Question:
What is the meaning of this hadith?
مَنْ قَرَأَ بِالْآيَتَيْنِ مِنْ آخِرِ سُورَةِ البَقَرَةِ فِي لَيْلَةٍ كَفَتَاهُ
"If somebody recites the last two Verses of Surat al-Baqarah at night, it will be sufficient for him.”
Sahih al-Bukhari (5009)
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
The Quran is a miraculous book revealed by Allah SWT to his messenger the Prophet Muhammad PBUH through the intermediary of the angel Gabriel AS. Furthermore, the Quran includes a thousand and one secrets and wisdoms for those who contemplate and recite it. Other than that, there are numerous benefits for those who always recite and practice the verses of the Quran according to the authentic evidences of the Quran itself as well as the hadith of the prophet PBUH.
According to the above question, among the meanings of it will be sufficient for him as stated in the above hadith, Imam al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani commenting on the hadith in his book, it is divided into several meanings:
- His qiamullail is sufficient for him (waking up during the night for worship)
- It is sufficient for him means his recitation of the Quran is sufficient, whether it is his recitation in his prayer or outside of his prayer.
- The matters involving faith (aqidah) for him is sufficient for the verses narrate the story regarding faith and worship in general.
- It is sufficient for him (he is safe) from any harm.
- It is sufficient for him (he is safe) from the harms of shaytan.
- (Both verses) have repulsed from him the harm from humans and jinn.
- It is sufficient for him to receive goodness from both of it.
Considering the above stated meanings, Imam Ibn Hajar said, the hadith may mean all of the stated meanings. (See Fath al-Bari, 9/56). Furthermore, Imam al-Nawawi said the meaning of sufficient for him in the above hadith it is sufficient for him in enlivening the night, sufficient for him (protected) from the harms of shaytan or dangers and may also means all of it. (See al-Minhaj Syarah Sahih Muslim, 6/91-92)
The Two Last Verses of Surah al-Baqarah
آمَنَ الرَّسُولُ بِمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مِن رَّبِّهِ وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ ۚ كُلٌّ آمَنَ بِاللَّـهِ وَمَلَائِكَتِهِ وَكُتُبِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِّن رُّسُلِهِ ۚ وَقَالُوا سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا ۖ غُفْرَانَكَ رَبَّنَا وَإِلَيْكَ الْمَصِيرُ ﴿٢٨٥﴾ لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّـهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ۚ لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا مَا اكْتَسَبَتْ ۗ رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذْنَا إِن نَّسِينَا أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْنَا إِصْرًا كَمَا حَمَلْتَهُ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تُحَمِّلْنَا مَا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِ ۖ وَاعْفُ عَنَّا وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَارْحَمْنَا ۚ أَنتَ مَوْلَانَا فَانصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ ﴿٢٨٦﴾
The Messenger has believed in what was revealed to him from his Lord, and [so have] the believers. All of them have believed in Allah and His angels and His books and His messengers, [saying], "We make no distinction between any of His messengers." And they say, "We hear and we obey. [We seek] Your forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the [final] destination." Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity. It will have [the consequence of] what [good] it has gained, and it will bear [the consequence of] what [evil] it has earned. "Our Lord, do not impose blame upon us if we have forgotten or erred. Our Lord, and lay not upon us a burden like that which You laid upon those before us. Our Lord, and burden us not with that which we have no ability to bear. And pardon us; and forgive us; and have mercy upon us. You are our protector, so give us victory over the disbelieving people."
Surah al-Baqarah (285-286)
Conclusion
To conclude, there are many benefits for those who recite the last two verses of al-Baqarah during the night, understanding and practising them in their daily lives. Furthermore, the hadith that states the benefits of it is an authentic hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari which is the second authentic book after the Quran. Lastly, may Allah SWT make us from among the people of the Quran and those who love and practise the Quran. Amin.
Wallahua’lam.