Page 18 Notes

02 Surah Al-Baqarah (continued)

Page 18 Grammar 

Page 18 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

2:113

2:114

2:115

2:116

2:117

2:118

2:119

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 18 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Page 18 of the Quran covers verses 113 through 119 of Surah Al-Baqarah. This page addresses the mutual theological rejections between different religious groups (verse 113), establishes the severe spiritual gravity of blocking people from places of worship (verse 114), introduces the cosmic reality that Allah owns both the East and the West (verse 115), and details the finality and ultimate role of the Prophet Muhammad as a bearer of glad tidings and a warner (verse 119).

The Hadiths and Sunnah connected to these verses provide critical context for daily prayers, preserve historical flashpoints of the prophetic mission, and outline core theological truths.

1. Verse 114: Preventing the Remembrance of Allah in Mosques

"And who is more unjust than he who prevents the mosques of Allah from having His name mentioned therein and strives for their destruction?..." (2:114)

Historical Context: The Treaty of Al-Hudaybiyah

While classical commentators note this verse historically applies to the destruction of the Holy House (Bayt al-Maqdis) by past tyrants, the Prophet Muhammad and his companions applied its legal and spiritual reality directly to the pagan Quraysh of Mecca, who blocked the Muslims from entering the Kaaba.

• The Sunnah Connection: In the 6th year after migrating to Medina, the Prophet and 1,400 companions marched peacefully toward Mecca to perform the minor pilgrimage (Umrah). The Quraysh military intercepted them at Al-Hudaybiyah, physically barring them from accessing the Sacred Mosque.

• The Resolution: Rather than forcing a bloody conflict, the Prophet modeled a profound Sunnah of strategic diplomacy, signing the Treaty of Al-Hudaybiyah. Even though the Muslims were initially grieved at being barred (a direct parallel to the injustice described in verse 114), this patience directly paved the way for the peaceful Conquest of Mecca two years later, permanently reopening the Kaaba for the remembrance of Allah (Sahih al-Bukhari).

2. Verse 115: Facing Any Direction in Prayer

"And to Allah belongs the east and the west. So wherever you [might] turn, there is the Face of Allah. Indeed, Allah is all-Encompassing and Knowing." (2:115)

The Sunnah of Voluntary Prayers on a Riding Mount

This verse provides immense legislative flexibility in Islamic jurisprudence, and its application is heavily detailed across numerous authentic Hadiths.

• The Hadith on Traveling: The companion Abdullah ibn Umar reported:
  "The Messenger of Allah used to pray his voluntary night prayers (Nawafil) while riding on his camel, facing whichever direction the camel turned, gesturing with his head [for bowing and prostrating]." Ibn Umar explicitly added: "It was regarding this reality that the verse was revealed: 'So wherever you [might] turn, there is the Face of Allah.'" (Sahih al-Bukhari & Sahih Muslim)

The Mistake of the Qiblah in Darkness

Another foundational Hadith connects this verse to an occurrence where companions lost their geographical bearings.

• The Hadith: Jabir ibn Abdullah narrated: "We were on an expedition with the Messenger of Allah on a dark, cloudy night, and we could not determine the direction of the Qiblah (the direction of Mecca). Everyone in our group marked out a line on the ground with stones and prayed in the direction they thought was right. In the morning, we realized we had prayed in the wrong direction. We mentioned this to the Prophet, and he remained silent. Then, Allah revealed this verse: 'To Allah belongs the east and the west. So wherever you [might] turn, there is the Face of Allah.'" (Sunan At-Tirmidhi; Sunan Ibn Majah)

3. Verse 119: The Ultimate Mission of the Prophet

"Indeed, We have sent you, [O Muhammad], with the truth as a bringer of glad tidings and a warner, and you will not be asked about the companions of the Hellfire." (2:119)

Structuring the Prophetic Character

Verse 119 defines the structural purpose of the Prophet’s mission using two primary dynamics: Bashir (a bringer of glad tidings of Paradise for the righteous) and Nadhir (a stern warner against the consequences of corruption and disbelief). The Prophet's daily Sunnah completely embodied this balance.

• The Hadith on His Warning Style: Jabir ibn Abdullah narrated how seriously the Prophet took his role as a warner:
  "Whenever the Messenger of Allah delivered a sermon, his eyes would turn red, his voice would rise, and his anger would intensify, as if he were a military commander warning his army of an imminent enemy attack, saying: 'The enemy is coming upon you in the morning! The enemy is coming upon you in the evening!'" (Sahih Muslim)

• The Sunnah of Glad Tidings: Conversely, the Prophet balanced this intensity with boundless gentleness and hope for everyday people. He explicitly instructed his companions when sending them out to govern or teach: "Make things easy for the people and do not make them difficult; give them glad tidings (Bashiru) and do not cause them to flee." (Sahih al-Bukhari)

References

• Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Prayers (Al-Salat), Hadith 400; Book of Jihad, Hadith 2810; Book of Good Manners, Hadith 6125.

• Sahih Muslim, Book of the Prayer of Travelers, Hadith 700; Book of Friday Prayers (Al-Jumu'ah), Hadith 867.

• Sunan At-Tirmidhi, Chapters on Prayer, Hadith 345 (The narration of Jabir on losing the Qiblah).

• Sunan Ibn Majah, Book of Establishing the Prayer, Hadith 1020.

• Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Extended commentary on Surah Al-Baqarah, Verses 113–119 (Detailing the historical context of Al-Hudaybiyah and the revelation regarding the Qiblah).