Tafsir of Al-Baqarah 2:146-148

"They know him" They know the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) with a clear knowledge, distinguishing him from others by specific, identifying descriptions.

"As they know their own sons" They do not confuse their sons with the sons of others. It is narrated that ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) asked ‘Abdullah ibn Salam about the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). He replied, "I know him better than I know my own son." When asked why, he said, "Because I have no doubt that Muhammad is a Prophet, whereas regarding my son, perhaps his mother was unfaithful." ‘Umar then kissed his head.

The use of the pronoun [in "know him"] is permissible even without a prior antecedent because the context points to it, and it is not ambiguous to the listener. Such a pronoun serves to aggrandize him, signaling that his fame is such that he is known without need of introduction. Others have said the pronoun refers to the knowledge, the Qur’an, or the changing of the Qibla. However, the phrase "as they know their own sons" supports the first interpretation, as evidenced by the narration of ‘Abdullah ibn Salam.

If you ask: "Why were sons specifically mentioned?" I say: Because sons are more famous and better known, as they accompany their fathers more closely and are more attached to their hearts.

"A party of them" This is an exception for those who were not trustworthy among them, or for their ignorant ones, regarding whom Allah said: "And among them are unlettered ones who do not know the Scripture" (Al-Baqarah: 78).

"The truth is from your Lord" It is possible that "the truth" (al-haqq) is the predicate of an omitted subject (i.e., "It is the truth"), or it is the subject whose predicate is "from your Lord." There are two interpretations:

1. The definite article (al-) denotes a specific reference to the truth that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) follows, or the truth mentioned in the phrase "they conceal the truth." That is: "This which they conceal is the truth from your Lord."
2. The article denotes the category, meaning: "Truth is from Allah, not from anyone else." This means that truth is what is proven to be from Allah—like that which you are upon—and what is not proven to be from Allah—like that which the People of the Scripture are upon—is falsehood.

If you ask: "If you make 'the truth' the subject, what is the grammatical position of 'from your Lord'?" I say: It can be a second predicate, or it can be a state (hal).

‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) recited it as "The truth, the truth is from your Lord," as an appositive (badal) to the first, meaning: "They conceal the truth—the truth that is from your Lord."

"So do not be among the doubters" Do not be among those who doubt their concealment of the truth despite their knowledge, or doubt that it is from your Lord.

"And for each" From the various religious communities.

"Is a direction" A Qibla. In the recitation of Ubayy, it is "And for each is a Qibla."

"To which he turns" His face. One of the two objects is omitted. It is also said that "He" refers to Allah, meaning: "Allah turns him toward it." It is also recited as "And for each is a direction (wijhatun)" in the genitive case. The meaning is: "And for every direction, Allah turns him toward it," where the lam is added because the object precedes the verb, similar to saying "To Zayd, I struck" or "To Zayd, his father is his striker." Ibn ‘Amir recited it as "He is the one who turns toward it," meaning He is the Master of that direction and has turned toward it.

The meaning is: Every nation has a Qibla toward which they turn, both among you and others.

"So race to" You all.

"Good deeds" And race toward them, ahead of others, regarding the matter of the Qibla and other things. Another meaning is that it refers to you, O nation of Muhammad: "For each of you is a direction"—whether southern, northern, eastern, or western—"so race to good deeds."

"Wherever you may be, Allah will bring you all together" For judgment, both the obedient and the disobedient; you cannot escape Him. It is also possible the meaning is: "Race to the most excellent of directions," which are the directions facing the Ka'bah. "Wherever you may be" among the various directions, "Allah will bring you all together," gathering you and making your prayers as if they were toward one direction, as if you were all present at the Sacred Mosque.