which is performed at the right time and with full devotion and attention to God, a Prayer which contains all the attributes of excellence. The commentators who favour “middle Prayer” to be the meaning of the expression take it to mean the [Asr Prayer.
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Al-Baqarah 2: 239–43
(239) And even if you face the state of fear, still perform the Prayer whether on foot or riding; and when you are secure, remember Allah in the manner that He taught you, the manner that you did not know earlier.
(240) Those of you who die leaving behind your wives should make testament of one year’s provision without expulsion in favour of your wives; and if they themselves depart, there shall be no blame upon you for what they may do with themselves in an honourable manner. Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise. (241) Likewise, let there be a fair provision for the divorced women; this is an obligation on the God-fearing.
(242) Thus Allah makes His injunctions clear to you that you may understand.
(243) (O Messenger), have you thought of those who went forth from their homes for fear of death even though they were in their thousands? Allah said to them: “Die!” Then He restored them to life.85 ▶
85 This refers to the exodus of the Israelites. See Surah al-Ma’idah 5: vv. 20 ff. which narrates the details of this incident.
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Al-Baqarah 2: 244–6
Indeed Allah is Bounteous to mankind; but most people do not give thanks in return. (244) So fight in the Way of Allah and know well that Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing. (245) Who of you will lend Allah a goodly loan which He will return after multiplying it for him manifold?86 For Allah has the power both to decrease and increase, and to Him will you be returned.
(246) (O Messenger), have you thought of what happened with the elders of the Children of Israel after Moses? They asked one of their Prophets: “Set up for us a king so that we may fight in the way of Allah.” He said: “Would you possibly refrain from fighting if fighting is ordained for you?” They said: “And why would we not fight in the way of Allah when we have been torn from our homes and our children?” ▶
86 “Goodly loan” signifies whatever one gives to another person selflessly, and from absolutely pure motives. God describes whatever man spends in this manner as a loan made to none other than Him, and He undertakes to repay that loan and to repay it several-fold.
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Al-Baqarah 2: 247–9
But when fighting was ordain- ed for them they turned back, except a few of them. Allah is well aware of the wrong- doers.
(247) And their Prophet said to them: “Indeed Allah has sent forth Saul (Talut) as your king.” They said: “By what right shall he rule over us when we are more worthy than he to dominion, for he is not very wealthy?” He said: “Allah has chosen him over you and has endowed him abundantly with both intellectual and physical capacities. Allah indeed has the power to bestow dominion upon whomsoever He wills. Allah is All-Resourceful, All- Knowing.” (248) And their Prophet said to them: “The Sign of his dominion is that in his reign the Ark, wherein is inner peace for you, will be brought back to you, and the sacred relics left behind by the house of Moses and the house of Aaron borne by angels. Truly in that is a Sign for you, if indeed you are people of faith.”
(249) When Saul (Talut) set out with his forces he said: ▶
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Al-Baqarah 2: 250–1
“Allah will try you with a river, and whoever drinks of it does not belong to me; he who refrains from tasting it – unless it be just a palmful – he indeed belongs to me.” Then all, except a few of them, drank their fill at the river.
But as soon as Saul (Talut) and the believers with him went forth across the river, they said: “Today we have no strength to face Goliath (Jalut) and his forces.”87 But those who believed that they were bound to meet their Lord said: “How often has a small party prevailed against a large party by the leave of Allah.” Allah is with those who remain steadfast. (250) And when they went forth against Goliath (Jalut) and his forces, they prayed: “Our Lord! Shower us with patience, and set our feet firm, and grant us victory over this unbelieving people.” (251) Thereupon by Allah’s leave they put the unbelievers to flight, and David killed Goliath, ▶
87 These were presumably the people who had shown their impatience on the bank of the river.
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Al-Baqarah 2: 252–3
and Allah granted him dominion and wisdom, and imparted to him the knowledge of whatever He willed. And were it not that Allah repelled some people with another, the earth would surely be overlaid with mischief. But Allah is Bounteous to the people of the world (and thus extirpates mischief).
(252) These are the Signs of Allah which We recite to you in Truth, for indeed you are one of those entrusted with the Message. (253) And these Messengers (who have been designated to guide people), We have exalted some of them above the others. Among them are such as were spoken to by Allah Himself, and some He exalted in other respects. And We granted Jesus, son of Mary, Clear Signs and supported him with the spirit of holiness. Had He willed, those who had seen these Clear Signs would not have fought one another thereafter. But (it was not the will of Allah to prevent people from disagreement by com- pulsion, hence) they differed among themselves whereby some attained faith and others denied the Truth. ▶
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Al-Baqarah 2: 254–5
Yet had Allah so willed they would not have fought one another. Allah does whatever He wills.
(254) O you who believe! Spend out of what We have provided you before there comes a Day when there will be no buying and selling, nor will friendship and intercession be of any avail. Indeed those who disbelieve are the wrong- doers.
(255) Allah, the Ever-Living, the Self-Subsisting by Whom all subsist, there is no god but He. Neither slumber seizes Him, nor sleep; to Him belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. Who is there who might intercede with Him save with His leave? He knows what lies before them and what is hidden from them, whereas they cannot attain to anything of His knowledge save what He wills them to attain. His Dominion88 overspreads the heavens and the earth, ▶
88 The Arabic term kursi signifies sovereignty, dominion and authority. This verse is generally known as the “Verse of the Throne” and it provides in one piece a knowledge of God without any parallel. No wonder it has been characterized in the Hadith as the most excellent verse of the Qur’an.
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