what they had formerly worshipped. This test was indeed a hard one since they were not fully imbued with faith. Hence, they tried to shelve the issue by resorting to enquiries about the kind of animal they were required to slaughter. But the more they enquired, the narrower the strait became for them, until the indications were as obvious as if someone had put his finger precisely on the particular animal they were required to slaughter – the animal which had for so long been an object of their worship.
20
Al-Baqarah 2: 75–8
(75) Do you hope that these people will believe in the Message you are preaching,29 even though a party of them has been wont to listen to the Word of Allah and after they had fully grasped it, knowingly distorted it? (76) And when they meet those who believe (in Muhammad) they say: “We too believe in him.” But in their intimate meetings they say to one another: “How foolish! Why should you intimate to them what Allah has revealed to you, for they will use it as argument against you before your Lord?” (77) Are they unaware that Allah knows all that they hide and all that they disclose? (78) Among them are also the unlettered folk who do not know about the Scriptures but cherish baseless wishes and merely follow their conjectures. ▶
29 This is addressed to the converts of Madinah, who had then lately affirmed their faith in the Prophet (peace be on him). These people had some vague notions about Prophethood, Heavenly Scriptures, Angels, the After-Life, Divine Law and so on, and for this they were indebted to their Jewish neighbours. They naturally expected that those who already followed Prophets and Divine Scriptures, and who, by introducing them to these ideas had contributed to their embracing the true faith, would not only join the ranks of the true believers, but would even be amongst their vanguard.
21
Al-Baqarah 2: 79–83
(79) Woe, then, to those who write out the Scriptures with their own hands and then, in order to make a trifling gain, claim: “This is from Allah.” Woe to them for what their hands have written and woe to them for what they thus earn. (80) They say: “The Fire will certainly not touch us except for a limited number of days.” Say (to them): “Have you received a promise from Allah – for Allah never breaks His promise – or do you attribute to Allah something about which you have no knowledge?” (81) Those who earn evil and are encompassed by their sinfulness are the people of the Fire, and there will they abide; (82) those who believe and do righteous deeds are the people of the Garden, and there will they abide.
(83) And recall when We made a covenant with the Children of Israel: “You shall serve none but Allah and do good to parents, kinsmen, orphans and the needy; you shall speak kindly to people, ▶
22
Al-Baqarah 2: 84–5
and establish Prayer and give Zakah (Purifying Alms). And yet, except for a few of you, you turned back on this covenant, and you are still backsliders. (84) And recall when We made a covenant with you, that you shall not shed one another’s blood, and shall not turn out one another from your homelands; you confirmed it, and you yourselves are witnesses to it. (85) And here you are, killing one another, turning out a party of your own from their homelands, aiding one another against them in sin and enmity, and if they come to you as captives you ransom them although the very act of expelling them was unlawful to you. Do you believe in a part of the Scripture and reject the rest? What else, then, could be the retribution of those among you who do this than that they should live in degradation in the present life, and that on the Day of Resurrection they should be sent to the severest chastisement? Allah is not heedless of what you do. ▶
23
Al-Baqarah 2: 86–9
(86) These are the ones who have bought the present life in exchange for the World to Come. Their chastisement shall not be lightened, nor shall they be helped.
(87) Surely We gave Moses the Scripture and caused a train of Messengers to follow him and then sent Jesus, the son of Mary, with Clear Proofs and supported him with the spirit of holiness.30 But is it not true that every time a Messenger brought to you something that was not to your liking, you acted arrogantly: you called some Messengers liars and killed others? (88) They say: “Our hearts are well-protected.” No! The fact is that Allah has cursed them because of their denying the Truth. So, scarcely do they believe. (89) And now that there has come to them a Book from Allah, how are they treating it? Even though it confirms the Truth already in their possession, ▶
30 The “spirit of holiness” signifies the knowledge derived through revelation. It also signifies the angel Gabriel who brought this revelation. It also denotes the holy spirit of Jesus, the spirit which God had endowed with angelic character.
24
Al-Baqarah 2: 90–1
and even though they had prayed for victory against the unbelievers,31 and yet when that Book came to them – and they recognized it – they refused to acknowledge its Truth. Allah’s curse be upon the unbelievers. (90) Evil indeed is what they console themselves with.32 They deny the guidance revealed by Allah, grudging that He chose to bestow His gracious bounty (of revelation and prophethood) on some of His servants whom He willed.33 Thus they have brought on themselves wrath after wrath, and a humiliating chastisement is in store for such unbelievers.
(91) When they are told: “Believe in what Allah has revealed,” they say: ▶
31 Before the advent of the Prophet (peace be on him), the Jews were eagerly awaiting a Prophet whose coming had been prophesied by their own Prophets. In fact, the Jews used to pray for his advent so that the dominance of the unbelievers could come to an end and the age of their own dominance be ushered in.
32 Another possible rendering of the same verse is: “And how evil is that for the sake of which they had sold themselves,” i.e. for the sake of which they had sacrificed their ultimate happiness and salvation.
33 They had longed for the promised Prophet to arise from among their own ranks. But when he arose among a different people, a people they despised, they decided to reject him. Their attitude bordered on saying that when God wants to raise a Prophet He should consult them and should abide by their opinion.
25
Al-Baqarah 2: 92–5