revelation was completed and the faith-community had been formed, and all denial and opposition – of that time – had come to an end, its first addressee for all times to come was to be the faith-community. For the Book is given into the trust of the Muslim Ummah, which is charged with the responsibility to guard it, to understand and interpret it, to live by it and invite others to live by it. Therefore, at the time of revelation, precedence had to be given to the basic message and articles of faith and to the opposition which the Qur’an was encountering, as well as to the gigantic task of shaping the muslim person and the muslim community. But, after its completion, precedence had to be given to the faith-community, its purpose, direction, needs and social affairs. This community, which believes in the Qur’an, and derives its identity from the Qur’an, was to be in place for all times to come, and was therefore to be the first to benefit from it.
Viewed in this light, if we look at the contents of al-Baqarah, the reason for placing it at the head of the Qur’an becomes quite clear. It also illuminates and helps us greatly in understanding the whole sūrah. For we find that in al-Baqarah the Qur’an defines the mission of the faith-community, inspires and motivates it, and equips it with all the basic resources and institutions it requires to fulfil this mission.
Excellences of al-Baqarah
That is why the Prophet (bpuh) spoke very highly of the many excellences and merits of al-Baqarah. Sahl ibn Sa`d reports that the Prophet (bpuh) said: ‘Of everything there is a pinnacle, and the pinnacle of the Qur’an is Sūrat al-Baqarah. Whoever recites it in his house during the day, Satan would not enter his house for three days, and whoever recites it at night, Satan would not enter his house for three nights’ (Ibn Kathīr, Ṭabarānī).
Abu Hurayrah reports that the Prophet (bpuh) said: ‘Don’t turn your houses into graves. Satan does not enter the house in which al-Baqarah is recited’ (Muslim, Ibn Kathīr).
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