Surah Al-Baqarah is the longest surah in the Qur'an, 286 verses covering faith, law, history and worship. It ends with two short verses that read almost like a summary of the believer's whole relationship with Allah: belief, obedience, honesty about our weakness, and a heartfelt dua for forgiveness.
Which verses are they?
They are verses 285 and 286 of Surah Al-Baqarah, the second surah of the Qur'an. The first begins Amana ar-Rasul, "The Messenger has believed", which is why many people know the pair by that name. Together they take about two minutes to recite, and they are short enough to learn by heart in a few days.
Why were they revealed?
The verse just before them, verse 284, says that whether we reveal what is in ourselves or conceal it, Allah will call us to account for it. Abu Hurairah reported that this weighed very heavily on the Companions. They came to the Prophet ﷺ, knelt, and said they could not bear it: they could control their actions, but not every passing thought.
The Prophet ﷺ told them not to answer as earlier nations had, with "we hear and we disobey", but to say: "We hear and we obey. Your forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the return." When they said it and their tongues submitted to it, Allah revealed these two verses, and with them the reassurance that Allah does not burden any soul beyond what it can bear (reported by Muslim).
The lesson
The relief came after the Companions chose obedience, not before. These verses are Allah's answer to sincere believers who were afraid of falling short.
What do they say?
Verse 285 describes the faith of the Messenger ﷺ and the believers: they believe in Allah, His angels, His books and His messengers, making no distinction between any of His messengers. And they say: we hear and we obey; we ask Your forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the final return.
Verse 286 opens with the promise that Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity. Each soul receives the good it has earned and bears the evil it has earned. It then closes with a dua, one request after another:
- Our Lord, do not take us to account if we forget or make a mistake.
- Our Lord, do not place on us a burden like the one You placed on those before us.
- Our Lord, do not burden us with what we have no strength to bear.
- Pardon us, forgive us and have mercy on us.
- You are our Protector, so grant us victory over the disbelieving people.
Because the second verse is itself a dua taught by Allah, many Muslims use it in their own supplications at any time of day.
What are their virtues in the Sunnah?
They are enough for whoever recites them at night. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever recites the last two verses of Surah Al-Baqarah at night, they will suffice him" (reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim).
A light given to no prophet before. Ibn 'Abbas reported that an angel descended and said to the Prophet ﷺ: "Rejoice in two lights given to you which were not given to any prophet before you: the Opening of the Book, and the closing verses of Surah Al-Baqarah. You will not recite a letter of them except that you will be given it" (reported by Muslim).
A gift of the Night Journey. On the night of the Mi'raj, the Prophet ﷺ was given three things: the five daily prayers, the closing verses of Surah Al-Baqarah, and forgiveness of major sins for those of his Ummah who die without associating anything with Allah (reported by Muslim).
A protection for the home. The Prophet ﷺ said that Allah ended Surah Al-Baqarah with two verses, and that if they are recited in a house for three nights, Shaytan will not come near it (reported by al-Tirmidhi, who graded it hasan).
What "enough" means
The scholars gave more than one explanation: that the two verses suffice as a protection from harm that night, or that they suffice in place of standing the night in prayer. Imam al-Nawawi mentioned that both meanings may be intended. Either way, it is a great reward for two minutes of recitation.
When should you read them?
The promise in the hadith is for reciting them at night. The night begins at Maghrib and lasts until Fajr, so any time in between counts. Many people recite them after Isha, or in bed before sleeping together with Surah Al-Mulk; the two together take little more than ten minutes.
Once you know them by heart you can recite them from memory wherever you are, which is the surest way to never miss them.
Sources
- Sahih Muslim 125: the revelation of verses 285–286 after the Companions' concern over verse 284.
- Sahih al-Bukhari 5009; Sahih Muslim 807: "they will suffice him".
- Sahih Muslim 806: the two lights, the Opening of the Book and the closing verses of Al-Baqarah.
- Sahih Muslim 173: the gifts of the Night Journey.
- Jami' al-Tirmidhi 2882: recited in a house for three nights (graded hasan by al-Tirmidhi).