Surah 1-2 - YasSarNal QuR'aN

Al-Baqarah (The Cow) | MAN IN CHARGE OF THE EARTHWhat is this covenant? Is it the original one made with Adam: “Guidance shall reachyou from Me. Those who follow My guidance shall have nothing to fear nor shall they grieve,but those who deny and gainsay Our revelations shall have the fire, wherein they shall abide.”(Verses 38-39) Or, is it the universal covenant made between God and human nature,which binds man to seek the Lord and worship Him alone, associating no partnerswith Him? The latter needs no qualification or justification, as man perceives itinstinctively and naturally, as long as his basic nature is free of capricious anddeviant influences. Or does the verse refer to the covenant made with Abraham, thepatriarch of Israel: “When his Lord tested Abraham with certain commandments and hefulfilled them, He said, ‘I have appointed you a leader of mankind.’ Abraham asked, And whatof my descendants?’ God said, ‘My covenant does not apply to the wrongdoers.’” (Verse 124)Is it, on the other hand, the covenant made with the Israelites on Mount Sinai, whenthe mountain was raised over their heads? They were ordered then to take it up withstrength and dedication, as will be later explained.In fact, all these are essentially one covenant. Their essence is man’s totalsubmission to God and adherence to the one true faith He sent to humanity throughHis messengers, in a long and honourable procession throughout history.In fulfilment of this covenant, God calls on the Israelites to fear Him alone, and tobelieve in and accept what He has revealed to His Messenger, Muĥammad,confirming and endorsing their own Scriptures. They are urged not to hasten intorejecting it but to be among the first to believe in it: “Believe in what I have revealed,confirming that which you already have, and be not the first to reject it.” (Verse 41)Islam, as propounded by Prophet Muĥammad, was no more than God’s oneeternal religion given its final form. It is a continuation of the same message and thecomplement of the covenant God made with man in the beginning. It embraces pastrevelations and provides guidance for mankind in future generations. It bringstogether the Torah of the Old Testament and the Gospel of the New Testament, andadds what is required to lead mankind to further prosperity, unity and progress. Itsaim has been to achieve the true brotherhood of man, eliminate racial and ethnicdivisions and discrimination, and unite humanity in its submission to God under thecovenant with Him.God warns the Israelites against rejecting His final message in pursuit of temporalgain or narrow interests, such as the privileges and the status enjoyed by the rabbisthrough their religious function in the community: “Do not barter away My revelationsfor a paltry price, and fear Me alone.” (Verse 41)Money, wealth and worldly aggrandizement have been the delight of the Jewssince their early days. This verse could be referring to the fees and taxes imposed onordinary Jews by their rabbis and clerics in return for religious services. These people69