THE HEART OF THE QURAN- EXPLORING THE STRUCTURE OF SURAH BAQARAH

 

A.      Faith, Belief, and Spiritual Principles

·         Belief in the unseen

·         Belief in Allah and his attributes

·         Belief in Revelation

·         Belief in the Prophets

·         Belief in the day of judgement

B.   Categories of People

·         Believers (Mu’minun)

·         Disbelievers (Kuffar)

·         Hypocrites (Munafiqun)

C. Worship and Pillars of Islam

·         Salah (prayer)

·         Sawm (fasting in Ramadan)

·         Zakah (charity)

·         Hajj (pilgrimage)

D. Legal Rulings (Ahkam)

·         Laws of fasting and its exceptions

·         Hajj rituals and rulings

·         Zakat and Salah rulings

·         Dietary laws (halal and haram)

·         Marriage and divorce:

Interfaith Marriage

Dowry

Iddah (waiting period)

Maintenance and support

Divorce etiquette and finality

Reconciliation

Breastfeeding and weaning

·   Guardianship of orphans’

·   Menstruation

 

E. Economic Guidelines

·         Prohibition of riba (interest/usury)

·         Rewards of Charity and discouragement of greed

·         Business ethics in transactions

·         Writing down debts (longest verse in Qur’an – 2:282)

·         Collateral and security in transactions

·         Intoxicants and Gambling

F. Social Ethics and Conduct

·         Justice and fairness

·         Kindness to parents, relatives, orphans and neighbors

·         Conflict resolution and peaceful coexistence

·         Patience and Restraint in Facing Hostility

·         Upholding Trusts and Promises

·         Balance and moderation

G. Warfare and Defense

·         Permission for self defense

·         Prohibition of transgression

·         Fighting for religious freedom

·         Fighting during sacred months

·         Protection of holy places

·         Victory comes from Allah

·         Martyrdom and afterlife reward

H. Covenant and Identity of the Muslim Ummah

·         Changing the Qiblah from Jerusalem to Makkah

·         Reactions of hypocrites and people of the book

·         Allah’s mercy towards previous prayers

I. Supplication and Relationship with Allah

·         Allah’s nearness and invitation to call on him

·         Dua's of Prophet Ibrahim

·         Dua's for guidance, forgiveness, and victory

·         Duás in times of trial

J. Parables in Surah Baqarah

·        Parable of fire

·        Parable of rain and darkness

·        Parable of dead land revived by rain

·        Parable of gnat

·        Parable of sincere charity

·        Parable for reward for charity

K. Stories and Lessons from the Past

1.        Story of the Creation of Adam

o   Allah’s Declaration to the Angels

o   Adam is Taught the Names

o   Angels Are Tested

o   Prostration to Adam

o   Adam and Eve in Paradise

o   The Deception of Iblis

o   Repentance and Mercy

o   Descent to Earth

  

2. Stories of Bani Israel

o   The Rescue from Pharaoh and the Parting of the Sea

o   Bani Israel Demand to See Allah

o   Command to Enter the promised Land

o   Water from the Rock for Bani Israel

o   Worship of the Golden Calf [Musa went to mount Sinai]

o   Bani Israel Break Their Covenant with Allah

o   Punishment for Violating the Sabbath

o   The Story of the Cow (Al-Baqarah)

o   The Story of Talut and Jalut (Saul and Goliath)

3.       The Story of Harut and Marut

4.      The Man caused to die for 100 years

5.      Stories of Ibrahim AS

o   Prophet Ibrahim’s Builds the Kaaba

o   Ibrahim and His Arguments with the Tyrant King

o   Ibrahim and the Birds