Surah Al-Baqara, the second chapter of the Quran, is the longest, comprising 286 verses after the opening “In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.” While Surah Al-Fatiha is often described as encapsulating the essence of the universe in a concise form, Surah Al-Baqara expands this essence into a detailed and expansive narrative. This is its defining characteristic. The surah is named “Al-Baqara” (The Cow) because it recounts the story of a cow belonging to the Banu Israel, the descendants of Prophet Yaqub (Jacob). The narrative of the cow is a significant part of the surah, which extensively discusses the history and lessons of the Banu Israel. According to various hadiths, the Tawil (esoteric interpretation) of the Banu Israel refers to Ahl al-Bayt (the Household of the Prophet). On one level, the Banu Israel can be seen as symbolic of Ahl al-Bayt. In some hadiths, Israel is associated with Prophet Muhammad (S) or Imam Ali (A).
It is worth noting that historically, Israel is the name given to Prophet Yaqub (A), who had twelve sons, with Yusuf (Joseph) being one of them. Yaqub’s nickname was “Israel,” which is why his descendants are known as the Banu Israel or “sons of Israel.” This term has two meanings. In its narrow sense, it refers to Yaqub’s twelve immediate sons. In this context, Ahl al-Bayt are considered the true Banu Israel, and the other Banu Israel were merely a sign or indication of them. So Yaqub (A) had twelve sons, because the Commander of the Faithful Ali (A) has eleven descendants who are Imams, and he – the twelfth with them. One of the children of Yaqub (A) was subjected to a severe test, and such and Husayn (A). And how Yusuf (A) returned and became king on earth – So Hussein will return and become the king during the period of Rajat . And therefore in the ziyarat of Ali (A) we read: “ Peace be upon you, Israel ummah , gate of mercy and father Imamov .”
This is the first meaning of Banu Israel . The second is the Jews in general, who as a people descend from Israel , Yaqub (A), and therefore also call themselves “Banu Israel “. In this second sense, Banu Israel are a symbol or an indication no longer of Ahl ul -Bayt, and for this ummah , as the Messenger of Allah (S) said: “ In this ummah , everything will be the same as happened with Banu Israel – just as one sole follows another and as one feather of an arrow follows another .” That is, you will repeat everything that happened to them. They took a calf and a Samaritan – and you will take a calf and a Samaritan, they killed the prophets – and you will kill the Imams, and so on. And it is precisely the surah “The Cow” that shows how this repetition will happen, shows examples for this ummah .
Therefore, everything that happened with those historical Banu Israel (those who are called Jews today) – all these are hints or indications about this Ummah and Ahl. ul -Bayt as the leaders of this ummah . And we will see this in the Surah “The Cow”.
Let’s look at some hadiths about the virtues of Surah “The Cow”:
Ayashī reported that the Messenger of Allah (S) said:
I was given long suras instead of the Torah, medium ones — instead of the Gospel and short — instead of Psalms. And I am given another sixty-seven sur.
( Tafsir of Ayashi , Volume 1, P. 43).
Sheikh Saduq reported that Imam Sadiq (A) said:
Who will read the surahs “The Cow” and “The Family of Imran” – these two suras will be above on the Day of Judgement his head, like cloud.
(“Savabu l- amal ”, P. 132).
Ayashī reported that the Messenger of Allah (S) said:
Whoever reads the first four verses of Surah Al-Baqarah, then the Kursi verse and two verses after it, and then the last three verses of the Surah “The Cow” – he will not see in himself, his family and property anything that will be unpleasant to him, and the shaitan will not come near him, and he won’t forget Koran.
( Tafsir of Ayashi , Volume 1, P. 43).
