Richard Bell, The Qur’ān. Translated, with a critical re-arrangement of the Surahs (1939)
vv. 263 ff., may have been stimulated by the same danger as well as by the needs of the Moslem community. A revision of an earlier deliverance on usury, v. 276, and a long, and probably late, regulation dealing with the recording of debts, vv. 282, 283, close the surah.
Sūrat al-Baqara — Chapter of the Opening of the Book
In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate.
Introduction to the Book; year II or III, revisions, year III.
1. Alif, Lām, Mīm. 1
That is the Book, in which there is no doubt,2 guidance for those who act piously.3
3. Who believe in what has been 2. Who believe in the Unseen, sent down to thee, and in what observe the Prayer, and of has been sent down before thy what We have provided them time, and of the Hereafter are with give freely
convinced.
4. Such (stand) upon guidance from their Lord, and they are the ones who prosper.
5. As for those who have disbelieved, it is all one whether thou hast warned them or not; they will not believe.
6. Allah hath set a seal upon their hearts, and over their hearing and their sight is a covering; for them is (in store) a punishment mighty.
7. Of the people too are some who say: “We have believed in Allah and the Last Day,” but who are not believers.
8. They try to deceive Allah and those 9. Their hearts are who have believed, but they deceive only diseased,4 and Allah themselves without knowing it. hath increased the
1 Of these groups of letters placed at the head of certain surahs no explanation can be given.
2 Or “That Book — there is no doubt of it — is guidance…”
3 Lit. “protect themselves” (against Allah).
4 A phrase applied to those in Medina who were doubtful of Muhammad’s polides.
