Baqarah 40
With the next Ayah, Allah the Highest starts a different topic in the Quran. It is about the Children of Israel. As mentioned earlier in introducing Sorah Al-Baqarah, there were three Jewish tribes living in Medina when Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him and the Muslims migrated to it.
The Jewish tribes of Medina were expected to join Islam for several reasons:
- They were people of the book who had faith in Allah the one and only.
- They knew about and were the expecting, a messenger of Allah, as the last messenger, who they considered would be the messiah (the savior). They knew that the time of his prophecy was near and they told the other non-believing tribes in Medina about him.
- There are many events which confirm that they saw the signs of Prophecy in Mohamed, prayer and peace upon him and recognized him as the expected messenger.
- They knew that this messenger was going to be a descendant of Ibrahim peace upon him. They did however, want and expected him to be of the line of Isaac and David, not the line of Ismail, peace be upon them all, as Mohamed, peace be upon him is.
In the next 94 Ayahs, Allah the Highest tells us about the Children in Israel. There are many things in these Ayahs:
- They tell us some of the events which took place in the history and lives of the Children of Israel. Informing us of the truth where there had been any alterations, and reminding them of their past, for human beings like to forget what they do not like.
- Giving the true accounts of the events, about which the Muslims argued with them, to state the true facts. Allah the Highest said: “THIS QURAN NARRATES TO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL MOST OF (THE ISSUES) ABOUT WHICH THEY DIFFERED”. (S:27 A:76)
- For the Muslims to learn good lessons from what happened to the Children of Israel and so, avoid the same mistakes.
- They are to comfort and reassure Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, and the Muslims. “ALL WE NARRATE TO YOU OF THE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE MESSENGERS, TO STRENGTHEN YOUR HEART (RESOLVE), TO HAVE THE TRUTH, A LESSON AND REMINDER FOR THE BELIEVERS”. (S:11 A:120)
This is Ayah 40 the first of such Ayahs in Sorah Al-Baqarah.
40- O CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, REMEMBER THE FAVOUR I BESTOWED UPON YOU AND FULFIL YOUR COVENANT WITH ME, THEN I WILL FULFIL MY COVENANT WITH YOU AND FEAR ME.
This is addressing the Children of Israel. This name refers to them being descendants of Jacob (Israel) the sun of Isaac (Is,haq) the son of Ibrahim (Ibrahim), peace upon them all.
Allah the Highest reminds the Children of Israel, of His many favors upon them, they will be mentioned in the next Ayahs and throughout the Quran. Of them is, saving them from Pharaoh, parting the Red Sea for them to cross, providing them with food and water in the desert, forgiving them their worship of the golden calf, and many others.
Allah the Highest promises them to fulfill His covenant with them, if they fulfill their covenant with him first. This is Allah’s policy with all. “ALLAH MADE A COVENANT WITH THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL AND RAISED TWELVE CHIEFTAIN FROM THEM; THAT IF THEY STEADFAST IN PRAYER, PAY REGULAR ZAKAH, BELIEVE IN MY MESSENGERS, SUPPORT THEM AND LEND ALLAH A KIND LOAN, I WILL FORGIVE YOU YOUR SINS AND ADMITS YOU TO GARDENS WITH RIVERS FLOWING UNDERNEATH. BUT WHOEVER DISBELIEVES AFTER THAT THAT, HE WILL HAVE TRULLY GONE ASTRAY OF THE RIGHT PATH”. (S: 5 A: 12)
Then Allah the Highest wants them to fear Him. Why?
Fearing Allah the Highest is one of the reasons for obeying Him and refraining from what He prohibited. Indeed, fearing Allah the Highest is evidence of Faith. This does not mean that we do not fear others, but the believers fear Allah the Highest more than all else.
In the next 93 Ayahs, there will be a great deal to learn about the Children of Israel, although all there is to learn about them is not only in these Ayahs.
Baqarah 41
41- AND BELIEVE IN WHAT I SENT DOWN TO YOU, CONFIRMING WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE, AND DO NOT BE THE FIRST TO DISBELIEVE IN IT, AND DO NOT SELL MY AYAHS FOR A MISERLY PRICE, AND GUARD YOURSELVES FROM MY DISPLEASURE.
The Jews of the Medina, and those of the present day, were expected to believe in Mohamed, prayer and peace upon him, and the Book sent with him, the Quran. They knew about him, they were expecting him, for they had read of his coming in the Torah, so they would know that the Quran confirms the teachings of the Torah. Also, the Quran confirms all the prophecies of all the Prophets and Messengers before Mohamed, prayer and peace upon him.
However, most of them disbelieved, only few believed, why?
Most, if not all of the Jewish scholars at the time knew that the Quran is Allah’s book. However, they stood to loose in this life and in this world if they were to become Muslims. There is the loss of the status and prestige in their communities, as well as the persecution they might suffer from the other Jews elsewhere other than Medina.
This price, they felt to be too much to pay, except for the few of them who believed.
This however would have been a small price for:-
- Protecting themselves from Allah’s Anger.
- Gaining Allah’s Pleasure and His Paradise.
Whatever gain they could have had in this world, is but miserly compared to what they could have gained. Their loss is great. Allah the Highest said: “BUT YOU PREFER THE LOWER LIFE WHILE THE HEREAFTER IS BETTER AND MORE ENDURING”. (S: 87 A: 16, 17)
Allah’s Anger is what they incur at the end. Any true believer knows that it is well worth doing all that it takes to protect ones self from incurring Allah’s Anger. This is what they incur; they are those referred to in the seventh Ayah of Al-Fateha as “NEITHER THOSE WHO INCURE YOUR WRATH”.
Which is very well deserved, for Allah the Highest is not unjust.
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