The Virtue of Surat al-Baqarah

Question:
Tell us about the virtue of Surat al-Baqarah, and what has been reported regarding its virtue?

Answer:
Answer: In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions. As for what follows, the entire Qur'an is the speech of Allah, and all of it has great virtue, but He bestows special favor upon some of it. Regarding Surat al-Baqarah and Surat Ali 'Imran, it was reported in a hadith that they will come to us on the Day of Resurrection as if they were two clouds or two banners, shading their companions. It was also reported that Surat al-Baqarah is described as the peak of the Qur'an. It is a great surah that contains great rulings regarding the oneness of Allah, the rulings of worship, and the rulings of transactions. It also contains the refutation of the Children of Israel, whereby the argument was established against them. Its topics are great and numerous. Thus, it is a great and large surah. As for the Verse of the Throne, it was reported regarding its virtue that whoever recites it before sleeping, a guardian from Allah will remain with him, and no Shaytan will approach him until he wakes up. It is the greatest verse in the Book of Allah because of the great meanings it contains regarding the names and attributes of Allah. In it, He (Glorified and Exalted is He) combined negation and affirmation: affirming the names and attributes for Allah, and the absolute perfection for Allah, and negating defects and imperfections from Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He).