Al Baqara (The cow) 2

Salam,

This is the beginning of the Al Baqara. We shall start now:

2:1 الم
.[2:1]
Alif-lam-meem

Those are the three letters at the beginning of the Sura. The meaning of those three letters is GOD’s business.


2:2 ذلك الكتاب لا ريب فيه هدي للمتقين
2:2]
Thalika alkitabu larayba feehi hudan lilmuttaqeena

Thalika: That/This

Alkitabu: The book (in an ongoing process, still being written)
This is a word that is derived from KTB which means “WRITE”. Some will use the word Kitab to mean writing as Muhammad Assad had done. However,according to Qamus Muheet, Kitab is not writing but it is where writing takes place as in (book/piece of paper/notebook). It also can be used to mean place where you store your ink. Therefore something related to writing yet not writing itself. The reason Muhammad Assad felt that Writing is correct was the fact that the book was not finished yet. However, according to Qamus Muheet’s meaning, the book does not have to be complete. I used the meaning (Book as an ongoing process at the time, still being written)

Larayba: No doubt/No suspicion
Note: RAYB means suspicion and doubt probably at the same time. Therefore the meaning here may mean Not only No doubt of the authenticity, but also No suspicion of any bad intention.

Feehi : in him (The book)
Note: points to a masculine word which is the book.

Hudan: Gift of guidance. A word that shares the same root was mentioned in 1:6

Lilmuttaqeena: To the ones that guard themselves/make themselves guarded.
Note: Muttaqeen is a very important word that comes from WQA which means to Guard and may be protect. ITTAQA means to make own self gurded, and Muttaqeen are the ones that Guard their own selves. The best way to Guard is through consciousness.


My Note:
The meaning is “This book (as an ongoing process), No doubt, contains within it the gift of guidance to those who guard.” Those who guard are the ones that have consciousness all the time. The most important type of consciousness is “The consciousness of the presence of GOD”

An alternative way to understand this passage that is not mutually exclusive with above is “This book, No suspicion in it, is a gift of guidance to the ones that Guard (because they need all the tools to help them remain GOD conscious.)

And we shall meet tomorrow. Salam


Hussein