Tafsir of Al-Baqarah 2:252

Surah Al-Baqarah (2:252)

تِلْكَ آيَاتُ اللَّهِ نَتْلُوهَا عَلَيْكَ بِالْحَقِّ وَإِنَّكَ لَمِنَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ

{تِلْكَ آيَاتُ اللَّهِ} (Those are the signs of Allah)

Know that the word {تِلْكَ} (Those) refers to the stories previously mentioned: the account of the thousands who died and were revived, the appointment of Saul (Talut), the revelation of the Ark (Tabut) from heaven, and the victory achieved by David (Dawud) while he was a poor youth. Undoubtedly, these events are magnificent signs indicating the perfection of Allah's power, wisdom, and mercy.

Objection: Why did He say {تِلْكَ} (Those, feminine plural demonstrative pronoun for distant objects) and not {هَذِهِ} (These, for near objects)?

Answer: We have previously explained in the exegesis of {ذَلِكَ الْكِتَابُ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهِ} (That is the Book, in which there is no doubt) that tilka and dhalika carry the meaning of hadhihi and hadha. Furthermore, since these stories have been narrated, they become like something that has passed and concluded, thus taking the ruling of being distant, which is why He said {تِلْكَ}.

{نَتْلُوهَا} (We recite them to you)

This means that Gabriel (peace be upon him) recites them to you (the Prophet, peace be upon him). However, Allah Almighty attributed the recitation to Himself. This is a great honor for Gabriel (peace be upon him), similar to His saying: {إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يُبَايِعُونَكَ إِنَّمَا يُبَايِعُونَ اللَّهَ} (Indeed, those who pledge allegiance to you are only pledging allegiance to Allah).

{بِالْحَقِّ} (with truth)

There are several interpretations for this:

1. The purpose of mentioning these stories is for the Prophet (PBUH) and his Ummah to take heed and endure hardships in Jihad, just as the believers in previous nations endured them.
2. {بِالْحَقِّ} means with certainty that the People of the Book do not doubt, as these accounts are found in their scriptures without any alteration.
3. We revealed these signs in such a manner that they demonstrate your prophethood due to their eloquence and rhetorical power.
4. {تِلْكَ آيَاتُ اللَّهِ نَتْلُوهَا عَلَيْكَ بِالْحَقِّ} means it must be known that the revelation of these signs to you is from Allah Almighty, and not due to the whispering of devils, nor the distortion by soothsayers or sorcerers.

{وَإِنَّكَ لَمِنَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ} (And indeed, you are one of the messengers)

This statement follows the preceding verses for several reasons:

1. You have informed us of these narratives without prior learning or study, which indicates that the Prophet (PBUH) only mentioned and knew them through divine revelation from Allah.
2. Through these signs, you have learned what happened to the Prophets among the Children of Israel—their fears and the rejection they faced. Therefore, do not let the disbelief of those who disbelieve in you, or the opposition of those who oppose you, weigh heavily upon you, for you are like them. All prophets were sent only to deliver the message and obey the command willingly, not under compulsion. Thus, there is no blame upon you for their opposition and disbelief; the consequence of that returns to them. This serves as a consolation for the Prophet (PBUH) regarding the apparent disbelief and hypocrisy he faced, and the phrase {وَإِنَّكَ لَمِنَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ} acts as a reminder of this status.

{تِلْكَ الرُّسُلُ فَضَّلْنَا بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ مِنْهُمْ مَنْ كَلَّمَ اللَّهُ وَرَفَعَ بَعْضَهُمْ دَرَجَاتٍ وَآتَيْنَا عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ الْبَيِّنَاتِ وَأَيَّدْنَاهُ بِرُوحِ الْقُدُسِ وَلَوْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ مَا اقْتَتَلَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ بَعْدِهِمْ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا جَاءَتْهُمُ الْبَيِّنَاتُ وَلَكِنِ اخْتَلَفُوا فَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ آمَنَ وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ كَفَرَ وَلَوْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ مَا اقْتَتَلُوا وَلَكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَفْعَلُ مَا يُرِيدُ}

(Those were the messengers; We have preferred some of them over others. Among them was he to whom Allah spoke, and He raised some of them in degrees. And We gave Jesus, the son of Mary, clear proofs and supported him with the Holy Spirit. And if Allah had willed, those [disbelievers] after them would not have fought each other after the clear proofs had come to them, but they differed; so some believed and some disbelieved. And if Allah had willed, they would not have fought, but Allah does what He wills.)