2. Al-Baqara

Allah then mentioned the believers from among the people of the Book: 'Abdullah Ibn Salam and his companions, Bahirah the Monk and the Negus and his followers, saying: (Those unto whom We have given the Scripture) given knowledge of the Scripture, i.e. the Torah, (who read it with the right reading) describe it as it is and do not alter it: expositing what is lawful and unlawful, its commands and prohibitions to whomever asks them, and they further act according to what is clear and unambiguous and believe in that which is ambiguous therein, (those believe in it) in Muhammad and the Qur'an. (And who disbelieveth in it) in Muhammad and the Qur'an, (those are they who are losers) who are duped in that they lose both this world and the world to come.

Allah then mentions His favour upon the Children of Israel, saying: (O Children of Israel!) O Children of Jacob (Remember) recollect (My favour wherewith I favoured you) favoured your forefathers by delivering them from Pharaoh and his people as well as by the blessings and bounties that I favoured them with (and how I preferred you) with Islam (to the worlds) the people of your time.

(And guard against a day) fear the torment of a day, i.e. the Day of Judgement (when no soul will in anything avail another) no unbelieving soul will be able to drive away anything from another unbelieving soul; it is also said that this means: no righteous soul will be able to drive away anything from another righteous soul; and it is said that this means: no father will be able to drive away anything from his son and no son will be able to drive away Allah's punishment from his father, (nor will compensation be accepted from it) no ransom will be accepted, (nor will intercession be of use to it) no intercessor will intercede for it: not a close angel, a sent messenger or a righteous servant; (nor will they be helped) will be prevented from what they will face.

Allah then mentioned His favour upon Abraham, His close friend, saying: (And when his Lord tried Abraham with some words) He commanded him to fulfil ten traits: five in relation to his head and five to his body, (and he fulfilled them) he complied. It is also said that (And when his Lord tried Abraham with some words) means: with every single word he prayed to Allah, (He said) to him: (Lo! I have appointed you a leader for mankind) a vicegerent that people may emulate you. (He) Abraham (said: And of my offspring) make of my offspring vicegerents that people would emulate? (He) Allah (said: My covenant) with you and My promise to you and the honour and mercy I bestowed upon you (includeth not wrong-doers) from among your offspring; it is also said that this means: My covenant will not include the wrong-doers in the Hereafter but it will include them in this life.

Allah then commanded people to emulate him, saying: (And when We made the House a resort) a place to turn to (for mankind) whereby they can turn and long for (and a sanctuary) for whoever enters it: (Take) it, O community of Muhammad! (as your place of worship the place where Abraham stood (to pray)) a place whereby you turn in prayer. (And We imposed a duty upon) commanded (Abraham and Ishmael: Purify My house) from idols (for those who go around and those who meditate therein) those who live there (and those who bow down and prostrate themselves) those who perform the five daily prayers, regardless of their country of origin.

(And when Abraham and Ishmael were raising the foundation of the House) built the foundation of the House and Ishmael was helping him and when they finished, they prayed: (Our Lord!) O our Lord! (Accept from us) the building of Your house. (Lo! Thou, only Thou, art the Hearer) of our prayer, (the Knower) of the answer to this prayer; it is also said that this means: the Knower of our intention in building Your house.

(Our Lord!) O our Lord! (And make us submissive) obedient and sincere (unto Thee) by not ascribing any partners to you and through worshipping You (and of our seed a nation submissive) obedient and sincere (unto Thee) by not ascribing any partners to you and through worshipping You, (and show us our rites) teach us the rites of our pilgrimage, (and relent towards us) overlook our shortcomings. (Lo! Thou, only Thou, art the Relenting) You who overlooks shortcomings, (the Merciful) towards the believers.

(Our Lord!) O our Lord (And raise up in their midst) the offspring of Ishmael (a Messenger from among them) from their own lineage (who shall recite unto them Your revelations) the Qur'an, (and shall instruct them in the Scripture) the Qur'an (and in wisdom) the lawful and the prohibited (and shall make them pure) from sins through the declaration of the Oneness of God. (Lo! Thou, only Thou, art the Mighty) Who is vengeful against whosoever does not answer Your Messenger whom You sent to them, (the Wise) in sending the Messenger. And Allah answered his prayers and sent unto them Muhammad (pbuh); and these are the words with which Allah tried him, and he fulfilled them by asking Allah for them in his prayer.

(And who forsaketh the religion of Abraham) renounces the Religion of Abraham and his practices (save him who befooleth himself?) has ruined himself, lost his mind or is foolish? (Verily We chose him) i.e. Abraham (in the world) by taking him as a friend; as it is said this means: We have chosen him in this world by bestowing upon him prophethood, Islam and goodly offspring, (and lo! In the Hereafter he is among the righteous ones) with his forefathers, the messengers, in Paradise.