In the Name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
1. Alif-Lām-Mīm. [These letters are one of the miracles of the Qur’ān and none but Allāh (Alone) knows their meanings.]
2. This is the Book (the Qur’ān),
whereof there is no doubt, a guidance to those who are Al-Muttaqūn [the pious
believers of Islāmic Monotheism who fear Allāh much (abstain from all kinds of
sins and evil deeds which He has forbidden) and love Allāh much (perform all
kinds of good deeds which He has ordained)].
3. Who believe in the Ghaib[1]
and perform As-Salāt (Iqāmas-as-Salāt),[2] and spend out of what We have provided
for them [i.e. give Zakāt,[3] spend on themselves, their parents,
their children, their wives, etc., and also give charity to the poor and also
in Allāh’s Cause –Jihād].
4. And who believe in that (the
Qur’ān and the Sunnah)[1] which has been sent down (revealed) to you
(Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) and in that which was sent down before
you [the Taurāt (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel), etc.] and they believe with
certainty in the Hereafter (Resurrection, recompense of their good and bad
deeds, Paradise and Hell).
5. They are on (true) guidance
from their Lord, and they are the successful.
----------------------------
[1](V.
2:3) Al-Ghaib: literally means a thing not seen. But this word includes vast
meanings: Belief in Allāh, Angels, Holy Books,
Allāh’s Messengers, Day of Resurrection and Al-Qadar (Divine Pre-ordainments).
It also includes what Allāh and His Messenger صلى
الله عليه وسلم informed about the knowledge of the matters of past, present,
and future e.g., news about the creation of the heavens and earth, botanical
and zoological life, the news about the nations of the past, and about Paradise
and Hell.
[2] (V.2:3) Iqāmat-as-Salāt: إقامة
الصلاة
The performance of Sālat (prayers). It means that: a) Each and every Muslim,
male or female, is obliged to offer his Salāt (prayers) regularly five times
a day at the specified times; the male in the mosque in congregation and as for
the female , it is better to offer them at home. As the Prophet صلى
الله عليه وسلم said: “Order your children for Salāt (prayers) at the age of
seven and beat them (about it) at the age of ten.”The chief (of a family, town,
tribe, etc.) and the Muslim rulers of a country are held responsible before Allāh in case of non-fulfillment of
this obligation by the muslims under their authority.
b) One must offer the Salāt
(prayers) as the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم used to offer them with all their rules
and regulations, i.e., standing, bowing, prostrating, sitting, as he صلى
الله عليه وسلم has said: “Offer your Salāt (prayers) the way you see me
offering them (See Sahīh Al-Bukhārī, Vol. 1, H.No. 604
and Vol. 9, H.No. 352).” [For the characteristics of the Salāt (prayers) of the Prophet صلى
الله عليه وسلم see Sahīh Al-Bukhārī, Vol. 1, H.No 702, 703, 704, 723, 786, 787].
[3] (V. 2:3) Zakāt: زكاة A certain fixed proportion of the
wealth and of each and every kind of property liable to Zakāt of a Muslim to be
paid yearly for the benefit of the poor in the Muslim community. The payment of
Zakāt is obligatory as it is one of the five pillars of Islām. Zakāt is the
major economic means for establishing social justice and leading the Muslim
society to prosperity and security. [See Sahīh Al-Bukhārī, Vol. 2, Book of Zakāt, No. 24]
[1] (V. 2:4) Narrated Ibn ‘Umar رضى
الله عنهما : Allāh’s Messenger صلى
الله عليه وسلم said: Islām is based on (the following) five principles):
1. To testify that “La ilāha
illallāh wa anna Muhammad-ur-Rasūl Allāh”
(none has the right to be worshipped but Allāh and that Muhammad صلى
الله عليه وسلم is the Messenger of Allāh).
2. Iqāmat-as-Salāt: to
perform the five (compulsory
congregational) Salāt (prayers).
3. To pay Zakāt (obligatory charity).
4. To perform Hajj (i.e. pilgrimage
to Makkah).
5. To observe Saum (fasting)
during the month of Ramadan.
(Sahīh Al-Bukhārī, Vol. 1, Hadīth No. 7)
SOURCE: al-Hilâlî & Muhsin
Khân Translation , The Noble Qur'ân, Sūrah 2. Al –Baqarah , Part 1, verse 1-5,
p. 3-4.
