الحمد لله نحمده ونستعينه ونستغفره، ونعوذ بالله تعالى من شرور أنفسنا، وسيئات أعمالنا، وأشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له، وأشهد أن محمداً عبده ورسوله، اللهم صلِّ وسلم وبارك على سيدنا محمد وعلى آله وصحبه  ومن تبعه إلى يوم الدين

There are two Ayahs (verses) in the Quran that represent a treasure endowed by Allah to the believers.  Unlike the rest of the Quran that was transmitted to the Prophet (PBUH) by the Holly Angel Jibreel, these two verses are the only ones that were given directly by Allah to the Prophet (PBUH) when he went in the trip of ascension (Al-Mi’rag).  The Prophet (PBUH) received them form under the throne of Allah.  These two Ayats are the last two Ayat in Surat Al-Baqara.

Abu Dhr reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said:

وعن أبي ذر رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: «أُعْطِيتُ خَوَاتِيمَ سُورَةِ الْبَقَرَةِ مِنْ بَيْتِ كَنْزٍ مِنْ تَحْتِ الْعَرْشِ، لَمْ يُعْطَهُنَّ نَبِيٌّ قَبْلِي» (رواه الإمام أحمد: [21679]، وقال محققو السند  صحيح لغيره).

“I have been given the ending of Surat Al-Baqara from a treasure under the throne.  They were not given to any prophet before me”.

Ibn Mas’ud said:  

وعن عبد الله بن مسعود قال: “لَمَّا أُسْرِيَ بِرَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ انْتُهِيَ بِهِ إِلَى سِدْرَةِ الْمُنْتَهَى: “فَأُعْطِيَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ثَلَاثًا: أُعْطِيَ الصَّلَوَاتِ الْخَمْسَ، وَأُعْطِيَ خَوَاتِيمَ سُورَةِ الْبَقَرَةِ، وَغُفِرَ لِمَنْ لَمْ يُشْرِكْ بِاللهِ مِنْ أُمَّتِهِ شَيْئًا الْمُقْحِمَاتُ” (رواه الإمام أحمد ، وصحيح مسلم).

“الْمُقْحِمَاتُ” الذنوب العظام الكبائر التي تهلك أصحابها وتوردهم النار وتقحمهم إياها

When the Prophet (PBUH) was on the night of Israa’ and ascended to the Sidrat Al-Muntaha (سِدْرَةِ الْمُنْتَهَى), he was given three things: “He was given the five daily obligatory prayers, he was given the last verses of Surat Al-Baqarah, and he was granted the forgiveness from the great sins for anyone from his nation who does not associate anything with Allah.”

These two verses are verses number 285 and 286 in Surat Al-Baqara:  

ءَامَنَ ٱلرَّسُولُ بِمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيۡهِ مِن رَّبِّهِۦ وَٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ‌ۚ كُلٌّ ءَامَنَ بِٱللَّهِ وَمَلَـٰٓٮِٕكَتِهِۦ وَكُتُبِهِۦ وَرُسُلِهِۦ لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيۡنَ أَحَدٍ۬ مِّن رُّسُلِهِۦ‌ۚ وَقَالُواْ سَمِعۡنَا وَأَطَعۡنَا‌ۖ غُفۡرَانَكَ رَبَّنَا وَإِلَيۡكَ ٱلۡمَصِيرُ (٢٨٥)

“The Messenger believed in what was revealed to him from his Lord and [so do] the believers. All of them have believed in Allah and His angels and His books and His messengers, [saying],” We make no distinction between any of His messengers.” And they say, “we hear, and we obey. [We seek] Your forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the [final] destination.” (Al-Baqara 2:285)

لَا يُكَلِّفُ ٱللَّهُ نَفۡسًا إِلَّا وُسۡعَهَا‌ۚ لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتۡ وَعَلَيۡہَا مَا ٱكۡتَسَبَتۡ‌ۗ رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذۡنَآ إِن نَّسِينَآ أَوۡ أَخۡطَأۡنَا‌ۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تَحۡمِلۡ عَلَيۡنَآ إِصۡرً۬ا كَمَا حَمَلۡتَهُ ۥ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِنَا‌ۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تُحَمِّلۡنَا مَا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِۦ‌ۖ وَٱعۡفُ عَنَّا وَٱغۡفِرۡ لَنَا وَٱرۡحَمۡنَآ‌ۚ أَنتَ مَوۡلَٮٰنَا فَٱنصُرۡنَا عَلَى ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلۡڪَـٰفِرِينَ (٢٨٦)

Allah does not charge a person beyond his capacity. For him is what he earned and on him what he incurred.  

Our Lord do not hold us accountable if we forget or make mistake.

Our Lord do not place on us a burden like that which You placed on those before us.

Our Lord do not make us bear a burden for which we have no ability to bear.

And pardon us; and forgive us; and have mercy upon us. You are our guardian, so grant us victory over the disbelieving people.” [Al-Baqara 2:286]

The honor we receive from these two verses is that their start with testimony from Allah that that we are believers, and our belief is similar to that of the Messenger (PBUH).   The two verses end with a Dua that Allah committed to grant to us as indicated by the hadith reported by Ibn Abbas who said:

عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ بَيْنَمَا جِبْرِيلُ قَاعِدٌ عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم سَمِعَ نَقِيضًا مِنْ فَوْقِهِ فَرَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ فَقَالَ هَذَا بَابٌ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ فُتِحَ الْيَوْمَ لَمْ يُفْتَحْ قَطُّ إِلا الْيَوْمَ فَنَزَلَ مِنْهُ مَلَكٌ فَقَالَ هَذَا مَلَكٌ نَزَلَ إِلَى الأَرْضِ لَمْ يَنْزِلْ قَطُّ إِلا الْيَوْمَ فَسَلَّمَ وَقَالَ أَبْشِرْ بِنُورَيْنِ أُوتِيتَهُمَا لَمْ يُؤْتَهُمَا نَبِيٌّ قَبْلَكَ فَاتِحَةُ الْكِتَابِ وَخَوَاتِيمُ سُورَةِ الْبَقَرَةِ

لَنْ تَقْرَأَ بِحَرْفٍ مِنْهُمَا إِلا أُعْطِيتَهُ. رواه مسلم في صحيحه

“While the Messenger of Allah was with Jibril, he heard a noise from above. Jibril lifted his sight to the sky and said, ‘This is a door in heaven that was opened just now, and it was never opened before.’ An Angel descended from that door and came to the Prophet and said, `Receive the good news of two lights that you have been given and which no Prophet before you was given them: the Opener of the Book (Al-Fatihah) and the last verses in Surat Al-Baqarah. You will not read a letter of them, but you will be granted it.” (Muslim)

Keep in mind that these verses are Dua and thus we are encouraged to repeat them.  Memorizing these two verses is important so one can read them at least every night.  It reported in both Bukhari and Muslim that Ibn Masoud said that the Prophet (PBUH) said: 

وعَنْ أَبِي مَسْعُودٍ الْبَدْرِيِّ رَضِي اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم الآيَتَانِ مِنْ آخِرِ سُورَةِ الْبَقَرَةِ مَنْ قَرَأَهُمَا فِي لَيْلَةٍ كَفَتَاهُ. صحيح البخاري

“Whosoever recites the last two verses of Surat Al-Baqarah at night, they will be sufficient (enough) for him.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

The scholars offered different interpretations regarding what is meant by being sufficient or are enough for him.  1) Some said that that they will be sufficient means for protection from the evils of men and Jinn.  2) Others said that they will be enough in place of tahajjud (night prayers). 3) Others said that they are enough in terms of good deeds such reciting the Quran at night.  Regardless of the interpretation you choose, there are great benefits in reading these two verses every night.  

The Prophet (PBUH) emphasized the importance of these two ayats by encouraging people to teach them to their family members.  Abu Dhar reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said:

عن أبي ذر رضي الله عنه أَنّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، قَالَ: «إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَتَمَ سُورَةَ الْبَقَرَةِ بِآيَتَيْنِ أعْطِانيهُمَا مِنْ كَنْزِهِ الَّذِي تَحْتَ الْعَرْشِ، فَتَعَلَّمُوهُنَّ وَعَلِّمُوهُنَّ نِسَاءَكُمْ، وأبناءكم، فَإِنَّهُمَا صَلَاةٌ، وَقُرْآنٌ، وَدُعَاءٌ».

“Allah ended Surat Al-Baqara with two Verses that were given to me form a treasure under the Throne, teach them to your wives and children, they are prayers and Quran and Dua.

Al-Nu’aman Ibn Basheer (النُّعْمَانِ ابْنِ بَشِيرٍ) reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said:

وعَنِ النُّعْمَانِ ابْنِ بَشِيرٍ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ -صل الله عليه وسلم- قَالَ: (إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَتَبَ كِتَابًا قَبْلَ أَنْ يَخْلُقَ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ بِأَلْفَيْ عَامٍ أَنْزَلَ مِنْهُ آيَتَيْنِ خَتَمَ بِهِمَا سُورَةَ الْبَقَرَةِ وَلا يُقْرَأَانِ فِي دَارٍ ثَلاثَ لَيَالٍ فَيَقْرَبُهَا شَيْطَانٌ) رواه الترمذي. قال الشيخ الألباني  صحيح

“Allah wrote a book two thousand years before He created heaven and earth.  He sent down from it two verses that He ended with them Surat Al-Baqara.  These verses are not recited for three nights in any home except that no devil can come near it.”

These two verses start with affirming that the Prophet (PBUH) believed.  While this is seemingly obvious but imagine the first time the Prophet (PBUH) received revelations, before he (PBUH) can deliver them to others he, himself, must believe in them.  Then Allah links us to the Prophet (PBUH) to affirm our own belief.  We should feel honored in two ways, one is that Allah linked us to the Prophet (PBUH) in the belief and second is that Allah, Himself, is affirming our belief by saying:

ءَامَنَ ٱلرَّسُولُ بِمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيۡهِ مِن رَّبِّهِۦ وَٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ‌ۚ  

The Messenger believed in what was revealed to him from His Lord and [so do] the believers.

Then Allah spelled out what we believe in and these are:

كُلٌّ ءَامَنَ بِٱللَّهِ وَمَلَـٰٓٮِٕكَتِهِۦ وَكُتُبِهِۦ وَرُسُلِهِۦ

“Belief in Allah and His angels and His books and His messengers”.   

Believing in past messengers requires us to study them from the only authentic source about them and this is the Quran.  This is important because past revelations have been corrupted with respect to the history of those messengers.    The Quran is the only revealed book that restores the dignity and honor of all past prophets. By given us the stories of the Prophets, the Quran provided us with real lessons that we should learn from.  

As example, Prophet Ibrahim is considered by both the Jews and the Christians as the father of all monotheistic religions.  But if you ask a Jew or Christian what does he learnt from the story of Prophet Ibrahim in the bible regarding his relationship with Allah?  The likely answer is that he learnt that he argues with God.  He may justify this by Prophet Ibrahim’s argument with the angels regarding the destructions of the People of Prophet Lot. 

But, in our case what we learnt form the Quran about Prophet Ibrahim is his complete submission to Allah.   We learnt:

إِذۡ قَالَ لَهُ ۥ رَبُّهُ ۥۤ أَسۡلِمۡ‌ۖ قَالَ أَسۡلَمۡتُ لِرَبِّ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ

When his Lord said to him, “Submit!” He said, “I have submitted myself to the Lord of the worlds.” (Al-Baqara 2:131)

Then Allah informs us of another element of belief that majority of Muslims unfortunately overlook, and this is: (لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيۡنَ أَحَدٍ۬ مِّن رُّسُلِهِۦ‌) “We make no distinction between any of His messengers.” 

 Obviously, all Muslims are hurt when we hear of someone writing something bad about Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and you see call for boycott and protest all over the Muslim world.   But do we feel the same hurt and engage in the boycott and protest when someone makes a movie or show that presents derogatory images of Prophet Isa (Jesus) or Prophet Musa (Moses) (PBU them).    Shouldn’t we stand for all messengers as we stand for Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) as Allah commanded us?  Where was our outrage when Netflix show “The First Temptation of Chris’ portrayed Prophet Isa (Jesus) as gay?  Also, where was our protest against shows such as the Simpsons?

Then, Allah summarizes the whole issue of submission and this is by two words “we hear, and we obey (سَمِعۡنَا وَأَطَعۡنَا‌ۖ).  Full obedience means that you should do everything exactly as Allah has commanded, exactly the way He wanted it and at the exact time He wanted without delays or procrastination.  We all, particularly parents, know that delayed obedience is really disobedience. 

Full obedience means that we obey without objections or reservations and without asking for clarification.  Allah does not owe us any explanations and while understanding can wait, obedience cannot.  Allah Says:

وَمَا كَانَ لِمُؤْمِنٍ وَلَا مُؤْمِنَةٍ إِذَا قَضَى اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَمْرًا أَنْ يَكُونَ لَهُمُ الْخِيَرَةُ مِنْ أَمْرِهِمْ

“It is not fitting for a Believer, man or woman, when a matter has been decided by Allah and His Messenger, to have any option about their decision.” (Al-Ahzab 33:36)

فَلَا وَرَبِّكَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّى يُحَكِّمُوكَ فِيمَا شَجَرَ بَيْنَهُمْ ثُمَّ لَا يَجِدُوا فِي أَنْفُسِهِمْ حَرَجًا مِمَّا قَضَيْتَ وَيُسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا

“By your Lord, they will not believe, until they make you judge in all disputes between them and find in their souls no resistance against your judgement and accept them with the fullest conviction.” (Al-Nisaa 4:65)

Note that this affirmation of our hearing and obedience came at the end of Surat Al-Baqara in which most of the injunctions of the divine law (Shari’ah) appear such as modes of worship, mutual and financial dealings, morals and social relationships etc.   One observation that you may note when studying the Quran is its ring structure.  What this means that the topics addressed can be arranged in a ring. As example Surat the Baqara is arranged as follows:

 It is interesting that the Surat has 286 verses, the middle one is 143 and it reads:

وَكَذَٲلِكَ جَعَلۡنَـٰكُمۡ أُمَّةً۬ وَسَطً۬ا لِّتَڪُونُواْ شُہَدَآءَ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ وَيَكُونَ ٱلرَّسُولُ عَلَيۡكُمۡ شَهِيدً۬ا‌ۗ  (١٤٣(

“Thus, We have made you a middle (moderate, justly balanced) nation, that you be witnesses over mankind and the Messenger be a witness over you”. (Al-Baqara 2:143)

 Allah ends verse 285 with us confirming the reality that to Allah is (وَإِلَيۡكَ ٱلۡمَصِيرُ) “our destination”.  This information suggests that in our way to the final destination, we are moving not stationary, and this means that we should experience transformation and strive for continuous improvements in our state of belief.  This is why Allah asks us not only to study the Quran, His written revelation, but to also study and reflect of the universe, His seen revelation.  Allah says:

قُلۡ سِيرُواْ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ فَٱنظُرُواْ ڪَيۡفَ بَدَأَ ٱلۡخَلۡقَ‌ۚ (العَنکبوت)

Say: “Travel in the land and see how He originated the creation.” (Al-Ankaboot 29:20)

إِنَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلَافِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ لَآيَاتٍ لِأُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ (190) الَّذِينَ يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّهَ قِيَامًا وَقُعُودًا وَعَلَى جُنُوبِهِمْ وَيَتَفَكَّرُونَ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ رَبَّنَا مَا خَلَقْتَ هَذَا بَاطِلًا سُبْحَانَكَ فَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ (191) (آل عمران)

“Surely, in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the alternation of night and day, there are signs for the people of wisdom, (190) Who remember Allah standing and sitting, and (lying) on their sides, and ponder on the creation of the heavens and the earth (and say) “Our Lord, You have not created all this in vain. We proclaim Your purity. So, save us from the punishment of Fire. (” (Al-Imran 190-191)

 Verse 286 starts with affirming a fact (لَا يُكَلِّفُ ٱللَّهُ نَفۡسًا) “Allah does not charge a soul beyond its capacity”.   This refutes anyone who claims that Allah‘s commands or the trials he is subjected to are difficult.  This verse suggests that everyone of us should look first at his potential and the gifts and opportunities that Allah has granted him before complaining.   Allah gives a warning that everyone (لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتۡ وَعَلَيۡہَا مَا ٱكۡتَسَبَتۡ‌ۗ) will be held accountable for what he earned and what he what he incurred. 

Everyone will be held accountable for what Allah gave him, he whom Allah blessed with intelligence will be asked why he did not use it to guide people.  And the one whom Allah gave social skills will be asked why he did not use them to deliver Allah’s message. The one whom Allah granted wealth, will be asked why he did not spend it to clarify the misunderstanding about the final message to mankind.

No one will ever achieve his potential without sacrifices. Any Athlete who wants to achieve peak performance goes through very rigorous training.   Thinking that you will suddenly improve your health or gain knowledge without going thru the rigorous efforts, is just wishful thinking and you will be asked about the time you wasted without making improvements in your life and the life of others.

After affirming the nature of Islam of Ease. Three Dua are made, and Allah already accepted them;  the first Dua is

رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذۡنَآ إِن نَّسِينَآ أَوۡ أَخۡطَأۡنَا‌ۚ

Our Lord do not hold us accountable if we forget or make mistake.

Forgetfulness is not something that can be taken lightly because as Allah says, it was the forgetfulness of Prophet Adam that caused him to leave Paradise, Allah says:

وَلَقَدۡ عَهِدۡنَآ إِلَىٰٓ ءَادَمَ مِن قَبۡلُ فَنَسِىَ وَلَمۡ نَجِدۡ لَهُ ۥ عَزۡمً۬ا (١١٥

“And indeed, We made a covenant with Adam earlier, but he forgot, and We did not find in him a firm resolve.” (Taha 20:115)

Since forgetfulness is an attribute of man, it is important to have means of reminder for important responsibilities.  Yes, Allah will forgive our forgetfulness, but this does not mean that we can use it an excuse not to pray or fulfill our obligations while we have not taken any precaution to avoid it.   

Making mistakes is also a human attribute and Allah will forgive our mistakes as long as they are not done intentionally and knowingly.  The 2^nd Dua is:

 رَبَّنَا وَلَا تَحۡمِلۡ عَلَيۡنَآ إِصۡرً۬ا كَمَا حَمَلۡتَهُ ۥ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِنَا‌ۚ

Our Lord do not place on us a burden like that which You placed on those before us.

 Allah made Islam easy and remove many of the burdens that He imposed on past nations.  The heavy burdens were imposed on past nations because it was Allah’s decree that He will impose on them more burden as punishment when they transgress.

فَبِظُلۡمٍ۬ مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ هَادُواْ حَرَّمۡنَا عَلَيۡہِمۡ طَيِّبَـٰتٍ أُحِلَّتۡ لَهُمۡ (١٦٠)

“Because of the wrongdoing of the Jews We prohibited for them good things which were made lawful to them earlier.” (Al-Nisa 4:160)

It is really surprising that sometimes you find people, particularly, the youth when they become religious, they become rigid and strict as if this is a sign of religiosity ignoring that Islam is an easy religion and the Prophet (PBUH) was never given a choice between two matters but he (PBUH) always chose the easy one.  

The last Dua is compound Dua that includes 5 sub dua

رَبَّنَا وَلَا تُحَمِّلۡنَا مَا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِۦ‌ۖ وَٱعۡفُ عَنَّا وَٱغۡفِرۡ لَنَا وَٱرۡحَمۡنَآ‌ۚ أَنتَ مَوۡلَٮٰنَا فَٱنصُرۡنَا عَلَى ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلۡڪَـٰفِرِينَ

Our Lord do not make us bear a burden for which we have no ability to bear.

And pardon us; and forgive us; and have mercy upon us. You are our guardian, so grant us victory over the disbelieving people.”

We ask Allah not to burden us with more than what we can handle and “Allah said Yes”, as the Prophet (PBUH) said in a hadith reported in both Bukhari and Muslim.  

We ask Allah to pardon us (وَٱعۡفُ عَنَّا), but this translation does not reflect the meaning of afwi that refers to the process of eracing the track of a traveler in the desert by the wind. So, we are asking Allah to completely wipe out all the traces of our deficiencies and thus there will be no record for it.

Then we ask Allah to forgive us (وَٱغۡفِرۡ لَنَا) so He will conceal our sins up and not hold us accountable for them.  Then we ask Allah to have Mercy upon us (وَٱرۡحَمۡنَآ) and this is to help us not to commit any sin in the first place.   

 Then we confirm our servitude to Allah by declaring (أَنتَ مَوۡلَٮٰنَا), You are our guardian.   Then we finish the series of Dua by seeking His victory against our enemies by saying: (فَٱنصُرۡنَا عَلَى ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلۡڪَـٰفِرِينَ) “Grant us victory over the disbelievers.   

This final Dua includes a responsibility that should be learnt from the life of the Prophet (PBUH). The Dua does not apply to the disbelievers who have not heard of the true message of Islam that should be manifested thru our character first.  Look at the honorable character of the Prophet (PBUH) that was well known to all people in Mecca before Islam and his kindness and generosity with them even when they prosecuted him and his followers.   Therefore, we should watch ourselves and assess whether we are the cause of the people remaining on disbelief and thus we need to always make this Dua:  

رَبَّنَا لَا تَجۡعَلۡنَا فِتۡنَةً۬ لِّلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ

“Our Lord! Make us not a trial for the wrongdoers.” (Yunus 10:85)

رَبَّنَا لَا تَجۡعَلۡنَا فِتۡنَةً۬ لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَٱغۡفِرۡ لَنَا رَبَّنَآ‌ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ (٥)

“Our Lord! Make us not a trial for the disbelievers, and forgive us, Our Lord! Verily, You, only You are the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.” (Al-Mutahuna 60:5)

We pray to Allah to make us guide to those who disbelieve to the true Islam and do not make us as a cause for their continued disbelief.  We pray to Allah to give us the wisdom to memorize the last two verses of Surat Allah Baqara and to remember to always read them every night.

DUA