Day 5 · Surah Al-Baqarah Ayat 49-61

Al-Baqarah 49–61

Today's reading details the great blessings that Allah bestowed upon the Children of Israel since they were saved from Pharaoh, and how they repaid them with rebellion until they were struck with disgrace and poverty.

• They were saved from Pharaoh's tyranny, crossed the sea and witnessed Pharaoh drowned, were forgiven after worshipping the calf, were given the Scripture, were shaded by clouds, and were sent down food from Paradise.
• Instead of giving thanks, they spoke harshly to Musa and demanded to see Allah with their own eyes, then were struck by lightning until they died and were brought back to life without changing.
• They refused to enter Palestine, were unwilling to ask for forgiveness, and replaced the Word of Allah with words that suited their own desires.
• When they ran out of water, Musa was commanded to strike a rock until twelve springs gushed forth according to the number of their tribes.
• They became bored with food from Paradise and asked for earthly produce, and were finally struck with disgrace, poverty, and the wrath of Allah due to their disbelief and killing of the Prophets.

Verses 49 – 57 continue from the previous verses concerning the bad behavior and disbelief of the Children of Israel. Yet Allah had bestowed upon them various blessings such as saving them from Pharaoh's oppression and tyranny over them, saving them when crossing the Red Sea, witnessing the drowning of Pharaoh and his army, forgiving them after they associated partners with Allah by worshipping the calf while Musa was away for 40 nights, sending down to them the Book of the Torah and Furqan, shading them with clouds, and sending down food from Paradise.

The right thing would have been for them to give thanks for these various blessings and follow Allah's guidance. What happened instead is that they were unwilling to repent and turn to Allah. They even spoke harshly and were disrespectful to Musa saying: We will not believe in Allah until we see Allah with our own eyes. Allah punished them with lightning so that they all died. Then Allah brought them back to life, but they still did not give thanks to Him.

Verses 58 – 61 continue to explain the character and behavior of the Children of Israel which is truly despicable. Besides ingratitude, they refused to enter Palestine and were unwilling to ask for forgiveness from Allah. If they had wanted to follow Allah's command, surely Allah would have added various blessings to them. They replaced the Word of Allah with words that suited their desires and lusts. For that reason, Allah sent down His punishment from the heavens as a result of their wickedness and rebellion.

Truly, the Children of Israel had childish characteristics. When they ran out of water, they asked Musa for a drink. Then Musa asked Allah for it. Allah commanded Musa to strike a large rock with his staff. The rock then produced water from twelve springs, according to the number of their tribes, so that each tribe received one spring.

They were also tired of eating food from Paradise and asked Musa to request from Allah that they be given food from the produce of the earth such as vegetables, cucumbers, garlic, lentils, and onions. Musa became angry and said: Are you exchanging the best food from Paradise for inferior types of earthly produce? Go back to Egypt if you wish, then you will get what you want.

As a result of their sins and obstinacy, Allah struck them with disgrace and poverty, and they incurred the wrath of Allah. All this is a result of their disbelief in Allah's verses, their unwillingness to take them as guidance for life (hidayah), and their killing of the Prophets, disobeying them, and transgressing the limits of Allah's law.

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