Translation of the meanings Surah Al-Baqarah - English Translation - Abdullah Hasan Yaqoub - Page Number 4 - The Noble Qur'an Encyclopedia

17 : 2

مَثَلُهُمۡ كَمَثَلِ ٱلَّذِي ٱسۡتَوۡقَدَ نَارٗا فَلَمَّآ أَضَآءَتۡ مَا حَوۡلَهُۥ ذَهَبَ ٱللَّهُ بِنُورِهِمۡ وَتَرَكَهُمۡ فِي ظُلُمَٰتٖ لَّا يُبۡصِرُونَ

17. Their example is that of one who kindled a fire, but when it illuminated what was around him, Allāh took away their light, and left them in darkness, unable to see.

18 : 2

صُمُّۢ بُكۡمٌ عُمۡيٞ فَهُمۡ لَا يَرۡجِعُونَ

18. Deaf, dumb and blind - so they will not return.

19 : 2

أَوۡ كَصَيِّبٖ مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ فِيهِ ظُلُمَٰتٞ وَرَعۡدٞ وَبَرۡقٞ يَجۡعَلُونَ أَصَٰبِعَهُمۡ فِيٓ ءَاذَانِهِم مِّنَ ٱلصَّوَٰعِقِ حَذَرَ ٱلۡمَوۡتِۚ وَٱللَّهُ مُحِيطُۢ بِٱلۡكَٰفِرِينَ

19.Or (their example is) like a rainstorm from the sky ^[9] within which is utter darkness, thunder, and lightning. They put their fingers in their ears against the thunderclaps fearing death. But Allāh encompasses the disbelievers.

[9]. Allāh gave another example of the condition of the hypocrites with the Qur’an and Islam. It is like heavy rain descended upon people in a desert, a downpour accompanied by dense darkness, thunder, and lightning. This prompted them to put their fingers in their ears due to fear of perdition, trying to avoid danger in a way that does not protect them from it. This is the case with the hypocrites when the Qur’an is revealed and hear what's in it of the warnings, they would deafen their ears so they would not benefit from its warning. They would not believe in the truth of the verses of the Qur’an, nor abandon the falsehood. Their admonition in the Qur’an and how it reveals their truth are akin to deafening thunderclaps penetrating their eardrums. Allāh encompasses the deniers with His knowledge and power, so they cannot escape Him or cause Him failure.

20 : 2

يَكَادُ ٱلۡبَرۡقُ يَخۡطَفُ أَبۡصَٰرَهُمۡۖ كُلَّمَآ أَضَآءَ لَهُم مَّشَوۡاْ فِيهِ وَإِذَآ أَظۡلَمَ عَلَيۡهِمۡ قَامُواْۚ وَلَوۡ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَذَهَبَ بِسَمۡعِهِمۡ وَأَبۡصَٰرِهِمۡۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيۡءٖ قَدِيرٞ

20. The lightning almost snatches away their sight. Whenever it gives them light, they walk therein, but when darkness falls upon them, they stand still ^[10]. And if Allāh willed, He could take away their hearing and their sight. Indeed, Allāh is over all things Powerful."

[10]. This is the case with the hypocrites. Whenever their wealth increases and their children, they say: The religion of Islam is truth from God, and they remain steadfast in it for a little while. But if a calamity befalls them or loss, they return to disbelief, and say this is because of the religion of Muhammad, which they followed, and had it not been for God’s respite and grace to them, these people would have been robbed of their hearing and sight, so it will not be returned to them because of their false following and turning away from the truth, and Allāh has the power to do that at any time He wishes.

21 : 2

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ ٱعۡبُدُواْ رَبَّكُمُ ٱلَّذِي خَلَقَكُمۡ وَٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِكُمۡ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَتَّقُونَ

21. O people, worship your Lord (Allāh) Who created you and those before you, so that you may attain piety

22 : 2

ٱلَّذِي جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ فِرَٰشٗا وَٱلسَّمَآءَ بِنَآءٗ وَأَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءٗ فَأَخۡرَجَ بِهِۦ مِنَ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ رِزۡقٗا لَّكُمۡۖ فَلَا تَجۡعَلُواْ لِلَّهِ أَندَادٗا وَأَنتُمۡ تَعۡلَمُونَ

22. It is He Who made the earth a resting place for you and the sky a canopy, and sent down from the sky rain then brought thereby fruits as sustenance for you. So do not set up equals to Allāh while you know ^[11].

[11]. That there is nothing like Him. A companion of the Prophet said, i asked the prophet Muhammad ﷺ, "What is the greatest sin in the sight of Allāh?" He said, "That you set up an equal unto Allāh though He Alone created you." I said, "That is indeed a grave sin." Then I asked, "What is next?" He said "To kill your child lest he should share your food with you." I asked, "What is next?" He said, "To commit adultery with the wife of your neighbour.".

23 : 2

وَإِن كُنتُمۡ فِي رَيۡبٖ مِّمَّا نَزَّلۡنَا عَلَىٰ عَبۡدِنَا فَأۡتُواْ بِسُورَةٖ مِّن مِّثۡلِهِۦ وَٱدۡعُواْ شُهَدَآءَكُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَٰدِقِينَ

23. And if you have any doubt about what We have sent down to Our servant (Muhammad), then produce a Surah (chapter) like it and call upon your witnesses other than Allāh, if you are truthful ^[12].

[12]. In your claim that Muhammad ﷺ is the author of the Qur’an'.

24 : 2

فَإِن لَّمۡ تَفۡعَلُواْ وَلَن تَفۡعَلُواْ فَٱتَّقُواْ ٱلنَّارَ ٱلَّتِي وَقُودُهَا ٱلنَّاسُ وَٱلۡحِجَارَةُۖ أُعِدَّتۡ لِلۡكَٰفِرِينَ

24. But if you do not - and you will never be able to do so -, then beware the Fire, whose fuel is people and stones ^[13]; prepared for the disbelievers.

 [13]. I.e., the idols with the idolaters.