Verse 15 of Sura al-Baqara and Ghadir
Verse 15 of Sura al-Baqara is a verse that was revealed in response to the hypocrites who mocked the believers of Ghadir. In this verse, God Himself mocked the hypocrites and left them to drown in their transgression.
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| Ayah Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Ayah Number | 15 |
| Juz' | 1 |
| Ayah Content | |
| Place of Revelation | Medina |
| Topic | God mocking the hypocrites and leaving them to drown in their transgression |
| Ayah Recitation Audio Translation | |
Some researchers have described the context of the revelation of Verse 15 of al-Baqara during the Ghadir event as follows:[1] One of the plans of the hypocrites was that when they met with Salman al-Farsi, Miqdad b. 'Amr al-Kindi, Abu Dharr al-Ghifari, and 'Ammar b. Yasir, they would tell them: "We have believed in Muḥammad and have submitted to the allegiance to 'Ali and his virtue, and we obey his commands just like you." Especially Abu Bakr and 'Umar, and the rest of the nine individuals who were more prominent in hypocrisy, sometimes when they encountered Salman and his companions on the road, they felt aversion towards them and would say: "These are the companions of the sorcerer and the fool," referring to the Prophet (s) and Imam 'Ali (a). Then they would say to each other: "Beware of them, lest they become aware of parts of your conversations about Muḥammad's disbelief and what he said about 'Ali, and report it to him, which would lead to your destruction." Then Abu Bakr would say to his hypocrite companions: "Now look at me, how I mock them and ward off their evil from you." Subsequently, the hypocrites met Salman, Abu Dharr, and Miqdad and, out of hypocrisy, spoke words in their praise.
It was under these circumstances that God said: O Muḥammad, 
اللَّهُ یَسْتَهْزِئُ بِهِمْ,Allah derides them
: and in retribution for their mockery, He punishes them in this world and the hereafter. وَ یَمُدُّهُمْ فی طُغْیانِهِمْ,and leaves them to wander perplexed in their rebellion and grants them respite and invites them to repentance with leniency. Even if they seek forgiveness, He gives them good promises. But they are bewildered and do not desist from their abominable deeds, nor do they refrain from any harm towards Muḥammad (s) and 'Ali (a). On that day, the hypocrites who had gone outside Medina with the Prophet (s) and 'Ali (a) to witness those miracles returned, while those detailed verses of al-Baqara had been revealed concerning them.[2]
Footnotes
References
- Biḥār al-Anwār al-Jāmiʿa li-Durar Akhbār al-Aʾimma al-Aṭhār; Muḥammad Bāqir b. Muḥammad Taqī Majlisī, Beirut: Dār Iḥyāʾ al-Turāth al-ʿArabī, 1403 AH.
- ʿAwālim al-ʿUlūm wa al-Maʿārif wa al-Aḥwāl min al-Āyāt wa al-Akhbār wa al-Aqwal; ʿAbd Allāh b. Nūr Allāh Baḥrānī Iṣfahānī, edited by Muḥammad Bāqir Muwaḥḥid Abṭaḥī Iṣfahānī, Qom: Muʾassasat al-Imām al-Mahdī (a), 1382 SH.
- Wāqiʿa-ye Qurʾānī-ye Ghadīr: Guzārish-e Safar-e Yek-Māha-ye Payāmbar barā-ye Iʿlān-e Wilāyat dar Sāye-ye Āyāt-e Qurʾānī; Muḥammad Bāqir Anṣārī, Qom: Intishārāt-e Dalīl-e Mā, 1386 SH.