This section transitions from the principles of charity to a set of diverse legal and social injunctions covering oaths, intoxicants, gambling, orphans’ wealth, menstruation, and marital relations—all aimed at building a clean, just, and pious society.
Arabic Text (Verses 2:215-223)
(Presented in segments for clarity)
(215) يَسْأَلُونَكَ مَاذَا يُنفِقُونَ ۖ قُلْ مَا أَنفَقْتُم مِّنْ خَيْرٍ فَلِلْوَالِدَيْنِ وَالْأَقْرَبِينَ وَالْيَتَامَىٰ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ ۗ وَمَا تَفْعَلُوا مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ بِهِ عَلِيمٌ
(216) كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْقِتَالُ وَهُوَ كُرْهٌ لَّكُمْ ۖ وَعَسَىٰ أَن تَكْرَهُوا شَيْئًا وَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ ۖ وَعَسَىٰ أَن تُحِبُّوا شَيْئًا وَهُوَ شَرٌّ لَّكُمْ ۗ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
(217) يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الشَّهْرِ الْحَرَامِ قِتَالٍ فِيهِ ۖ قُلْ قِتَالٌ فِيهِ كَبِيرٌ ۚ وَصَدٌّ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَكُفْرٌ بِهِ وَالْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ وَإِخْرَاجُ أَهْلِهِ مِنْهُ أَكْبَرُ عِندَ اللَّهِ ۚ وَالْفِتْنَةُ أَكْبَرُ مِنَ الْقَتْلِ ۗ وَلَا يَزَالُونَ يُقَاتِلُونَكُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَرُدُّوكُمْ عَن دِينِكُمْ إِنِ اسْتَطَاعُوا ۚ وَمَن يَرْتَدِدْ مِنكُمْ عَن دِينِهِ فَيَمُتْ وَهُوَ كَافِرٌ فَأُولَٰئِكَ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَالُهُمْ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ ۖ وَأُولَٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ
(218) إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَالَّذِينَ هَاجَرُوا وَجَاهَدُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أُولَٰئِكَ يَرْجُونَ رَحْمَتَ اللَّهِ ۚ وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
(219) يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الْخَمْرِ وَالْمَيْسِرِ ۖ قُلْ فِيهِمَا إِثْمٌ كَبِيرٌ وَمَنَافِعُ لِلنَّاسِ وَإِثْمُهُمَا أَكْبَرُ مِن نَّفْعِهِمَا ۗ وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ مَاذَا يُنفِقُونَ قُلِ الْعَفْوَ ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ لَكُمُ الْآيَاتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَفَكَّرُونَ
(220) فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ ۗ وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الْيَتَامَىٰ ۖ قُلْ إِصْلَاحٌ لَّهُمْ خَيْرٌ ۖ وَإِن تُخَالِطُوهُمْ فَإِخْوَانُكُمْ ۚ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ الْمُفْسِدَ مِنَ الْمُصْلِحِ ۚ وَلَوْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ لَأَعْنَتَكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ
(221) وَلَا تَنكِحُوا الْمُشْرِكَاتِ حَتَّىٰ يُؤْمِنَّ ۚ وَلَأَمَةٌ مُّؤْمِنَةٌ خَيْرٌ مِّن مُّشْرِكَةٍ وَلَوْ أَعْجَبَتْكُمْ ۗ وَلَا تُنكِحُوا الْمُشْرِكِينَ حَتَّىٰ يُؤْمِنُوا ۚ وَلَعَبْدٌ مُّؤْمِنٌ خَيْرٌ مِّن مُّشْرِكٍ وَلَوْ أَعْجَبَكُمْ ۗ أُولَٰئِكَ يَدْعُونَ إِلَى النَّارِ ۖ وَاللَّهُ يَدْعُو إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ وَالْمَغْفِرَةِ بِإِذْنِهِ ۖ وَيُبَيِّنُ آيَاتِهِ لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ
(222) وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الْمَحِيضِ ۖ قُلْ هُوَ أَذًى فَاعْتَزِلُوا النِّسَاءَ فِي الْمَحِيضِ وَلَا تَقْرَبُوهُنَّ حَتَّىٰ يَطْهُرْنَ ۖ فَإِذَا تَطَهَّرْنَ فَأْتُوهُنَّ مِنْ حَيْثُ أَمَرَكُمُ اللَّهُ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ التَّوَّابِينَ وَيُحِبُّ الْمُتَطَهِّرِينَ
(223) نِسَاؤُكُمْ حَرْثٌ لَّكُمْ فَأْتُوا حَرْثَكُمْ أَنَّىٰ شِئْتُمْ ۖ وَقَدِّمُوا لِأَنفُسِكُمْ ۚ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّكُم مُّلَاقُوهُ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
Translation (English – Approximate Meaning)
- They ask you what they should spend. Say, “Whatever you spend of good is [to be] for parents, relatives, orphans, the needy, and the traveler. And whatever you do of good – indeed, Allah is Knowing of it.”
- Fighting has been enjoined upon you while it is hateful to you. But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah knows, while you know not.
- They ask you about the Sacred Month and fighting therein. Say, “Fighting therein is great [sin], but averting [people] from the way of Allah and disbelief in Him and [preventing access to] the Sacred Mosque and expelling its people therefrom are greater [evil] in the sight of Allah. And oppression (persecution) is greater than killing.” And they will continue to fight you until they turn you back from your religion if they are able. And whoever of you reverts from his religion and dies while he is a disbeliever – for those, their deeds have become worthless in this world and the Hereafter, and those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally.
- Indeed, those who have believed and those who have emigrated and fought in the cause of Allah – those hope for the mercy of Allah. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.
- They ask you about wine and gambling. Say, “In them is great sin and [yet, some] benefit for people. But their sin is greater than their benefit.” And they ask you what they should spend. Say, “The excess [beyond needs].” Thus Allah makes clear to you the verses [of revelation] that you might give thought.
- To this world and the Hereafter. And they ask you about orphans. Say, “Improvement for them is best. And if you mix your affairs with theirs – they are your brothers. And Allah knows the corrupter from the improver. And if Allah had willed, He could have put you in difficulty. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise.”
- And do not marry polytheistic women until they believe. And a believing slave woman is better than a polytheist, even though she might please you. And do not marry polytheistic men [to your women] until they believe. And a believing slave is better than a polytheist, even though he might please you. Those invite [you] to the Fire, but Allah invites to Paradise and to forgiveness, by His permission. And He makes clear His verses to the people that perhaps they may remember.
- And they ask you about menstruation. Say, “It is harm, so keep away from women during menstruation. And do not approach them until they are pure. And when they have purified themselves, then come to them from where Allah has ordained for you. Indeed, Allah loves those who are constantly repentant and loves those who purify themselves.”
- Your wives are a place of cultivation for you; so come to your cultivation as you wish and send forth [good deeds] for yourselves. And fear Allah and know that you will meet Him. And give good tidings to the believers.
Explanation & Commentary (Based on Tafheem-ul-Qan)
Verse 215: The Code of Charity (Reviewed)
· Establishes a prioritized hierarchy for voluntary spending: Family first (parents, relatives), then the most vulnerable (orphans, needy, stranded traveler).
· Concludes with the principle that Allah’s knowledge of the deed matters more than its public recognition.
Verse 216: The Principle of Jihad (Struggle)
· Introduces the obligation of fighting (qital) in Allah’s cause when necessary for defense and establishing justice.
· Acknowledges the natural human aversion to war but establishes a higher wisdom: what we dislike may contain good (e.g., fighting to end oppression) and what we desire may contain evil (e.g., peace with tyranny).
· Core Lesson: Human judgment is limited; divine command is based on absolute knowledge.
Verse 217: Clarifying Sacred Limits & The Greater Evil
· Addresses a critical question: Is fighting in the sacred months (when fighting was traditionally prohibited) allowed?
· Provides a moral calculus: While fighting in a sacred month is a major sin, the greater evils perpetrated by the disbelievers of Mecca justify a defensive response. These greater evils are:
- Obstructing the path to Allah (persecuting believers).
- Disbelief in Allah and His Messenger.
- Expelling believers from the Sacred Mosque (Al-Masjid Al-Haram).
· Declares “Al-Fitnah is greater than killing”: Fitnah here means systematic religious persecution aimed at destroying faith. This is a worse crime than individual killing.
· Issues a grave warning against apostasy (riddah) in the face of such persecution.
Verse 218: The Promise for the Strivers
· Affirms that true believers, emigrants (Muhajireen), and those who strive (Mujahideen) are the ones who can rightly hope for Allah’s mercy and forgiveness.
Verse 219: The Verdict on Intoxicants and Gambling
· This is the first step in the gradual prohibition of alcohol and gambling.
· Presents a rational, comparative analysis: They contain some perceived worldly benefits (profit, pleasure) but the sin (ithm) and societal harm they cause are overwhelmingly greater. The Quran instructs believers to use their reason to see this imbalance.
· Repeats the question on charity, answering: Spend your “aff”—what is surplus to your essential needs. This promotes moderation and constant, manageable giving.
Verse 220: Managing Orphans’ Wealth
· Provides a flexible yet ethical guideline for guardians of orphans’ wealth: The overarching goal is “Islah” (improvement, reform)—managing it to benefit the orphan.
· Permits mixing (business partnership) with the orphan’s wealth if done with pure intention and transparency (“they are your brothers”), but warns that Allah knows the corrupt from the sincere.
· The principle: Avoid complexity and potential injustice; aim for clear, beneficial management.
Verse 221: The Foundation of the Muslim Family
· Prohibits interfaith marriage with polytheists (Mushrikeen) for both Muslim men and women.
· The reason is spiritual, not ethnic or racial: The Mushrik invites to Hellfire (through false beliefs), while Allah invites to Paradise. A shared faith in Tawheed (monotheism) is the non-negotiable bedrock of a Muslim family.
· Elevates faith over social status: A believing slave is better than a free polytheist.
Verse 222: Regulations Regarding Menstruation
· Treats menstruation as a natural state requiring temporary sexual abstinence out of respect for the woman’s comfort and for hygiene.
· Establishes the principle of “purification” (taharah) as a prerequisite for marital intimacy, linking physical cleanliness to spiritual purity.
· Affirms that Allah loves those who repent and purify themselves, making this a spiritual act.
Verse 223: Marital Intimacy and Its Purpose
· Uses the metaphor of “cultivation” (harth) for wives. The “field” can be approached from any direction (a refutation of unnatural restrictions), but the goal is cultivation—implying love, progeny, and mutual comfort.
· The crucial command: “Send forth good for yourselves” – meaning, approach intimacy with a righteous intention, as it is an act that can carry reward.
· Concludes with the overarching principle of all conduct: Consciousness of Allah (Taqwa) and the certainty of meeting Him.
Key Themes from Tafheem-ul-Qan in this Section:
- From Personal Piety to Social Order: The verses move from individual charity to laws governing war, social vices, family, and marriage—building a complete societal framework.
- The Primacy of Intent and Wisdom: Behind each ruling is a divine wisdom (avoiding greater harm, preserving faith, maintaining purity) that believers are encouraged to understand.
- Gradualism in Legislation: The approach to intoxicants and war shows how Islamic law was revealed progressively, considering the social context.
- The Family as the Core Unit: Strong regulations on marriage, marital relations, and orphans’ wealth aim to protect and strengthen the family, the foundation of society.
- The Constant Reminder: Every topic returns to the core principles: Taqwa, the Hereafter, and Allah’s all-encompassing knowledge.
This passage exemplifies how Surah Al-Baqarah provides a comprehensive constitution for Muslim life, addressing spiritual, social, economic, and personal dimensions with balanced wisdom.
Messages from Quran 