Quran Chapter 2

Surah Al-Baqarah (Chapter 2 of the Quran) – A Linguistic Breakdown Based on Arabic Roots

Surah Al-Baqarah (The Cow) is the longest chapter in the Quran (286 verses). Below is an explanation based on the Arabic lexical meanings, avoiding theological interpretations (tafsir) as much as possible.

Key Themes & Structure (Based on Arabic Words):

Classification of Humanity (Verses 1-39)
Stories of Past Nations (Verses 40-141)
Legislations & Commandments (Verses 142-283)
Final Supplication & Conclusion (Verses 284-286)

Verse-by-Verse Breakdown (Selected Key Verses):

1. Opening Letters – الم (Alif-Lam-Meem)

These are Huroof Muqatta’at (disjointed letters), unique to the Quran.
Their exact meaning is known only to Allah (no human explanation is definitive).

2. ذَٰلِكَ الْكِتَابُ لَا رَيْبَ ۛ فِيهِ ۛ هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ

Dhalika (ذَٰلِكَ): “That” (pointing to something distant or significant).
Al-Kitab (الْكِتَابُ): “The Book” (written scripture).
La rayba (لَا رَيْبَ): “No doubt.”
Fihi (فِيهِ): “In it.”
Hudan (هُدًى): “Guidance.”
Lil-Muttaqeen (لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ): “For the God-conscious” (from taqwa – fear, mindfulness).
Literal Meaning: “That Book—there is no doubt in it—is guidance for the God-conscious.”

3. الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْغَيْبِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ

Yu’minoona (يُؤْمِنُونَ): “They believe” (from Iman – faith, trust).
Bil-Ghayb (بِالْغَيْبِ): “In the unseen.”
Yuqeemoona (يُقِيمُونَ): “They establish” (from Iqamah – to set upright).
As-Salah (الصَّلَاةَ): “The prayer” (connection, supplication).
Razaqnahum (رَزَقْنَاهُمْ): “We have provided them.”
Yunfiqoon (يُنفِقُونَ): “They spend” (charity, giving).
Literal Meaning: “Who believe in the unseen, establish prayer, and spend from what We have provided them.”

4. وَالَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمَا أُنزِلَ مِن قَبْلِكَ وَبِالْآخِرَةِ هُمْ يُوقِنُونَ

Unzila (أُنزِلَ): “Was revealed.”
Ilayka (إِلَيْكَ): “To you” (Muhammad).
Min qablika (مِن قَبْلِكَ): “Before you” (previous scriptures).
Al-Akhirah (الْآخِرَةِ): “The Hereafter.”
Yooqinoon (يُوقِنُونَ): “They are certain” (firm belief).
Literal Meaning: “And who believe in what was revealed to you and what was revealed before you, and are certain of the Hereafter.”

Key Stories & Commands (Based on Arabic Roots):

The Story of Adam (Verses 30-39)

Khalifah (خَلِيفَةً): “Successor” or “representative” (Adam’s role on Earth).
Sajada (سَجَدَ): “Prostrated” (angels bowing to Adam).
Iblis (إِبْلِيسَ): “Devil” (from balasa – despair, or Greek diabolos).

The Cow (Verses 67-73)

Baqarah (بَقَرَةً): “Cow” (a test for Bani Israel).
Dharaba (اضْرِبُوهُ): “Strike” (reviving a murdered man by striking the cow).

Change of Qiblah (Verses 142-150)

Qiblah (قِبْلَةَ): “Direction of prayer” (shift from Jerusalem to Kaaba).

Laws & Ethics (Selected Examples)

Riba (رِبًا): “Usury/interest” (forbidden).
Jihad (جِهَادٍ): “Struggle” (not always warfare; includes spiritual effort).

Final Supplication (Verse 286)

لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا

Yukallifu (يُكَلِّفُ): “Burden.”
Nafsan (نَفْسًا): “A soul.”
Illā wus’aha (إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا): “Except its capacity.”
Literal Meaning: “Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity.”

Summary of Surah Al-Baqarah (Based on Arabic Words):

Guidance is for those who believe in the unseen, pray, and give charity.
Stories of past nations (Adam, Bani Israel) serve as lessons.
Laws on worship, finance, and ethics are established.
Allah does not overburden His servants.