Surah Al-Baqarah 2:3
سُورَةُ البَقَرَةِ · Medinan · Verse 3 of 286
ٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱلْغَيْبِ وَيُقِيمُونَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَٰهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ
Translation
who believe in the unseen,keep up the prayer, and give out of what We have provided for them;
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
'Who believe in the unseen, establish prayer, and spend from what We have provided them.' al-Saadi notes the first and defining mark, 'iman bil-ghayb', faith in the unseen: believing what the senses cannot reach on the testimony of the One who sees all. Then faith immediately produces two movements: prayer (turning to God) and spending (turning to His creation). Ask yourself: real faith begins exactly where sight ends, trusting the unseen God, angels, and hereafter I cannot verify with my eyes. Believing only what I can see distinguishes no believer from any disbeliever. And notice that this faith is not merely held but moves, it bends the body in prayer and opens the hand in giving. Does my belief actually move my knees and my wealth, or is it a conviction that changes nothing I do?
Grounded in classical tafsir: al-Saadi, Ibn Ashur, Ibn Kathir.
Wording
In this profound verse, Allah describes the qualities of the *muttaqin*, the righteous ones introduced in the previous verse, for whom the Quran is a guide. It is Allah Himself speaking, detailing the sincere, continuous actions that define those who truly benefit from His revelation. The very choice of words and their arrangement invites us to ponder the depth of these attributes.
Believing in the Unseen
The verse begins with ﴿يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱلْغَيْبِ﴾, "they believe in the unseen." The word *īmān* (إيمان), meaning "belief," comes from the root *amn*, which conveys a sense of security, peace, and freedom from doubt. To "believe" in something, as Ibn Ashur and al-Zamakhshari explain, implies a deep trust, affirmation, and certainty that frees one from denial.
*Al-Ghaib* (الغيب) refers to that which is hidden from our senses and beyond the grasp of our intellect alone. It encompasses truths like Allah's existence and attributes, angels, the Resurrection, Heaven, and Hell, all known solely through divine revelation, as al-Muyassar and Ibn Ashur clarify. Ibn Ashur emphasizes that belief in the unseen is the very foundation of accepting the messages of the Prophets; it is the readiness to embrace realities beyond what is immediately perceptible. The use of the present tense, *yu'minūn*, highlights that this is a continuous, unwavering faith, not a one-time declaration.
Establishing the Prayer
Next, Allah says ﴿وَيُقِيمُونَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ﴾, "and they establish prayer." The word *yuqimūn* (يُقِيمُونَ) means more than simply performing the prayer. *Iqāmah* (إقامة) implies making something stand firm, straight, and upright. Ibn Ashur and al-Razi explain this as meticulously upholding its pillars, protecting it from deficiencies in its obligations, traditions (sunan), and manners. It signifies diligence, regularity, and giving the prayer its full due. The word *salāh* (صلاة), while originally meaning "supplication" in Arabic, became in the Quran a specific term for the ritual worship with its distinct postures and recitations. This choice of "establishing" underscores a commitment that ensures the prayer remains a consistent, vital part of their lives.
Spending from Provision
Finally, Allah describes them as ﴿وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَٰهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ﴾, "and from what We have provided them, they spend." The immediate word choice of *mimmā* (مِمَّا), meaning "from what," includes the particle *min* (مِن) which implies "some of" or "a part of." This signifies that Allah does not expect believers to give away everything, but to spend a portion of their wealth, acknowledging that Islam does not burden people beyond their capacity, as Ibn Ashur and al-Razi note.
Crucially, the phrase "We have provided them" (رَزَقْنَٰهُمْ) directly attributes all sustenance, or *rizq*, to Allah. This highlights Allah as the ultimate Provider of everything we possess. The word order, placing "from what We provided them" before "they spend," emphasizes the preciousness of this provision in people's eyes, and that despite its value, the righteous willingly part with it for Allah's sake. *Infāq* (إنفاق), or "spending," here refers to charitable giving for the poor, the needy, and general good deeds, manifesting a complete and sincere faith, as Ibn Ashur explains. The present tense *yunfiqūn* (يُنفِقُونَ) indicates that this generous spending is also a continuous and renewed act.
Sources: Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi), al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), al-Jalalayn
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Al-Baqarah 2:3 is discussed in 12 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
Open Surah Al-Baqarah 2:3 in Maani to reflect on it through the Five Lenses: its wording, its context, what it means for you, its connections across the Quran and its lessons, grounded in classical tafsir.