2. Surah Al-Baqara

البقرةThe Cow · 286 ayahsتفہیم القرآن انگلش

Read Surah Al-Baqara in the Quran reader
Ayah 2:189

یَسْئَلُوْنَكَ عَنِ الْاَهِلَّةِ١ؕ قُلْ هِیَ مَوَاقِیْتُ لِلنَّاسِ وَ الْحَجِّ١ؕ وَ لَیْسَ الْبِرُّ بِاَنْ تَاْتُوا الْبُیُوْتَ مِنْ ظُهُوْرِهَا وَ لٰكِنَّ الْبِرَّ مَنِ اتَّقٰى١ۚ وَ اْتُوا الْبُیُوْتَ مِنْ اَبْوَابِهَا١۪ وَ اتَّقُوا اللّٰهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُوْنَ Open ayah 2:189 in the Quran reader

They ask you about the phases of the moan. Say, "These are signs for the people to reckon dates and fix the periods for hajj." 198 Also tell them, "It is no virtue to enter your houses from their backs during the Hajj days) ; real virtue is that one should refrain from incurring the displeasure of Allah; so enter your houses by their proper doors. and fear Allah so that you may gain (true) success. 199

198. The waxing and waning of the moon has attracted men's attentions throughout the ages and all kinds of fanciful ideas, superstitions and rituals have been, and are still today, associated with it. The moon was considered the basis of good and bad omens. Certain dates were considered auspicious and others inauspicious for starting journeys, for beginning new tasks, for weddings and so on on the ground that the rising and setting of the moon, its waxing and waning and its eclipse affect human destiny. The Arabs too had their share of such superstitions. It was therefore natural that enquiries regarding such matters should be addressed to the Prophet. In response, God says that the waxing and waning of the moon is nothing more than a physical phenomenon. By its appearance in the firmament the moon enables man to divide his year and it can thus be considered nature's own calendar. Particular reference is made to Hajj because it occupied the position of highest importance in the religious, cultural and economic life of the Arabs. Four months of the year were specified since they were the months of major and minor Pilgrimage (Hajj and 'Umrah) . During these months there was to be no warfare and the routes were completely safe for travelling. Thanks to the peace and tranquillity thus established, trade and commerce prospered. 199. One superstitious custom of the Arabs was that once they entered the state of consecration for Pilgrimage they did not enter their houses by the door. Instead, they either leapt over the walls from the rear or climbed through windows which they had specially erected for that purpose. On returning from journeys, too, they entered their houses from the rear. In this verse this superstitious custom is denounced, as are all superstitious customs; it is pointed out that the essence of moral excellence consists of fearing God and abstaining from disobeying His commands. Those meaningless customs by which people felt bound, out of blind adherence to the traditions of their forefathers, and which had no effect at all on man's ultimate destiny, had nothing to do with moral excellence.
Ayah 2:190

وَ قَاتِلُوْا فِیْ سَبِیْلِ اللّٰهِ الَّذِیْنَ یُقَاتِلُوْنَكُمْ وَ لَا تَعْتَدُوْا١ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ لَا یُحِبُّ الْمُعْتَدِیْنَ Open ayah 2:190 in the Quran reader

And fight in the way of Allah with those who fight against you 200 but do not commit aggression because AIIah does not like aggressors. 201

200. The believers are asked to fight those who hindered their efforts in the cause of God, and acted with hostility towards them merely because they sought to fashion human life according to the revealed guidance of God. Earlier, when they were weak and scattered, the Muslims were asked merely to preach and be patient with the wrongful repression meted out to them by their opponents. However, now that a small city state had been established in Madina they were commanded for the first time to unsheathe their swords against those who had resorted to armed hostility against their movement of reform. It was some time after this injunction that the Battle of Badr took place, to be followed by several other battles. 201. The believers are told that material interests should not be the motivation for their fighting, that they should not take up arms against those who were not in opposition to the true faith, that they should not resort to unscrupulous methods or to the indiscriminate killing and pillage which characterized the wars of the pre-Islamic era, the Age of Ignorance. The excesses alluded to in this verse are acts such as taking up arms against women and children, the old and the injured, mutilation of the dead bodies of the enemy, uncalled-for devastation through the destruction of fields and livestock, and other similar acts of injustice and brutality. In the Hadith all these acts have been prohibited. The real intent of the verse is to stress that force should be used only when its use is unavoidable, and only to the extent that is absolutely necessary.
Ayah 2:191

وَ اقْتُلُوْهُمْ حَیْثُ ثَقِفْتُمُوْهُمْ وَ اَخْرِجُوْهُمْ مِّنْ حَیْثُ اَخْرَجُوْكُمْ وَ الْفِتْنَةُ اَشَدُّ مِنَ الْقَتْلِ١ۚ وَ لَا تُقٰتِلُوْهُمْ عِنْدَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ حَتّٰى یُقٰتِلُوْكُمْ فِیْهِ١ۚ فَاِنْ قٰتَلُوْكُمْ فَاقْتُلُوْهُمْ١ؕ كَذٰلِكَ جَزَآءُ الْكٰفِرِیْنَ Open ayah 2:191 in the Quran reader

Fight against them wherever they confront you in combat and drive them out from where they drove you out. Though killing is bad. persecution is worse than killing 202 Do not fight against them near the Masjid Haram unless they attack you there.

202. Here the word fitnah is used in the sense of 'persecution'. It refers to a situation whereby either a person or a group is subjected to harassment and intimidation for having accepted, as true, a set of ideas contrary to those currently held, and for striving to effect reforms in the existing order of society by preaching what is good and condemning what is wrong. Such a situation must be changed, if need be, by the force of arms. Bloodshed is bad, but when one group of people imposes its ideology and forcibly prevents others from accepting the truth, then it becomes guilty of an even more serious crime. In such circumstances, it is perfectly legitimate to remove that oppressive group by the force of arms.
Ayah 2:192

فَاِنِ انْتَهَوْا فَاِنَّ اللّٰهَ غَفُوْرٌ رَّحِیْمٌ Open ayah 2:192 in the Quran reader

And if they attack you first (even in that sacred area) , strike them (without any hesitation) ; this is the due punishment for such disbelievers. If, however, they desist from fighting (you should also do likewise) , and know that Allah is Forgiving and Merciful 203 .

203. God, in whom the believers have faith, is forgiving and ready to pardon even the worst criminals and sinners after they have renounced their arrogant defiance towards Him. It is suggested that this attribute of God should be reflected in the behaviour of the believers as well. As the saying goes: 'Mould your morals according to the attributes of God.' Hence, Whenever the believers have to resort to armed conflict, they should do so not for the sake of quenching their thirst for venueance but in the cause of God's religion. Their conflict with any group should last only as long as that group resists the cause of God. As soon as it gives up this resistance hostility should cease.
Ayah 2:193

وَ قٰتِلُوْهُمْ حَتّٰى لَا تَكُوْنَ فِتْنَةٌ وَّ یَكُوْنَ الدِّیْنُ لِلّٰهِ١ؕ فَاِنِ انْتَهَوْا فَلَا عُدْوَانَ اِلَّا عَلَى الظّٰلِمِیْنَ Open ayah 2:193 in the Quran reader

Go on fighting with them till there is no more a state of tribulation and Allah's way is established instead. 204 Then if they desist from it, there should be no more hostility except against those who had been guilty of cruelty and brutality. 205

204. Here the term fitnah is used in a different sense from the one in which it was used above (see verse 191) . It is evident from the context that fitnah refers here to the state of affairs wherein the object of obedience is someone other than God. Hence the purpose of a believer's fighting is that this fitnah should cease and obedience should be consecrated to God alone. An investigation of the usages of the word din (which occurs in this verse) reveals that the core of its meaning is obedience. In its technical usage, the word refers to that systern of life which arises as a result of a person recognizing someone as his Lord and Sovereign and committing himself to following his commands and ordinances. This explanation of the word din makes it quite clear that when some human beings establish their godhead and absolute dominance over others, this state of affairs is one of fitnah. Islam seeks to put an end to this and replace it by a state of affairs in which people live in obedience to the laws of God alone. 205. What is meant here by 'desisting' is not the abandonment of unbelief and polytheism on the part of the unbelievers but rather their desistance from active hostility to the religion enjoined by God. The unbeliever, the polytheist, the atheist, has each been, empowered to hold on to his beliefs and to woorship who and whatever he wishes. In order to deliver these people from their error, Muslims are required to counsel them and tell them where their good lies. But Muslims ought not to try to achieve this purpose by resorting to force. At the same time, these misguided people have no right to either enforce the false laws of their own contriving instead of the laws of God or to drive the people of God to bondage of others than God. In order to put an end to this fitnah, both persuasion and force be used, whenever and to the extent to which each of the two is needed, and a true believer will not rest until the unbelievers give up this fitnah. The statement that hostility is meant only against wrong-doers seems to imply that when the true system of life replaces the false one, ordinary people should be granted a general amnesty. At the same time, however, it would be justifiable to punish those who exceeded all limits in their hostility to the Truth, at the time when they held the reins of power. Yet in dealing with such people, it becomes the true believers, after they have one final victory, to adopt a general attitude of forgiveness and tolerance towards the vanquished rather than subject them to revenge for the wrongs they committed in the past. Those criminals whose records were exceptionally bad could, however, be punished. The Prophet (peace be on him) , availed himself of this permission in respect of some notorious enemies whose hostility had exceeded all limits, even though pardon and forgiveness behoved none more than him. Thus 'Uqbah ibn Abi Mu'avt and Nadr b. Harith from among the captives of the Battle of Badr were put to death and when a general amnesty, was proclaimed after the conquest of Makka four out of seventeen persons were executed. (See Ibn Hisham, vol. 1, p. 644 and vol. 2, pp. 409 ff. - Ed.) These acts were based on the permission to put to the sword those who have been conspicuously ruthless in their hostility to Islam and the Muslims.
Ayah 2:194

اَلشَّهْرُ الْحَرَامُ بِالشَّهْرِ الْحَرَامِ وَ الْحُرُمٰتُ قِصَاصٌ١ؕ فَمَنِ اعْتَدٰى عَلَیْكُمْ فَاعْتَدُوْا عَلَیْهِ بِمِثْلِ مَا اعْتَدٰى عَلَیْكُمْ١۪ وَ اتَّقُوا اللّٰهَ وَ اعْلَمُوْۤا اَنَّ اللّٰهَ مَعَ الْمُتَّقِیْنَ Open ayah 2:194 in the Quran reader

A prohibited month is to be respected, if the same is respected (by the enemy) , 206 and likewise there is the law of just retribution for the violation of all prohibited things. Therefore, if anyone transgresses a prohibition by attacking you, you may do likewise, but always fear AIIah and bear in mind that Allah is with those who desist from breaking Allah's bounds.

206. From the time of Abraham three months - Dhu al-Qa'dah, Dhu al-Hijjah and Muharram - were consecrated for Hajj, and the month of Rajab was consecrated for 'Umrah. For the duration of these four months warfare, killing and pillage were prohibited so that people could perform Pilgrimage and return home safely. For this reason these months were cajied the 'sacred months'. The purpose of the verse is to stress that if the unbelievers respect the sanctity of the sacred months, the Muslims should do the same. If, however, they violate this sanctity and subject the Muslims to aggression, then the Muslims are also entitled to retribution even during the 'sacred months'. The permission mentioned here was called forth by the introduction of nasi', a practice which had been introduced by the Arabs in order to have an advantage over others in their battles and raids. The manner in which the Arabs used nasi' was such that whenever they wished either to start a conflict in order to satisfy their vendetta or to loot and plunder they carried out their raid in one of the sacred months and then later on tried to compensate for this violation by treating one of the non-sacred months as a sacred month. The Muslims were, therefore, concerned as to what they should do in case the unbelievers resorted to this artifice and surprised them by an attack in one of the recognized sacred months. The verse refers to this problem.
Ayah 2:195

وَ اَنْفِقُوْا فِیْ سَبِیْلِ اللّٰهِ وَ لَا تُلْقُوْا بِاَیْدِیْكُمْ اِلَى التَّهْلُكَةِ١ۛۖۚ وَ اَحْسِنُوْا١ۛۚ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ یُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِیْنَ Open ayah 2:195 in the Quran reader

Spend your wealth in the Way of Allah and do not cast yourselves into ruin with your own hands. 207 Do all things gracefully, for Allah loves those who do all things with excellence 208

207. 'To spend in the way of Allah' signifies financial sacrifice in order to establish God's religion. Not to make any financial sacrifice but to be inclined, instead, to hold personal interests dear to one's heart will lead to one's ruin both in this world and in the Next. Allah will set the unbelievers to dominate over you in this world and condemn you in the Next world. 208. The root of the word ihsan is HSN, which means doing something in a goodly manner. One standard of conduct is merely to perform the task entrusted to one. The other and higher standard is to perform that task in a wholesome manner, to devote all one's capacities and resources to its fulfilment, to do one's duty with all one's heart. The first standard is that of ordinary obedlence for which it is enough that a man should fear God. The other and higher standard is that of ihsan (moral and spiritual excellence) for which it is necessary that one should have a strong love for God and a profound attachment to Him.
Ayah 2:196

وَ اَتِمُّوا الْحَجَّ وَ الْعُمْرَةَ لِلّٰهِ١ؕ فَاِنْ اُحْصِرْتُمْ فَمَا اسْتَیْسَرَ مِنَ الْهَدْیِ١ۚ وَ لَا تَحْلِقُوْا رُءُوْسَكُمْ حَتّٰى یَبْلُغَ الْهَدْیُ مَحِلَّهٗ١ؕ فَمَنْ كَانَ مِنْكُمْ مَّرِیْضًا اَوْ بِهٖۤ اَذًى مِّنْ رَّاْسِهٖ فَفِدْیَةٌ مِّنْ صِیَامٍ اَوْ صَدَقَةٍ اَوْ نُسُكٍ١ۚ فَاِذَاۤ اَمِنْتُمْ١ٙ فَمَنْ تَمَتَّعَ بِالْعُمْرَةِ اِلَى الْحَجِّ فَمَا اسْتَیْسَرَ مِنَ الْهَدْیِ١ۚ فَمَنْ لَّمْ یَجِدْ فَصِیَامُ ثَلٰثَةِ اَیَّامٍ فِی الْحَجِّ وَ سَبْعَةٍ اِذَا رَجَعْتُمْ١ؕ تِلْكَ عَشَرَةٌ كَامِلَةٌ١ؕ ذٰلِكَ لِمَنْ لَّمْ یَكُنْ اَهْلُهٗ حَاضِرِی الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ١ؕ وَ اتَّقُوا اللّٰهَ وَ اعْلَمُوْۤا اَنَّ اللّٰهَ شَدِیْدُ الْعِقَابِ۠ Open ayah 2:196 in the Quran reader

When you make up your mind to perform Hajj and `Umrah,accomplish these to please Allah. But if you are hemmed in somewhere, then offer to Allah whatever sacrifice you can afford. 209 And do not shave your heads until the sacrifice reaches its place. 210 But whoever among you is sick or has an ailment of the head and has his head shaved shall atone for this either by fasting or by alms-giving or by offering a sacrifice 211 However, when you are secure 212 (and you reach Makkah before the Hajj season begins) , whoever takes advantage of this opportunity to perform `Umrah shall offer the sacrifice that he can afford. But if he cannot afford a sacrifice, he shall fast three days during the Hajj season and seven days after reaching home, that is, ten days in all. This concession is only for those whose homes are not near the Masjid Haram, 213 refrain from transgressing these Commandments of Allah and know it well that Allah is very severe in punishment.

209. If any obstruction prevents a person from proceeding with the Pilgrimage and he is forced to stay behind, he should make a sacrificial offering to God of whatever is available - for example, either a camel, a cow, a goat or a sheep 210. The statement: 'until the offering reaches its appointed place' has been variously interpreted by the jurists. The Hanafi jurists consider this to signify the area which lies within the boundaries of the Haram. In their view this injunction means that if a man has been prevented from Pilgrimage he ought to send to the Haram either the animal itself or the money to purchase it, and have a sacrificial offering made on his behalf. According to Malik and al-Shafi'i this verse enjoins one to perform a sacrifice at the very spot where one is prevented from going any further. (See also Qurtubi's commentary on the verse - Ed.) The injunction regarding 'shaving the head' means that one may not have one's hair cut until a sacrificial offering has been made. 211. According to the Hadith, in such a situation the Prophet (peace be on him) ordered three days of fasting, or the feeding of six poor people, or the slaughter of one sheep or goat. (See Bukhari, 'Maghazi', 35; Muslim, 'Hajj', 83 - Ed.) 212. This refers to the change in the situation whe the obstacle to proceeding with the Pilgrimage has been removed. Since, in those days, the circumstances which most commonly prevented people from proceeding with their Pilgrimage was the danger of armed attack from tribes hostile to Islam, the removal of that circumstance is described by the words: 'when you are secure'. 'To become secure' refers not only to the removal of the danger of armed attack but to the removal of all such dangers. 213. In pre-Islamic Arabia it was considered a serious sin to perform Hajj and 'Umrah in one and the same journey. According to the self-made law of the pre-Islamic Arabs, each of these Pilgrimages required a separate journey. God declared this law void for those coming from abroad and who were granted the privilege of performing both types of pilgrimage in the same journey. This privilege, however, was not extended to those living in the environs of Makka, within the miqat, since it is not difficult for them to proceed separately for the major and minor Pilgrimages. 'Then you who take advantage of 'Umrah before the time of Hajj' means that a person may perform 'Umrah (minor Pilgrimage) and then may interrupt the state of consecration (ihram) and free himself of the prohibitions and limitations incumbent upon him in that state. Later, when the time for the Hajj (major Pilgrimage) arrives, he should once again assume the state of consecration (ihram) .
Ayah 2:197

اَلْحَجُّ اَشْهُرٌ مَّعْلُوْمٰتٌ١ۚ فَمَنْ فَرَضَ فِیْهِنَّ الْحَجَّ فَلَا رَفَثَ وَ لَا فُسُوْقَ١ۙ وَ لَا جِدَالَ فِی الْحَجِّ١ؕ وَ مَا تَفْعَلُوْا مِنْ خَیْرٍ یَّعْلَمْهُ اللّٰهُ١ؔؕ وَ تَزَوَّدُوْا فَاِنَّ خَیْرَ الزَّادِ التَّقْوٰى١٘ وَ اتَّقُوْنِ یٰۤاُولِی الْاَلْبَابِ Open ayah 2:197 in the Quran reader

The months for Hajj are well known to all; whoever makes up his mind to perform Hajj during these fixed months, let him totally abstain from all sorts of sexual indulgence, 214 wickedness 215 and wrangling 216 during the Hajj and remember that Allah knows whatever good you do. Take necessary provisions for Hajj, and piety is the best of all provisions: so refrain from disobeying Me, O men of understanding! 217

214. In the state of consecration (ihram) the husband and wife are required to refrain not only from sexual intercourse but also from lascivious conversation (and, for that matter, from any act which either stems from or is likely to stimulate sexual desire - Ed) . 215. Even though all sinful acts are evil, the sinfulness of such acts is aggravated when they are committed in the state of consecration (ihram) . 216. In this state it is not even permitted to rebuke one's servant. 217. In the pre-Islamic Age of Ignorance it was considered an act of gross worldliness for anyone to carry provisions while on the Pilgrimage. A pious man was expected to go to the House of God without any worldly goods. This misconception is removed here and it is pointed out that abstention from carrying provisions is not necessarily an act of righteousness. True righteousness lies in the fear of God, in abstaining from violating His commands, and in leading a pure and decent life. If a pilgrim's conduct is not good and he resorts to wickedness the mere fact of not carrying provisions, thus parading his detachment from worldly goods, will do him no good. For his wickedness he will suffer humiliation both in the sight of God and man, and his action will be a desecration of the religious duty for which he undertook the journey. On the other hand, if a person's heart is full of the fear of God, and his moral conduct is good, he will be exalted by God and will be held in high esteem by human beings on his return from the Pilgrimage, regardless of the amount of provisions he carried.
Ayah 2:198

لَیْسَ عَلَیْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ اَنْ تَبْتَغُوْا فَضْلًا مِّنْ رَّبِّكُمْ١ؕ فَاِذَاۤ اَفَضْتُمْ مِّنْ عَرَفٰتٍ فَاذْكُرُوا اللّٰهَ عِنْدَ الْمَشْعَرِ الْحَرَامِ١۪ وَ اذْكُرُوْهُ كَمَا هَدٰىكُمْ١ۚ وَ اِنْ كُنْتُمْ مِّنْ قَبْلِهٖ لَمِنَ الضَّآلِّیْنَ Open ayah 2:198 in the Quran reader

And there is nothing wrong if you also seek the bounty of your Lord during the pilgrimage. 218 Moreover, when you return from 'Arafat, stay at Mash'aril-Haram (Muzdalifah) and remember Allah. And remember Him just as He has enjoined you, for you had gone astray before this. 219

218. This was another misconception entertained by the pre-Islamic Arabs. They considered it objectionable to do anything relating to one's livelihood during the Pilgrimage. In their view earning one's living was an act of pure worldliness and hence it was bad to indulge in it while engaged in the performance of a religious duty. The Qur'an refutes this and expounds the view that if a person strives to earn his living while observing fully the laws of God his action is tantamount to seeking God's grace and bounty. (See 62: 10 - Ed.) It is no sin if a man sets out to seek God's good pleasure and during the same journey tries to combine that purpose with the quest for permissible worldly benefits. 219. The Muslims were asked to give up all those polytheistic and pagan practices that had arisen among the Arabs during the Age of Ignorance and which ran alongside the worship of God thereby adulterating the latter. They were required to consecrate their worship and adoration to God alone according to the guidance He had now revealed through the Prophet.
Ayah 2:199

ثُمَّ اَفِیْضُوْا مِنْ حَیْثُ اَفَاضَ النَّاسُ وَ اسْتَغْفِرُوا اللّٰهَ١ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ غَفُوْرٌ رَّحِیْمٌ Open ayah 2:199 in the Quran reader

Then return from where others return and ask Allah's forgiveness. 220 Most surely He is Forgiving and Merciful.

220. Since the time of Abraham and Ishmael the recognized practice of the Arabs with regard to Hajj was that on the 9th, Dhu al-Hijjah, they went from Mina to 'Arafat, returning on the morning of the 10th to stay at Muzdalifah. Later, as the priestly monopoly of the Quraysh became well established, they claimed that it was below their dignity to go to 'Arafat with the ordinary people of Arabia. As a mark of what they called their distinction, they went to Muzdalifah only (without going to 'Arafat) and returned from there, leaving it to the commoners to go to 'Arafat. Subsequently Banu Khuza'ah, Banu Kananah and those tribes which were linked by marriage with the Quraysh acquired the same privilege. Eventually, the status of the tribes allied to the Quraysh came to be considered higher than that of the ordinary Arabs, and these tribes too abandoned the practice of going to 'Arafat. It is this pride and vainglory which the present verse seeks to undermine. It is addressed to the Quraysh and the tribes associated with them either through marriage or alliance, and to all those who might be inclined to claim for themselves special privileges and distinctions in the future. Such people are asked to go to the place to which all others go, to stay with them, to return with them and to seek pardon from God for the fact that they violated the way of Abraham.
Ayahs 2:200–202

فَاِذَا قَضَیْتُمْ مَّنَاسِكَكُمْ فَاذْكُرُوا اللّٰهَ كَذِكْرِكُمْ اٰبَآءَكُمْ اَوْ اَشَدَّ ذِكْرًا١ؕ فَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ یَّقُوْلُ رَبَّنَاۤ اٰتِنَا فِی الدُّنْیَا وَ مَا لَهٗ فِی الْاٰخِرَةِ مِنْ خَلَاقٍ Open ayah 2:200 in the Quran reader

And when you have performed your Hajj rites, remember Allah as you had been remembering your own forefathers, or even with greater zeal. 221 (Even those who remember Allah do it in different ways) . Some say, "Our Lord, give us all the good things here in this world. " Such people shall have no share in the Hereafter.

وَ مِنْهُمْ مَّنْ یَّقُوْلُ رَبَّنَاۤ اٰتِنَا فِی الدُّنْیَا حَسَنَةً وَّ فِی الْاٰخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَّ قِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ Open ayah 2:201 in the Quran reader

Then there are others who say, "Our Lord, give us what is good in this world and also what is good in the Hereafter and save us from the torment of Fire."

اُولٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ نَصِیْبٌ مِّمَّا كَسَبُوْا١ؕ وَ اللّٰهُ سَرِیْعُ الْحِسَابِ Open ayah 2:202 in the Quran reader

Such people shall have their due share (in both the worlds) according to what they earn. And Allah is swift at settling accounts.

221. After the Hajj the Arabs used to hold rallies at Mind. At these rallies people from different tribes proudly narrated the achievements of their forefathers and indulged in much extravagant self-praise. Here they are asked to renounce all such things and devote the time which they formerly spent on trivialities to remembering and celebrating God. Dhikr refers to the remembrance of God at Mina.
Ayah 2:203

وَ اذْكُرُوا اللّٰهَ فِیْۤ اَیَّامٍ مَّعْدُوْدٰتٍ١ؕ فَمَنْ تَعَجَّلَ فِیْ یَوْمَیْنِ فَلَاۤ اِثْمَ عَلَیْهِ١ۚ وَ مَنْ تَاَخَّرَ فَلَاۤ اِثْمَ عَلَیْهِ١ۙ لِمَنِ اتَّقٰى١ؕ وَ اتَّقُوا اللّٰهَ وَ اعْلَمُوْۤا اَنَّكُمْ اِلَیْهِ تُحْشَرُوْنَ Open ayah 2:203 in the Quran reader

So pass these few appointed days in remembering Allah; then there is nothing wrong if one hastens on (from Mina) after two days or stays there (a day) longer, 222 " provided that he spends these days it piety. Do not disobey Him and remember that One Day you shall be mustered before Him.

222 Whether a person returned on the 12th or on the 13th of Dhu al-Hijjah from Mina to Makka during the day of tashriq (i.e. from the 10th to 13th of Dhu al-Hijjah) was immatcrial. What was of real importance was not the number of days spent at Mina but the intensity of one's devotion to God during the period of one's stay.
Ayah 2:204

وَ مِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ یُّعْجِبُكَ قَوْلُهٗ فِی الْحَیٰوةِ الدُّنْیَا وَ یُشْهِدُ اللّٰهَ عَلٰى مَا فِیْ قَلْبِهٖ١ۙ وَ هُوَ اَلَدُّ الْخِصَامِ Open ayah 2:204 in the Quran reader

There is a certain type of man who charms you in this worldly life with his glib talk. He calls Allah to witness again and again that he cherishes good intentions in his heart, 223 whereas, in fact, he is the deadliest opponent 224 of the Truth.

223. Such a person tends to claim again and again that he was merely a well-wisher and was simply striving to uphold what is true and right, and to promote the welfare of the people rather than doing things for the sake of personal aggrandizement. 224. The words aladd al-khisam mean 'the most fierce in enmity'. This would apply to someone who concentrates all his energies on opposing truth, and who resorts to whatever falsehood, dishonesty, treachery and breach of faith he thinks necessary to achieve his ends.
Ayahs 2:205–207

وَ اِذَا تَوَلّٰى سَعٰى فِی الْاَرْضِ لِیُفْسِدَ فِیْهَا وَ یُهْلِكَ الْحَرْثَ وَ النَّسْلَ١ؕ وَ اللّٰهُ لَا یُحِبُّ الْفَسَادَ Open ayah 2:205 in the Quran reader

When he gets power 225 he directs all his efforts towards spreading mischief in the land, destroying harvests and killing the human race whereas Allah (Whom he makes his witness) does not like mischief.

وَ اِذَا قِیْلَ لَهُ اتَّقِ اللّٰهَ اَخَذَتْهُ الْعِزَّةُ بِالْاِثْمِ فَحَسْبُهٗ جَهَنَّمُ١ؕ وَ لَبِئْسَ الْمِهَادُ Open ayah 2:206 in the Quran reader

And when it is said to him, "Fear Allah," vanity seizes him and makes him adhere to the sin. Hell is the proper place for such a person and it is a very bad dwelling indeed.

وَ مِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ یَّشْرِیْ نَفْسَهُ ابْتِغَآءَ مَرْضَاتِ اللّٰهِ١ؕ وَ اللّٰهُ رَءُوْفٌۢ بِالْعِبَادِ Open ayah 2:207 in the Quran reader

On the other side, there is another type of man who devotes his whole life to please Allah, and Allah is gracious to such of His servants.

225. The expression idha tawalla can be translated in two ways. First, in the manner of our translation of the text. It can also be translated to make the verse mean that when such people return from sweet and apparently genuine talk, they engage in arrogant and destructive action.
Ayah 2:208

یٰۤاَیُّهَا الَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوا ادْخُلُوْا فِی السِّلْمِ كَآفَّةً١۪ وَّ لَا تَتَّبِعُوْا خُطُوٰتِ الشَّیْطٰنِ١ؕ اِنَّهٗ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِیْنٌ Open ayah 2:208 in the Quran reader

O Believers, enter completely into Islam 226 and do not follow in" the footsteps of Satan, for he is your avowed enemy.

226. God demands that man should submit, without reservation, the whole of his being to His will. Man's outlook, intellectual pursuits, behaviour, interaction with other people and modes of endeavour should all be completely subordinate to Islam. God does not accept the splitting up of human life into separate compartments, some governed by the teachings of Islam and others exempt.
Ayah 2:209

فَاِنْ زَلَلْتُمْ مِّنْۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَتْكُمُ الْبَیِّنٰتُ فَاعْلَمُوْۤا اَنَّ اللّٰهَ عَزِیْزٌ حَكِیْمٌ Open ayah 2:209 in the Quran reader

If you lapse back after receiving the clear teachings that have come to you, know it well that Allah is All-Powerful, All-Wise. 227

227. The point is that God has enormous power and knows well how to punish criminals.
Ayah 2:210

هَلْ یَنْظُرُوْنَ اِلَّاۤ اَنْ یَّاْتِیَهُمُ اللّٰهُ فِیْ ظُلَلٍ مِّنَ الْغَمَامِ وَ الْمَلٰٓئِكَةُ وَ قُضِیَ الْاَمْرُ١ؕ وَ اِلَى اللّٰهِ تُرْجَعُ الْاُمُوْرُ۠ Open ayah 2:210 in the Quran reader

(If people do not follow the right way even after receiving such clear admonitions) , do they await that Allah Himself should come down to them in the canopies of clouds with a retinue of angels, and seal their doom 228 Ultimately every thing shall be presented before Allah (for judgement) .

228. These words are indicative of an important fact. Man's test lies in showing whether he accepts reality even though he cannot perceive it directly through his senses; and whether, after having accepted it, he has the required moral stamina to obey God even though he is endowed with the capacity to disobey Him. In sending the Prophets, in revealing the Scriptures, indeed, even in performing miracles, God has always taken care to leave scope for testing man's power of judgement and his moral stamina. He has never disclosed reality to such a degree that man would be inevitably compelled to accept it. For if that were done, nothing would remain to be tested and the very idea of man's success or failure would be meaningless. It is pointed out, therefore, that people should not keep waiting for God and the angels - the devoted servants of His realm - to appear before them. If that were to happen, it would mark the end of everything and there would be no occasion left for man to decide anything. To believe and to bow in submission and obedience to God are of value only so long as the reality is presented in such a way as to make its rejection possible. For, if the Truth were to be fully disclosed and if men were to see with their own eyes God on His Throne of Majesty with the entire universe acting according to His command, what would be the worth of their faith and obedience? If all these things were physically observable not even the most stubborn unbelievers and the worst sinners would dare either to disbelieve or disobey. Acceptance of faith and obedience has value only as long as there remains a veil over reality. The moment when reality is totally unveiled would mark the end of the period granted to man to decide, and of the testing period for him. It would, in fact, be the Day of Judgement.
Ayahs 2:211–212

سَلْ بَنِیْۤ اِسْرَآءِیْلَ كَمْ اٰتَیْنٰهُمْ مِّنْ اٰیَةٍۭ بَیِّنَةٍ١ؕ وَ مَنْ یُّبَدِّلْ نِعْمَةَ اللّٰهِ مِنْۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَتْهُ فَاِنَّ اللّٰهَ شَدِیْدُ الْعِقَابِ Open ayah 2:211 in the Quran reader

Ask the children of Israel how many a clear sign We have shown to them: (also ask them) what a severe chastisement Allah inflicts on the community that, after receiving Allah's favour exchanges it (for wretchdness) . 229

زُیِّنَ لِلَّذِیْنَ كَفَرُوا الْحَیٰوةُ الدُّنْیَا وَ یَسْخَرُوْنَ مِنَ الَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْا١ۘ وَ الَّذِیْنَ اتَّقَوْا فَوْقَهُمْ یَوْمَ الْقِیٰمَةِ١ؕ وَ اللّٰهُ یَرْزُقُ مَنْ یَّشَآءُ بِغَیْرِ حِسَابٍ Open ayah 2:212 in the Quran reader

This worldly life has been made very charming and alluring for those who have adopted the way of disbelief. So they mock at those who have adopted the way of belief ,but (they forget that) the pious people will rank above them on the Day of Resurrection. As to the wordly provisions, Allah has full authority and power to bestow these without measure on anyone He wills.

229. There are two reasons why this query is addressed to the Children of Israel. In the first place, a group of living human beings provide a better source of instruction and admonition than mute archaeological findings. In the second place, the Israelites were a people who, having been endowed with Scripture and prophethood, were entrusted with the leadership of the world. By falling prey to worldliness, hypocrisy and other errors of belief and conduct they subsequently lost God's favour. A people entrusted with the task of universal leadership could derive no better lesson from another people than this one.
Ayah 2:213

كَانَ النَّاسُ اُمَّةً وَّاحِدَةً١۫ فَبَعَثَ اللّٰهُ النَّبِیّٖنَ مُبَشِّرِیْنَ وَ مُنْذِرِیْنَ١۪ وَ اَنْزَلَ مَعَهُمُ الْكِتٰبَ بِالْحَقِّ لِیَحْكُمَ بَیْنَ النَّاسِ فِیْمَا اخْتَلَفُوْا فِیْهِ١ؕ وَ مَا اخْتَلَفَ فِیْهِ اِلَّا الَّذِیْنَ اُوْتُوْهُ مِنْۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَتْهُمُ الْبَیِّنٰتُ بَغْیًۢا بَیْنَهُمْ١ۚ فَهَدَى اللّٰهُ الَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْا لِمَا اخْتَلَفُوْا فِیْهِ مِنَ الْحَقِّ بِاِذْنِهٖ١ؕ وَ اللّٰهُ یَهْدِیْ مَنْ یَّشَآءُ اِلٰى صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِیْمٍ Open ayah 2:213 in the Quran reader

In the beginning all the people followed the same way. (Afterwards there came a change and differences arose) . Then Allah sent Prophets to give good tidings to those who followed the Right Way and warnings to those who swerved from it. And He sent down with them the Book based on the Truth so that it should judge between the people concerning their differences. (Differences arose not because people were not given the knowledge of the Truth in the beginning, nay) , differences arose between those very people who had been given clear teachings, and (for no other reasons than that) they wanted to tyrannize over one another. 230 So Allah, by His leave, guided those who believed in the Prophets to the Truth about which they had differed; AIIah guides whomever He pleases to the Right Way.

230. When ignorant people attempt to trace the history of 'religion' they tend to the view that man began his life in the darkness of polytheisrn and that in the course of time, corresponding to man's progress, this darkness gradually receded and light increased till man arrived at monotheism. The Qur'anic version, however, proclaims that man began his life in full light of the Truth. God revealed this Truth to the very first man He created, one to whom He intimated the right way of life for man. Thereafter the human race remained on the Right Way for some time and lived as one community. Later, however, people invented deviating ways. This did not happen because Truth had not been communicated to them. The cause was rather that some people wilfully sought to acquire privileges, benefits and advantages beyond their legitimate limits, and thus subjected others to injustices. It was in order to enable people to overcome this corruption that God sent His Prophets. These Prophets were not sent to found separate religions in their own names and bring new religious communities into existence. Rather the purpose of the Prophets was to illuminate before people the Truth which they had allowed to be lost, and once again make them into one community.
Ayahs 2:214–216

اَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ اَنْ تَدْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ وَ لَمَّا یَاْتِكُمْ مَّثَلُ الَّذِیْنَ خَلَوْا مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ١ؕ مَسَّتْهُمُ الْبَاْسَآءُ وَ الضَّرَّآءُ وَ زُلْزِلُوْا حَتّٰى یَقُوْلَ الرَّسُوْلُ وَ الَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْا مَعَهٗ مَتٰى نَصْرُ اللّٰهِ١ؕ اَلَاۤ اِنَّ نَصْرَ اللّٰهِ قَرِیْبٌ Open ayah 2:214 in the Quran reader

Do 231 you think that you will enter Paradise without undergoing such trials as were experienced by the believers before you? They met with adversity and affliction and were so shaken by trials that the Prophet of the time and his followers cried out: "When will Allah's help come"? (Then they were comforted with the good tidings) : "Yes, Allah's help is near."

یَسْئَلُوْنَكَ مَا ذَا یُنْفِقُوْنَ١ؕ۬ قُلْ مَاۤ اَنْفَقْتُمْ مِّنْ خَیْرٍ فَلِلْوَالِدَیْنِ وَ الْاَقْرَبِیْنَ وَ الْیَتٰمٰى وَ الْمَسٰكِیْنِ وَ ابْنِ السَّبِیْلِ١ؕ وَ مَا تَفْعَلُوْا مِنْ خَیْرٍ فَاِنَّ اللّٰهَ بِهٖ عَلِیْمٌ Open ayah 2:215 in the Quran reader

The people ask, "What should we spend?" Tell them, "Whatever you spend, spend for your parents, your relatives, orphans, the needy and the wayfarer; and whatever good you do, Allah has knowledge of it.

كُتِبَ عَلَیْكُمُ الْقِتَالُ وَ هُوَ كُرْهٌ لَّكُمْ١ۚ وَ عَسٰۤى اَنْ تَكْرَهُوْا شَیْئًا وَّ هُوَ خَیْرٌ لَّكُمْ١ۚ وَ عَسٰۤى اَنْ تُحِبُّوْا شَیْئًا وَّ هُوَ شَرٌّ لَّكُمْ١ؕ وَ اللّٰهُ یَعْلَمُ وَ اَنْتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُوْنَ۠ Open ayah 2:216 in the Quran reader

You have been enjoined to go to war, and you dislike it; it may be that you dislike a thing and the same is good for you, and you love a thing and the same is bad for you: Allah knows but you do not.

231. In between this verse and the one above comes a whole story which has been left untold, a story which is alluded to in the present verse and which is mentioned in some detail in the Makkan surahs of the Our'an (these were revealed earlier than the present surah) . The point emphasized here is that whenever the Prophets came into the world they, and their followers, were confronted with severe resistance from those in rebellion against God. At grave risk to themselves they strove to establish the hegemony of the true religion over the false ways of life. To follow this religion has, therefore, never been easy; it is not merely a matter of declaring one's faith and then sitting back in ease and comfort. On the contrary, the profession of faith has always demanded that one should strive to establish the religion, which one has adopted as one's faith, as a living reality and that one should spare no effort in undermining the power of the Devil who seeks to resist it.
Ayah 2:217

یَسْئَلُوْنَكَ عَنِ الشَّهْرِ الْحَرَامِ قِتَالٍ فِیْهِ١ؕ قُلْ قِتَالٌ فِیْهِ كَبِیْرٌ١ؕ وَ صَدٌّ عَنْ سَبِیْلِ اللّٰهِ وَ كُفْرٌۢ بِهٖ وَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ١ۗ وَ اِخْرَاجُ اَهْلِهٖ مِنْهُ اَكْبَرُ عِنْدَ اللّٰهِ١ۚ وَ الْفِتْنَةُ اَكْبَرُ مِنَ الْقَتْلِ١ؕ وَ لَا یَزَالُوْنَ یُقَاتِلُوْنَكُمْ حَتّٰى یَرُدُّوْكُمْ عَنْ دِیْنِكُمْ اِنِ اسْتَطَاعُوْا١ؕ وَ مَنْ یَّرْتَدِدْ مِنْكُمْ عَنْ دِیْنِهٖ فَیَمُتْ وَ هُوَ كَافِرٌ فَاُولٰٓئِكَ حَبِطَتْ اَعْمَالُهُمْ فِی الدُّنْیَا وَ الْاٰخِرَةِ١ۚ وَ اُولٰٓئِكَ اَصْحٰبُ النَّارِ١ۚ هُمْ فِیْهَا خٰلِدُوْنَ Open ayah 2:217 in the Quran reader

They ask you (O Muhammad) concerning warfare in the prohibited month. Say, "Fighting is a heinous offence in this month, but in the sight of Allah it is far worse to hinder people from the Way of Allah and to deny Him and to prevent His worshippers from visiting the Masjidal-Haram, and to expel the dwellers of the sacred place from it; and persecution is far worse than bloodshed. 232 As for them, they will go on fighting with you till they succeed in turning you away from your Faith, if they can. But (note it well that) whosoever renounces his Faith and dies a renegade, all his works shall be fruitless both in this world and in the Hereafter. All such people deserve the Fire and shall abide in Hell for ever. 233

232. This relates to a certain incident. In Rajab 2 A. H. the Prophet sent an expedition of eight persons to Nakhlah (which lies between Makka and Ta'if) . He directed them to follow the movements of the Quraysh and gather information about their plans, but not to engage in fighting. On their way they came across a trade caravan belonging to the Quraysh and ambushed it. They killed one person and captured the rest along with their belongings and took them to Madina. They did this at a time when the month of Rajah was approaching its end and Sha'ban was about to begin. It was, therefore, doubtful whether the attack was actually carried out in one of the sacred months, that is, Rajab, or not. But the Quraysh, and the Jews who were secretly in league with them, as well as the hypocrites made great play of this and used it as a weapon in their propaganda campaign against the Muslims. (For this expedition see Ibn Hisham, Sirah. vol. 1, pp. 601 ff; Ibn Ishaq, Life of Muhammad, tr. A. Guillaume. pp. 286 ff.) They pointed out the contradiction between the claims of the Muslims to true religion on the one hand, and their not hesitating to shed blood in a sacred month on the other. This verse aims to answer these objections. The essence of what is said here is that fighting during the sacred months is without doubt an evil act. It points out that those people who had continually subjected their kith and kin to untold wrong for thirteen years merely because they believed in the One God were not competent to make such an objection. Not only had the Muslims been driven from their homes, they had had the way to the Holy Mosque closed to them, a bar which had not been imposed by anyone during the course of some two thousand years. With this record of mischief and misconduct it was not for them to raise such an outcry at a minor ambush, and especially so when the incident had taken place without the approval of the Prophet. The whole incident was in fact no more than an irresponsible act on the part of some members of the Islamic community. It should be remembered that when on their return those people went, with captives and booty, to visit the Prophet, he expressly pointed out to them that he had not permitted them to fight. Not only that, he declined to receive the public exchequer's share of their booty, which indicated that their booty was considered unlawful. The Muslims, in general, also severely reproached the people responsible for the incident, and in fact nobody in Madina applauded what they had done. 233. A few simple-hearted Muslims, whose minds were seized by a mistaken concept of righteousness and pacifism, were influenced by the above objections which had been raised by the polytheists of Makka and the Jews. In this verse the believers are being asked not to entertain the hope that they might clear the air and promote understanding and goodwill by adopting an over-lenient stance towards their opponents. The objections of the latter were not motivated by the desire to find out the Truth; their true purpose was nothing but vilification. What particularly irked the adversaries of the Muslims was that they believed in a religion of their own and were inviting the whole world to accept it. Hence, as long as the Muslims continued to believe in Islam and as long as their opponents remained stubborn in their disbelief, the existing chasm between the two groups was bound to remain. Moreover, the enemies whom they confronted were not to be considered ordinary enemies. Those who wanted to deprive a person of his belongings or land were in fact enemies of a relatively much less dangerous kind than those who sought to turn him away from his faith; while the former sought to harm his worldly interests, the latter were bent upon hurling him into the eternal torment in the Hereafter.
Ayah 2:218

اِنَّ الَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْا وَ الَّذِیْنَ هَاجَرُوْا وَ جٰهَدُوْا فِیْ سَبِیْلِ اللّٰهِ١ۙ اُولٰٓئِكَ یَرْجُوْنَ رَحْمَتَ اللّٰهِ١ؕ وَ اللّٰهُ غَفُوْرٌ رَّحِیْمٌ Open ayah 2:218 in the Quran reader

In contrast to them, those, who have believed And left their homes in the way of Allah and exerted their utmost in His cause, 234 rightly look forward to His mercy: and Allah is Forgiving and full of mercy.

234. Jihad denotes doing one's utmost to achieve something. It is not the equivalent of war, for which the Arabic word is qital. Jihad has a wider connotation and embraces every kind of striving in God's cause. A mujahid is a person who is single-mindedly devoted to his cause, who uses his mental capacity to reflect how best he can achieve it, propagates it by word of mouth and by the pen, uses his physical energy in striving to serve it, spends all the resources at his disposal to promote it, employs all the force he commands in confronting any power which might stand in its way, and, whenever necessary, does not shirk risking his very life for it. All this is Jihad. ' Jihad in the way of God' is that strife in which man engages exclusively to win God's good pleasure, to establish the supremacy of His religion and to make His word prevail.
Ayah 2:219

یَسْئَلُوْنَكَ عَنِ الْخَمْرِ وَ الْمَیْسِرِ١ؕ قُلْ فِیْهِمَاۤ اِثْمٌ كَبِیْرٌ وَّ مَنَافِعُ لِلنَّاسِ١٘ وَ اِثْمُهُمَاۤ اَكْبَرُ مِنْ نَّفْعِهِمَا١ؕ وَ یَسْئَلُوْنَكَ مَا ذَا یُنْفِقُوْنَ١ؕ۬ قُلِ الْعَفْوَ١ؕ كَذٰلِكَ یُبَیِّنُ اللّٰهُ لَكُمُ الْاٰیٰتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَفَكَّرُوْنَۙ Open ayah 2:219 in the Quran reader

They ask you about drinking and gambling. Say, "There is great harm in both, though there is some benefit also for the people. But the harm of the sin thereof is far greater than their benefit. " 235

235. This is the first injunction concerning intoxicating drinks and gambling, and here the matter has been left merely as an expression of disapproval. This was a preliminary step designed to prepare the minds of people for the acceptance of their prohibition. The injunction prohibiting the performance of Prayer when in a state of intoxication came later, and ultimately alcohol, gambling and the like were categorically prohibited (see 4: 43 and 5: 90) .
Ayah 2:220

فِی الدُّنْیَا وَ الْاٰخِرَةِ١ؕ وَ یَسْئَلُوْنَكَ عَنِ الْیَتٰمٰى١ؕ قُلْ اِصْلَاحٌ لَّهُمْ خَیْرٌ١ؕ وَ اِنْ تُخَالِطُوْهُمْ فَاِخْوَانُكُمْ١ؕ وَ اللّٰهُ یَعْلَمُ الْمُفْسِدَ مِنَ الْمُصْلِحِ١ؕ وَ لَوْ شَآءَ اللّٰهُ لَاَعْنَتَكُمْ١ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ عَزِیْزٌ حَكِیْمٌ Open ayah 2:220 in the Quran reader

And they ask"What ought we to spend (in the way of Allah) "? Say"Spend whatever you can spare." Thus Allah makes His commands clear to you so that you may think about the good of both this world and the Hereafter. They ask you about the right way of dealing with orphans. Say "The right way is that which is for their good." 236 Then there is no harm if you live a common life with them for they are after all your own brethren. Allah knows well the one who means harm and also the one who means good. If Allah had willed He would have been hard upon you in this matter for He is All-Powerful but He is at the same time AlI-Wise.

236. Before this verse was revealed many severe injunctions had already been revealed regarding the protection of orphans' property. It had been ordained that ' people should not even draw near to the property of the orphan' (6: 152; 17: 34) and that 'those who wrongfully eat the properties of orphans only, fill their bellies with fire' (4: 10) . Because of these severe injunctions the orphans' guardians were so over awed that they even separated the food and drink of the orphans from their own; they felt anxious lest anything belonging to the orphans became mixed with their own. It is for this reason that they enquired of the Prophet (peace he on him) what the proper form of their dealings with orphans should be.
Ayah 2:221

وَ لَا تَنْكِحُوا الْمُشْرِكٰتِ حَتّٰى یُؤْمِنَّ١ؕ وَ لَاَمَةٌ مُّؤْمِنَةٌ خَیْرٌ مِّنْ مُّشْرِكَةٍ وَّ لَوْ اَعْجَبَتْكُمْ١ۚ وَ لَا تُنْكِحُوا الْمُشْرِكِیْنَ حَتّٰى یُؤْمِنُوْا١ؕ وَ لَعَبْدٌ مُّؤْمِنٌ خَیْرٌ مِّنْ مُّشْرِكٍ وَّ لَوْ اَعْجَبَكُمْ١ؕ اُولٰٓئِكَ یَدْعُوْنَ اِلَى النَّارِ١ۖۚ وَ اللّٰهُ یَدْعُوْۤا اِلَى الْجَنَّةِ وَ الْمَغْفِرَةِ بِاِذْنِهٖ١ۚ وَ یُبَیِّنُ اٰیٰتِهٖ لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ یَتَذَكَّرُوْنَ۠ Open ayah 2:221 in the Quran reader

Do not marry mushrik women unless they believe; a slave woman who believes is better than a free woman who does not believe, even though the latter may appear very attractive to you. (Likewise) do not wed your women to mushrik men unless they believe; a slave man who believes is better than a free man who does not, even though he may be very pleasing to you. These mushrik people invite you to the Fire 237 while Allah by His grace invites you to the Garden and His pardon, and He makes His revelations plain to the people so that they should learn a lesson and follow the admonition.

237. This is the reason for, and the wisdom underlying the injunction mentioned above prohibiting marriage links with polytheists. Marriage does not consist merely of sexual relations between a man and a woman. It is a relationship which has deep social, moral and emotional implications. If established between a believer and a polytheist, this kind of relationship has many possible outcomes. On the one hand, it is possible that because of the influence of the believing spouse, the other partner, the family and the future generations may become receptive to Islamic beliefs and to the Islamic wav of life. On the other hand, it is also possible that the spouse who is a polytheist may influence the thinking and mode of living of the believing spouse, the family and the future generations. Moreover this relationship may promote in that family a hotch-potch of Islam, downright atheism, and polytheism which, however welcome to non-Muslims, is in no way acceptable to Islam. No true believer can run the risk that either the ideas and life-styles which are organically related to atheism and polytheism may flourish among the members of his family, or that some aspect of his own life may bear the impress of atheism or polytheism.
Ayah 2:222

وَ یَسْئَلُوْنَكَ عَنِ الْمَحِیْضِ١ؕ قُلْ هُوَ اَذًى١ۙ فَاعْتَزِلُوا النِّسَآءَ فِی الْمَحِیْضِ١ۙ وَ لَا تَقْرَبُوْهُنَّ حَتّٰى یَطْهُرْنَ١ۚ فَاِذَا تَطَهَّرْنَ فَاْتُوْهُنَّ مِنْ حَیْثُ اَمَرَكُمُ اللّٰهُ١ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ یُحِبُّ التَّوَّابِیْنَ وَ یُحِبُّ الْمُتَطَهِّرِیْنَ Open ayah 2:222 in the Quran reader

They ask about the monthly course. Say, "It is a state of impurity; 238 so keep apart from women during their monthly course and do not go near them until they are clean. 239 When they have cleansed themselves, then you may go to them in the manner Allah has enjoined you." 240 Most surely Allah loves those people who refrain from evil and keep themselves pure and clean.

238. The Arabic word adha denotes both a state of ritual impurity and sickness. Menstruation is not merely an impurity, but also a state in which the woman is closer to sickness than to health. 239. With regard to matters such as these the Qur'an resorts to metaphors and figurative language. Hence it instructs men not to approach women. This does not mean that people should either abstain from sitting together on the same floor or eating together when a woman has her monthly period making her virtually an untouchable, as has been the custom among the Jews, Hindus and certain other nations. The explanation of this injunction by the Prophet makes it clear that during this period men are only required to abstain from sexual intercourse; no change is postulated in other relationships, and the woman is to be treated in the normal way. (See, for instance, Bukhari, 'Hayd', 10, 'Itikaf', 2-4, 10, 19; Muslim, 'Hayd', 6-13; Abu Da'ud, 'Taharah', 102, 106 - Ed.) 240. The 'command' of God mentioned here is not a formal legal injunction from God, but that inherent urge with which the nature of both men and animals has been imbued and which is apprehended instinctively. (The verse means, therefore, that after the end of the menstrual course people may again engage in sexual intercourse - Ed.)
Ayah 2:223

نِسَآؤُكُمْ حَرْثٌ لَّكُمْ١۪ فَاْتُوْا حَرْثَكُمْ اَنّٰى شِئْتُمْ١٘ وَ قَدِّمُوْا لِاَنْفُسِكُمْ١ؕ وَ اتَّقُوا اللّٰهَ وَ اعْلَمُوْۤا اَنَّكُمْ مُّلٰقُوْهُ١ؕ وَ بَشِّرِ الْمُؤْمِنِیْنَ Open ayah 2:223 in the Quran reader

Your wives are your tilth : so you may go to your tilth as you please, 241 but you should take care of your future 242 and refrain from the displeasure of Allah. Know it well that One Day you shall meet Him. (O Prophet !) bear good tidings to the Believers.

241. That is, God's purpose in the creation of women is not merely to provide men with recreation. Their mutual relationship is like that between a farmer and his tilth. A farmer approaches his field not just for the sake of pleasure, but to acquire produce. Similarly, man ought to approach the tilth of the human race with the purpose of acquiring produce, that is, offspring. What is of concern to the Law of God is not the particular mode of cultivating one's tilth, but rather that one should go only to one's tilth and not elsewhere, and that one should go there for the purpose of cultivation. 242. These words are susceptible to two meanings. First, that a person should try to maintain the continuity of the human race so that when he departs from this world there should be others to replace him in his tasks. Second, that one should be concerned with the quality of the coming generation, i.e., how far it is endowed with religious devotion, moral excellence and humanity, and that one should do all that is possible to promote these qualities. The latter part ot the verse contains the warning that those who deliberately neglect these two duties will he severly taken to task by God.