Surah 1-2 - YasSarNal QuR'aN

Al-Baqarah (The Cow) | MAN IN CHARGE OF THE EARTHsoul. Despite his unique relationship with God and the lofty level of spiritual pietyhe attained, the Prophet Muĥammad was known to resort to prayer every time heexperienced distress or anxiety. Prayer remains an inexhaustible fountain of peace,comfort and spiritual uplift for every believer.A prerequisite of perseverance, or şabr, and fear of God, or taqwā, is the absoluteand unshakeable belief in man’s return to God when his actions will be reckoned andhe will be judged. This is also an essential requirement for the establishment ofvalues for this life and the life to come. Once the right criteria to judge these valuesare set, the world and all its treasures and riches are seen as worth very little whencompared to the rewards in the hereafter.What started as a simple instruction initially directed at the Jews of Madinah turnsout to be a permanent and enduring lesson for all mankind.The following verse is yet another reminder from God to the Israelites of His graceand generosity towards them, and a general admonition to them about theresurrection that is certain to come: “Children of Israel! Remember My favour which Ibestowed on you, and that I have preferred you over all people. Fear the day when no soulshall avail another in any way, nor shall intercession be accepted from any of them, norransom taken from them, and none shall receive help.” (Verses 47-48)The preferred position granted to the Israelites was limited to the time of theirmandate as custodians of God’s message on earth. As soon as they betrayed theirtrust, disobeyed their prophets, denied God’s favours and abandoned theircommitment to God, they incurred His wrath, and were condemned to a life ofhumiliation, misery and exile.When Every Soul Stands AloneThe statement was meant to remind them of that glory and privilege in order toencourage them to seize the fresh opportunity presented to them by Islam to rejointhe community of believers and renew their covenant with God. But they are alsobeing warned about “a day when no soul shall avail another in any way,” and noindividual can save another.This is one of the most important Islamic principles. Responsibility andaccountability are personal and not collective, and are directly related to anindividual’s will and freedom of choice. They are also based on divine justice.It is a principle that upholds the dignity and integrity of man and cultivates andstrengthens his conscience. It raises his standards of morality and behaviour andenriches his wealth of values with which Islam has honoured him.The verse further stresses that on that day, no intercession “shall be accepted..., nor72