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Quran 2:20

Quran 2:20

 

Arabic Text and Translation

يَكَادُ ٱلْبَرْقُ يَخْطَفُ أَبْصَـٰرَهُمْ ۖ كُلَّمَآ أَضَآءَ لَهُم مَّشَوْا۟ فِيهِ وَإِذَآ أَظْلَمَ عَلَيْهِمْ قَامُوا۟ ۚ وَلَوْ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَذَهَبَ بِسَمْعِهِمْ وَأَبْصَـٰرِهِمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

Transliteration: Yakādul-barqu yakhtaṭfu abṣārahum, kullamā aḍā'a lahum mashaw fīhi, wa idhā aẓlama 'alayhim qāmū, wa law shā'allāhu ladhahaba bisam'ihim wa abṣārihim, innallāha 'alā kulli shay'in qadīr
Easy Translation: "The lightning almost snatches away their sight. Every time it flashes [light] for them, they walk in it; but when it becomes dark for them, they stand [still]. And if Allah had willed, He could have taken away their hearing and their sight. Indeed, Allah is over all things competent."

Easy Word-by-Word Meaning

This verse concludes the powerful "rainstorm" parable, describing the unstable and confused behavior of the hypocrites when faced with the truth.

  1. يَكَادُ ٱلْبَرْقُ يَخْطَفُ أَبْصَـٰرَهُمْ (Yakādul-barqu yakhtaṭfu abṣārahum): "The lightning almost snatches away their sight."

    • The "lightning" is the moment of clear, undeniable truth from the Quran.

    • It is so bright and powerful that it almost blinds them. It's overwhelming and frightening because it exposes the falsehood of their beliefs and lifestyle.

  2. كُلَّمَآ أَضَآءَ لَهُم مَّشَوْا۟ فِيهِ (kullamā aḍā'a lahum mashaw fīhi): "Every time it flashes [light] for them, they walk in it..."

    • When they see a temporary benefit in Islam (like social unity, political gain, or a moment of peace), they move forward and act like Muslims.

  3. وَإِذَآ أَظْلَمَ عَلَيْهِمْ قَامُوا۟ (wa idhā aẓlama 'alayhim qāmū): "...but when it becomes dark for them, they stand [still]."

    • When Islam requires a real sacrifice (like giving up a sinful habit, spending wealth in charity, or facing hardship for their faith), they freeze. They stop moving on the path. The "darkness" of doubt and love for this world overcomes them.

  4. وَلَوْ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَذَهَبَ بِسَمْعِهِمْ وَأَبْصَـٰرِهِمْ (wa law shā'allāhu ladhahaba bisam'ihim wa abṣārihim): "And if Allah had willed, He could have taken away their hearing and their sight."

    • This is a reminder of Allah's mercy and power. He is giving them a chance. He could have permanently blinded and deafened them spiritually, but He hasn't. The door to guidance is still open if they choose to walk through it.

  5. إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ (innallāha 'alā kulli shay'in qadīr): "Indeed, Allah is over all things competent."

    • The verse ends by affirming Allah's absolute power. He has full control over their guidance or misguidance. Their situation is by His will, as a test for them.

Relevance in the Past, Present, and Future

1. Past Relevance: The Inconsistent Hypocrite

This verse perfectly described the behavior of the chief hypocrite, Abdullah ibn Ubayy, and his followers.

  • They "walked" in the light: They joined the Muslim community in Medina for protection and political power. They prayed with the Muslims and fought in some battles when it suited them.

  • They "stood still" in the darkness: They spread rumors before the Battle of Uhud, broke the treaty of Bani Qaynuqa, and constantly tried to create division. When real faith and sacrifice were required, they froze and showed their true colors.

2. Present Relevance: The Modern "Part-Time" Muslim

This is one of the most relatable verses for Muslims today, serving as a serious self-check.

  • "Walking in the Lightning": We are energized by Islam in moments of inspiration.

    • We feel strong faith during a powerful lecture or in Ramadan.

    • We are active on Muslim social media.

    • We practice Islam when it is easy and socially convenient.

  • "Standing Still in the Darkness": We freeze when the path gets difficult.

    • We neglect our prayers when we are busy or tired.

    • We compromise our Islamic values at work or school to fit in.

    • We avoid giving charity because we want to save more money.

    • We become "part-time Muslims," practicing only when it's easy.

  • A Mercy and a Warning: The verse reminds us that the fact we still have these moments of "lightning" (clarity and iman) is a mercy from Allah. He hasn't taken away our ability to see the truth. This is our chance to strive for consistency.

3. Future Relevance: The Test of Life

This verse outlines the test of this worldly life that leads to our eternal future.

  • Life is a Test of Consistency: Allah is testing us to see if we will walk consistently on the path, through both the illuminated, easy times and the dark, difficult times.

  • The Consequence of Stopping: The one who "stands still" and does not move forward in their faith is in danger of regressing. Spiritual stagnation is a great risk. On the Day of Judgment, our journey will be evaluated—did we keep moving, or did we stop every time things got hard?

  • Allah's Power is Our Hope: Knowing that Allah is Qadeer (All-Powerful) is our ultimate hope. It means that if we sincerely want to walk, He can give us the strength to move forward, even in the darkest times. We must turn to Him and ask for that strength.

Conclusion

Quran 2:20 is a powerful call to spiritual consistency.

It teaches us that:

  1. True faith is consistent. It is not based on fleeting moments of inspiration but on steady effort through ease and difficulty.

  2. Our ability to perceive truth is a gift from Allah. We must use it before it is too late.

  3. The path to Allah requires continuous movement. We cannot stand still; we must strive to walk in the light of Islam every single day, especially when it is hard.

This verse is a wake-up call to evaluate our own journey. Are we walking, or are we standing still? It encourages us to seek Allah's help to become among those who walk steadily towards Him, in light and in darkness.