Lessons I learned from Surah Al- Baqarah

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Orubah Khan

Firstly, I would like to share how I  became a student of the Qur’an. My friends and acquaintances who had already done the course, Alhamdulilah,  encouraged me to study the Qur’an. Also,  as I was part of the school’s Islamic Club, I realized that being  on board meant that I should gain more knowledge. However, the last push for me to join a Qur’an course was that I was going through a difficult time and I realized that what I needed most at that time was patience and mercy. The Qur’an seemed like the only place I could obtain that completely.

Now Alhumdulillah I am a student at Al-Huda.

I have learnt several lessons from Surah Al-Baqarah alone. In a hadith that mentions the virtue of this surah:

In Musnad Ahmad, Sahih Muslim, At-Tirmidhi and An-Nasa’i, it is recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that Rasul Allah (صلي  اللهُ عليهِ وسلم) said,

Do not turn your houses into graves. Verily, Shaytan does not enter the house where Surat Al-Baqarah is recited.)

Another hadith states,  “The Quran and the people who applied it, will be brought on the Day of Resurrection preceded with Surah Al-Baqarah and Surah Al-e-Imran arguing on behalf of those who applied them.” [Sahih Muslim]

Lesson # 1

In Ayah 38 of Surah Al-Baqarah, Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) mentions:

قُلْنَا اهْبِطُواْ مِنْهَا جَمِيعاً فَإِمَّا يَأْتِيَنَّكُم مِّنِّي هُدًى فَمَن تَبِعَ هُدَايَ فَلاَ خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلاَ هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ

“We said, “Go down from it, all of you. And when guidance comes to you from Me, whoever follows My guidance – there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.”

[Al-Qur’an – Surat Al-Baqarah (The Cow): 38]

The Qur’an is guidance,we should try to implement every verse, every lesson, every advice in our daily life so that it becomes a part of us. I remember, once I felt upset and worried about certain things in my life, but I said to myself, “No, I shouldn’t think in this negative  way. I should think positively. There is khair (betterment) in every situation even if I don’t see it, and Insha’Allah the situation will get better.” And Sub’haan Allah, it is surprising how fast my heart became calm and peaceful.  I stopped worrying for the future and stopped grieving over the past.

Lesson # 2

In Ayah 152 of Surah Al-Baqarah, Allah  (سبحانه وتعالى) mentions:

فَاذْكُرُونِي أَذْكُرْكُمْ وَاشْكُرُواْ لِي وَلاَ تَكْفُرُونِ

“So remember Me; I will remember you. And be grateful to Me and do not deny Me.”

[Al-Qur’an – Surat Al-Baqarah (The Cow): 152]

One small example of being grateful is that when the power used to go out before the Qur’an in my life, my initial reaction is was ‘Why now?’ Now it has turned into “Alhamdulilah” because I remind myself the power could have gone out at a worse time,  when I didn’t have a flashlight! I would be in a worst situation I am in.

Lesson # 3

Ayah 245 of Surah Al-Baqarah states:

مَّن ذَا الَّذِي يُقْرِضُ اللّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا فَيُضَاعِفَهُ لَهُ أَضْعَافًا كَثِيرَةً وَاللّهُ يَقْبِضُ وَيَبْسُطُ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ

“Who is it that would loan Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) a goodly loan so He may multiply it for him many times over? And it is Allah  (سبحانه وتعالى) who withholds and grants abundance, and to Him you will be returned.”

[Al-Qur’an – Surat Al-Baqarah (The Cow): 245]

I started to correct my intentions and whatever good I did, I started to actively think that this is for Allah (سبحانه وتعالى). Recently, my cousin came over to stay at our house. I tried to make the house comfortable for her, and sometimes it would get a little difficult tending to her especially during the late night hours. But I thought that this is a good act that I am doing, so let this be a loan given to Allah (سبحانه وتعالى). By making her feel welcome, I am  keeping good relations with my kin, being a nice host to a guest , and helping out a person in need. So by positively taking care of my cousin, I am fulfilling multiple responsibilities and will thus be getting multiple rewards Insha’Allah. Actively thinking and making conscious intentions makes things easier and more beneficial.

Also, now after doing good deeds, I try to make the dua that Ibrahim (عليهِ سلام) and Ismail (عليهِ سلام) made when  they were laying the foundation of the Ka’bah:

وَإِذْ يَرْفَعُ إِبْرَاهِيمُ الْقَوَاعِدَ مِنَ الْبَيْتِ وَإِسْمَاعِيلُ رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّا إِنَّكَ أَنتَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ

“And [mention] when Abraham was raising the foundations of the House and [with him] Ishmael, [saying], “Our Lord, accept [this] from us. Indeed You are the Hearing, the Knowing.”

[Al-Qur’an – Surat Al-Baqarah (The Cow): 127]