Adapted from the book “Sūraton aur Āyāt ke Faḍā'il” by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Ameenpuri
Surah al-Baqarah is a Madinan surah consisting of 25,500 letters, 6,121 words, and 286 verses. It contains the story of the Israelites and the sacrifice of the cow (baqarah), hence it was named "Al-Baqarah." The longest verse of the Qur'an and the greatest verse, Āyat al-Kursī, are part of this surah. The letter "Meem" appears 33 times in Āyat al-Kursī. Surah al-Baqarah is also one of the six surahs that begin with "Alif Laam Meem". Scholars agree that it was the first surah revealed in Madinah.① Surah al-Baqarah Protects Homes from Shayṭān
Arabic:
لَا تَجْعَلُوا بُيُوتَكُمْ مَقَابِرَ، فَإِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ يَنْفِرُ مِنَ الْبَيْتِ الَّذِي تُقْرَأُ فِيهِ سُورَةُ الْبَقَرَةِ
Translation:
“Do not turn your houses into graveyards. Verily, Shayṭān flees from a house in which Surah al-Baqarah is recited.”
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 780
② The Incident of the Horse and Angels during Its Recitation
Sayyidunā Abu Saʿīd al-Khudrī رضي الله عنه narrated an incident in which horses reacted to the recitation of Surah al-Baqarah. A light like a lamp was seen descending from the sky. The Prophet ﷺ said it was angels descending to listen to the recitation.
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 5018, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 796
③ Surah al-Baqarah and Āl-ʿImrān Will Intercede on the Day of Judgement
Arabic:
اقْرَءُوا الزَّهْرَاوَيْنِ: الْبَقَرَةَ وَسُورَةَ آلِ عِمْرَانَ...
Translation:
“Recite the two radiant surahs: Al-Baqarah and Āl-ʿImrān. On the Day of Judgment, they will appear as two clouds, or two canopies, or two flocks of birds, pleading on behalf of their reciters.
Recite Surah al-Baqarah, for taking it is a blessing, and abandoning it is a cause of regret, and the magicians cannot confront it.”
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 804
④ Surah al-Baqarah Will Lead the Qur’ān on the Day of Judgment
On the Day of Judgment, the Qur’ān will be brought along with those who lived by it. Surah al-Baqarah and Āl-ʿImrān will lead like shaded clouds or flocks of birds, interceding for the reciters.
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 805
⑤ Learning and Teaching Surah al-Baqarah
Sayyidunā Buraydah رضي الله عنه reported that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Learn Surah al-Baqarah, for learning it is a blessing, and abandoning it is a loss, and magicians cannot confront it.”
He further emphasized learning Surah al-Baqarah and Āl-ʿImrān, stating that on the Day of Judgment, the Qur’ān will appear like a pale man, saying:
“I am your Qur’ān, I kept you thirsty during the day and awake at night.”
Then, the reciter will be honored with kingship in the right hand, eternal life in the left, a crown of dignity, and his parents will be dressed in garments more valuable than worldly treasures – because their child learned the Qur’ān.
Reference: Musnad Aḥmad: 5/348, Sunan al-Dārimī: 3394, Ibn Mājah: 3781
⑥ Surah al-Baqarah is the Peak of the Qur’ān
Sayyidunā ʿAbdullāh ibn Masʿūd رضي الله عنه said:
“Every matter has a peak, and the peak of the Qur’ān is Surah al-Baqarah.”
Reference: Sunan al-Dārimī: 3420
⑦ Shayṭān Flees from the Recitation of Surah al-Baqarah
He further said:
“When Shayṭān hears Surah al-Baqarah being recited in a house, he flees from it.”
Reference: al-Mustadrak by Ḥākim: 1/561
Virtues of Āyat al-Kursī
➤ The Most Superior Verse in the Qur’ān
It contains:
➣ 50 words
➣ 180 letters
➣ 10 sentences
➣ 11 evidences of Tawḥīd
➣ 5 Beautiful Names of Allah
➣ 26 Attributes of Allah
It starts with اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ and mentions Allah’s Kursī (Footstool).
① Āyat al-Kursī Protects from Jinn
Sayyidunā Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه narrated the incident where a jinn attempted to steal from the charity storehouse, and eventually revealed:
“Whoever recites Āyat al-Kursī in the morning and evening will not be approached by any male or female jinn.”
Reference: Faḍā'il al-Qur'ān by al-Nasā’ī: 42
② The Greatest Verse in the Qur’ān
The Prophet ﷺ asked Ubayy ibn Kaʿb رضي الله عنه:
“Do you know the greatest verse in the Book of Allah?”
He replied: اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“May knowledge be a source of joy for you, O Abu’l-Mundhir.”
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 810
③ It Has a Tongue and Lips Praising Allah
Āyat al-Kursī will have a tongue and lips with which it will glorify Allah near His Throne.
Reference: Musnad ʿAbd bin Ḥumayd: 178
④ Recitation After Every Obligatory Prayer Guarantees Jannah
“Whoever recites Āyat al-Kursī after every obligatory prayer, nothing prevents him from entering Paradise except death.”
Reference: al-Sunan al-Kubrā by al-Nasā’ī: 9928, Ibn Ḥibbān, al-Muʿjam al-Kabīr: 8/134
⑤ Protection Till Next Prayer
“Whoever recites Āyat al-Kursī after every obligatory prayer is under the protection of Allah until the next prayer.”
Reference: al-Muʿjam al-Kabīr: 2733
⑥ Nothing is Greater than Āyat al-Kursī
Sayyidunā Ibn Masʿūd رضي الله عنه said:
“There is nothing – no heaven, no earth, no mountain – greater than Āyat al-Kursī.”
Reference: al-Asmāʾ wa al-Ṣifāt by al-Bayhaqī: 833
Virtues of the Last Two Verses of Surah al-Baqarah
① Sufficient for the Night
“Whoever recites the last two verses of Surah al-Baqarah at night, they will suffice him.”
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 4008, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 807
❖ Meaning: Protection from Shayṭān, sudden calamities, and possibly sufficient instead of night prayer.
② Two Lights Given to the Prophet ﷺ Only
Jibrīl عليه السلام told the Prophet ﷺ:
“A door from the heavens opened today that has never opened before. A special angel came down with two lights given only to you – Sūrah al-Fātiḥah and the last verses of Surah al-Baqarah.”
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 806
③ Gift from Beneath the Throne
“Surah al-Baqarah’s last verses were given from a treasure beneath the Throne. No one before or after the Prophet ﷺ has received such a gift.”
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 522
④ Given at the Time of Miʿrāj
The Prophet ﷺ was gifted three things:
① Five daily prayers
② Last verses of Surah al-Baqarah
③ Forgiveness for his ummah excluding shirk
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 173
⑤ If Recited for Three Nights – Shayṭān Stays Away
If the last verses are recited in a house for three consecutive nights, Shayṭān will not come near.
Reference: Musnad Aḥmad: 4/274, Sunan al-Tirmidhī: 2882
⑥ Shayṭān Confessed He Cannot Enter a House Where These Verses Are Recited
Shayṭān told Muʿādh ibn Jabal رضي الله عنه:
“If you recite the ending verses of Surah al-Baqarah, no shayṭān can enter your house that night.”
Reference: al-Mustadrak by Ḥākim: 1/563
Practical Advice: Protection from Jinn and Shayṭān
In homes affected by paranormal activity, it is often due to lack of Qur’ān recitation and dhikr. Reciting Surah al-Baqarah, especially Āyat al-Kursī and its last two verses, is a powerful protection. Avoid turning to magicians and charlatans; instead, return to Sunnah and Qur’ān-based remedies.
Final Tip
Always say “Bismillāh” when entering your home – even this simple act can keep shayṭān out.
