Surah Al-Baqarah: The Heifer

Revealed at Madinah


2:21
O you mankind! worship your Rabb Who created you and those before you, so that you may practice reverence,—



2:22
Who made for you the earth a carpet, and the sky as a canopy; and He brings down from the sky water, then He brings forth by it fruits as a sustenance for you. Therefore do not set up with Allah rivals, while you were knowing.


2:23
And if you are in doubt as to what We have revealed upon Our Bondsman, then come up with a Surah the like of this and invite your helpers besides Allah, if you are truth-tellers.


2:24
But if you do not do— and you can never do— then fear the Fire whose fuel is men and the stones— it is prepared for the Unbelievers.


2:25
And give glad tidings to those who believe and do good, that for them are Gardens, beneath which flow the rivers! every time they are provided from these with fruit as a provision, they say: “This is what we were provided with in the past”; for, they are given it in resemblance. And they have in them pure companions, and they therein abide.


2:26
Indeed! Allah does not feel ashamed to strike any parable— that of a mosquito, or of anything above that. Then, as to those who believe, they know that it is indeed the Truth from their Rabb; and as to those who disbelieve, they then say: “What is that Allah mean by this parable?” By it He leaves many to stray and by it He guides many. But He does not leave to stray by it except the transgressors:


2:27
who break the Covenant of Allah after its confirmation, and cut asunder what Allah has thereby ordered to be kept together, and make mischief in the earth. These are themselves the losers.


2:28
How do you disbelieve in Allah, considering that you were inanimate, then He gave you animation? After that He will cause you to die, and then He will restore you to life; after that towards Him you will be made to return.


2:29
He it is Who has created for you everything that are in the rotatory-earth; moreover He turned to the Space; so that He perfected them into seven heavens; for He is Knower of all things.


2:30
And behold! your Rabb said to the malaks: “Certainly I am going to place in the earth a vicegerent.” They said: “Are You going to place therein one who would make mischief in it and shed blood; while we celebrate Your praise, and we glorify Your holiness?” He said: “I surely know which you do not know.”


2:31
And He taught Adam the names— all of them; then He presented them to the malaks, and said: “Tell Me the names of all these if you are right.”


2:32
They said: “Glory be to You! No knowledge we have except what You have taught us. You indeed, You are the all-Knowing, most Wise.”


2:33
He said: “O Man! tell them their names.” So that when he had informed them their names, He said: “Did I not tell you that I indeed know the secrets of the heavens and the earth? And I know which you disclose, and which you have been concealing.”


2:34
And behold! We said to the malaks: “Bow down to Man.” So they bowed down, not so Iblis. He refused and expressed pride, because he was of the Unbelievers.


2:35
And We said: “O Adam! you and your wife dwell in this garden, and you eat from it plentifully where-and-when you wish; but do not go near this Tree, lest you become of the wrongdoers.”


2:36
But the Satan made them both slip from it, and turned them out from where they were in. And We said: “You all get down, some of you are enemies to some others. And for you there is in the earth a resting-place and a provision for a time.


2:37
Then Adam learned certain words from his Rabb, so He turned to him. Surely He, He is Oft-returning, the most Rewarding.


2:38
We said: “You all get down from this en masse. But if there comes to you guidance from Me, then whoever would follow My guidance, no fear will be on them then, nor will they grieve.


2:39
“But those who disbelieve and belie Our Messages, these shall be the fellows of the Fire, in that they will abide.”


2:40
O Children of Israil! call to mind My favors which I bestowed upon you, and fulfill covenant with Me, I shall fulfill covenant with you, and Me, Me alone, should you then fear.