Revealed over several years following the migration to Madinah, Surah Al-Baqarah (The Cow) is the longest chapter of the Quran and serves as the foundational legislative and theological backbone of the newly established Islamic society. While earlier Makkan revelations focused on building spiritual faith, this Surah was revealed to provide a comprehensive legal and moral framework, transitioning the Muslim community from theoretical belief to practical submission. It extensively details societal regulations, including the obligations of fasting during Ramadan, laws regarding marriage and divorce, ethical commerce, the prohibition of usury, and guidelines for charity and self-defense. A central focus of the chapter is the detailed historical narrative of previous nations—most notably the Children of Israel and the story of the heifer from which the Surah takes its name—which acts as a profound cautionary tale against stubbornness, altering divine scripture, and breaking covenants with God. Through its sweeping verses, it categorizes humanity into sincere believers, outright rejecters, and deceptive hypocrites, ultimately culminating in powerful concluding verses that guarantee God will never burden a soul beyond its capacity, ending with a collective plea for divine mercy and forgiveness.
Transliteration
Aliflammeem
Translation
Alif, Lam, Meem
Transliteration
Thalika alkitabu la rayba feehi hudan lilmuttaqeena
Translation
This is the Book in which there is no doubt, a guide for the righteous
Transliteration
Allatheena yuminoona bialghaybi wayuqeemoona alssalata wamimma razaqnahum yunfiqoona
Translation
Those who believe in the unseen, and perform the prayers, and give from what We have provided for them
Transliteration
Waallatheena yuminoona bima onzila ilayka wama onzila min qablika wabialakhirati hum yooqinoona
Translation
And those who believe in what was revealed to you, and in what was revealed before you, and are certain of the Hereafter
Transliteration
Olaika AAala hudan min rabbihim waolaika humu almuflihoona
Translation
These are upon guidance from their Lord. These are the successful
Transliteration
Inna allatheena kafaroo sawaon AAalayhim aanthartahum am lam tunthirhum la yuminoona
Translation
As for those who disbelieve—it is the same for them, whether you have warned them, or have not warned them—they do not believe
Transliteration
Khatama Allahu AAala quloobihim waAAala samAAihim waAAala absarihim ghishawatun walahum AAathabun AAatheemun
Translation
God has set a seal on their hearts and on their hearing, and over their vision is a veil. They will have a severe torment
Transliteration
Wamina alnnasi man yaqoolu amanna biAllahi wabialyawmi alakhiri wama hum bimumineena
Translation
Among the people are those who say, “We believe in God and in the Last Day,” but they are not believers
Transliteration
YukhadiAAoona Allaha waallatheena amanoo wama yakhdaAAoona illa anfusahum wama yashAAuroona
Translation
They seek to deceive God and those who believe, but they deceive none but themselves, though they are not aware
Transliteration
Fee quloobihim maradun fazadahumu Allahu maradan walahum AAathabun aleemun bima kanoo yakthiboona
Translation
In their hearts is sickness, and God has increased their sickness. They will have a painful punishment because of their denial
Transliteration
Waitha qeela lahum la tufsidoo fee alardi qaloo innama nahnu muslihoona
Translation
And when it is said to them, “Do not make trouble on earth,” they say, “We are only reformers.”
Transliteration
Ala innahum humu almufsidoona walakin la yashAAuroona
Translation
In fact, they are the troublemakers, but they are not aware
Transliteration
Waitha qeela lahum aminoo kama amana alnnasu qaloo anuminu kama amana alssufahao ala innahum humu alssufahao walakin la yaAAlamoona
Translation
And when it is said to them, “Believe as the people have believed,” they say, “Shall we believe as the fools have believed?” In fact, it is they who are the fools, but they do not know
Transliteration
Waitha laqoo allatheena amanoo qaloo amanna waitha khalaw ila shayateenihim qaloo inna maAAakum innama nahnu mustahzioona
Translation
And when they come across those who believe, they say, “We believe”; but when they are alone with their devils, they say, “We are with you; we were only ridiculing.”
Transliteration
Allahu yastahzio bihim wayamudduhum fee tughyanihim yaAAmahoona
Translation
It is God who ridicules them, and leaves them bewildered in their transgression
Transliteration
Olaika allatheena ishtarawoo alddalalata bialhuda fama rabihat tijaratuhum wama kanoo muhtadeena
Translation
Those are they who have bartered error for guidance; but their trade does not profit them, and they are not guided
Transliteration
Mathaluhum kamathali allathee istawqada naran falamma adaat ma hawlahu thahaba Allahu binoorihim watarakahum fee thulumatin la yubsiroona
Translation
Their likeness is that of a person who kindled a fire; when it illuminated all around him, God took away their light, and left them in darkness, unable to see
Transliteration
Summun bukmun AAumyun fahum la yarjiAAoona
Translation
Deaf, dumb, blind. They will not return
Transliteration
Aw kasayyibin mina alssamai feehi thulumatun waraAAdun wabarqun yajAAaloona asabiAAahum fee athanihim mina alssawaAAiqi hathara almawti waAllahu muheetun bialkafireena
Translation
Or like a cloudburst from the sky, in which is darkness, and thunder, and lightning. They press their fingers into their ears from the thunderbolts, in fear of death. But God surrounds the disbelievers
Transliteration
Yakadu albarqu yakhtafu absarahum kullama adaa lahum mashaw feehi waitha athlama AAalayhim qamoo walaw shaa Allahu lathahaba bisamAAihim waabsarihim inna Allaha AAala kulli shayin qadeerun
Translation
The lightning almost snatches their sight away. Whenever it illuminates for them, they walk in it; but when it grows dark over them, they stand still. Had God willed, He could have taken away their hearing and their sight. God is capable of everything