DAY 484: Baqarah 213-215

•  Humanity had once been one community ˹of believers before they lost faith˺. Then Allah raised prophets as deliverers of good news and as warners, and revealed to them the Scriptures in truth to judge among people regarding their disputes. And no one disputed the Scriptures except the very people who received them after clear proofs had come to them—out of jealousy. Then Allah, by His grace, has guided the believers to the truth regarding those disputes. And Allah guides whoever He wills to the Straight Path. Do you think you will be admitted into Paradise without being tested like those before you? They were afflicted with suffering and adversity and were so ˹violently˺ shaken that ˹even˺ the Messenger and the believers with him cried out, “When will Allah’s help come?” Indeed, Allah’s help is ˹always˺ near. They ask you ˹O Prophet in˺ what ˹way˺ they should donate. Say, “Whatever donations you give are for parents, relatives, orphans, the poor, and ˹needy˺ travellers. Whatever good you do is certainly well known to Allah.”
  (
  After exposing the eloquent hypocrite and contrasting him with the sincere believer (204–212), Allah now steps back to remind us of the bigger picture: humanity was one community, then people differed. So Allah sent prophets as bringers of good news and warnings, and sent down the Book in truth to judge between people. But then, even after clear proofs, those who received the Book differed out of jealousy. Then Allah guides believers to the truth by His permission.
  
  Then a practical question: "What should we spend?" The answer: whatever good you spend — for parents, relatives, orphans, the needy, and the traveler. And whatever good you do — Allah knows it.
  
  213    Humanity was one community — then differed. Allah sent prophets and the Book. But those given the Book differed out of jealousy. Allah guides believers to truth.    We were not created to fight. Prophets came to unite us. But jealousy divides even those with scripture.
  214    Do not think Paradise is easy. You will be tested like those before — poverty, hardship, being shaken. Even the prophets cried "When is Allah's help?" It is near.    No shortcut. The path is hard. Even the best cried out. But help is near — not early, but certain.
  215    They ask what to spend. Say: good you give — to parents, relatives, orphans, needy, traveler. Whatever good you do — Allah knows it.    Charity has priorities. Start with parents. Then family. Then the most vulnerable. And Allah sees every good thing.
  
  Humanity began as one community, but jealousy divided them — so Allah sent prophets and the Book to judge between them; do not think Paradise is cheap, for you will be tested like those before you with poverty and hardship, and when you spend, prioritize parents, relatives, orphans, the needy, and the traveler — and know that Allah sees every good you do.
  
  )