Summary
Today’s selection is from Surah 2, Al-Baqarah or the Cow, verses 183-196. These verses concern fasting and prayer, as well as issues of defending one’s faith from aggressors during the month of Ramadan.
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Verses
Bis-millahi ar-rahman, ar-raheem.
In the name of Allah, most gracious, most merciful.O believers! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may become pious.[183] Fast the prescribed number of days; except if any of you is ill or on a journey, then fast a similar number of days later. For those who can not endure it for medical reasons, there is a ransom: the feeding of one poor person for each missed day. Whoever does more good than this voluntarily, it is better for him. However, if you truly understand the rationale of fasting, it is better for you to fast.[184] 2:[183-184]
It is the month of Ramadân in which the Qur’an was revealed, a guidance for mankind with clear teachings showing the Right Way and a criterion of truth and falsehood. Therefore, anyone of you who witnesses that month should fast therein, and whoever is ill or on a journey shall fast a similar number of days later on. Allah intends your well-being and does not want to put you to hardship. He wants you to complete the prescribed period so that you should glorify His Greatness and render thanks to Him for giving you guidance.[185] 2:[185]
When my servants question you about Me, tell them that I am very close to them. I answer the prayer of every suppliant when he calls Me; therefore, they should respond to Me and believe in Me, so that they may be rightly guided.[186] 2:[186]
It is made lawful for you to approach your wives during the nights of the fasts; they are an apparel for you and you for them. Allah knows that you were committing dishonesty to your souls. So He has relented towards you and pardoned you. Now, you may approach your wives and seek what Allah has ordained for you. Eat and drink until the white thread of dawn appears to you distinct from the black thread of night, then complete your fast till nightfall. Do not approach your wives during I‘tikâf (retreat in the mosques for certain period with intention to worship Allah). These are the limits set by Allah: do not ever violate them. Thus Allah makes His revelations clear to mankind so that they may become pious.[187] 2:[187]
Do not misappropriate one another’s property unjustly, nor bribe the judges, in order to misappropriate a part of other people’s property, sinfully and knowingly.[188] 2:[188]
They question you about the new moons. Tell them: they are to determine the periods of time for the benefit of mankind and for the Hajj (pilgrimage). It is not righteous to enter your houses from the back doors during Hajj times. Righteousness is to fear Allah. Enter your houses through the proper doors and fear Allah so that you may prosper.[189] 2:[189]
Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight against you, but do not exceed the limits. Allah does not like transgressors.[190] Kill them wherever they confront you in combat and drive them out of the places from which they have driven you. Though killing is bad, creating mischief is worse than killing. Do not fight them within the precincts of the Al-Masjid-al-Harâm unless they attack you there; but if they attack you, put them to the sword; that is the punishment for such unbelievers.[191] If they cease hostility, then surely, Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.[192] Fight against them until there is no more disorder and Allah’s supremacy is established. If they desist, let there be no hostility except against the oppressors.[193] 2:[190-193]
The Sacred month, in which fighting is prohibited, is to be respected if the same is respected by the enemy: sacred things too are subject to retaliation. Therefore, if anyone transgresses a prohibition and attacks you, retaliate with the same force. Fear Allah, and bear in mind that Allah is with the righteous.[194] 2:[194]
Give generously for the cause of Allah and do not cast yourselves into destruction by your own hands. Be charitable: Allah loves those who are charitable.[195] 2:[195]
Complete the Hajj (obligatory pilgrimage to Makkah) and the Umrah (optional visit to Makkah) for the sake of Allah. If you are prevented from proceeding, then send such offering for sacrifice as you can afford and do not shave your head until the offerings have reached their destination. But, if any of you is ill or has an ailment in his scalp, which necessitates shaving, he must pay ransom either by fasting or feeding the poor or offering a sacrifice. If, in peacetime, anyone wants to take the advantage of performing Umrah and Hajj together, he should make an offering which he can afford; but if he cannot afford it, he should fast three days during the Hajj and seven days on his return making ten days in all. This order is for the one whose household is not in the precincts of Al-Masjid AlHarâm. Fear Allah and know that Allah is strict in retribution.[196] 2:[196]
Ameen.
This concludes our bonus episode of the 17 Verses podcast. I hope this selection has helped increase your understanding of the holy Qur’an just a little bit. Good luck and Ramadan Kareem to all of you during this month. Thank you and be well.