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Sura Al-Baqara (Arabic: سورة البقرة‎, Sūratu l-Baqarah, "[The Cow]") is the longest sura (chapter) of the Qur'an. The chapter comprises 286 ayat (verses) and the verse 282 is the single longest verse in the Qur'an.^[1] The famous Ayat ul Kursi (Verse 255) is also part of this Surah. The last two verses of the chapter are also of special importance.^[2]

Overview

The Sura's name is in reference to an argument between the Prophet Moses and the Israelites over a cow they should sacrifice after the order of Allah (God). Thereafter, in order to know the murderer of a slain man, the flesh of the cow was used to hit the body that turned the man alive again, so he addressed the murderer. (see ^{[Qur'an 2:67]}). (Not to be confused with the popular biblical incident where Moses prohibited worshiping a Calf idol, referenced elsewhere in the chapter.)

It is a Medinan sura; most of it is believed to have been revealed during the first two years after the Hijra. Some sections (for instance, the verses prohibiting interest on loans) were revealed later, and the last three verses were revealed in Mecca. The sura addresses a wide variety of topics, including substantial amounts of law, and retells stories of Adam, Abraham and Moses. A major theme is guidance: urging the pagans (Al-Kuffar) and the Jews of Medina to embrace Islam, and warning them and the hypocrites of the fate God had visited in the past on those who failed to heed His call.

Al-Baqarah contains several verses dealing with the subject of warfare. Verses ^{[Qur'an 2:190]} are often quoted on the nature of battle in Islam.

Ayah 282 provides general approval and guidelines for the recording and reporting of transactions. Underpinning Islamic belief is the requirement that doubt and uncertainty be removed from inter-personal engagements. In business affairs, all parties’ rights and obligations are to be fully documented for verification and exploration. The verses place an emphasis on recording material credit loans and transactions, and advise that these transactions should be signed by debtors (to acknowledge their indebtedness and the amount thereof), the ultimate in verification processes.^[3]

References

1. ^ "Physical Aspects of the Noble Qur'an". www.al-islam.org. http://www.al-islam.org/glorious_quran/8.htm. Retrieved 2008-05-10. 
2. ^ The last two verses of Surah al Baqarah
3. ^ Lewis, Mervyn K.: Islam and accounting, Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford, 2001, p. 113 [1]

[4] [2]

External links

• Al-Baqara at Altafsir.com
• Sura 2, The Heifer (Al-Baqarah)
• Ayatul Kursi Learn Ayatul Kursi with Audio at MountHira.com
• Arabic and Transliteration along with translation in several languages
• [3]
• Word-by-word translation and grammar for Sura Al-Baqara (from the Quranic Arabic Corpus)