Anwar Al-Quran

Verses 49–57

2. Al-Baqara · The Cow

Madinan286 verses

وَإِذْ نَجَّيْنَٰكُم مِّنْ ءَالِ فِرْعَوْنَ يَسُومُونَكُمْ سُوٓءَ ٱلْعَذَابِ يُذَبِّحُونَ أَبْنَآءَكُمْ وَيَسْتَحْيُونَ نِسَآءَكُمْ ۚ وَفِى ذَٰلِكُم بَلَآءٌۭ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ عَظِيمٌۭ

2:49[Remember] when We delivered you from Pharaoh’s clan who inflicted a terrible torment on you, and slaughtered your sons and spared your women, and in that there was a great test from your Lord.12

وَإِذْ فَرَقْنَا بِكُمُ ٱلْبَحْرَ فَأَنجَيْنَٰكُمْ وَأَغْرَقْنَآ ءَالَ فِرْعَوْنَ وَأَنتُمْ تَنظُرُونَ

2:50And when We parted the sea with you, and We delivered you and drowned Pharaoh’s clan as you looked on.

وَإِذْ وَٰعَدْنَا مُوسَىٰٓ أَرْبَعِينَ لَيْلَةًۭ ثُمَّ ٱتَّخَذْتُمُ ٱلْعِجْلَ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِۦ وَأَنتُمْ ظَٰلِمُونَ

2:51And when We made an appointment with Moses for forty nights, you took up the Calf [for worship] in his absence, and you were wrongdoers.

ثُمَّ عَفَوْنَا عَنكُم مِّنۢ بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ

2:52Then We excused you after that so that you might give thanks.

وَإِذْ ءَاتَيْنَا مُوسَى ٱلْكِتَٰبَ وَٱلْفُرْقَانَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ

2:53And when We gave Moses the Book and the Criterion so that you might be guided.

وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوْمِهِۦ يَٰقَوْمِ إِنَّكُمْ ظَلَمْتُمْ أَنفُسَكُم بِٱتِّخَاذِكُمُ ٱلْعِجْلَ فَتُوبُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ بَارِئِكُمْ فَٱقْتُلُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَكُمْ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌۭ لَّكُمْ عِندَ بَارِئِكُمْ فَتَابَ عَلَيْكُمْ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلتَّوَّابُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ

2:54And [recall] when Moses said to his people, ‘O my people! You have indeed wronged yourselves by taking up the Calf [for worship]. Now turn penitently to your Maker, and slay [the guilty among] your folks. That will be better for you with your Maker.’ Then He turned to you clemently. Indeed, He is the All-clement, the All-merciful.3

وَإِذْ قُلْتُمْ يَٰمُوسَىٰ لَن نُّؤْمِنَ لَكَ حَتَّىٰ نَرَى ٱللَّهَ جَهْرَةًۭ فَأَخَذَتْكُمُ ٱلصَّٰعِقَةُ وَأَنتُمْ تَنظُرُونَ

2:55And when you said, ‘O Moses, we will not believe you until we see Allah visibly.’ Thereupon a thunderbolt seized you as you looked on.

ثُمَّ بَعَثْنَٰكُم مِّنۢ بَعْدِ مَوْتِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ

2:56Then We raised you up after your death so that you might give thanks.

وَظَلَّلْنَا عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلْغَمَامَ وَأَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلْمَنَّ وَٱلسَّلْوَىٰ ۖ كُلُوا۟ مِن طَيِّبَٰتِ مَا رَزَقْنَٰكُمْ ۖ وَمَا ظَلَمُونَا وَلَٰكِن كَانُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ

2:57We shaded you with clouds, and sent down to you manna and quails [saying]: ‘Eat of the good things We have provided for you.’ And they did not wrong Us, but they used to wrong [only] themselves.4*

Tafsir

Commentary on this passage

Verse 50

1.The above Ayat mentions the divine favours on Bani Israel and their misdeeds. Firoun slew the male children to save his kingdom and kept alive the females for service. When he pursued Moosa (a.s.) and his followers We saved the people (of Moosa) and drowned Firoun along with his army. Even then, as soon as Moosa (a.s.) went to Mt. Toor people obeyed Samari and prepared a new deity. Though Allah pardoned 'his also yet they did not value it and they demanded to see Allah with their own eyes. So Allah sent lightning on them and they all died and they were again raised to life so that they will at last pay heed; but they did not. Allah sent the clouds to shade them, provided them Manna and Salwa as food. But at the time of entering the city they neither did sajdah nor say Hilla, rather they said Hinta while Allah was ready to forgive them. Rather Allah wanted to give more to them. These incidents show that getting divine blessings is not due to the excellence of the community or people. Allah bestows great gifts even to the most unjust people of the world. The perfection of humanity is 10 thank Allah, confession of His Power, seeking forgiveness and doing sajdah etc. which the people of Bani Israel had disregarded; and time and again became eligible for divine chastisement.

Verse 55

2.This incident clearly shows that Allah cannot be seen and neither any human being can develop such a capability. When a prophet like Moosa (a.s.) could not see Him, how can others do?

Footnotes

Explanations of words and phrases in these verses

  1. 1

    The original form of ‘Ahl’ is ‘Aal’. Ahl means the progeny of a great person. (Belong to Firon).

  2. 2

    Firon was slaying or killing the new born children so that Hazrat Moosa (a.s.) will not appear. Due to the false temperament Firon wanted to be a God of his people and he made people afraid of him. He kept women alive for the service of men.

  3. 3

    Tauba means to repent. Repentance means to present ourselves humbly before God. When a person repents, God takes notice of it so He tum to him and forgives him. A person feels he is a penitent and Allah is the Accepter of Repentance.

  4. 4

    Manna is lime juice cordial prepared in honey and Salwa is Quail.

  5. Benefit

    Please note that in the 56th ayat there is mention of raising up after the death. This is the best proof of the belief of Rajat in Islam. The Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) has pointed towards this time and again. It is the best warning for the oppressors and the best hope for the oppressed people. The reward and punishment of the Hereafter is by itself. The belief of Rajat (coming back) in this world is effective indeed.

    Benefit: The mention of mutual slaughter after repentance in this 54th ayat shows that the opposition of Tawheed and spreading polytheism are very serious crimes and it has no right to continue. Benefit: Ghamaam means the white cloud. It veils but does not obstruct light.