Surah Al-Baqarah 2:103
سُورَةُ البَقَرَةِ · Medinan · Verse 103 of 286
وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَٱتَّقَوْا۟ لَمَثُوبَةٌۭ مِّنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ خَيْرٌۭ ۖ لَّوْ كَانُوا۟ يَعْلَمُونَ
Translation
If they had believed and been mindful of God, their reward from Him would have been far better, if only they knew.
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
This verse invites us to reflect on a profound truth concerning the Jewish community of the Prophet Muhammad's time, contrasting their worldly pursuits with the immense value of faith. Allah, in His boundless wisdom, offers both warning and invitation, painting a vivid picture of what they sacrificed.
A Divine Invitation
The verse begins with "وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ آمَنُوا وَاتَّقَوْا" (And if only they had believed and been mindful of God). The word "لَوْ" (law), meaning "if only," is more than a simple conditional. As Ibn Ashur and al-Zamakhshari explain, it's a particle of "impossibility for possibility" (امتناعية) or even a longing and wishing (تمني). This suggests that their embracing faith and piety was, at that time, a difficult or seemingly unlikely prospect, yet Allah expresses a profound yearning for them to choose the path of guidance. It’s as if Allah Himself is saying, "I wish they would believe." Their "belief" here refers to faith in the Prophet Muhammad and the Quran, and "mindfulness of God" (taqwa) means abandoning forbidden acts, like their reliance on magic, as al-Zamakhshari notes.
The Enduring Reward
What would have been the outcome of such faith and piety? The verse declares: "لَمَثُوبَةٌ مِّنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ خَيْرٌ" (then a reward from Allah would have been better). Notice the precise wording: "لَمَثُوبَةٌ" (a reward). The word "مَثُوبَةٌ" (mathūbah) refers to a general recompense for good deeds. More significantly, both al-Zamakhshari and al-Razi highlight that Allah chose a *nominal sentence* here (starting with a noun, "reward," rather than a verb). This grammatical choice profoundly changes the meaning. A nominal sentence signifies permanence and stability (`ثبات واستقرار`) of that reward, unlike a verbal sentence which suggests a temporary occurrence. It's akin to saying "Peace *is* upon you" (Salāmun 'alaykum), implying enduring peace, rather than "Peace *descended* upon you." So, the reward from Allah is not just a one-time gift, but a lasting, firm, and unshakable goodness. The phrase "مِّنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ" (from Allah) further underscores its unparalleled value and divine origin, making it inherently superior (خير) to any worldly gain.
The Tragic Ignorance
The verse concludes with "لَّوْ كَانُوا يَعْلَمُونَ" (if only they knew). The repetition of "لَوْ" (if only) here, as Ibn Ashur points out, is not redundant. Instead, it serves to emphasize and register (`التسجيل عليهم`) their profound lack of true understanding. It’s an indictment that they were ignorant of what constituted true, lasting benefit. They might have had intellectual knowledge, but as al-Zamakhshari explains, they failed to act upon it, rendering their knowledge effectively useless. Had they genuinely understood the nature of Allah's reward, they would never have chosen anything else over it.
This precise wording thus highlights Allah's deep desire for humanity's good, the profound and permanent nature of His rewards, and the tragic state of those who, through their choices, remain truly ignorant of what is genuinely beneficial for them.
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Source: Ibn Ashur, al-Zamakhshari, al-Razi, al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran, al-Jalalayn, al-Muyassar
Sources: Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi), al-Jalalayn
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Al-Baqarah 2:103 is discussed in 7 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
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