This section is an interlude, a short break in the religious instruction, taking us back to those who are misleading the believers, Jews featuring prominently among them, again.
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The Believers Must Guard Against the Deceivers
2:204-206 “And among men there is he whose talk of life in this world would please you, and he calls Allah to witness as to that which is in his heart, and yet he is the hardest of adversaries, and when he turns his back, he hastens about the earth, to do corruption there and to destroy the tillage and the stock.
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And Allah does not love corruption. And when it is said to him, ‘Fear Allah,’ then pride takes hold of him in sin. Indeed hell is his portion, and it is an evil couch.”
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The Believers are warned against certain men who might mislead them, and swear by Allah that they are telling the truth. The next verse, telling us how these men corrupt and destroy crops and cattle, is a little obscure. At any rate, we are dealing here with a very dangerous man, and the Believers best stay well away from him.
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On the other hand, (2:207): “And among men is he who sells himself seeking to please Allah, and Allah is good to the servants.” Here again, the alarm bells are ringing: a good Muslim is one who is willing to sacrifice (“sell”) himself to please Allah. And who but Muhammad could tell him what pleases Allah?
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Islam Means Submission
2:208 “O you who believe! Enter into submission one and all and do not follow the footsteps of Shaitan, as he is your open enemy.”
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Enter into submission means enter into the new religion of Islam, which means submission. It is curious that some translate “udkhuloo fil-silm” as “enter the peace”, rather than “enter in submission”. In 2:131, I have touched on the subject of the relationship between Islam and peace.
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I guess those who achieve total submission and resign themselves to unquestioning obedience, achieve some kind of inner peace, as they will no longer question or resist the authority of their leaders.
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2:209 “But if you slip after clear signs have come to you, then know that Allah is mighty, wise.”
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How the might and wisdom of Allah will help the Believers deal with their slippage is not clear to me. This one doesn’t even sound like a veiled threat, such as when it is said that Allah is not heedless of their deeds.
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2:210 “Will they wait until Allah should come to them in the shadows of the clouds along with the angels? Indeed the matter has been decided, and matters are returned to Allah.” This verse refers to the clear signs that those who slip are ignoring.
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Ask the Children of Israel
2:211 “Ask the Children of Israel how many clear signs We gave them. Whoever changes Allah’s blessing after it has come to him, Allah is terrible in retribution.”
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The Jews ignored Allah’s clear signs and miracles, and rejected his message, in addition to wilfully corrupting it.
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2:212 “Well set out for those who deny is the present life, and they deride the believers. But those who are god-fearing shall be above them on the day of Resurrection. And Allah provides whomsoever He will, without account.”
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This is a similar idea to the one in 2:207, concerning the pleasures of this world versus the rewards of the next.
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2:213 was cited before, when we discussed predestination. All of mankind were one people once. Allah sent them prophets with good news and warnings, and the Book with the truth. Only those who had been given it (the Jews?) were at variance upon it, after the clear signs had come to them, being insolent one to another.
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Then Allah guided those who believed to the truth, and Allah guides whomsoever He will to a straight path.
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2:214 comes to warn the Believers that the road to Paradise (the Garden) is not rosy. They first have to experience the suffering that those before them had experienced. They experienced distress and affliction so much so that the Apostle and those who believed with him said: When will the help of Allah come? Now surely the help of Allah is near!
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2:214 is based on a Jewish motif that entry into the world to come is earned with pains in this world, pains that wash out sins and prepare you for the next world. This idea is expressed in many places in Jewish writing.
