Surah 2 – Al-Baqarah (76-100) – Translation & Inferred Meanings

2:76 And when they meet those who believe, they say, “We have believed.” But when they are alone with one another, they say, “Do you talk to them about what Allah has revealed to you so they can use it against you before your Lord? Do you not understand?”

Infers: Hypocrites exist in every era—pretending faith while hiding their true agendas. Many scholars today claim to follow the Qur’an yet manipulate it behind closed doors, ensuring their influence remains strong.

2:77 Do they not know that Allah knows what they conceal and what they declare?

Infers: No institution, scholar, or self-proclaimed religious authority can hide their deception from Allah. Those who twist Islam for power will be exposed.

2:78 And among them are unlettered ones who do not know the Book except for distorted stories, and they do nothing but assume.

Infers: Many Muslims follow hearsay instead of the Qur’an itself. They trust second-hand narrations and fabrications rather than seeking direct understanding from the Book.

2:79 So woe to those who write the Book with their own hands and then say, “This is from Allah,” to exchange it for a small price. So woe to them for what their hands have written, and woe to them for what they earn.

Infers: Fabricating religious texts, adding rulings beyond the Qur’an, and selling faith for profit is among the greatest betrayals. This is how Hadith was compiled—by those who put their own words in the Prophet’s mouth and attributed them to Allah.

2:80 And they say, “The Fire will not touch us except for a few numbered days.” Say, “Have you taken a covenant from Allah? For Allah will never break His covenant. Or do you say about Allah that which you do not know?”

Infers: Many today assume they are safe simply because they follow their sect or scholars. But salvation is not in labels—it is in sincere submission to Allah alone.

2:81 Yes, whoever earns evil and his sins have surrounded him—those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally.

Infers: Those who mislead others with fabricated rulings and false teachings will bear the consequences, for their deception extends beyond themselves.

2:82 But those who believe and do righteous deeds—those are the companions of Paradise; they will abide therein eternally.

Infers: True faith is not in following man-made laws, but in sincerity and righteous action.

2:83 And [recall] when We took the covenant from the Children of Israel, [enjoining upon them], “Do not worship except Allah, and to parents do good and to relatives, orphans, and the needy. And speak to people good words and establish prayer and give zakat.” Then you turned away, except a few of you, and you were refusing.

Infers: Islam is about worshiping Allah alone, being good to others, and practicing sincerity. Yet many prefer to follow complex rulings over simple, righteous living.

2:84 And [recall] when We took your covenant, [saying], “Do not shed each other’s blood or evict one another from your homes.” Then you acknowledged it while you bore witness.

Infers: Islam forbids unjust violence, yet many so-called religious leaders justify oppression, whether through sectarian violence or corrupt fatwas.

2:85 Then you are those [same ones] who kill one another and evict a party of you from their homes, cooperating against them in sin and aggression. But if they come to you as captives, you ransom them, while their eviction was forbidden to you. So do you believe in part of the Scripture and reject part? Then what is the recompense for those who do that except disgrace in worldly life, and on the Day of Resurrection they will be sent to the severest punishment? And Allah is not unaware of what you do.

Infers: Selective faith is hypocrisy. Many Muslims follow Hadith over the Qur’an when convenient, ignoring divine justice while enforcing rigid man-made laws.

2:86 Those are the ones who bought the worldly life in exchange for the Hereafter, so the punishment will not be lightened for them, nor will they be aided.

Infers: Those who manipulate religion for profit, status, or political gain may enjoy temporary success, but their reckoning is inevitable.

2:87 And We gave Moses the Book and followed him up with messengers. And We gave Jesus, the son of Mary, clear proofs and supported him with the Holy Spirit. But is it that every time a messenger came to you with what your souls did not desire, you acted arrogantly? And a group of them you denied, and another group you killed.

Infers: True messengers are always rejected by those in power. Today, the Qur’an alone message is ignored because it threatens the influence of scholars and institutions.

2:88 And they said, “Our hearts are sealed.” Rather, Allah has cursed them for their disbelief, so little is it that they believe.

Infers: Arrogance blinds people to truth. Those who defend false religious rulings out of stubbornness risk closing their hearts to guidance.

2:89 And when a Book came to them from Allah confirming that which was with them, and they had previously prayed for victory over those who disbelieved—but then when there came to them what they recognized, they disbelieved in it. So the curse of Allah is upon the disbelievers.

Infers: Many today reject the Qur’an’s clarity because it challenges their traditional beliefs, preferring what they were raised on over what Allah has revealed.

2:90 How wretched is that for which they sold themselves—that they would disbelieve in what Allah has revealed out of resentment that Allah would send down His favor upon whom He wills from His servants. So they returned with wrath upon wrath. And for the disbelievers is a humiliating punishment.

Infers: Ego and jealousy keep people from accepting divine truth. Those who reject Qur’anic guidance because it contradicts their preferred beliefs are among the misguided.

2:91 And when it is said to them, “Believe in what Allah has revealed,” they say, “We believe in what was revealed to us.” But they disbelieve in what came after it, while it is the truth confirming what is with them. Say, “Then why did you kill the prophets of Allah before, if you are indeed believers?”

Infers: Those who claim to follow past revelations but ignore the Qur’an’s confirmation of truth are repeating the mistakes of the past.

2:92 And Moses had certainly brought you clear proofs, then you took the calf [in worship] after that while you were wrongdoers.

Infers: Idolatry is not just physical—it is also following religious figures blindly, placing their words above Allah’s.

2:93 And [recall] when We took your covenant and raised over you the mountain, [saying], “Take what We have given you with determination and listen.” They said, “We hear and disobey.” And their hearts absorbed the worship of the calf because of their disbelief. Say, “How wretched is that which your faith enjoins upon you, if you should be believers!”

Infers: Many today claim to follow Islam but ignore the core message. They practice rituals without sincerity and follow laws that contradict divine mercy.

2:94 Say, “If the home of the Hereafter with Allah is for you alone, and not the [other] people, then wish for death, if you should be truthful.”

Infers: Those who claim exclusivity over Islam—whether through sects or scholarship—are challenged to prove their sincerity.

2:95 But they will never wish for it, ever, because of what their hands have put forth. And Allah is Knowing of the wrongdoers.

Infers: The arrogant do not truly seek Allah; they seek status and control.

2:96 And you will surely find them the most greedy of people for life—even more than those who associate others with Allah.

Infers: Those who hold religious authority fear losing their power more than they fear Allah’s judgment.

2:97 Say, “Whoever is an enemy to Gabriel—it is he who has brought the Qur’an down upon your heart, by permission of Allah, confirming that which was before it and as guidance and good news for the believers.”

Infers: Rejecting the Qur’an in favor of secondary sources is rejecting divine revelation.

2:98 Whoever is an enemy to Allah and His angels and His messengers and Gabriel and Michael—then indeed, Allah is an enemy to the disbelievers.

Infers: Arguing against divine truth and placing intermediaries between Allah and the believers is enmity towards Him.

2:99 And We have certainly revealed to you clear verses, and none disbelieve in them except the defiantly disobedient.

Infers: The Qur’an is clear—those who reject it in favor of Hadith and scholar rulings are knowingly disobedient.

2:100 Is it not that every time they took a covenant, a party of them threw it away?

Infers: This is the repeated history of religious corruption—people always abandon divine law in favor of man-made rulings.