Ramadan and the Quran (6): The Themes of Surah Al-Baqarah (Part 4) — The Relevance of Its Name

Surah Al-Baqarah, the longest chapter in the Quran, is named after "the Cow" because of a particular story found within it—the story of the cow sacrificed by the Israelites. This story is unique to this Surah and is not mentioned anywhere else in the Quran. But why does this story hold such significance?

Upon deeper reflection, we find that the story highlights several key lessons that align with the central themes of Surah Al-Baqarah:

1. The purity of monotheism – rejecting false beliefs and worshipping none but Allah.
2. The reluctance of the Israelites to obey divine commands – revealing their weak faith and lack of submission.
3. Their defiance and mockery of their prophets – instead of following divine guidance with sincerity.
4. Their history of shedding blood and avoiding responsibility – exposing their unjust behavior.
5. A demonstration of Allah’s power to bring the dead back to life – proving the reality of resurrection.

---

The Connection Between the Cow’s Story and the Surah’s Main Themes

These lessons are not just isolated incidents but rather integral to the broader themes of Surah Al-Baqarah.

1. The Call to Pure Faith and Belief in the Unseen

Surah Al-Baqarah opens by describing true believers as those who "believe in the unseen." The story of the cow is a test of this very concept. The Israelites were commanded to sacrifice a cow, not because it held any special power, but as an act of obedience to Allah. Instead of submitting, they questioned, argued, and delayed, making the command harder upon themselves. This contrasts with the ideal of pure faith, where believers trust in divine wisdom without unnecessary resistance.

---

2. The Emphasis on Resurrection and Life After Death

One of the core messages of Surah Al-Baqarah is belief in the afterlife and resurrection. The Surah presents multiple examples of how Allah brings the dead back to life, reinforcing this fundamental truth:

• The Israelites who were struck unconscious and revived after demanding to see Allah.
• The people who fled from their homes fearing death, only for Allah to cause them to die and revive them.
• The man who passed by a ruined town and was resurrected after a hundred years.
• Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham), who asked Allah to show him how He gives life to the dead.
• Finally, the story of the murdered man in the cow’s story—who was revived to testify about his killer.

---

Each of these accounts provides tangible proof that resurrection is real, a truth the Israelites struggled to accept. Their obsession with materialism and their reluctance to believe in the unseen led them to demand constant physical evidence, in contrast to the ideal of faith-based submission.

Islamic scholar Ibn Taymiyyah commented on these events, stating:
"Surah Al-Baqarah contains five instances of human resurrection, one of reviving birds, and one of preserving food and drink—all of which demonstrate Allah’s absolute power over life and death."

---

Conclusion

Surah Al-Baqarah, with its diverse narratives and legal rulings, serves as a comprehensive guide for the Muslim community, preparing them for the responsibility of spiritual leadership. The story of the cow is not merely about an ancient incident—it reflects a mindset. It illustrates the wrong attitude of questioning divine commands excessively instead of submitting to them with trust and sincerity.

The name of the Surah, therefore, is not random. It encapsulates its broader theme: the contrast between a faith that is based on trust in Allah and submission to His will, and a faith that is tainted by stubbornness, skepticism, and materialistic thinking.

---

 Reference: This series draws insights from Thematic Interpretation of the Surahs of the Quran, compiled by a distinguished group of scholars under the supervision of Dr. Mustafa Muslim.