Surah al-Baqarah (The Cow) 2 : 146
Translations
Pickthall
Yusuf Ali
Qur'an Dictionary
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| Word | Arabic word | |
| (2:146:1) alladhīna (To) those whom |
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| (2:146:2) ātaynāhumu We gave [them] |
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| (2:146:3) l-kitāba the Book |
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| (2:146:4) yaʿrifūnahu they recognize it |
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| (2:146:5) |
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| (2:146:6) yaʿrifūna they recognize |
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| (2:146:7) abnāahum their sons |
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| (2:146:8) |
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| (2:146:9) farīqan a group |
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| (2:146:10) |
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| (2:146:11) layaktumūna surely they conceal |
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| (2:146:12) l-ḥaqa the Truth |
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| (2:146:13) |
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| (2:146:14) yaʿlamūna know |
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Explanatory Note
The sūrah then asserts that the Jews and Christians were absolutely certain that what the Qur’ān has stated with respect to the qiblah issue, and other issues for that matter, and what the Prophet has ordered is the truth. However, they suppress the truth they know for their own self-interest: “Those to whom We granted revelation know it as well as they know their own children, but some of them knowingly conceal the truth.”
It is a very powerful simile, used among the Arabs to denote absolute certainty. The point here is that the Jews, despite their denials, were as certain of the truth of the revelations that Muĥammad was receiving, including the announcement of the new direction of prayer. Therefore, the Muslims should pay them no attention nor be influenced by their allegations and misleading interpretations.