Explanation:
II. THE CHARTER FOR A “RETURN”
PROLOGUE (Sūrah 2:1-27)
Before studying this explanation of the Prologue [verses 1-27] of Sūrah 2, it might be useful first to reread Brother Bruno’s translation of these verses found in our Qurʾān Project's Reading Level 2.
* * *
Sūrah 2 begins with a benediction● taken from Sūrah 1.● This benediction is addressed to the “God of deliverances,” under the veil of a mysterious acronym, which is pure Hebrew, A.L.M.. It announces the theme of “this Writing,” ḏālika l-kitāb: the “salvations” that ʾar-raḥmān, “the Merciful One,” procures for the “predestined,” ʾal-muttaqīn.●
Who are “the predestined?” They are those who walk on the “Way, hudan, without quarrel” that came from their Master, rabbi; “those who believe,” ʾal-laḏīna yuʾminūn, in the ancient revelation. They “fulfil the obligation of prayer,” undoubtedly by reciting the seven verses of Sūrah 1. They practice a distributive justice and are filled with jealous zeal against idolatry.●
Opposite them are “those who have apostatised,” ʾal-laḏīna kafarū, the ancient faith, full of hypocrisy● and scoffing.● Blinded, they do not believe in the God or in the afterlife. In spite of this, they “prosper,” at the expense of the “Land” that they destroy and of the faithful whom they oppress.●
The “parable,” mašal, of “the One who kindled a fire” relates that it is not out of ignorance on their part, but it is the obstinate denial of a light that was revealed to them.● That is why, as just punishment: “The God who is over all, obscure,” is thereafter “no longer heard or seen by them.”●
For his part, the author denies that he is bringing a new revelation.● Indeed, when he relates the Creation, he does so in a broad homiletical outline entirely inspired from the first account made in The Book of Genesis,● and he concludes with a parenesis inviting men not to follow the example of “those who have apostatised,” ʾal-laḏīna kafarū, the ancient and incomparable revelation,● but to “put into practice”● by working for the prosperity of the Land in order to obtain well-irrigated “gardens.” No truly, “the God does not make a [new] revelation” to deliver the lesson of the “parable,” that is kept concealed by those who have the faith. While the apostates who do not understand, ask: “What did the God mean by this parable?”● They, however, are heading for their downfall because they ruin the Covenant, truncate the prayer, and do evil in the Land.●
This is what the author endeavours to relate in a first section, expressing himself quite freely, in a rabbinical aggadic style, 1° free of chronological constraints yet very dependent on the biblical accounts, 2° with the precise purpose of resolving “the quarrel,” rayb, which pitted him, the “servant,” ʿabd, of God, against the apostates.●
This introduction to the subject is an erudite composition that draws its inspiration from the beginning of the whole Bible, by its evocation of Creation,● of Psalm 1 dealing with the two ways● and of the prologue of the fourth Gospel with its “parable,” of light and darkness.● The author, however, also imitates Saint Mark’s introduction: “announce!” bašširi.● “This Writing,” ḏālika l-kitāb● is thus presented as a “gospel,” the good news of the “deliverances,”● of which “the God” is the Artificer throughout history.
All of this, incidentally, is shrouded in mystery. Who are these “faithful” and who are the “apostates?” In what “Land” are they doing evil? We do not know. The only thing that is quite obvious is the absence of Jesus Christ that the plagiary of the Evangelists further underlines.
FIRST PART: AGGADAH (Sūrah 2:28-143)
CHAPTER I: THE COVENANT (Sūrah 2:28-73)
This section is presently being translated.
Qurʾān 2:1
Blessed be the Name of the God of mercy, the Merciful One, God of deliverances.
Qurʾān 1:1
Blessed be the name of the God, the Merciful One, full of mercy.
Qurʾān 2:2
This Writing contains a Way without quarrel for the predestined.
Qurʾān 2:3-4
3 those who have faith in the obscurity, who fulfil the obligation of prayer, and who spend what We provided to them; 4 those who believe in what has been revealed to you, and was revealed [to others] before you, and who are filled with jealous zeal against idolatry.
Qurʾān 2:8
For among the people there are some who say: “We believe in the God and in the Day to come,” even though they do not have the faith.
Qurʾān 2:14
For when they are inferior to those who believe, they say: “We believe.” But when they are at the mercy of their adversaries, they say: “We are with you. It was only in jest.”
Qurʾān 2:11-13
11 And when they are told: “Cease doing evil in the Land!” they say: “We are only prospering.” 12 Are they not themselves the ill-treated? But they do not realise it. 13 And when they are told: “Believe as the common people do!” they say: “Are we to believe like those who have been crushed?” Are they not themselves the crushed? But they are going to realise it.
Qurʾān 2:17-18
17 Their parable is like the parable of the One who kindled a fire, and when he had warmed what is his, behold, the God goes away with their light and banishes them into darkness. They can no longer see. 18 Thirsty, in tears, forceless, they have no rest.
Qurʾān 2:19-20
19 Or again like a tenebrous, thunderous and dazzling beauty descended from heaven. They turn away from the convocations, [putting] their fingers in their ears, [out of] fear of death. But the God is offended by those who refuse. 20 A lightning bolt will strike, he will blind them. Every time it burned for them, they walked in its light. And when the darkness was upon them, they stopped. But if the God wills, He no longer makes himself heard or seen by them. Yes, ‘the God, above all,’ obscure.
Qurʾān 2:4
4 those who believe in what has been revealed to you, and was revealed [to others] before you, and who are filled with jealous zeal against idolatry.
Qurʾān 2:22
He who stretched out the earth for you and built the heavens. He makes rain fall from the heavens, and brings forth palm trees, thanks to it, enough to sustain you. Do not dedicate horrors to the God in secret.
Qurʾān 2:23
And if you have a quarrel with Our servant about what we have revealed, come with a canticle comparable to it and call your witnesses before the God’s judgement seat to justify yourselves.
Qurʾān 2:24
If you do not ‘put into practice,’ and you will not do so, expect the fire destined for apostates, which men and even stones fuel.
Qurʾān 2:26
No! The God does not make a revelation to deliver the lesson that a parable imparts. Those who have the faith conceal that it is the law that has come from their Master. While the apostates say: “What did God mean by this parable?” Thusly many are the object of his contempt, while to many others, He shows the Way. But only those who.
Qurʾān 2:27
Those who ruin the covenant of the God after having savoured it, those who truncate what the God has said therein for prayer, those who do evil in the Land, it is they who are the losers.
Qurʾān 2:23
And if you have a quarrel with Our servant about what we have revealed, come with a canticle comparable to it and call your witnesses before the God’s judgement seat to justify yourselves.
Qurʾān 2:21-22
21 O you men, serve your Master who has fashioned you, you and those who have gone before you. Perhaps you will become upright. 22 He who stretched out the earth for you and built the heavens. He makes rain fall from the heavens, and brings forth palm trees, thanks to it, enough to sustain you. Do not dedicate horrors to the God in secret.
Qurʾān 2:2-16
2 This Writing contains a Way without quarrel for the predestined, 3 those who have faith in the obscurity, who fulfil the obligation of prayer, and who spend what We provided to them; 4 those who believe in what has been revealed to you, and was revealed [to others] before you, and who are filled with jealous zeal against idolatry. 5 It is these who walk on a Way that comes from their Master. It is these who are servants. 6 As for those who have apostatised, it is indifferent whether you warn them or not: they do not believe. 7 The God has put a seal on their heart and on their ears. And before their eyes, smoke. Abandoned are their bones. 8 For among the people there are some who say: “We believe in the God and in the Day to come,” even though they do not have the faith. 9 At the same time as the faithful, they believe they can deceive the God; they are only deceiving themselves without realising it. 10 They have rebellion in their bowels. May the God reduce their rebellion and may they be struck dumb for their lie. 11 And when they are told: “Cease doing evil in the Land!” they say: “We are only prospering.” 12 Are they not themselves the ill-treated? But they do not realise it. 13 And when they are told: “Believe as the common people do!” they say: “Are we to believe like those who have been crushed?” Are they not themselves the crushed? But they are going to realise it. 14 For when they are inferior to those who believe, they say: “We believe.” But when they are at the mercy of their adversaries, they say: “We are with you. It was only in jest.” 15 The God will scoff at them and put an end to their prostitution. They are going to falter. 16 These are the ones who bought contempt at the price of the Way. Their benefit was not great, and they lost the Way.
Qurʾān 2:17-20
17 Their parable is like the parable of the One who kindled a fire, and when he had warmed what is his, behold, the God goes away with their light and banishes them into darkness. They can no longer see. 18 Thirsty, in tears, forceless, they have no rest. 19 Or again like a tenebrous, thunderous and dazzling beauty descended from heaven. They turn away from the convocations, [putting] their fingers in their ears, [out of] fear of death. But the God is offended by those who refuse. 20 A lightning bolt will strike, he will blind them. Every time it burned for them, they walked in its light. And when the darkness was upon them, they stopped. But if the God wills, He no longer makes himself heard or seen by them. Yes, ‘the God, above all,’ obscure.
Qurʾān 2:25
But announce to those who are faithful and work for prosperity that they will have gardens where rivers will flow ‘from below.’ Every time they regain strength from the palm tree, they will say, “This is what once nourished us.” And they will come and sit near it. There they will have purified wives, there they will have their stable home.
Qurʾān 2:2
This Writing contains a Way without quarrel for the predestined.
Qurʾān 2:1
Blessed be the Name of the God of mercy, the Merciful One, God of deliverances.