Introduction

The verses of Surah Al-Baqarah, especially verses 208 and 210, stand among the pivotal verses of the Holy Quran, addressing foundational matters of faith, collective commitment, and confrontation with divine punishment through a direct address to the believers. These verses, articulated in an eloquent language with profound content, invite the believers towards unity in obedience and abstention from following Satan, while warning against erroneous expectations concerning divine retribution. This treatise, employing a scholarly and systematic approach, analyses these verses by integrating the content of lecture sessions and exegetical reflections to provide a comprehensive and distinguished commentary. The objective is to elucidate the profound meanings of these verses and connect them with social and historical issues, emphasising the necessity of unity, vigilance, and deepening Quranic understanding.

Part One: Exegesis of Verse 208 of Surah Al-Baqarah

Text of the Verse and Translation

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا ادْخُلُوا فِي السِّلْمِ كَافَّةً وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا خُطُوَاتِ الشَّيْطَانِ ۚ إِنَّهُ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ مُبِينٌ ٢٠٨

O you who have believed, enter completely into submission and do not follow the footsteps of Satan; indeed, he is to you a clear enemy.

Exegetical Analysis

Key Point: Verse 208, by stressing enter completely into submission, regards faith not as an individual matter but as a collective movement entailing unity and cohesion.

1. The Importance of Divine Commands: The verse contains a divine command that, with profound subtlety, invites believers to practical commitment to God's injunctions. This invitation is not merely acceptance of faith but its actualisation within the social context. Faith is akin to a seed that bears fruit only in the fertile soil of collective unity.
2. Address to the Believers: The phrase O you who have believed indicates that faith is a prerequisite for this command. This address resonates as a call descending from the heavens into the hearts of believers, guiding them towards perfection.
3. Command Contingent upon Faith: The command enter is contingent upon faith, meaning true faith culminates in acceptance and practice of divine commands. Superficial faith, limited to mere speech, cannot achieve complete submission.
4. Plural Form Emphasising Collectivity: The verb enter is in plural form, signifying collective cohesion in practising religion. This plurality is like a harmonious melody signalling the unity of the Islamic Ummah, counteracting the discord that Satan whispers.
5. Distinction between Collective and Individual Action: The difference between ten as one and ten separate units underlines the verses emphasis on combined and coordinated action. Individual efforts, albeit valuable, cannot attain the verses ultimate goal of total submission.
6. Critique of Individualistic Conduct: Individualistic behaviour is beyond the scope prescribed by this verse. Each believer resembles a drop whose meaning is realised only within the ocean of the Ummah; alone, it evaporates.
7. Example of Bahlul: Bahluls critique of naming mosques after individuals highlights deviation from unity. This example shows that even in details, preserving collective identity takes precedence over individual identity.
8. Naming Mosques: Naming mosques after the Imams contributes to religious unity, as these names are symbols guiding the Ummah towards cohesion. Each mosque stands like a banner beneath which believers gather.
9. Individualistic Seminary Structures: The seminary system, sometimes operating individually, requires more coordination. Seminaries are akin to springs that must converge into a single river to become life-giving.
10. Criticism of Misuse of Public Funds: Misappropriation of public funds leads to deviation from collective objectives. The public treasury is a trust to be employed in the path of unity and common welfare.

Conclusion of Part One

Verse 208 of Surah Al-Baqarah, by emphasising complete submission and abstention from following Satan, invites believers to collective unity and practical commitment to religion. This verse regards faith not as an individual affair but as a coordinated movement within society and calls upon believers to stand united against satanic temptations.

Part Two: Exegesis of Verse 210 of Surah Al-Baqarah

Text of the Verse and Translation

هَلْ يَنْظُرُونَ إِلَّا أَنْ يَأْتِيَهُمُ اللَّهُ فِي ظُلَلٍ مِنَ الْغَمَامِ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ وَقُضِيَ الْأَمْرُ ۚ وَإِلَى اللَّهِ تُرْجَعُ الْأُمُورُ ٢١٠

Do they await except that Allah should come to them in shadowed clouds with the angels and the matter is concluded? And to Allah all matters are returned.

Exegetical Analysis

Key Point: Verse 210, emphasising and the matter is concluded, alludes to the unforeseen occurrence of punishment or major historical events transcending materialistic and temporal conceptions of believers.

1. Complexity of the Verse: Due to its layered structure and content, verse 210 is regarded among the more challenging Quranic verses. This complexity is like a secret embedded within the depths of divine words, demanding profound reflection.
2. Discrepancies in Exegeses: Interpretive differences, especially among certain commentators, stem from divergent approaches. These disagreements resemble light dispersion through a prism, fragmenting the meanings of the verse.
3. Rejection of Ambiguous Verses: Based on His verses are perfected, all Quranic verses are unequivocal; ambiguity stems from human limitations. The verses shine like stars in the celestial firmament of revelation with immutable brilliance.
4. Similarity According to Us: Ambiguity is an attribute of our deficient comprehension, a shadow cast over the divine light, making the verses appear ambiguous.
5. Example of Zayd is Striking: This example demonstrates that ambiguity arises from misapprehension of the subject and predicate, acting as a key to unlocking exegetical complexities.
6. Firmness of the Verses: The Quranic verses, due to their divine origin