Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

An Enlightening Commentary into the Light of the Holy Qur'an vol. 1

From Surah al-Fatiha (1) to Surah al-Baqarah (2) v.154

The light of Islam has enlightened and continuing to enlighten every corner in the world and seekers of truth have closely associated to the Holy Quran which carries the Word of Allah (SWT) to humanity. With increasing focus and attention to the Holy Quran, efforts has been done to provide a pure, correct and accurate translation of this divine book. But sometimes it is difficult for the readers to understand all of the apparent and hidden meanings and it is the duty of every Muslim, man or woman, to read, understand and contemplate on the Holy Qur’an according to his own capacity. Hence, the need for proper explanation becomes obvious and necessary. The book titled, “An Enlightening Commentary into the Light of the Holy Qur’an” compiled by a group of Muslim scholars, under the direction of Ayatullah Allamah Al-Hajj Sayyid Kamal Faqih Imani is a valuable effort which presents a thorough commentary on the Quran in 20 volumes made available to the reader.

Author (s): Ayatullah Sayyid Kamal Faghih Imani and A Group of Muslim Scholars

Translator(s): Sayyid Abbas Sadr-'ameli

Publisher(s): Imam Ali Foundation

WWW.ALHASSANAIN.ORG/ENGLISH

Table of Contents

Introduction 9

Not All English Versions of Quran Are Acceptable10

What is a 'Commentary'?11

The Current Commentary 12

Attributes Needed for Working on This Kind of Commentary 13

The Problems in Translating 13

Translators Note14

Editor's Note15

Notes17

Acknowledgment18

Notes18

References19

Arabic, Farsi Commentaries19

English Translations of Qur'an 19

Supporting Technical References20

Phraseological and Philological Sources20

A Presentation to Muslims22

Notes23

Surah Al-Fatihah, Chapter 1 24

Surah Al-Fatihah (The Opening)24

No.1 (7 Verses)24

Contents of the Surah 24

1. The Tone of the Surah 24

2. Al-Fatihah, the Basis of the Qur'an 25

3. Al-Fatihah, Magnificent Honour of the Prophet (S)25

4. The Importance of its Recitation 25

5. The Titles of the Surah 26

Surah Al-Fatiha, Verse 1 26

Explanation: Is the Phrase 'Bism-il-Lah' a Part of Each Surah?27

Allah, the Most Inclusive Name of God 28

Allah's General and Specific Mercy 29

Surah Al-Fatiha, Verse 2 30

The World is full of His Mercy 30

Virtue of the Verse31

Surah Al-Fatiha, Verse 3 32

Surah Al-Fatiha, Verse 4 33

‘Faith in the Resurrection’, the Second Principle33

Surah Al-Fatiha, Verse 5 35

Man in the Presence of Allah 36

Explanation- Allah: the Only Site of Reliance37

The Social Aspect of Worship 37

We Ask Allah for Help in Confronting Forces37

Surah Al-Fatiha, Verse 6 38

Surah Al-Fatiha, Verse 7 42

Two Paths of Deviation 42

Explanation 42

Supplication 45

Notes45

Surah Al-Baqarah, Chapter 2, Introduction47

Surah Al-Baqarah 47

(The Cow)47

No.2 (286 Verses)47

Contents of the Surah 47

The Virtue of Studying this Surah 47

Notes49

Section 1 50

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verses 1-5 50

The Abbreviated Letters of the Qur'an 50

Piety in Lexicon and Religion 53

The Stages of Piety 53

The Effects of Piety on Man's Spirit and Body 54

The Pious Ones, the First Group 54

1. Faith in the Unseen 54

2. Relationship with Allah 56

The Excellence & Importance of Prayer57

3. Relationship with People58

Note:61

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verses 6-7 61

Disbelievers, the Second Group 62

Infidelity and its Meaning 63

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verses 8-16 63

Hypocrites, the Third Group 64

Explanations67

The Appearance of Hypocrisy and its Roots67

The Necessity of Knowing the Hypocrite68

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verses 17-20 69

Two Interesting Parables manifesting the Hypocrite70

Notes72

Section 2 73

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verses 21-22 73

Do Worship Allah!73

Some Explanations74

The Sky and the Earth are Bounties75

Explanation: Idolatry in Different Forms77

A Detailed Scientific Meaning of Atmosphere77

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verses 23-24 78

مِّن دُونِ اللّهِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ صَادِقِينَ 78

Why do Prophets Need Miracles?80

The Holy Qur'an, The Everlasting Miracle of the Prophet of Islam (S)!81

The Holy Qur'an, Global and Eternal81

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 25 82

The Specialties of the Bounties in Heaven 82

Occasion of Revelation 84

Explanations84

1. Faith and Deeds84

2. The Purified Spouses85

3. The Material and Spiritual Blessings in Heaven 85

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 26 86

Occasion of the Revelation 87

Explanation 88

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 27 88

The Real Losers!88

Notes89

Section 3 90

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verses 28-29 90

The Mysterious Bounty of Life!90

Conclusion 92

The Seven Firmaments93

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verses 30-33 94

Man, Allah's Deputy on Earth!94

Angels on Trial97

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verses 34-36 98

Adam in the Garden 99

Explanations99

Why did Iblis Disobey? 99

The Heavy Forfeit Paid by Adam 102

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verses 37-39 103

Adam's Return to Allah 103

Explanation: The ' Words' Adam (as) Learnt from the Lord 104

Notes105

Section 4 106

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 40 106

The Remembrance of the Favours of Allah 106

Explanations107

Jews in Medina107

The Jews' Twelve Covenants with Allah 107

Allah will fulfil His Covenant, too!108

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verses 41-43 109

Explanation 110

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 44 111

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verses 45-46 111

How to Overcome Difficulties112

What is 'Meeting with Allah'?113

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verses 47-48 113

The Vain Imaginations of the Jews114

Supplication 115

Intercession in the Qur'an and Traditions115

Notes117

Section 5 118

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 49 118

Slavery of Females, Past and Present118

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 50 119

The Rescue from Pharaoh!119

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verses 51-54 122

The Israelites' Greatest Deviation 123

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verses 55-56 124

An Unjust Demand!124

Note126

Section 6 127

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 57 127

Abundant Bounties!127

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verses 58-59 128

The Israelites' Intensive Obstinacy 128

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 60 129

The Miracle of Water Gushing Forth in the Desert!129

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 61 130

Demanding a Variety of Food 130

Note131

Section 7 132

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 62 132

A General Principle for Salvation 132

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verses 63-64 133

Hold the Signs of Allah Firmly!134

How was the Mountain Raised over the Israelites' Heads?134

Notes135

Section 8 136

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verses 65-66 136

Those Who Exceeded on the Sabbath!136

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verses 67-74 137

The Story of the Israelites' Cow 138

Notes140

Section 9 141

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verses 75-77 141

Occasion of Revelation 141

A Futile Expectation!141

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verses 78-79 142

Occasion of Revelation 143

The Jewish Learned Men's Plots of Oppression Against the Laymen 143

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verses 80-82 143

Explanation: Earning Sin 145

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verses 83-86 145

The Breachers of the Covenant!146

Explanation: The Best Strategy for the Survival of Nations147

Note148

Section 10 149

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verses 87-88 149

Their Covered Hearts149

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verses 89-90 150

A Religious Adherent & an Infidel!150

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verses 91-93 151

Racial Bigotries of the Jews151

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verses 94-101 153

None Denies Divine Signs Save the Transgressors!156

Note157

Section 11 158

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verses 102-103 158

Solomon (as) and the Sorcerers in Babylon 158

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verses 104-105 160

Occasion of Revelation 160

Leave No Pretext for Enemies!161

A Precise Meaning 161

Notes162

Section 12 163

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verses 106-107 163

Purpose of Abrogation 163

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 108 164

Occasion of Revelation 164

Some Futile Pretexts164

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verses 109-110 165

Envy and Obstinacy 165

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verses 111-112 166

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 113 167

Occasion of Revelation 167

Exclusivity, the Fruit of Ignorance167

Note168

Section 13 169

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 114 169

Occasion of Revelation 169

The Most Unjust Ones!169

Explanation: Mosques and the Ways of their Desolation 170

Supplication 171

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 115 171

Occasion of Revelation 171

Allah, the Omnipresent171

Philosophy of the Qiblah 172

Notes174

Section 14 175

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verses 116-117 175

The Jews, Christians, and Pagans and their Superstitions175

Explanation 175

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verses 118-119 176

Another Pretext176

Explanation: Their Hearts are All Alike!178

Two Instructive Principles178

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verses 120-121 179

Occasion of Revelation 179

Two Unsatisfiable Groups!180

Explanation 180

Pleasing Enemies has its Limits181

Allah's Guidance if the Only True Guidance181

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verses 122-123 182

Notes183

Section 15 184

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 124 184

Imamat, the Climax of Abraham's (as) Honour184

Eligibility for Imamat185

Prophethood, Messengership, Imamat and their Differences187

An Imam, by Allah's Commission 189

Two Questions190

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 125 191

The Magnificence of the Ka'bah 191

'Sanctify My House for those who go around it, for those192

Explanation: The Secure Refuge, its Social and Educational Effects192

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 126 193

Abraham's (as) Petition to Allah!193

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verses 127-129 194

The Structure of the House of Ka'bah 194

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verses 130-132 195

Abraham (as), a Human Prototype196

Notes198

Section 16 199

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verses 133-134 199

Occasion of Revelation 199

Everyone is Responsible for his Own Deem 199

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verses 135-137 200

Occasion of Revelation 200

Only Our Creed is True!201

Explanation: The Oneness of the Prophets' Invitation 202

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verses 138-141 203

Notes206

Section 17 207

Part Two 207

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 142 207

Occasion of the Change of Qiblah 207

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 143 208

An Ummat of Middle Standing 209

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 144 210

Turn Towards the Sacred Mosque210

“...and now We shall turn you (in prayer) to a Qiblah 211

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 145 211

They will Never be Content!212

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verses 146-147 213

Notes214

Section 18 215

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 148 215

Every Religion has a Qiblah 215

Explanation: The Day When Imam Mahdi's (as) Adherents Assemble216

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verses 149-150 216

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verses 151-152 219

Explanation 220

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 153 220

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 154 222

Notes225

Alhassanain (p) Network for Islamic Heritage and Thought226