Page 26 Notes

02 Surah Al-Baqarah (continued)

Page 26 Grammar 

Page 26 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

2:170

2:171

2:172

2:173

2:174

2:175

2:176

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 26 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Page 26 of the Qur'an contains Surah Al-Baqarah, Verses 170 through 176. This passage addresses the dangers of blind imitation (Taqlid) of ancestors, extends the dietary laws for believers, outlines the extreme necessity clause (eating Haram to survive), and delivers a stern warning to those who monetize or conceal divine scripture for worldly gain.

The Hadith and Sunnah literature provides direct legal application, linguistic clarity, and historical context for these verses.

1. Blind Imitation vs. Conscious Faith (Verses 170–171)

“And when it is said to them, 'Follow what Allah has revealed,' they say, 'Rather, we will follow that which we found our fathers doing.' Even though their fathers understood nothing, nor were they guided?” (Qur'an 2:170)

These verses criticize the pagan Quraysh for clinging to ancestral traditions over divine revelation. The Sunnah firmly establishes that faith must be built on truth, warning Muslims against falling into the same trap of blind, tribal conformity.

• The Warning Against Conformity (Imma'ah):
  The Sunnah provides a direct psychological parallel to the mindset rebuked in verse 170. Hudhayfah narrated that the Prophet $\text{PBUH}$ said: "Do not be an 'Imma'ah' (a blind follower/conformist), saying: 'If the people do good we will do good, and if they do wrong we will do wrong.' Rather, accustom yourselves to do good if the people do good, and if they do evil, do not behave unjustly." (Jami' al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 2007).

• Imitating Past Nations:
  The Prophet $\text{PBUH}$ warned that subsequent generations would slip back into this herd mentality. In Sahih al-Bukhari, Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported that the Prophet PBUH said: "You will surely follow the ways of those nations who were before you, span by span and cubit by cubit, so much so that even if they entered a lizard's hole, you would follow them." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 7320).

2. Dietary Restrictions and Pure Earnings (Verses 172–173)

“He has only forbidden to you dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been dedicated to other than Allah. But whoever is forced [by necessity], neither desiring [it] nor transgressing [its limit], there is no sin upon him...” (Qur'an 2:172-173)

Verse 172 commands believers to eat of the Tayyibat (pure things) provided to them. The Sunnah directly connects the physical purity of food to the spiritual acceptance of worship and supplication.

• Acceptance of Supplication (Dua):
  In a foundational Hadith in Sahih Muslim, Abu Hurayrah reported that the Prophet PBUH recited Verse 172 (“O you who have believed, eat from the good things which We have provided you...”) and then spoke of a man traveling a long journey, disheveled and dusty, raising his hands to the sky saying, "O Lord, O Lord!" But the Prophet remarked: "...while his food is unlawful, his drink is unlawful, his clothing is unlawful, and he has been nourished with unlawful things. So how can his supplication be answered?" (Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1015).

• Exceptions to "Dead Animals and Blood":
  While Verse 173 explicitly forbids carrion (dead animals) and blood, the Sunnah provides specific legal exceptions via specialized prophetic codification. Abdullah ibn Umar narrated that the Prophet $\text{PBUH}$ said: "Two types of dead animals and two types of blood have been made lawful for us. The two dead animals are fish (seafood) and locusts, and the two types of blood are the liver and the spleen." (Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith 3314; Musnad Ahmad, Hadith 5723).

3. Concealing Scripture for a Small Price (Verses 174–176)

“Indeed, they who conceal what Allah has sent down of the Book and exchange it for a small price - those consume into their bellies nothing but fire. And Allah will not speak to them on the Day of Resurrection...” (Qur'an 2:174)

These verses target religious authorities who intentionally altered, hid, or sold legal verdicts to suit the whims of wealthy patrons or to retain institutional control.

• The Gravity of Bribery in Judgments:
  The Sunnah provides severe penalties for judges and scholars who manipulate divine law for financial or social gain. Abdullah bin Amr narrated: "The Messenger of Allah PBUH cursed the one who offers a bribe and the one who accepts it [in judicial/religious matters]." (Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith 3580).

• Three Classes of Judges:
  The warning that corrupt scholars "consume nothing but fire" is echoed in a narration by Buraidah, where the Prophet $\text{PBUH}$ said: "Judges are of three types, two are in the Fire and one is in Paradise. A judge who knows the truth and judges accordingly is in Paradise. A judge who knows the truth but is unjust in his judgment [for personal gain] is in the Fire, and a judge who passes judgments out of ignorance is in the Fire." (Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith 3573).

References

• Al-Bukhari, M. I. (n.d.). Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Holding Fast to the Qur'an and Sunnah, Hadith 7320.

• Al-Sijistani, Abu Dawud. (n.d.). Sunan Abi Dawud, Book of Judgments (Kitab al-Aqdiyah), Hadith 3573 & 3580.

• Al-Tirmidhi, M. I. (n.d.). Jami' al-Tirmidhi, Chapters on Righteousness and Maintaining Ties, Hadith 2007.

• Ibn Majah, M. Y. (n.d.). Sunan Ibn Majah, Book of Foods, Hadith 3314.

• Muslim, I. H. (n.d.). Sahih Muslim, Book of Zakat, Hadith 1015.

(Note: "n.d." denotes classical texts where modern standardized publication years vary across publishers, cited instead by their universally recognized book and Hadith numbers).