Surah 1-2 - YasSarNal QuR'aN

Al-Baqarah (The Cow) | COVENANTS BREACHED ALL THE TIMEsubstantiate their claims? The truth is that they have no such thing. The question is arhetorical one, carrying a whiff of sarcasm and reproach.The next verse gives a definitive statement which represents one of the mostfundamental concepts in Islam based on its overall view of man, life and theuniverse. Reward relates directly to action, both in quantity and quality: “Indeed,those who earn evil and become engulfed by their sin are destined for the fire where they shallabide, but those who believe and do righteous deeds are destined for Paradise where they shallabide.” (Verses 81-82)What we have here is a superb artistic portrait of a particular mentality, leading toa clear-cut and decisive ruling. We learn that evil is earned. This goes beyond themere act of committing a sin. We are presented with a psychological frame of mind:the sinners are deriving a certain degree of pleasure and satisfaction from their sins.They somehow consider that as gainful and worthwhile behaviour, and so theybecome totally overcome by it. Had they not believed it to be so, they would havedesisted and done their best to avoid such sinful conduct. The Qur’ānic Arabicexpression is most graphic, so that the meaning is clear and immediately grasped.These people are totally enthralled with their wrongdoing and misguided behaviour.It practically engulfs them to the extent that their whole life is dominated by it andthey live for nothing else.The image of these sinners as eternal dwellers of hell is contrasted with that ofthose who “believe and do righteous deeds” and are destined for eternal bliss andendless happiness.True faith finds genuine expression in good acts; a fact which believers, andMuslims in particular, ought to consider and realize. Belief loses its meaning unless itleads to constructive and worthwhile activity. Those who claim to be Muslims butperpetrate corruption, oppose the implementation of God’s law in society, and resistthe promotion of Islamic ethics and modes of moral conduct among people areseriously lacking in faith and loyalty to God and Islam. The efforts of such people arefruitless. They shall have no protection whatsoever against God’s punishment, whichis bound to come, keen as they may be to avoid it.Going Back on Firm PledgesThe sūrah tells the Muslims more about the nature of the Jews and their crookedand devious ways while, at the same time, confronting the Jews themselves withthese revelations.We made this covenant with the Children of Israel: “Worship none but God; show95