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Names

This surah is called Surat Al-Baqarah. [28] See: Al-Fayruzabadi: Basa?ir Dhawi At-Tamyiz, 1/134.
It was narrated from Abu Mas?ud ?Uqbah ibn ?Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: ?Whoever recites the two verses at the end of Surat Al-Baqarah at night, they will suffice him.? [29] Narrated by Al-Bukhari, 5008.
This surah and Surat Al ?Imran and called ?the two bright ones (Az-Zahrawayn).?
It was narrated that Abu Umamah Al-Bahili (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) say: ?Recite the Qur?an, for it will come on the Day of Resurrection interceding for its companions. Recite the two bright ones [30] The two bright ones (Az-Zahrawan): that is, the two radiant and shining ones. Az-Zahrawan is the dual of zahra?. See: Al-Jawhari: As-Sihah, 2/674; Ibn Al-Athir: An-Nihayah, 2/321; Az-Zabidi: Taj Al-?Arus, 11/479, 480. , Al-Baqarah and Surat Al ?Imran?? [31] Narrated by Muslim, 804.

Virtues and characteristics

This surah has several virtues, including the following:
It deters the Shaytan from entering the house in which it is recited:
It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: ?Do not make your houses like graveyards, for the Shaytan flees from a house in which Surat Al-Baqarah is recited.? [32] Narrated by Muslim, 780.
This surah and Al ?Imran will defend the one who recites them on the Day of Resurrection, and reciting it and acting in accordance with what is said in it will bring blessings to the one who does that.
It was narrated that Abu Umamah Al-Bahili (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) say: ?Recite the Qur?an, for it will come on the Day of Resurrection interceding for its companions. Recite the two bright ones, Al-Baqarah and Surat Al ?Imran, for they will come on the Day of Resurrection like two clouds or canopies, or like two dense flocks of birds, pleading on behalf of their companions. Recite Surat Al-Baqarah, for reciting it regularly is a blessing and forsaking it is a cause of regret, and the magicians cannot recite it.? [33] Narrated by Muslim, 804. ?
It was narrated that An-Nawwas ibn Sam?an Al-Kilabi (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I had the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) say: ?The Qur?an will be brought on the Day of Resurrection, as will its people who used to act in accordance with it, led by Surat Al-Baqarah and Al ?Imran.? And the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) likened them to three things, which I did not forget afterwards. He said: ?As if they are two clouds, or two black canopies, with light between them, or as if they are two flocks of birds in ranks, pleading on behalf of their companions.? [34] Narrated by Muslim, 805.
The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) held in high esteem the one who learned this surah and Al ?Imran:
It was narrated that Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: If a man learned Al-Baqarah and Al ?Imran, he would be held in high esteem among us. [35] Narrated by Ahmad, 12215; Al-Bayhaqi: As-Sunan As-Saghir, 789.
This surah includes verses of special virtue, namely Ayat Al-Kursi [36] Ayat Al-Kursi is superior to other verses, as is mentioned in the reports narrated concerning it, because it refers to the Oneness of Allah, veneration and praise of Him, and mention of His sublime attributes, and there is nothing that can be mentioned that is greater than the Lord of Glory. See: Jami? Masa?il Ibn Taymiyah, 3/288; Tafsir Al-Qasimi, 3/662. and the final verses of the surah.
a. It was narrated from Ubayy ibn Ka?b (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said to him: ?O Abu?l-Mundhir, do you know which verse from the Book of Allah that you have learned is greatest?? I said: Allah and His Messenger know best. He said: ?O Abu?l-Mundhir, do you know which verse from the Book of Allah that you have learned is greatest?? I said: Allah - there is no god worthy of worship except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of all existence Al-Baqarah 2:255. He struck me on the chest and said: ?I congratulate you on your knowledge, O Abu?l-Mundhir!? [37] Narrated by Muslim, 810.
b. It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: ?The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) appointed me to guard the Ramadan zakah. Someone came and started scooping up some of the food. I seized him and said, ?I am going to take you to the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him)!? He said, ?I am in need and I have children and am in great need.? So I let him go. The following morning, the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said, ?O Abu Hurayrah, what happened to the one you caught last night?? I said, ?O Messenger of Allah, he complained of being in great need and having children to look after, so I took pity on him and let him go.? He said, ?But he was lying to you, and he will be back.? So I knew that he would come back, because of what the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) had said, that he would be back. I lay in wait for him, and he came and started scooping up some of the food. I seized him and said, ?I am going to take you to the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him)!? He said, ?Let me go, for I am in need and I have children. I will not come back again.? So I took pity on him and let him go. The following morning, the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said to me, ?O Abu Hurayrah, what happened to the one you caught (last night)?? I said, ?O Messenger of Allah, he complained of being in great need and having children to look after, so I took pity on him and let him go.? He said, ?But he was lying to you, and he will be back.? So I lay in wait for him on the third night, and he came and started scooping up some of the food. I seized of him and said, ?I am going to take you to the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him)! This is the third and last time. You said that you would not come back, then you did come back.? He said, ?Let me go, and I will teach you some words by which Allah will benefit you.? I said, ?What are they?? He said, ?When you lie down in your bed, recite Ayat Al-Kursi, Allah - there is no god worthy of worship except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of all existence Al-Baqarah 2:255 until the end of the verse, for then you will have a protector from Allah and no shaytan (devil) will come near you until morning comes.? Then I let him go. The following morning, the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said, ?What happened to the one you caught last night?? I said, ?O Messenger of Allah, he claimed that he would teach me some words by which he said Allah would benefit me, then I let him go.? He asked, ?What are they?? I said, ?He told me, when you lie down in your bed, recite Ayat Al-Kursi, from the beginning to the end of the ayah, ?Allah - there is no god worthy of worship except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of all existence Al-Baqarah 2:255. And he told me, you will have a protector from Allah and no shaytan (devil) will come near you until morning comes.? ? And they the Companions were always keen to do good. ? The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: ?He indeed told you the truth, although he is a liar. Do you know who you have been speaking with for the past three nights, O Abu Hurayrah?? I said: No. He said:? ?That was a shaytan (a devil).? [38] Narrated by Al-Bukhari, 2311.
c. It was narrated from ?Uqbah ibn ?Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: ?Whoever recites the last two verses of Surat Al-Baqarah at night, they will suffice him [39] They will suffice him: that is, they will be sufficient and he will not have to pray qiyam that night. And it was said that what is meant is: they will protect him from any harm during that night. See: An-Nawawi: Sharh@ Muslim, 2/152. .? [40] Narrated by Al-Bukhari, 5008.
d. It was narrated that ?Abdullah ibn Mas?ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: When the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was taken on the Night Journey, he was taken as far as the Lote-Tree of the Utmost Boundary (Sidrat Al-Muntaha), which is in the sixth heaven. At that point everything that ascends to heaven stops and is taken from there, and everything that descends from above it stops and is taken from there. Allah says: When there covered the Lote Tree that which covered it An-Najm 53:16. He said: Moths of gold. And the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was given three things: he was given the five prayers, he was given the last verses of Surat Al-Baqarah, and those of his ummah who do not associate anything with Allah were to be forgiven for grievous sins that could cause them to enter the Fire. [41] Narrated by Muslim, 173.
e. It was narrated that Ibn ?Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Whilst Jibril was sitting with the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), he heard a creaking sound from above him. He raised his head and said: This is a door in heaven that has been opened today, and it has never been opened before today. An angel came down from it and he said: This is an angel who has come down to earth, and he has never come down before today. He greeted him with salaam and said: Glad tidings of two lights that have been granted to you and were not granted to any prophet before you: the Opening of the Book and the closing verses of Surat Al-Baqarah. You will never recite one letter of them but you will be given it. [42] Narrated by Muslim, 806.

Makki or Madani?

Surat Al-Baqarah is Madani, and it was narrated from a number of commentators that there was consensus on that. [43] Consensus regarding that was narrated by Ibn Taymiyah, Ibn Kathir, and Ash-Shinqiti. See: Ibn Taymiyah: Majmu? Al-Fatawa, 17/193; Tafsir Ibn Kathir, 1/155; Al-?Adhb An-Namir min Majalis Ash-Shinqiti fi?l-Tafsir, 2/362.

Objectives

The most important objectives of Surat Al-Baqarah include:
A focus on creed (?aqidah). This surah explains many fundamentals of creed, evidence for Tawhid and proofs of the resurrection. [44] See: Al-Biqa?i: Nazm Ad-Durar, 1/55.
Explaining some aspects of Islamic rulings, whether they have to do with acts of worship, family law, financial dealings, hadd punishments and so on. [45] See: Tafsir Ibn ?Ashur, 1/203.
Criticism of the Jewish scholars and highlighting their behaviour in the past and at the time of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him).The surah also exposes some of their beliefs and attitudes. [46] See: Al-Fayruzabadi: Basa?ir Dhawi?l-Tamyiz fi Lata?if Al-Kitab Al-?Aziz, 1/134; Muhammad ?Abdullah Draz: An-Naba? Al-?Azim, p. 221.

Topics

The most significant topics addressed in Surat Al-Baqarah include:
Describing different categories of people, as it divides them into three categories, namely: the believers, the disbelievers and the hypocrites.
The surah instructs all people to worship their Lord and mentions the great blessings that He has bestowed upon them, which prove that He Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, alone deserves to be worshipped. The surah also warns them of punishment if they do not comply with this command, and give glad tidings of what Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, has prepared of eternal bliss for those who do comply.
The beginning of human creation, and Allah?s conversation with His angels.
The story of Allah?s sending Adam down to earth and making his offspring successive generations, and the story of Adam and the Shaytan.
The most significant events that happened to the Children of Israel.
The story of how Ibrahim (peace be upon him) was tested with certain commands, his building the Ka?bah with his son Isma?il (peace be upon him), his advice to his sons and Ya?qub, and Ya?qub?s advice to his sons.
The surah highlights a number of Islamic rulings having to do with acts of worship, such as prayer, charity, fasting and Hajj; financial dealings such as riba (usury), debt and collateral (rahn); family matters such as marriage, divorce, ila? vow of abstinence from relations with one?s wife and different types of ?iddah waiting period following divorce or death of the husband; and other rulings.
Events in which Allah brought the dead back to life, including: the story of the slain Israelite; the story of those Israelites who were struck by the thunderbolt and killed; the story of those who left their homes in many thousands, fearing death; the story of the one who passed by a township which had fallen into ruin; and the story of Ibrahim (peace be upon him) and the birds.
The story of Talut and Jalut, and the group of Israelites after the time of Musa (peace be upon him).
The story of the one who disputed with Ibrahim (peace be upon him) about his Lord.
And the surah ends with a reminder to repent and turn back to Allah, and with a great and beautiful supplication.

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