelieve are In false pride and opposition. [38:2]

They (hyprocrites) say: "If we return to Al-Madinah, indeed the more honourable ('Abdullah bin Ubai bin Salul, the chief of hyprocrites at Al-­Madinah) will expel therefrom the meaner (i.e. Allah's Messenger Sal-Allahu 'alayhi Wa Sallam)." but honour, power and Glory belong to Allah, his Messenger (Muhammad Sal-Allahu 'alayhi Wa Sallam), and to the believers, but the hypocrites know not. [63:8]

THE MOST DISGRACEFUL PUNISHMENT IS THE CONSEQUENCE OF DENIAL OF DIVINE MESSAGE AND DENIAL OF THE LAST MESSENGER OF ALLAH (صلی اللہ علیہ و آ لہ وسلم)

There are three kinds of persons, namely,

(1) On whom there has been the favour Allah Almighty

(2) On whom there has been the Wrath of Allah Almighty

(3) Those who are misled.

In each Rak`at of prayer, a Muslim recites Surah Fatihah which contains the suppplication:

In the Name of Allâh, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.

1. All the praises and thanks be to Allâh, the Lord of the 'Alamîn (mankind, jinns and All that exists).

2. the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.

3. the Only Owner (and the Only Ruling Judge) of the Day of Recompense (i.e. the Day of Resurrection)

4. You (Alone) we worship, and You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything).

5. Guide us to the Straight Way

6. the Way of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace,

7. not (the way) of those who earned Your Anger (such as the Jews), nor of those who went astray (such as the Christians). [1: 1 to 7]

In Surah al-Nisa’ those on whom Allah Almighty has bestowed His Grace have been mentioned as under:

And whoso obeys Allâh and the Messenger (Muhammad), Then they will be In the company of those on whom Allâh has bestowed his Grace, of the Prophets, the Siddiqûn (those followers of the Prophets who were first and foremost to believe in them, like Abu Bakr As­-Siddiq ), the martyrs, and the righteous. and How excellent these companions are! [4:69]