Surah 2. Al-Baqara

But Satan deceived them- leading to their fall from the 'blissful' state they were in,¹ and We said, 'Descend from the heavens 'to the earth' as enemies to each other.² You will find in the earth a residence and provision for your appointed stay.'

  - Mustafa Khattab

 Both Adam and Eve were deceived, both sinned, and both were later forgiven. There is no concept of original sin in Islam.

 i.e., humans and Satan.

Then did Satan make them slip from the (garden) and get them out of the state (of felicity) in which they had been. We said: "Get ye down all (ye people) with enmity between yourselves. On earth will be your dwelling place and your means of livelihood for a time." ^{52 53 54}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

"Iblis" in ii. 34 is apparently the Power of Evil, with the root idea of desperateness of rebillion. "Satan" in this verse is the Power of Evil, with the root idea of perversity or enmity. Note the appropriateness of the term on each occasion. Also, "slipping" from the Garden denotes the idea of Evil gradually tempting man from a higher to a lower state.

God's decree is the result of man's action. Note the transition in Arabic from the singular number in ii. 33, to the dual in ii. 35, and the plural here, which I have indicated in English by "All ye people." Evidently Adam is the type of all mankind, and the sexes go together in all spiritual matters. Moreover, the expulsion applied to Adam, Eve, and Satan, and the Arabic plural is appropriate for any number greater than two.

Man's sojourn in this lower state, where he is partly an animal of this earth, is for a time. But he must fulfil his lower duties also, for they too are a part of his spiritual training.

Then Adam was inspired with words 'of prayer' by his Lord,¹ so He accepted his repentance. Surely He is the Accepter of Repentance, Most Merciful.

  - Mustafa Khattab

 The prayer that Adam and Eve were inspired to say is mentioned in 7:23, “Our Lord! We have wronged ourselves. If You do not forgive us and have mercy on us, we will certainly be losers.”

Then learnt Adam from his Lord words of inspiration and his Lord turned toward him; for He is Oft-Returning Most Merciful. ⁵⁵

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

As "names" in verse 31 above is used for the "nature of things", so "words" here mean "inspiration" "spiritual knowledge". The Arabic word used for "learn" here implies some effort on his part to which God's Grace responded.

We said, 'Descend all of you! Then when guidance comes to you from Me, whoever follows it, there will be no fear for them, nor will they grieve.

  - Mustafa Khattab

We said: "Get ye down all from here; and if as is sure there comes to you guidance from Me" whosoever follows My guidance on them shall be no fear nor shall they grieve. ⁵⁶

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Note the transition from the plural "We" at the beginning of the verse to the singular "Me" later in the same verse God speaks of Himself usually in the first person plural "We" it is the plural of respect and honour and is used in human language in Royal proclamations and decrees. But where a special personal relationship is expressed the singular, "I" or "Me" is used Cf. xxvi. 52, etc.

But those who disbelieve and deny Our signs will be the residents of the Fire. They will be there forever.'

  - Mustafa Khattab

"But those who reject Faith and belie Our Signs they shall be Companions of the Fire; they shall abide therein." ⁵⁷

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

But if the soul, in spite of the Oft-Returning Mercy of God, rejects the higher light and goes on sinning against that light, the inevitable consequence must be the spiritual Fire. It is not merely a fortuitous incident. As his rejection was deliberate and definite, so the consequences must be of an abiding character.

O children of Israel!¹ Remember My favours upon you. Fulfil your covenant and I will fulfil Mine, and stand in awe of Me 'alone'.

  - Mustafa Khattab

 Israel is another name for Prophet Jacob.

O children of Israel! call to mind the (special) favor which I bestowed upon you and fulfil your covenant with Me as I fulfil My covenant with you and fear none but Me. ⁵⁸

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The appeal is made to Israel subjectively in terms of their own tradition. You claim to be a favoured nation; have you forgotten My favours? You claim a special Covenant with Me: I have fulfilled My part of the Covenant by bringing you out of the land of bondage and giving you Canaan, the land "flowing with milk and honey" how have you fulfilled your part of the Covenent? Do you fear for your national existence? If you fear Me, nothing else will matter.

Believe in My revelations which confirm your Scriptures. Do not be the first to deny them or trade them for a fleeting gain.¹ And be mindful of Me.

  - Mustafa Khattab

 Trading Allah’s revelations for a fleeting gain is a recurring theme in the first few sûrahs of the Quran. This refers to the practice of some Jewish authorities in Medina who contradicted certain rulings in the Torah by giving people lenient opinions only to please them in exchange for money.

And believe in what I reveal confirming the revelation which is with you and be not the first to reject faith therein nor sell My Signs for a small price: and fear Me and Me alone. ⁵⁹

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

You receive revelations before: now comes one confirming it: its first appeal should be to you: are you to be the first to reject it? And reject it for what? God's Signs are worth more than all your paltry considerations. And the standard of duty and righteousness is to be taken from God, and not from priests and customs.

Do not mix truth with falsehood or hide the truth knowingly.

  - Mustafa Khattab

And cover not Truth with falsehood nor conceal the Truth when ye know (what it is).

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Establish prayer, pay alms-tax,¹ and bow down with those who bow down.

  - Mustafa Khattab

 The alms-tax (zakâh) is the payment of 2.5% of someone’s savings only if the amount is equivalent to or greater than 85 g of gold, if that amount remains untouched for a whole Islamic year—around 355 days.

And be steadfast in prayer; practice regular charity; and bow down your heads with those who bow down (in worship). ⁶⁰

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The argument is still primarily addressed to the Jews, but is of universal application, as in all the teachings of the Quran. The chief feature of Jewish worship was and is the bowing of the head.

Do you preach righteousness and fail to practice it yourselves, although you read the Scripture? Do you not understand?

  - Mustafa Khattab

Do ye enjoin right conduct on the people and forget (to practice it) yourselves and yet ye study the Scripture? Will ye not understand?

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

And seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, it is a burden except for the humble-

  - Mustafa Khattab

Nay seek (Allah's) help with patient perseverance and prayer: it is indeed hard except to those who bring a lowly spirit. ⁶¹

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The Arabic word Sabr implies many shades of meaning, which it is impossible to comprehend in one English word. It implies (1) patience in the sense of being thorough, not hasty; (2) patient perseverance, constancy, steadfastness, firmness of purpose; (3) systematic as opposed to spasmodic or chance action; (4) a cheerful attitude of resignation and understanding in sorrow, defeat, or suffering, as opposed to murmuring or rebellion, but saved from mere passivity or listlessness, by the element of constancy or steadfastness.

those who are certain that they will meet their Lord and to Him they will return.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Who bear in mind the certainty that they are to meet their Lord and that they are to return to Him.

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

O Children of Israel! Remember 'all' the favours I granted you and how I honoured you above the others.¹

  - Mustafa Khattab

 Meaning, I chose you above all peoples of your time.

O children of Israel! call to mind the (special) favor which I bestowed upon You and that I preferred you to all others (for My message). ⁶²

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

These words are recapitulated from ii. 40, which introduced a general account of God's favours to Israel; now we are introduced to a particular account of incidents in Israel's history. Each incident is introduced by the Arabic word "Iz", which is indicated in the translation by "Remember".

Guard yourselves against the Day on which no soul will be of help to another. No intercession¹ will be accepted, no ransom taken, and no help will be given.

  - Mustafa Khattab

 “Intercession” is the act of pleading with Allah on behalf of another person on the Day of Judgment.

Then guard yourselves against a day when one soul shall not avail another nor shall intercession be accepted for her nor shall compensation be taken from her nor shall anyone be helped (from outside). ⁶³

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Before passing to particular incidents, the conclusion is stated. Be on your guard; do not think that special favours exempt you from the personal responsibility of each soul.

'Remember' how We delivered you from the people of Pharaoh, who afflicted you with dreadful torment, slaughtering your sons and keeping your women. That was a severe test from your Lord.

  - Mustafa Khattab

And remember We delivered you from the people of Pharaoh: they set you hard tasks and punishments slaughtered your sons and let your womenfolk live; therein was a tremendous trial from your Lord. ⁶⁴

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The bondage of Egypt was indeed a tremendous trial. Even the Egyptians' wish to spare the lives of Israel's females when the males were slaughtered, added to the bitterness of Israel. Their hatred was cruel, but their "love" was still more cruel. About the hard tasks, see Exod. i. 14: "They made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in mortar and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field; all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour." Pharaoh's taskmasters gave no straw, yet ordered the Israelites to make bricks without straw: Exod. v 5-19. Pharoah's decree was: "Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive": Exod. i. 22. It was in consequence of this decree that Moses was hidden three months after he was born, and when he could be hidden no longer, he was put into an ark of bulrushes and cast into the Nile, where he was found by Pharoah's daughter and wife (xxviii. 9), and adopted into the family: Exod. ii. 2-10. Cf. xx. 37-40. Thus Moses was brought up by the enemies of his people. He was chosen by God to deliver his people, and God's wisdom made the learning and experience and even cruelties of the Egyptian enemies themselves to contribute to the salvation of his people.

And 'remember' when We parted the sea, rescued you, and drowned Pharaoh's people before your very eyes.

  - Mustafa Khattab

And remember We divided the sea for you and saved you and drowned Pharaoh's people within your very sight. ⁶⁵

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

When the Israelites at last escaped from Egypt, they were pursued by Pharaoh and his host. By a miracle the Israelites crossed the Red Sea, but the host of Pharaoh was drowned: Exod. xiv. 5-31.