Page 39 Notes

02 Surah Al-Baqarah (continued)

Page 39 Grammar 

Page 39 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

2:238

2:239

2:240

2:241

2:242

2:243

2:244

2:245

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 39 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Page 39 of the Quran contains Surah Al-Baqarah, verses 238 through 245. This passage transitions from the details of family law into a powerful reminder of spiritual steadfastness through prayer (especially during times of fear or conflict) and underscores the concept of spending financially in the path of God (Qard Hasanah).

The Sunnah and classical Hadith literature provide highly specific legal and historical clarity for these verses:

1. Surah Al-Baqarah: Verse 238 (The Command of Silence and the "Middle Prayer")

“Guard strictly your (habit of) prayers, especially the Middle Prayer; and stand before Allah in a devout (frame of mind).”

📌 The Sunnah: Identifying the "Middle Prayer" (Salat al-Wusta)

The Quran emphasizes a specific prayer as the "Middle Prayer." The Prophet ﷺ explicitly clarified which of the five daily prayers this refers to.

• The Hadith: During the Battle of the Trench (Al-Khandaq), when the pagan forces kept the Muslims so preoccupied that they delayed their afternoon prayer, the Prophet ﷺ said out of distress: "They chased us away from the Middle Prayer, the 'Asr prayer. May Allah fill their houses and graves with fire!"

• Citation: Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 2931; Sahih Muslim, Hadith 628.

• Additional Context: Aisha (the Prophet's wife) even had her scribe write down her personal copy of the Quran with the explicit clarification she heard from the Prophet: "Guard the prayers and the middle prayer—which is the afternoon ('Asr) prayer—and stand up truly obedient to Allah." (Sahih Muslim, Hadith 629).

📌 The Sunnah: The Prohibition of Talking During Prayer

The final part of verse 238 commands the believers to "stand before Allah in a devout (frame of mind)" (Qaniteen). The Sunnah notes this exact verse completely changed how Muslims prayed.

• The Hadith: Zaid bin Arqam narrated: "In the lifetime of the Prophet ﷺ we used to speak while praying. A man would talk to his companion next to him about his needs, until the verse 'And stand before Allah in devout obedience' (2:238) was revealed. After that, we were ordered to remain silent and were forbidden from talking."

• Citation: Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 4534; Sahih Muslim, Hadith 539.

2. Surah Al-Baqarah: Verse 239 (The Fear Prayer / Praying on the Move)

“And if you fear [an enemy, then pray] on foot or riding. But when you are secure, then remember Allah [in prayer], as He has taught you that which you did not [previously] know.”

📌 The Sunnah: Praying on Horseback, Camel, or Vehicle

This verse establishes the "Prayer of Fear" (Salat al-Khawf), which permits Muslims under imminent physical threat to pray while walking or riding, without facing the Qiblah.

• The Sunnah: Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) explained how the Prophet ﷺ enacted this: "If the danger is greater than that, they can pray on foot standing or riding, facing the Qiblah or not facing it." The sub-narrator Nafi' added: "I am certain Abdullah bin Umar narrated that only from the Prophet ﷺ." * Citation: Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 4535.

• Application: Modern legal rulings utilize this Sunnah and Verse 239 to allow those in extreme necessity—such as a pilot flying a plane or a traveler trapped in an emergency—to pray sitting down or moving if they cannot otherwise stop.

3. Surah Al-Baqarah: Verse 240 (The Abrogated Rulings of a Widow's Year-Long Stay)

“And those of you who die and leave wives behind them should make a will in favor of their wives a provision for one year without turning them out...”

📌 The Sunnah: Understanding Abrogation (Naskh)

Verse 240 initially commanded that a widow be given a full year's housing and maintenance. However, this verse was legally replaced (abrogated) by verse 234 (which shortened the waiting period to four months and ten days) and Surah An-Nisa (4:12), which guaranteed widows a fixed share of the inheritance.

• The Hadith: Ibn Az-Zubayr narrated: "I said to 'Uthman bin 'Affan: 'This verse (2:240) has been abrogated by the other verse (2:234), so why do you still write it down in the copy of the Quran?' 'Uthman replied: 'O my nephew! I will not shift anything from its original place in the Quran.'""

• Citation: Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 4536.

• Explanation: This Hadith shows the meticulous preservation of the Quran. Even though the legal obligation of the "one-year maintenance" was replaced by the shorter period, the Prophet's companions kept the text intact exactly as the Prophet ﷺ instructed.

4. Surah Al-Baqarah: Verse 243-245 (Fleeing Death and Giving a Goodly Loan to Allah)

“Who is it that would loan Allah a goodly loan [Qardan Hasana] so He may multiply it for him many times over?...” (Verse 245)

📌 The Sunnah: The Story of Abu al-Dahdah

When Verse 245 was revealed, challenging the believers to lend to Allah by spending on the poor and the defense of the community, the Prophet's companions reacted with immediate generosity.

• The Hadith: When this verse was revealed, a companion named Abu al-Dahdah came to the Prophet ﷺ and asked, "O Messenger of Allah, does Allah truly ask us for a loan?" The Prophet ﷺ said, "Yes, O Abu al-Dahdah." Abu al-Dahdah said, "Show me your hand." He took the Prophet’s hand and said, "I have given my entire orchard as a loan to my Lord." His orchard contained 600 date-palm trees, and his wife and children were living inside it at that moment. He walked to the garden and called out to his wife, "O Umm al-Dahdah! Pack up and leave, for I have loaned this garden to my Lord!" She replied, "What a profitable transaction!" * The Prophet's Commentary: Watching this, the Prophet ﷺ remarked beautifully: "How many heavy, dangling clusters of dates are waiting in Paradise for Abu al-Dahdah!"

• Citation: Musnad Ahmad, Hadith 12482; Tafsir Ibn Kathir (with an authentic chain verified by Muslim-standard sub-narrators).