Chapter or Sura one or “Al-Fatihah” is recited by Muslims (Submitters)
numerous times a day when performing salat (contact prayers) or
seeking supplication.
In sura two “The Heifer” at the very beginning of the chapter we
have God’s classification of the humans.
[2:0-2] In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
A.L.M. This scripture is infallible; a beacon for the righteous;
CLASSIFICATION ONE – THE BELIEVERS OR THE RIGHTEOUS
[2:3-6] who believe in the unseen, observe the Contact Prayers
(Salat), and from our provisions to them, they give to charity.
And they believe in what was revealed to you, and in what was
revealed before you, and with regard to the Hereafter, they are
absolutely certain. These are guided by their Lord; these are the winners.
[We learn from verses 17:46 and 39:45 that those do not accept
Quran ALONE or those who cannot advocate God ALONE do not really
believe in the Hereafter and in fact only give lip service to
their belief of the Hereafter. Obviously from the Quranic
viewpoint such individuals cannot be classified in classification
“one”]
CLASSIFICATION TWO – THE DISBELIEVERS
[2:6-7] As for those who disbelieve, it is the same for them;
whether you warn them, or not warn them, they cannot believe.
GOD seals their minds and their hearing, and their eyes are
veiled. They have incurred severe retribution.
CLASSIFICATION THREE – THE HYPOCRITES
[2:8-20] Then there are those who say, “We believe in GOD and the
Last Day,” while they are not believers. In trying to deceive GOD and those who believe, they only deceive themselves without perceiving. In their minds there is a disease. Consequently, GOD augments their disease. They have incurred a painful retribution for their
lying.
When they are told, “Do not commit evil,” they say, “But we are
righteous!” In fact, they are evildoers, but they do not perceive.
When they are told, “Believe like the people who believed,” they
say, “Shall we believe like the fools who believed?” In fact, it
is they who are fools, but they do not know.
When they meet the believers, they say, “We believe,” but when
alone with their devils, they say, “We are with you; we were only
mocking.” GOD mocks them, and leads them on in their transgressions,
blundering. It is they who bought the straying, at the expense of guidance.
Such trade never prospers, nor do they receive any guidance.
Their example is like those who start a fire, then, as it begins
to shed light around them, GOD takes away their light, leaving
them in darkness, unable to see.
Deaf, dumb, and blind; they fail to return. Another example: a rainstorm from the sky in which there is darkness, thunder, and lightning. They put their fingers in their ears, to evade death. GOD is fully aware of the disbelievers.
The lightning almost snatches away their eyesight. When it lights for them, they move forward, and when it turns dark, they stand still. If GOD wills, He can take away their hearing and their eyesight. GOD is Omnipotent.
[Those who claim to believe, but are deceiving themselves and who
fail to perceive, are those who cannot accept simple Quranic
truths. eg; the Quran is perfect, fully detailed, complete or
that the Quran is the only acceptable Hadith or that the Quran is
the only source of religious law].
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[2:21] O people, worship ONLY your Lord – the One who created you
and those before you – that you may be saved.