بِسْم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Part 2
Calling Bani Israeel to embrace Islam
Verse 40 to 162
Whenever Allah bestows a special favour upon His servant, he should be more submissive to Allah.
2nd Subsection
The Special Favours of Allah upon Bani Israeel in Detail and their Evil Response - Verse 49 to 74
Allah reminded Bani Israeel of the favours He gave their predecessors in order for them to submit to Allah and feel a sense of humility and shame before Allah to disobey Him.
The Favours of Allah upon Bani Israeel
Verse 49:
وَإِذْ نَجَّيْنَاكُم مِّنْ آلِ فِرْعَوْنَ يَسُومُونَكُمْ سُوءَ الْعَذَابِ يُذَبِّحُونَ أَبْنَاءَكُمْ وَيَسْتَحْيُونَ نِسَاءَكُمْ ۚ وَفِي ذَٰلِكُم بَلَاءٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ عَظِيمٌ
“And (remember) when We delivered you from Fir'aun's (Pharaoh) people, who were afflicting you with a horrible torment, killing your sons and sparing your women, and therein was a mighty trial from your Lord.”
1) الإنجاء - Allah rescued Bani Israeel from Pharoah
Verse 50:
وَإِذْ فَرَقْنَا بِكُمُ الْبَحْرَ فَأَنجَيْنَاكُمْ وَأَغْرَقْنَا آلَ فِرْعَوْنَ وَأَنتُمْ تَنظُرُونَ
“And (remember) when We separated the sea for you and saved you and drowned Fir'aun's (Pharaoh) people while you were looking (at them, when the sea-water covered them).”
2) Allah drowned Pharoah in front of their eyes
If Allah saved Bani Israeel and Pharoah remained alive there would still be fear in their hearts that he could harm them. But Allah made them see Pharoah drown in front of their eyes so that they would have no fear of his threat anymore.
Verse 51:
وَإِذْ وَاعَدْنَا مُوسَىٰ أَرْبَعِينَ لَيْلَةً ثُمَّ اتَّخَذْتُمُ الْعِجْلَ مِن بَعْدِهِ وَأَنتُمْ ظَالِمُونَ
“And (remember) when We appointed for Musa (Moses) forty nights, and (in his absence) you took the calf (for worship), and you were Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers, etc.).”
Verse 52:
ثُمَّ عَفَوْنَا عَنكُم مِّن بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
“Then after that We forgave you so that you might be grateful.”
3) Allah pardoned them in spite of the fact that they worshipped the calf
Verse 53:
وَإِذْ آتَيْنَا مُوسَى الْكِتَابَ وَالْفُرْقَانَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ
“And (remember) when We gave Musa (Moses) the Scripture [the Taurat (Torah)] and the criterion (of right and wrong) so that you may be guided aright.”
4) Allah granted Musa the Book in order that they may be guided.
Al-Furqan is a description of the book; they are not two different things.
Verse 54:
وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوْمِهِ يَا قَوْمِ إِنَّكُمْ ظَلَمْتُمْ أَنفُسَكُم بِاتِّخَاذِكُمُ الْعِجْلَ فَتُوبُوا إِلَىٰ بَارِئِكُمْ فَاقْتُلُوا أَنفُسَكُمْ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ عِندَ بَارِئِكُمْ فَتَابَ عَلَيْكُمْ ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ
“And (remember) when Musa (Moses) said to his people: "O my people! Verily, you have wronged yourselves by worshipping the calf. So turn in repentance to your Creator and kill yourselves (the innocent kill the wrongdoers among you), that will be better for you with your Lord." Then He accepted your repentance. Truly, He is the One Who accepts repentance, the Most Merciful.”
5) Allah showed them how to repent; for those who did not worship the calf to kill those who did amongst them.
They told Musa that it was difficult for them, so Allah sent down a darkness so that they could not see each other until Musa and Harun invoked Allah and Allah stopped the killing by making their hands drop the weapons. Around 70,000 of Bani Israeel were killed (according to an interpretation).
Another interpretation states that when they intended to do so, Allah removed that way of repentance and forgave them.
6) Allah sent a thunderbolt that killed them when they asked to see Allah because He talked to Musa and not them, and then He gave them their life back.
Surah Al-Baqarah mentions 5 stories which talk about Allah’s ability in giving life to the dead. This is the first story.
After Allah rescued Bani Israeel from Pharoah, they were supposed to go to Palestine. Allah says in Surah al-Maa’idah that Bani Israeel refused to fight and enter the town. As a punishment Allah forbade it for them for 40 years and they would wander in the desert of Sinai. It is said that Musa عليه السلام passed away during these 40 years which are called تي, as Allah says in [5:26]
قَالَ فَإِنَّهَا مُحَرَّمَةٌ عَلَيْهِمْ ۛ أَرْبَعِينَ سَنَةً ۛ يَتِيهُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ ۚ فَلَا تَأْسَ عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْفَاسِقِينَ
“(Allah) said: "Therefore it (this holy land) is forbidden to them for forty years; in distraction they will wander through the land. So be not sorrowful over the people who are the Fasiqun (rebellious and disobedient to Allah)."
7) In spite of this, Allah shaded them with the clouds in that desert and gave them Al-Mann growing on the trees and Al-Salwa which is a special type of bird without any effort on their part.
How did Bani Israeel receive the favours of Allah? With الظلم.
Thulm is to put something in its wrong place. Bani Israeel received the favours of Allah with ungratefulness and disobedience to Allah.
When they were told to enter Jerusalem, Allah commanded them to enter while bowing and lowering their head with humility and submission, and while they are entering to say “حطة” meaning, حُطّ عنا خطايانا (erase our sins).
But instead they say “حنطة” which means wheat. “حنط في شعير” and they entered with their hips first.
Q. How did Allah deal with Bani Israeel in these Verses?
A. Allah gave them favours and kept forgiving them, but from verse 59, Allah punished them, because they had transgressed the bounds. He first dealt with them with His forbearance, until when they exceeded the limit, Allah sent down the punishment. This is the Sunnah of Allah in the universe.
The end of verse 57 and verse 59: This is how Allah deals with those who wrong themselves, by sending a punishment upon them.
The word ظلموا is mentioned 6 times in this context:
Verse 51 (و أنتم ظالمون)
Verse 54 (إنكم ظلمتم أنفسكم)
Verse 57 (و ما ظلمونا و لكن كانوا أنفسهم يظلمون)
Verse 59 (فبد الذين ظلموا قول غير الذي قيل لهم فأنزل الذين ظلموا رجزا من السماء)
Because Allah is المنّان, He gives favours before the human has to ask Him for it. Bani Israeel received the favours of Allah with ظلم - they were ungrateful to the favours of Allah (كفر النعمة). Minor Kufr leads to Major Kufr. Atheists attribute the happenings of the universe to Mother Nature and the creation of the universe to the Big Bang - they deny the favours of Allah.
- When Bani Israeel saw that Allah was not punishing them and being forbearing towards them, they transgressed more and more.
- It is important to know the actions and attributes of Allah in every story. In this story, it is clearly shown that Allah is المنان.
- All Allah’s favours should be received with gratitude.
- Allah is Rich and Free of all Wants. He is no need of His creation. If they do good and obey Allah, Allah will love them and if they wrong themselves by rebelling against Him He would hate them and send His wrath upon them.
Verse 60:
وَإِذِ اسْتَسْقَىٰ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوْمِهِ فَقُلْنَا اضْرِب بِّعَصَاكَ الْحَجَرَ ۖ فَانفَجَرَتْ مِنْهُ اثْنَتَا عَشْرَةَ عَيْنًا ۖ قَدْ عَلِمَ كُلُّ أُنَاسٍ مَّشْرَبَهُمْ ۖ كُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا مِن رِّزْقِ اللَّهِ وَلَا تَعْثَوْا فِي الْأَرْضِ مُفْسِدِينَ
“And (remember) when Musa (Moses) asked for water for his people, We said: "Strike the stone with your stick." Then gushed forth therefrom twelve springs. Each (group of) people knew its own place for water. "Eat and drink of that which Allah has provided and do not act corruptly, making mischief on the earth."
When Bani Israeel were in the desert, they were about to die out of thirst. Musa invoked Allah for water, and Allah spoke to Musa with real words and ordered him to strike the ground with his stick. The stick is used for many purposes:
1) It turned into a snake the first time Allah spoke to Musa when he was between Madyan and Egypt
2) It turned into a snake with Pharoah and the Magicians
3) With the stick, the sea parted into two mountains
4) It was used to strike the stone and water gushed forth with water.
Allah showed Bani Israeel miracles after miracles.
Ya’qub had 12 sons. Every son had a tribe. Out of Allah’s mercy with them, twelve springs gushed forth in order for them to not fight and overcrowd one spring. Allah’s command is organized.
This happened in the desert even after they disobeyed the command of Allah. This teaches us:
1) Allah’s favours continue to be bestowed upon the disbelievers and rebellious. This is the impact of Allah حلم (Forberance)
2) The existence of favours do not indicate Allah is pleased with a person.
We heard about الإفساد in the beginning of the Surah. The hypocrites and the disbelievers cause الإفساد in the earth. What kind of إفساد could they commit? By showing ingratitude to Allah’s favour.
Generally الإفساد في الأرض is committing sins in the land.
Verse 61:
وَإِذْ قُلْتُمْ يَا مُوسَىٰ لَن نَّصْبِرَ عَلَىٰ طَعَامٍ وَاحِدٍ فَادْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُخْرِجْ لَنَا مِمَّا تُنبِتُ الْأَرْضُ مِن بَقْلِهَا وَقِثَّائِهَا وَفُومِهَا وَعَدَسِهَا وَبَصَلِهَا ۖ قَالَ أَتَسْتَبْدِلُونَ الَّذِي هُوَ أَدْنَىٰ بِالَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ ۚ اهْبِطُوا مِصْرًا فَإِنَّ لَكُم مَّا سَأَلْتُمْ ۗ وَضُرِبَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ الذِّلَّةُ وَالْمَسْكَنَةُ وَبَاءُوا بِغَضَبٍ مِّنَ اللَّهِ ۗ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا يَكْفُرُونَ بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ وَيَقْتُلُونَ النَّبِيِّينَ بِغَيْرِ الْحَقِّ ۗ ذَٰلِكَ بِمَا عَصَوا وَّكَانُوا يَعْتَدُونَ
“And (remember) when you said, "O Musa (Moses)! We cannot endure one kind of food. So invoke your Lord for us to bring forth for us of what the earth grows, its herbs, its cucumbers, its Fum (wheat or garlic), its lentils and its onions." He said, "Would you exchange that which is better for that which is lower? Go you down to any town and you shall find what you want!" And they were covered with humiliation and misery, and they drew on themselves the Wrath of Allah. That was because they used to disbelieve the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allah and killed the Prophets wrongfully. That was because they disobeyed and used to transgress the bounds (in their disobedience to Allah, i.e. commit crimes and sins).”
Bani Israeel received the favour of Allah with البطر (Ungratefulness)
What is ungratefulness? Every wrong action or utterance towards the favours of Allah.
Becoming bored of the favour, hating the favor, not thanking Allah for it, attributing the favour to other than Allah, feeling that you are not in need of the blessing, are all forms of ungratefulness.
They said that as if eating Al-Mann and As-Salwa was a hardship that required endurance. They became bored with the blessings of Allah. They were not just ungrateful, they showed bad manners. They said to Musa, “ادع لنا ربك” as if Allah was not their Lord.
What did Bani Israeel lack? When someone behaves with bad manners towards Allah, what do they lack?
Lack of تعظيم of Allah. They neither did not venerate not glorify Allah; they did not know who Allah is.
When the Muslim nation in the present times behave like Bani Israeel and abuse Allah and violate His sanctities, He removes His favours upon them, and you can see this happening in Muslim countries now. Allah gives chances and respite and sends favours after favours for years and they continuously rebel until they reach the extreme and you can see what is happening now - complete destruction. Allah tells us about Bani Israeel in order that we can take lessons from their actions.
They also committed another type of ungratefulness - when they asked for the lowly food in exchange for the best kind. Allah gave them the best type of food and they wanted onions and garlic instead of Al-Mann and as-Salwa.
An indication of the foolishness of a person is when he exchanges what is better for that which is inferior.
The problem of many of us is that we do not know how to distinguish between what is better from what is inferior, so we may behave like Bani Israeel.
E.g. All what we need for guidance is in the Qur’an and Sunnah, but many Muslims adopt the western rules and philosophies of guidance instead.
Whenever you want to take any decision for yourself or others, think what is the best and what is inferior first, according to the criteria of the Qur’an and Sunnah.
E.g. People think children must learn English and neglect Arabic.
Parents may put their children in English schools in expense of their religion.
When they said, Musa عليه السلام told them to go to any town to find what they like. He did not invoke Allah for them because of their lowly request, although Allah should be asked for everything, even for salt. But because of their rebellion and ungratefulness, Musa عليه السلام did not invoke for them.
What was the punishment of Allah upon them?
This is a very special and particular punishment. Allah covered them with humiliation because الجزاء من جنس العمل (the recompense is of the same nature as the deed).
Allah justified the punishment at the end of the verse:
“ذلك بأنهم كانوا يكفرون بآيات الله و يقتلون النبيين بغير الحق”
Miracles after miracles and signs after signs came to them, but they continuously denied them and would kill the Prophets without a just reason.
“ذلك بما عصوا و كانوا يعتدون”
The second ذلك explains why they used to disbelieve in the miracles and kill the Prophets.
When a person commits a sin after a sin after a sin, his heart becomes hardened. When a persons heart is hard he does not feel Allah’s favours and denies it. That is why Allah says this is because they disobeyed Allah and transgressed. Because they committed sins, they denied the miracles and signs of Allah and even killed the Prophets.
Whoever lives in this life while he is ungrateful towards Allah’s favours and does not feel Allah’s favour upon him, this ingratitude may increase until he reaches the state where he disbelieves in Allah’s favours and signs. Minor Kufr leads to Major Kufr.
If you feel that you are bored of a type of food, clothes, husbands, teachers, children, then remember what it leads to in the end. Do not think that the sin stops at one stage; it grows and increases.
Bani Israeel were brought up by Pharoah. Pharoah dealt with them by always humiliating them and killing them. They grew up on cowardliness, weakness, humiliation. When they were commanded to enter Palestine, they showed cowardice. When Allah gave them Al-Mann and As-Salwa they asked for inferior food which they used to eat in Egypt. You have to be careful on how you bring your children up. What you bring them up on is what they will grow up to be. When you bring them up with courage they will be courageous when they’re old. You should encourage them to go, do and say, and that Allah will support them.
The Exception
Verse 62:
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَالَّذِينَ هَادُوا وَالنَّصَارَىٰ وَالصَّابِئِينَ مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا فَلَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ
“Verily! Those who believe and those who are Jews and Christians, and Sabians, whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day and do righteous good deeds shall have their reward with their Lord, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.”
After Allah mentions that He covered Bani Israeel with humiliation, He mentions that not all of them were - there were among them who believed. This verse is general and is not particular to Bani Israeel.
A Sabian is a label for anyone who leaves the religion of their forefathers and adopts the right Religion of Allah, even if no Prophet came to him. Like the People of the Cave, no Prophet is mentioned to have come to them, but they believed in Allah through their sound natural disposition and the signs of Allah in the universe around them.
Based on this verse, if you feel that you committed ungratefulness, what should you do to avoid Allah’s wrath?
1) Believe in Allah
2) Believe in the Last Day
3) Do Righteous Deeds
Even if a person commits sins his whole life and only one day remains in his life and he believed in Allah, the last day, and did righteous deeds, Allah would accept his Islam and admit him into Paradise.
Verse 63:
وَإِذْ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَاقَكُمْ وَرَفَعْنَا فَوْقَكُمُ الطُّورَ خُذُوا مَا آتَيْنَاكُم بِقُوَّةٍ وَاذْكُرُوا مَا فِيهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُون
“And (O Children of Israel, remember) when We took your covenant and We raised above you the Mount (saying): "Hold fast to that which We have given you, and remember that which is therein so that you may become Al-Muttaqun.”
When Allah took the covenant with Bani Israeel, they refused to abide to their Book. Allah raised the mountain of Tur above their heads to show them that He is able to seize them with punishment. Bani Israeel submitted for a while.
We know they only submitted for a while, because Allah says ثم in the next verse:
Verse 64:
ثُمَّ تَوَلَّيْتُم مِّن بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ ۖ فَلَوْلَا فَضْلُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُهُ لَكُنتُم مِّنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ
“Then after that you turned away. Had it not been for the Grace and Mercy of Allah upon you, indeed you would have been among the losers.”
Allah may send us signs of severe punishment when we continue on our sin and rebelliousness. Many people, as soon as they recover from this, go back to their old state.
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