Friendship is beautiful, powerful, and sought after in life by many. It comes with comfort, companionship, loyalty, love, and support; providing space for the heart to be heard, and the soul to be uplifted. It is a relationship that develops and grows over time, increasing in connection and understanding, and bringing with it blessings and virtues. Once a developed seasoned friendship is forgotten or lost, there is a void so great that it can feel impossible to fill. Within that void, there is a nagging reminder of what was lost and could be found again.
Certain surat of the Quran when read can feel like a special friendship with beautiful virtues and blessings. When they are read, they bring comfort, love, and support, and once forgotten create a nagging space in the heart, calling you back. Surat Al-Baqara, like a beautiful old friend, comes with numerous blessings and virtues, containing the greatest verse in the Quran and beautiful gifts from Ar-Rahman in its last two verses.
Surat Al-Baqara is the second surah in the Qur’an, the love letter from Allah to you. Being overlooked by many, and minimally read, it is the longest surah in the Quran composed of 286 verses, including the longest verse in the Quran, Ayat ul-Dayn. The virtues and blessings of Surat Al-Baqara are many, and once we understand the importance of and benefits of reciting it, our hearts will yearn to be connected to it.
Surat Al-Baqara will intercede for the one who recites it on the Day of Judgment. Abu Umamah (rA) reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Recite the Quran, for on the Day of Resurrection it will come as an intercessor for its reciters. Recite the two illuminated chapters, Surat al-Baqara and Ali Imran, for on the Day of Resurrection they will come as two clouds, or two shades, or two flocks of birds pleading for their companions…” (Muslim, 804). This is a powerful hadith, because on that day when no one can intercede on our behalf, not our parents or spouses or even children, we will feel so lost and alone, yearning for help anywhere we can find it. The only ones allowed to intercede on anyone’s behalf are the ones Allah gives permission. Just knowing that recitation of these surat can lead to them pleading on our behalf, brings so much comfort to the hearts, and drives us to want to recite them.
In the same hadith, the Prophet ﷺ continues by adding, “Read Surat al-Baqara, for reciting it regularly is a blessing and forsaking it is a cause of regret, and the magicians cannot withstand it.” This is a beautiful part of this hadith to focus on, and that is reciting it regularly. The Prophet ﷺ is stressing the importance of regular recitation of the surah, and then it becomes this old friend so much so that if you forsake it or leave it, there is a grief that comes from its absence.
From the virtues of reciting Surat al-Baqara, an important and powerful one is that it protects the house from shaytan and his helpers. In Musnad Ahmad, Sahih Muslim and others, it is recorded that Abu Hurayrah (rA) said that the Prophet ﷺ said, “Do not turn your houses into graves. Verily, Shaytan does not enter the house where Surat Al-Baqara is recited,” and in other narrations, “Shaytan flees from the house where surat Al-Baqara is heard.” Also, Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (rA) said, ”Whoever recites ten ayat from Surat Al-Baqara in a night, then shaytaan will not enter his house that night. These ten ayat are, four from the beginning, Ayat-Ul-Kursi with the following two ayat, and the last three ayat of the surah.” This is so powerful and brings hope, because even if we can’t recite the surah in its entirety we can still benefit from reciting these parts. Surat Al-Baqara is the climax of the Quran. The Prophet ﷺ said, “Indeed everything has a pinnacle and the pinnacle of the Qur’an is Surat Al-Baqara. When the shaytaan hears the Quran being recited he leaves the house where Surat Al-Baqara is recited” (Silsilah Ahadeeth as-Saheehah by Shaykh al Albani 588).
The greatest verse in the Quran, Ayat-Ul-Kursī, is contained within Surat Al-Baqara. It was narrated that Ibn Mas’ud (rA) said he heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say, “The greatest ayah in the Quran is ‘Allah! There is no god but Him, none has the right to be worshiped but He, the Ever Living, the One who sustains and protects all that exists…’ (al-Baqara 2:255).” This verse alone carries so many virtues, and is an absolute comfort to the heart of the believer. Other faiths believe God carries humanistic traits and needed to rest when He ﷻ created the heavens and the earth. This is unsettling to the heart of any human, because it leads to one feeling forgotten or overlooked at times and creates a lack of security. Ayat-ul-Kursī is Allah affirming to us that He doesn’t get drowsy, or sleepy, or doze off. We are not left alone for even a split second. Every absolute second our Beloved Lord is with us, ever watchful, and with all the power. This is a liberating and comforting thought for the believer. On the authority of Abu Umamah (rA), the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Whoever reads Ayat-Ul-Kursī after every obligatory prayer, nothing will prevent this person from entering Jannah except death.” (An Nasa’ī, 6464) SubhanAllah this virtue is an absolute gift and the believer would rush to recite this verse after every fard prayer. Ayat-ul-Kursī also contains Allah’s greatest name. It was narrated that Asmaa’ bint Yazīd ibn al Sakan said, “I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say about these two ayat (2:255 and 3:1-2) that they contain the greatest name of Allah.” (At Tirmidhī) Calling on Allah by His names develops a deep connection and helps us find sincerity in our dua when we call from a place of need. Knowing the greatest verse in the Quran and Allah’s greatest names are contained in Surat Al-Baqara connects us to it in a very special way, even if we cannot recite it in its entirety daily.
The Ummah of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was given such beautiful gifts that no other ummah was given, and amongst them is the last two verses of Surat Al-Baqara. On the authority of Hudhayfah and Abu Dhar (rA), the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “I was given these final ayat (verses) from Surat Al-Baqara from a treasure underneath the Throne of Allah, no Prophet was given them before me.” (Saheeh al Jaami’ as Sagheer, 1060) This statement melts the heart of a believer and puts us in a space of utter and complete gratitude.
Knowing that such a gift from the throne of Allah is within this beautiful surah should drive us to run to recite it and be enveloped in its blessings. Ibn Abbas (rA) reported, “While Jibril was sitting with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, he heard a sound above him. He lifted his head, and said: ‘This is a gate which has been opened in heaven today. It was never opened before.’ Then an angel descended through it, he said: ‘This is an angel who has come down to earth. He never came down before.’ He sent greetings and said: ‘Rejoice with two lights given to you. Such lights were not given to any prophet before you. These (lights) are Surat Al-Fatiha and the concluding ayat of Surat Al-Baqara. You will never recite a word from them without being given the blessings it contains.’” (Muslim, 806)
Reflecting on the virtues and benefits of this great surah, Surat Al-Baqara, creates this need to develop a deep relationship with it that is everlasting. When we develop this relationship it becomes like an old friend, who comforts, protects, defends, and brings blessings. This relationship and bond becomes so strong that when we feel lost, scared, or alone, we call on it and find the support we need. A support that, when neglected, feels like a huge loss. This moment demands a Baqara.
Anse Dr. Farhana Yunus is a Tafsīr instructor at the Ribaat Academic Institute and has been with Ribaat since 2021.
