What are the virtues of Sūrat al-Baqarah?
The Prophet ﷺ said Shayṭān flees from a house in which al-Baqarah is recited. Its last two verses suffice at night. Its three parts and their meanings.
10 passages from 8 books in the library
Sūrat al-Baqarah held great weight among the early community, as the cited reports show. It is related that ʿUthmān would begin his Friday night with al-Baqarah, and that while most Companions memorised only a sūrah or two, those who had memorised al-Baqarah were held in special esteem. Al-Ghazali records the practice of reciting its opening and closing verses at the head of the grave. Ibn Masʿūd, hearing a man boast he had recited it overnight, replied that this was "your portion." The sūrah also carries the divine command to "descend all of you from it."
Drawn from the classical sources below — in the scholars' own words.
The classical approach.
These passages are drawn from 8 books by Imam al-Ghazali, Ibn Kathir, and Ibn Battuta — part of the classical Sunni tradition that carries over a thousand years of reflection on the Qurʾān, the authentic Sunnah, and the consensus of the early community. Nothing below is a paraphrase. The words are the scholars' own, translated from the original Arabic manuscripts.
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"It is reported that Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, would begin on Friday night with Al-Baqarah"
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"Most companions would memorize a single surah or two, and those who memorized Surah al-Baqarah"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"So let none of you come on the Day of Resurrection with a camel that grumbles, a cow that bellows,"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"who advised reciting the opening and closing verses of Surah al-Baqarah at the head of the grave,"
14th century · Bosra, Syria
Monumental history Al-Bidāyah wa al-Nihāyah, the world's most widely read Qurʾanic commentary, and the classical Stories of the Prophets.
More on Ibn Kathir →
· Provenance →
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"God protected her, as he says, and seek help through patience and prayer, from Surat al-Baqarah."
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"Ibn Masud heard a man say, I recited Al-Baqarah overnight, and he replied, that is your portion"
14th century · Bosra, Syria
Monumental history Al-Bidāyah wa al-Nihāyah, the world's most widely read Qurʾanic commentary, and the classical Stories of the Prophets.
More on Ibn Kathir →
· Provenance →
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"command to descend in Surah Al-Baqarah, in His saying, And We said, Descend all of you from it,"
14th century · Bosra, Syria
Monumental history Al-Bidāyah wa al-Nihāyah, the world's most widely read Qurʾanic commentary, and the classical Stories of the Prophets.
More on Ibn Kathir →
· Provenance →
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"like a cow, and they would dance around it with joy. They said, This is your God and the God of"
14th century · Tangier, Morocco
The Riḥlah — a 30-year, 75,000-mile journey across three continents, and the most important travel account of the pre-modern world.
More on Ibn Battuta →
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"who are like the servants for us. He sent a roasted sheep's head on a spit, and a jug of cow's"
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"The Indian infidel's law dictates that whoever slaughters a cow shall be slaughtered likewise"
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