The beginning of the tafsir of Surat al-Baqarah, and a mention of the reason for its being named by this name.
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Then He the Exalted said, "In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful: [Al-Baqarah 2:2]"
This is called Surat al-Baqarah because the cow is mentioned in it. Know that naming is based on the slightest connection. Therefore, you will find that some surahs contain much speech about a specific topic but are not named after it, while they contain little speech about another topic and are named after that. The naming of the surahs is either based on divine authority (tawqifi) or on independent legal reasoning (ijtihad). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) named Surat al-Baqarah, Surat Ali 'Imran, and many others, and in some of them the naming is based on divine authority.
As for the basmalah, we have previously spoken about it and clarified that it is a distinct verse that is recited at the beginning of every surah except al-Bara'ah.
This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of Allah -
الم . ذلك الكتاب لا ريب فيه هدى للمتقينThis is called Surat al-Baqarah because the cow is mentioned in it. Know that naming is based on the slightest connection. Therefore, you will find that some surahs contain much speech about a specific topic but are not named after it, while they contain little speech about another topic and are named after that. The naming of the surahs is either based on divine authority (tawqifi) or on independent legal reasoning (ijtihad). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) named Surat al-Baqarah, Surat Ali 'Imran, and many others, and in some of them the naming is based on divine authority.
As for the basmalah, we have previously spoken about it and clarified that it is a distinct verse that is recited at the beginning of every surah except al-Bara'ah.