[2:2-5] The Cautious

[2:2]  That is a book, [there's] no doubt in it.  A Guide for the cautious.
[2:3] Those who believe in the unseen and guard the prayers and from what they are provided they spend [charitably]
[2:4] Those who believe in what was sent down to you [Prophet Muhammad s.a.a.s.] and what was sent down from before and in the afterlife they are certain. 
[2:5] They are upon guidance from their Lord and they are the successful.

The above verses explain a type of people called "the cautious" (al-muttaqqeen - root word: T-Q-W).  (This word has been translated by others as "God-fearing" or "God-conscious")  In fact, the full meaning is: someone who acts cautiously (carefully) because they are conscious (aware) that God is watching them and their deeds are being recording so they fear the day they will be held accountable by God for their deeds.

An example of truly cautious people (al-muttaqqeen) = those who drives carefully and safely all the time, at the correct speed limit, not jumping the lights, guarding themselves from harm and not harming others - because they know that God is watching them and they will be accountable (not just because a speed camera is watching them and they may get a speeding fine later).


So God tells us about "The Cautious".

• They are the successful [2:5]
• They are upon guidance from their Lord [2:5]

He tells us what "The Cautious" do:

• They guard their prayers [2:3]
• They spend [charitably] from their provisions (food, wealth, time, knowledge, etc) [2:3]

 

He tells us what "The Cautious" believe:

• They are certain that there is an Afterlife [2:4]
• They believe in the Unseen (i.e. God, The Worlds, The Day of Judgment, etc) [2:3]
• The book (Qur'an) is a guide for them [2:2]
• They believe in what was sent down to the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.a.s) (i.e. his teachings: sayings/hadith and example/sunnah). [2:4]
• They believe in what was sent down before (The Gospel, The Torah, The Psalms, Scrolls of Abraham, etc) [2:4]

 

From the above verse we can also deduce the best source of religious knowledge (in this order) is:

1. The Qur'an (God's Words)
2. The Hadith (Narrations about the sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad s.a.a.s.)
3. The Old Scriptures (Gospel, Psalms, Torah, etc)