The Tafsīr Sūrat al-Baqara
The Islamic background
PDf. The Sūrat al-Baqara (Surah of the Cow) II
- Arabic text سورة البقرة :
- Ar. + 2004 Ahmadiyya Trans: https://www.alislam.org/quran/Holy-Quran-English.pdf
- English translation :
See also : https://www.wdl.org/en/item/6799/
The Sūrat al-Baqara (Surah of the Cow) is the lengthy second surah (chapter) of the Qur'ān. It is the longest qur'anic surah with 286 verses. It derives its name from the episode of Moses on Sinai and the Israelite, Aaron-led fashioning of the `golden calf' (Heb. עֵ֣גֶל מַסֵּכָ֑ה ‘êḡel massêkāh, `molten [golden] calf') in his absence. This is detailed in the book of Exodus (Exod. 32:4ff; Nehemiah 9:16-21, cf. I Kings 12:26f) and elsewhere in numerous post-biblical and Islamic sources.
In Qur'an 7:147f the Israelitie "people of Moses" are said to have fashioned and worshipped "the image [lit. ` embodiment'] of a lowing calf" (`ijl an jasad an lahu khuwar) made from their [golden] ornaments.
Islamic traditions attributed to the Prophet Muhammad and others laud the greatness of this opening major chapter of the Qur'an.