Page 11 Notes

02 Surah Al-Baqarah (continued)

Page 11 Grammar 

Page 11 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

2:70

2:71

2:72

2:73

2:74

2:75

2:76

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 11 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Page 11 of the Quran contains verses 70 through 76 of Surah Al-Baqarah (The Cow). Structurally, these verses are split into two distinct historical and thematic sections.

• Verses 70–74 conclude the famous narrative of the Israelites and the heifer, where a murder mystery is solved through a divine miracle, followed by a warning regarding hardened hearts.

• Verses 75–76 transition into the prophetic era in Medina, addressing the deception and spiritual manipulation practiced by certain religious factions who encountered the Prophet Muhammad.

The Hadiths and Sunnah connected to these specific verses illuminate their meaning, practical rulings, and historical context.

1. Verses 70–73: The Conclusion of the Cow Narrative

“They said, 'Call upon your Lord to make clear to us what it is. Indeed, [all] cows look alike to us...'” (2:70)

The Danger of Excessive and Stubborn Questioning

The core lesson of the cow narrative, finalized on page 11, is how the Israelites turned a simple command into an incredibly difficult burden by asking excessive, pedantic questions. Prophet Muhammad used this exact historical event to establish a foundational rule of conduct (Sunnah) for Muslims.

• The Hadith: Abu Hurayrah reported that the Messenger of Allah addressed the people, saying, "O people, Allah has made Hajj obligatory upon you, so perform Hajj." A man asked, "Is it every year, O Messenger of Allah?" The Prophet remained silent until the man repeated it three times. Finally, the Prophet said:
  "If I were to say yes, it would have become obligatory, and you would not have been able to do it." He then added: "Leave me alone with what I have left you. For indeed, those who came before you were destroyed only because of their excessive questioning and their disputing with their Prophets. So when I command you to do something, do as much of it as you can..." (Sahih Muslim).

• The Connection: Classical exegetes note that the Prophet’s warning directly references the behavior described in verses 70–71. As companion Ibn Abbas stated in related commentaries, if the Israelites had simply slaughtered any cow initially, it would have sufficed. Because they demanded precise age, color, and working traits, Allah made it narrower and costlier for them.

Defining Legal Rulings on Inheritance

Verse 72 says: “And [recall] when you slew a man and disputed over it...” Historical records preserved by commentators note that a wealthy man was murdered by his own nephew, who sought to fast-track his inheritance. By striking the corpse with a piece of the slaughtered cow, Allah temporarily revived the victim to name his nephew as the killer.

• The Sunnah Connection: This Quranic event serves as the legal backbone for Islamic inheritance laws. The Prophet Muhammad formalized this into a permanent legal ruling, stating:
  "The murderer does not inherit anything [from the victim]" (Sunan Abi Dawud; Sunan Ibn Majah).

2. Verse 74: The Metaphor of Hardened Hearts

“Then your hearts became hardened after that, being like stones or even harder...” (2:74)

Softening the Heart through Remembrance

Verse 74 warns that witnessing miracles without genuine submission causes the human spiritual heart to solidify like stone. The Prophet Muhammad frequently spoke on the dangers of a hardened heart (Qaswat al-Qalb) and taught the Sunnah of maintaining spiritual softness.

• The Hadith: Abdullah ibn Umar reported that the Messenger of Allah said:
  "Do not speak excessively without remembering Allah. For indeed, excessive speech without the remembrance of Allah hardens the heart, and the furthest of people from Allah is the one with a hardened heart" (Sunan At-Tirmidhi).

3. Verses 75–76: Context of Revelation (Asbab al-Nuzul) in Medina

“Do you covet [the hope, O believers] that they would believe for you while a party of them used to hear the words of Allah and then distort the Torah... And when they meet those who believe, they say, 'We have believed'...” (2:75-76)

Comforting the Prophet and the Companions

When the Prophet Muhammad migrated to Medina, the early Muslim companions (Ansar) naturally expected that the local Jewish tribes—who were literate in scripture—would be the first to recognize and welcome the Prophet. Instead, they faced political resistance and cognitive dissonance. Verses 75–76 were revealed to manage the expectations of the Muslim community.

• The Historical Hadith Context: Ibn Abbas narrated regarding verse 76 that certain individuals among the Jewish community would meet the Muslim companions and verbally validate them, saying, "We testify that your companion is indeed the Messenger of Allah, whom we find prophesied in our book." However, when they returned to their own religious leaders in private, their leaders would reprimand them, saying, "Are you seriously disclosing to them what Allah revealed to you in the Torah regarding Muhammad's description, so they can use it as a formal argument against you before your Lord?" * The Sunnah Application: These verses served to intellectually protect the early Muslim community from being demoralized by the political games and double-standards practiced by those who knowingly altered or concealed their scriptural truths to protect their socio-economic status.

References

• Sahih Muslim, Book of Hajj, Chapter: The Obligation of Hajj Once in a Lifetime (Hadith 1337).

• Sunan At-Tirmidhi, Book of Zuhd (Hadith 2403).

• Sunan Abi Dawud, Book of Fara'id (Inheritance) (Hadith 2909).

• Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Commentary on Surah Al-Baqarah, Verses 70-76 (Classical Exegesis documenting the legal implications and historical context of Medina).