Day 14 · Surah Al-Baqarah Verses 170-181

Al-Baqarah 170–181

Pride in ancestral traditions is described as the main barrier to accepting the truth, then the rules of forbidden food and five characteristics of those who have comprehensive God-consciousness are detailed.

• Those who cling to ancestral thinking are likened to cattle that only hear sound without understanding its meaning, deaf, dumb, blind, and do not use reason.
• The believers are commanded to eat what is halal and good and to be grateful, while carrion, blood, pork, and animals slaughtered in the name of other than Allah are forbidden except under compulsion.
• Hiding the truth of the Qur'an's content and trading it for worldly life is threatened with food from the fire of Hell and not being addressed on the Day of Judgement.
• The characteristics of those who have God-consciousness include faith in Allah, the Last Day, the angels, the Scriptures, and the prophets; giving beloved wealth to relatives, the needy in the way of Allah, beggars, and freeing slaves.
• These characteristics continue with establishing prayer and zakat, fulfilling promises, patience in hardship, and establishing the law of qisas, bequests, and inheritance.

Verses 170 and 171 explain that the main factor preventing the disbelievers from accepting the Qur'an and applying it in their lives is their pride in ancestral thinking and traditions. For this reason, Allah likens them to cattle that do not understand their shepherd's call except only hearing the sound. They are deaf, dumb, blind and cannot use reason.

Verses 172-176 command the believers to eat good, halal food and be grateful to Allah. Allah forbids the believers from eating carrion, blood, pork, animals slaughtered in the name of other than Allah, except under compulsion. When in a state of compulsion, it is permissible only to the extent of necessity and must not exceed it.

Allah also forbids hiding the truth of the Qur'an's content and trading the Qur'an for worldly life. Whoever does this, Allah threatens him with food from the fire of Hell, will not speak to him on the Day of Judgement, will not forgive his sins and for him is the punishment of Hell.

They are those who buy error in exchange for guidance and buy punishment in exchange for forgiveness. How bold they are to challenge to enter Hell. The Qur'an is what Allah has sent down with truth and there is no doubt whatsoever in its content. Whoever questions its truth and refuses to apply it in their life will surely go astray.

Verses 177-180 explain that all Islamic teachings aim at forming the character of God-consciousness. Among the characteristics of those who have God-consciousness are:

1. Having faith in Allah, the Last Day, the angels, the Scriptures, and the Prophets.
2. Giving a portion of beloved wealth to relatives, the needy in the way of Allah, those who ask, and freeing slaves.
3. Establishing prayer and paying zakat.
4. Fulfilling promises, and being patient in economic hardship and hardship of war.
5. Establishing the law of qisas (criminal law), the law of bequests and inheritance (civil law).

From these 5 points, we can understand that to attain God-consciousness, one must have the correct conception of faith grounded in the six pillars of faith. The consequence of faith is reforming the family's economy, close relatives, orphans, the poor, those who have run out of provisions while traveling, those who ask, and the cost of freeing slaves if any. After that, it continues with reforming the system of worship and its implementation, building noble character and implementing criminal and civil law.

For this reason, verse 181 affirms that all aspects of life, from faith, worship, character, criminal and civil law, and lifestyle must conform to Allah's decrees and laws. If not, Muslims are committing sin.

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