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Tibyanan liKulli Shay' - Episode 1: Meanings in the First Part of Surat Al-Baqarah

May 18, 2018

A Ramadan series where we ponder the meanings of the Noble Quran as we strive to complete its recitation. In these episodes, we present a specific meaning in a live broadcast on our Facebook page and ask you to identify a verse that carries this meaning or answers a question. The live broadcast will be on our Facebook page, at five o'clock in the evening, God willing, every day of Ramadan. Personal Facebook page title: https://www.facebook.com/EyadQunaibi

Twitter account: @Dr_EyadQun

Clarification for Everything - Episode 1: Meanings in the First Part of Surah Al-Baqarah

Introduction and Program Mechanism

May God bless you. Now, let us clarify the mechanism again, everyone; I will mention the intended meaning, then ask you to extract the verse indicating it from the first part, as we have read the first part of the Holy Quran today.

I will ask you for the verse that indicates this meaning or answers the question posed, and then we will publish the question text in an "image post," and you will interact through comments. The first comment that reaches us with the text or number of the verse will be considered the correct answer, and we will say: "Done, we have obtained the answer."

Discussion of Answers and Prizes

After obtaining the answer, we will discuss this answer; some may come up with an incorrect answer, so we will explain to everyone why this answer is not the intended one in the search.

We begin with God's blessing. By the way, regarding the prizes; the moral prize in each episode is the announcement of the winner's name, and if someone does not wish to announce their name, please inform us.

Question One: Characteristics of the Righteous

The first question in the first part of Surah Al-Baqarah: Mention the verse that shows that one of the greatest characteristics of the righteous is their belief in what is beyond their senses, and their reliance on revelation to know the truths that the mind alone cannot perceive.

Question Two: The Challenge of the Quran

There is a verse in the first part that challenges all of humanity, specifically the doubters of the source of this Quran, to bring forth a single chapter like it, and it confirms their eternal inability to do so. What is this verse?

Question Three: The Stewardship of Man on Earth

Mention the verse in which God, the Almighty, informs the angels of His will to place a vicegerent on earth, and the response of the angels in that context.

Question Four: The Covenant of the Children of Israel

In the first part, God, the Almighty, mentioned the covenant He took with the Children of Israel, which included a set of moral and worship commands (such as kindness to parents and establishing prayer). Mention the verse that detailed this covenant.

Question Five: The Story of the Cow of the Children of Israel

In the first part, there is the story of the murder victim who was brought back to life by divine miracle to point out his killer. Mention the verse in which God commanded the Children of Israel, through Moses, peace be upon him, to slaughter the cow, and how was their initial reaction to this command.

Question Six: Hardness of Hearts

After witnessing the magnificent miracles, God, the Almighty, described the hearts of a group of people with a severe description, comparing them to inanimate objects in their hardness, and even more so. What is the verse that contained this eloquent comparison?

Question Seven: The Supplication of Ibrahim and Ismail, Peace Be Upon Them

While building the foundations of the Holy Kaaba, the friend of God, Ibrahim, and his son Ismail, peace be upon them, made blessed supplications for the acceptance of their work and for their offspring. Mention the verses that embody this great scene of faith at the end of the first part.

Question Eight: The Dye of God

There is a noble verse that indicates that faith is the true "dye" with which a person should dye his life, and it is the best of dyes and the most beautiful. Mention this verse that was revealed at the end of the first part.

Conclusion of the First Part

Thus, we have reviewed the most important meanings and stations in the first part of Surah Al-Baqarah. We await your participation and interaction with these questions through the comments, to establish these meanings in our hearts before our minds.

Discussion of Answers: Why These Verses?

Now, after posing these questions, let us contemplate the wisdom behind choosing these positions. The goal, brothers, is not merely to test the memory in memorizing the numbers of the verses, but the goal is "clarification"; how is the Quran a clarification of everything in our lives?

A Moment with Faith in the Unseen

When we asked about the characteristics of the righteous and faith in the unseen, we wanted to emphasize that our battle today is a purely "material" one, and the Quran, in its earliest pages, sets the scale for us: {Those who believe in the unseen}. This is the key that distinguishes the believer from those who limit their existence to the material world alone.

Lessons from the Story of the Cow

And in our question about the story of the cow, we find that the moral is not in the type or color of the cow, but in the "speed of response" and not delaying with numerous questions that are of no avail. The Children of Israel imposed on themselves, so God imposed on them, and this is a lesson for us in dealing with the commands of God, the Almighty.

Interaction with the Audience

I see now that the comments have started to arrive, praise be to God. Brother "Ahmed" mentioned the correct verse regarding the covenant, and sister "Maryam" answered the question of the stewardship of man.

We will give an opportunity to those who have not participated yet in the remaining questions, especially the question of "the dye of God," because this term requires from us a deep contemplative stop: how can our entire life be dyed with the dye of God? In our homes, in our work, and in our morals.

Contemplations on "The Dye of God"

Returning to our question about His saying, the Most High: {The dye of God; and who is better than God in dyeing?}, we find that the answers that came in the comments were precise. The dye here is the innate nature, and it is the religion of God that shows its effect on the believer as the dye shows its effect on the cloth. The believer does not feign morals, but they become part of his being and identity.

The Transition from the Story of Ibrahim to the Moderate Nation

In the latter part of the first part, we notice the focus on the heritage of Ibrahim, peace be upon him, and how this heritage has passed on to this nation. The verses you mentioned about building the house put us before a great responsibility; we are the extension of this Ibrahimic supplication: {Our Lord, and send among them a messenger from themselves who will recite to them Your verses.}

Final Directions for the First Episode

Before we conclude our episode for today, I would like to emphasize an important matter:

Conscious Reading: When you read the first part in your prayer or recitation, recall these themes (stewardship, the covenant, response, and the dye).
Practical Application: Search in your day; are you one of those who impose on themselves like the Children of Israel, or are you one of those who say "We hear and obey"?

Announcement of Winners

Based on the speed and accuracy of the answer, we announce that the winners of this episode are those whose names appeared in the first comments (we will confirm their names in the post). We bless you with this understanding and this diligence, and may God make us and you among those who ponder the Quran and act upon it.

We will meet tomorrow, God willing, with the second part of the Holy Quran, and new meanings in your program "Clarification for Everything." Prepare yourselves, for the second part is filled with rulings and legislations that regulate the life of the individual and society.

May God bless you, and peace be upon you and the mercy of God and His blessings.

[The first episode has concluded]