Page 13 Notes

02 Surah Al-Baqarah (continued)

Page 13 Grammar 

Page 13 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

2:84

2:85

2:86

2:87

2:88

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 13 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Page 13 of the Quran covers verses 84 through 88 of Surah Al-Baqarah. These verses continue to address the historical covenant made with the Children of Israel, focusing on the specific prohibitions against shedding the blood of their own people or expelling them from their homes (verses 84–86). It then highlights their rejection of the Prophets, culminating in verse 88, where they claim their hearts are wrapped or sealed against belief.

The Hadiths and Sunnah related to these verses illuminate the specific historical context of Medina, explain the theological concepts of divine assistance, and detail the prophetic warnings against hypocrisy.

1. Verses 84–86: Political Disobedience and Selective Faith

"And [recall] when We took your covenant, [saying], 'Do not shed each other's blood or evict one another from your homes.' Then you acknowledged this while you were witnessing. Then, you are those who kill one another and evict a party of your people from their homes, assisting against them in sin and aggression..." (2:84-85)

The Pre-Islamic Context of Medina

These verses directly address the political reality of Medina right before the Prophet Muhammad migrated there. The Jewish tribes of Medina had formed strategic alliances with competing Pagan Arab tribes, leading them to violate their own divine laws.

• The Historical Context (Hadith/Tafsir): The companion Abdullah ibn Abbas explained that the Jewish tribes of Medina were split. The Banu Qaynuqa and Banu Nadir were allied with the Pagan Arab tribe of Khazraj, while the Banu Qurayzah were allied with the Pagan Arab tribe of Aws. When the Aws and Khazraj fought each other (such as in the famous Battle of Bu'ath), their respective Jewish allies would fight alongside them. This meant that Jewish individuals were actively killing and expelling other Jewish individuals from the opposing alliance—a direct violation of the Torah.

• The Selective Practice: Ironically, after the battles ended, if any Jewish fighters were taken captive by the enemy, both sides would pool money together to ransom them out, citing that the Torah commanded them to free captives. Allah exposes this hypocrisy in verse 85: "Do you believe in part of the Scripture and disbelieve in part?" * The Sunnah Connection: The Prophet Muhammad came to Medina to dismantle this system of tribal warfare and selective justice. He established the Constitution of Medina, a foundational covenant creating a unified community (Ummah) based on absolute justice, mirroring the original commands of peace and mutual protection that these verses highlighted as broken in the past (Sahih al-Bukhari; Tafsir Ibn Kathir).

2. Verse 87: The Role of Angel Gabriel (Ruh al-Qudus)

"And We gave Moses the Scripture and followed up after him with messengers. And We gave Jesus, the son of Mary, clear proofs and supported him with the Pure Spirit (Ruh al-Qudus)..." (2:87)

Prophetic Supplications for Divine Support

In verse 87, Allah mentions supporting Prophet Jesus with the "Pure Spirit" (Ruh al-Qudus), which the Prophet Muhammad and his companions explicitly identified as the Angel Gabriel. The Prophet Muhammad utilized this exact concept to supplicate for his companions who defended the faith intellectually.

• The Hadith: Al-Bara' ibn Azib narrated that the Prophet Muhammad said to his companion, the poet Hassan ibn Thabit (who was using poetry to counter the propaganda of the Quraish):
  "Satirize them [with your poetry], and Gabriel is with you." In another narration, the Prophet explicitly prayed: "O Allah, support him with the Pure Spirit (Ruh al-Qudus)." (Sahih al-Bukhari & Sahih Muslim)

• The Connection: The Sunnah establishes that the same divine assistance given to past prophets through Angel Gabriel remains active as a source of support for those who sincerely defend truth and justice.

3. Verse 88: Arrogance and the "Wrapped" Heart

"And they said, 'Our hearts are wrapped.' Rather, Allah has cursed them for their disbelief, so little is it that they believe." (2:88)

The Spiritual Danger of Pride

The phrase "Our hearts are wrapped" (Ghulflun) was used by the opponents of the Prophet in Medina as a sarcastic boast, meaning their hearts were already completely full of knowledge and sealed against anything new he had to offer. The Prophet Muhammad frequently warned against this specific spiritual disease—arrogance (Kibr)—which prevents a person from accepting truth when it comes from outside their circle.

• The Hadith: Abdullah ibn Mas'ud reported that the Messenger of Allah said:
  "He who has in his heart the weight of a mustard seed of arrogance will not enter Paradise." A man asked, "What if a person likes his clothes to look good and his shoes to look good?" The Prophet replied, "Indeed, Allah is Beautiful and He loves beauty. Arrogance is refusing to acknowledge the truth and despising people." (Sahih Muslim)

References

• Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Start of Creation, Chapter: Mention of Angels (Hadith 3212).

• Sahih Muslim, Book of Faith, Chapter: Prohibiting Arrogance (Hadith 91); Book of the Virtues of the Companions (Hadith 2486).

• Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Commentary on Surah Al-Baqarah, Verses 84–88 (Detailing the historical tribal alliances of Medina and the definition of Ruh al-Qudus).