Translation of the meanings Surah Al-Baqarah - English Translation - Abdullah Hasan Yaqoub - Page Number 39 - The Noble Qur'an Encyclopedia

238 : 2

حَٰفِظُواْ عَلَى ٱلصَّلَوَٰتِ وَٱلصَّلَوٰةِ ٱلۡوُسۡطَىٰ وَقُومُواْ لِلَّهِ قَٰنِتِينَ

238. Maintain with care the (obligatory five daily) prayers and (in particular) the middle (after noon) prayer and stand up truly obedient to Allāh ^[92].

[92]. Prayers are mentioned in the midst of marital affair rulings, because of the hurtful feelings divorce can leave. Hence, people are reminded of the Hereafter, by virtue of being steadfast in their prayers. Prayer in another verse is a deterrent against vileness. Allāh has commanded us also in this verse because of His greatness and majesty, that mankind and jinn should stand up for Him only by way of humility and veneration. Hence the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: “Whoever likes men to stand up for him out of humility and veneration, let him take his place in Hell.” That is because this is part of the might and pride that belongs only to Allāh. Thus making prostration to other than Allāh, making bowing to other than Allāh, standing like the standing in prayer for other than Allāh, swearing by other than Allāh, vowing by other than Allāh, slaughtering for other than Allâh, making tawaaf (ritual circumbulation) around other than Allah’s house (Ka’bah), having extreme love, fear, hope, obedience for other than Allāh just as the Creator (Allāh) should be venerated or even more extreme are all Idolatry deeds and the antagonists of the message of the prophets of God. If the one who stands by way of humility and veneration for someone other than Allāh – being living or dead – is a kind of idolatry, it is likewise the one who stands by way of humility and veneration for something abstract such as the national anthem/ pledge or flag; this is also idolatry. It is denial and disbelief in God and major hypocrisy. But standing up to greet a person is lawful unless the person that is being greeted is desires or requests for it. Allāh alone has the right that we stand up for Him out of humility, respect and veneration.

239 : 2

فَإِنۡ خِفۡتُمۡ فَرِجَالًا أَوۡ رُكۡبَانٗاۖ فَإِذَآ أَمِنتُمۡ فَٱذۡكُرُواْ ٱللَّهَ كَمَا عَلَّمَكُم مَّا لَمۡ تَكُونُواْ تَعۡلَمُونَ

239. If you fear (enemy) ^[93], then [pray] whether you are on foot or riding. But when you are secure, then remember Allāh [by praying] as He has taught you, what you did not know before.

[93]. Or an imminent danger, and the like.

240 : 2

وَٱلَّذِينَ يُتَوَفَّوۡنَ مِنكُمۡ وَيَذَرُونَ أَزۡوَٰجٗا وَصِيَّةٗ لِّأَزۡوَٰجِهِم مَّتَٰعًا إِلَى ٱلۡحَوۡلِ غَيۡرَ إِخۡرَاجٖۚ فَإِنۡ خَرَجۡنَ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ فِي مَا فَعَلۡنَ فِيٓ أَنفُسِهِنَّ مِن مَّعۡرُوفٖۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٞ

240. Those among you who die and leave wives [make] a bequest in favor of their wives of maintenance for a year without turning them out ^[94], but if they leave, then there is no blame on you for what they do with themselves in a lawful way. Allāh is All-Mighty, All-Wise. 

[94]. This directive was abrogated by those later revealed in 2:234 and 4:12.

241 : 2

وَلِلۡمُطَلَّقَٰتِ مَتَٰعُۢ بِٱلۡمَعۡرُوفِۖ حَقًّا عَلَى ٱلۡمُتَّقِينَ

241. And for the divorced women is a provision according to what is acceptable - a duty upon the righteous.

242 : 2

كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمۡ ءَايَٰتِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَعۡقِلُونَ

242. Thus does Allāh make His revelations clear to you, so that you may understand.

243 : 2

۞ أَلَمۡ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ خَرَجُواْ مِن دِيَٰرِهِمۡ وَهُمۡ أُلُوفٌ حَذَرَ ٱلۡمَوۡتِ فَقَالَ لَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ مُوتُواْ ثُمَّ أَحۡيَٰهُمۡۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَذُو فَضۡلٍ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكۡثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَشۡكُرُونَ

243. Have you not considered those who left their homes in many thousands, fearing death? So Allāh said to them, "Die"; then He brought them back to life ^[95]. Indeed, Allāh is Gracious to the people, but most of the people are not grateful.

[95]. This verse refers to a group of people who fled their towns in droves during a plague or a battle, fearing death, thus thinking that they would outdo God’s Will. In order to show them that they could not escape His Judgement and make them realize His bountiful favours, God took their lives to show them that He is capable of bringing about their worst fears, only then to give them their lives back again.

244 : 2

وَقَٰتِلُواْ فِي سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱعۡلَمُوٓاْ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٞ

244. So fight in the Way of Allāh, and know that Allāh is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.

245 : 2

مَّن ذَا ٱلَّذِي يُقۡرِضُ ٱللَّهَ قَرۡضًا حَسَنٗا فَيُضَٰعِفَهُۥ لَهُۥٓ أَضۡعَافٗا كَثِيرَةٗۚ وَٱللَّهُ يَقۡبِضُ وَيَبۡصُۜطُ وَإِلَيۡهِ تُرۡجَعُونَ

245. Who is it that will lend to Allāh a goodly loan ^[96], so that He may multiply it for him many times over? and Allāh withholds and expands (provision), and to Him you will (all) be returned (for Judgment).

[96]. I.e., spending in the cause of Allāh in expectation of nothing but His reward.