Surah 1-2 - YasSarNal QuR'aN

Al-Baqarah (The Cow) | A TIMELESS MESSAGEadvocates of Islam.This is the reason why the Qur’ān includes a wealth of highly inspiring historicalaccounts. The history of the Children of Israel provides the majority of these storiesfor a variety of reasons which we discussed in Chapter 3. We may add here that theprominence given to the Jewish history is perhaps due to God’s prior knowledge thatsome Muslim generations will be going through situations similar to thoseexperienced by the Israelites. Therefore, He alerts them to the slips that may lie intheir way by highlighting the lessons they could learn from such history.Muslim generations should read the Qur’ān very carefully, treating it as guidanceprovided today to show us how to deal with our present problems and to chart ourfuture course. Its historical accounts are not provided for inconsequential academicstudy.We will not benefit by the Qur’ān unless we read it with the aim of seekingguidance for our present and future life, in the same way as the first Muslimcommunity did. When we approach the Qur’ān in this way, we are certain to find init what we are looking for, and we shall have something far more remarkable thanwe can imagine. Its words, expressions and instructions will come alive, giving us allthe guidance we need. It will point out to us what to do and what to avoid, whatprecautions to take, who is our friend and who is our enemy. It will give us a long,elaborate discourse touching on everything that may occur to us. Thus, we will findin the Qur’ān both life and enjoyment. God’s words will ring in our ears: “Believers,respond to the call of God and the Messenger when he calls you to that which will give youlife.” (8: 24)The present passage gives an account of two episodes in the history of past nationsto add to the practical lessons given to the Muslim community, as part of itspreparation to face what may lie ahead on its way. The first is outlined briefly, butadequately, without even mentioning the people involved. They are a large groupwho tried to flee from death, leaving their homes to no avail. God caused them to dieand brought them back to life, rendering their efforts to evade death futile, andgiving them a new life without any effort on their part. As it shows them thisexample, the Qur’ān urges the believers to fight and donate for the cause of God whogives and takes away both life and wealth.The second lesson is derived from an episode in the history of the Israelites afterthe death of Moses. Having abandoned divine guidance, they suffered the loss oftheir kingdom, violation of their sacred places and personal humiliation at the handsof their enemies. But then their sense of faith reawakened and they were eager tofight for God’s cause. They asked their prophet to appoint for them a king to leadthem in such a fight.322