Sūrat al-Baqarah

 (Arabic: سورة البقرة‎‎, "The Cow") is the second and longest chapter (Surah) of the Qur'an.^[1] It is a Medinan sura (revealed to Muhammad when he was at Medina), with the exception of verse 281 which Muslims believe was revealed during The Farewell Pilgrimage.^[2] It is also considered to be one of the first chapters revealed after the Hijra from Mecca to Medina.^[3]The chapter comprises 286 verses (ayat) according to the division of Ali, the most widely accepted count among all Muslim denominations,^[2] and includes the single longest verse in the Qur'an (2:282).^[4] The surah's name references verses 66–72 which recall the story of a heifer sacrificed by the Israelites.^[2]

Surah al-Baqarah enjoins fasting on the believer during the month of Ramadan.^[5]