Al-Baqarah · Madani · ayah 104 of 286

Al-Baqarah 2:104

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَقُولُوا۟ رَٰعِنَا وَقُولُوا۟ ٱنظُرْنَا وَٱسْمَعُوا۟ ۗ وَلِلْكَـٰفِرِينَ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ

“O you who have believed, say not [to Allāh's Messenger], "Rāʿinā" but say, "Unẓurnā"[35] and listen. And for the disbelievers is a painful punishment.”

Saheeh International

Essence

The first 'O you who believe' in the Mushaf teaches believers to choose words of respect, and then to truly listen.

A reflection

Two words for the same request

A retired professor agrees to supervise a student's dissertation, unpaid, because he likes her questions. Her first email reads: 'Can u look at my draft by Fri? Thx.' Every word is accurate. The professor reads it twice anyway.

The Companions used to say rāʿinā to the Prophet ﷺ when he taught them. It is a good Arabic word. Its root pictures a shepherd who feeds, guards and watches over a flock, and raʿāka llāh meant 'may Allah look after you'. So rāʿinā asked him to attend to them and give them his ear.

Why replace it? A major early commentator points to its form. Rāʿinā is built on a pattern that implies two sides doing the same thing to each other. It can sound like 'look after us and we will look after you', or 'lend us your ear and we will lend you ours'. That is the language of equals trading favours. A classical theologian adds another shade. The word can carry a tone of instruction, as if to say: attend to my words and do not be distracted.

The replacement, unẓurnā, asks only one thing of him: 'wait for us', or 'look at us'. It is a request from those who need to the one who gives. The practical meaning is the same. The posture is completely different.

The commentator draws the lesson plainly. The believers were told to choose the finest words for addressing the Prophet ﷺ, and the gentlest meanings. Elsewhere the Quran says not to call him as you call one another (24:63).

Most of us will never stand before a prophet. But we do write to teachers, parents, elders and people doing us favours. The ayah suggests a simple test. Does my wording sound like a trade between equals, or like gratitude? A single word can carry either.

The full entry has 5 more reflections, questions to sit with, and "Live it today" - with the words, the roots and the tafsir alongside. Free, no account, works offline.