Excellence of the Children of Israel (L 78)

Excellence of the Children of Israel (L- 78)

  

Surah ‘Al-Baqarah (The Cow) – Chapter – 2)

Stage – 1, Verses – 47 of 286, Section – 6 of 40 (Part - 1)

  

BisMIllaahir-Rahmaanir-Rahiim

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

47.  O Children of Israel! Remember My favour wherewith I favoured you and how I preferred you to (all) creatures.

47.  Yaa-Baniii- ‘Israaa-‘iilaz-kuruu ni’-mati-yal-latiii ‘an-‘amtu ‘alaykum wa ‘annii faz-zaltukum  ‘alal-‘aalamiin.

Lesson

         

Faz-zaltukum – (preferred you), this word has come out from the wordFazal, which means preference. Aim of giving preference over the entire world is that the Children of Israel remained the most excellent over the entire communities and there was none peer of them. However, when they left the Truth forgot the Divine’s Law and opposed the last Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon Him), then that preference was snatched from them and they earned anger of God Almighty. Destruction was in their luck, and the Muslim nation was given the title of “Khayra ‘Ummah” (Well Nation).

‘Alal-‘Aalamiin – (over all creatures) here ‘Aalamiin means the entire nations of the world.

There was a time when the Children of Israel were preferred to all the people of this world. When the other nations were going astray in the darkness and depravity, were involved in infidelity and worshiping of Idols, were lustful in corruption and heresy, then there was only the nation Israelite, who had concept of the Oneness of God and they had the Heavenly Guide Book “Torah”. What would be the preference more than it?

Slowly and gradually, these people went astray from the straight path due to their weaknesses and corruptions, and left behind the Heavenly Guidance. So God Almighty admonishes them on the point, “Admit your real religion in its correct form and come on to the straight path.”

It was difficult to acquire faith and Fear of God (piety) through patience and worship. So its easy and simple way has been explained, which is gratitude. God Almighty reminds the Children of Israel His favors, presents and honors, which He had bestowed upon them from time to time and discloses also their wicked deeds. It is a nature of the human being that he begins to love with his benefactor and beneficent. So God Almighty warns them about His favors, and instructs them toward the straight path.

It is the Token of warning for the people of the entire world that the Children of Israel fell down in the well of the wrath of God after acquiring so much higher rank of preference. We should gain advice from their condition and try to keep away ourselves from those acts, which became reason of their depravity, ruin and destruction.

 Transliterated Holy Qur’an in Roman Script & Translated from Arabic to English by Marmaduke Pickthall, Published by Paak Company, 17-Urdu Bazaar, Lahore, Lesson collected from Dars e Qur’aan published By Idara Islaah wa Tableegh, Lahore (translated Urdu to English by Muhammad Sharif)