people came to fall into “three categories”: believers, disbelievers who openly professed their disbelief, and hypocrites. This differed from their situation when he was in Mecca, for there were no hypocrites there.

For this reason, Ahmad ibn Hanbal and others said: There were no hypocrites among the Emigrants; hypocrisy existed only among the tribes of the Ansār. Mecca was under the control of the disbelievers, so only a true believer would embrace faith and emigrate. There was no incentive there for hypocrisy. In Medina, however, those who wielded power had embraced faith, and through the Ansār the believers gained strength and protection. Anyone who did not profess faith would suffer harm at their hands. The hypocrites therefore needed to profess faith, although their hearts did not believe.

Allah Most High opened Surah al-Baqarah, addressed its middle, and concluded it with belief in everything the prophets brought. At its beginning He said what has already been quoted, and in its middle He said:

“Say, ‘We believe in Allah and in what has been sent down to us, and what was sent down to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, and what Moses and Jesus were given, and what the prophets were given by their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and to Him we submit.’ If they believe as you believe, then they are rightly guided; but if they turn away, they are only in opposition,” and the rest of the verse.

At its end He said:

“The Messenger believes in what has been sent down to him from his Lord, as do the believers. All believe in Allah, His angels, His Books, and His messengers: ‘We make no distinction between any of His messengers.’ They say, ‘We hear and obey. We seek Your forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the final return,’”

and the following verse.

In the two Sahīh collections, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, is reported to have said:

“The two verses at the end of Surah al-Baqarah: whoever recites them in a night, they will suffice him.”

As for the verse in the middle of the surah, it is established in the Sahīh that “he used to recite it in the two units of prayer before the dawn prayer, together with ‘Say, O People of the Scripture, come to a word that is equitable between us and you,’ and the rest of the verse, on some occasions; and ‘Say, O disbelievers’