Deep Dive into Surah Al-Baqarah – Ayah 4
(Surah 2: Ayat 4 - A Sign of True Piety)
“And [they are] those who believe in what has been revealed to you, [O Muhammad], and what was revealed before you, and of the Hereafter they are certain.” — Surah Al-Baqarah (2:4)
1. Central Theme: The Heart of True Belief
This verse beautifully continues the definition of the Muttaqoon (the pious), giving us their second major quality:
- Comprehensive Belief (Iman)
- Firm Certainty in the Hereafter (Yaqeen)
These qualities complete the spiritual portrait of a believer:
Practical Faith (Ayah 3) + Doctrinal Completeness (Ayah 4)
2. Transliteration
وَالَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمَا أُنزِلَ مِن قَبْلِكَ وَبِالْآخِرَةِ هُمْ يُوقِنُونَ
*Wa alladhīna yu’minūna bimā unzila ilayka wa mā unzila min qablika wa bil-ākhirati hum yūqinūn.*
3. Word-by-Word Meaning
| Arabic | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| وَالَّذِينَ | Wa alladhīna | And those who |
| يُؤْمِنُونَ | Yu’minūna | Believe |
| بِمَا | Bimā | In what |
| أُنزِلَ | Unzila | Was revealed |
| إِلَيْكَ | Ilayka | To you (O Muhammad) |
| وَمَا | Wa mā | And what |
| مِن قَبْلِكَ | Min qablika | Was before you |
| وَبِالْآخِرَةِ | Wa bil-ākhirati | And in the Hereafter |
| هُمْ | Hum | They (emphatic) |
| يُوقِنُونَ | Yūqinūn | Are certain |
4. Background of Revelation (Asbāb an-Nuzūl)
This verse is Madani—revealed in Medina, where a diverse community lived: Muslims, Jews, and Christians.
Key Takeaways:
- Belief in all authentic revelations
- Acceptance of the final Prophet ﷺ
- Certainty in the resurrection and accountability
It distinguishes Muslims from both the People of the Book (who rejected Prophet Muhammad ﷺ) and the pagans (who denied the Hereafter).
5. Related Verses in the Qur'an
Surah An-Nisa (4:136):
“Believe in Allah, His Messenger, the Book sent to him, and the Books sent before…”
This echoes the same comprehensive belief required in Surah Baqarah.
Surah Al-Baqarah (2:177):
“Righteousness is… to believe in Allah, the Last Day, the Angels, the Books, and the Prophets.”
It expands the definition of faith, emphasizing belief in all divine guidance.
6. Contemplation (Tadabbur al-Qur'an)
This verse connects belief in the unseen (Ghayb) with certainty in the Hereafter.
- Faith in past revelations = Faith in Allah's unchanging message.
- Certainty in the Hereafter = Logical conclusion of divine justice.
7. Linguistic Miracle (I'jaz al-Bayani)
The use of the pronoun “مَا” (that which) emphasizes the all-encompassing nature of divine revelation.
- It covers all revealed scriptures.
- It ties belief to the original divine act of revelation, rather than modern texts.
8. Lessons from the Verse
- Inclusive Faith: True belief acknowledges all divine revelations.
- Certainty in the Hereafter: A believer works for the Hereafter with full confidence in its reality.
- Revelation & Accountability: Following divine commands is tied to the certainty of the final reckoning.
9. Grammatical Insights (I’rab)
In-depth grammatical breakdown of key terms. For example:
- وَالَّذِينَ: Subject of the verse.
- يُؤْمِنُونَ: Present tense verb showing continuous belief.
- يُوقِنُونَ: Stronger degree of certainty, highlighted by the pronoun هُمْ.