Surah Al-Baqarah Verses 1 to 20

Surah Baqarah(v 1-20):

It is a Madani Surah. Its revelation started in the initial year at Madina and was revealed over many years. 

The focus of the first 20 verses is to classify people into three types based on their belief. 

The initial 5 verses talk about pious people 

- The ones who believe in the unseen. 

- The ones who establish prayers

- Pay zakat

- Believe in the previous books and prophets 

They are among the successful.

Then Allah swt talks about the disbelievers in verses 6-7 

- The disbelievers will be presented with guidance and still reject it. 

- Moreover, they will hide it and refuse to allow its reason and light to penetrate their mind and heart.

The rest of the verses from 8-20 Allah swt talks about the hypocrites

- They are the most complex one and no wonder Allah swt addresses this topic the most. 

- This group affirms their belief to be in the first group of believers however they work against the teachings and try to undermine the good work of the believers and thus siding into the second group. 

- They are also the worst group of the three because unlike those who are clearly disbelievers, they lie to Allah, to themselves, and to the believers, and it is they who do the most harm to humanity.

Key takeaway for me from the first 20 verses is to go back and reflect which category do we belong to. We must put in efforts to not be among the Munafiqeen and Alhamdulillah it’s a blessing that Allah swt has not made us a disbeliever. May Allah swt make us and all our future offsprings among the believers.