Shafaqna English- Commentary on the 2nd Chapter of the Holy Quran by Mohammad Sobhanie.
يَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ اذْكُرُوا نِعْمَتِيَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَأَوْفُوا بِعَهْدِي أُوفِ بِعَهْدِكُمْ وَإِيَّايَ فَارْهَبُونِ ﴿٤٠﴾
2:40 O Children of Israel! Remember My favor that I bestowed upon you and fulfill My covenant (which I made with you), so that I fulfill your covenant (with Me), and of Me alone be in awe and fear.
2:40 Covenant of the Children of Israel (Part 2)
Commentary: In Verse/Ayah 2:40, Allah (SWT) directs the Children of Israel to remember God’s bounties and blessings, fulfil their religious obligations, and only have awe of God alone.
Remembrance of the Divine Blessings: Human beings tend to forget that they are trustees of God’s bounties and blessings[1] and that Allah (SWT) is the actual owner[2] of the universe. Those with a weaker faith in God become selfish, arrogant[3], and rebellious[4] in times of ease and prosperity.
For instance, Qaroun[5], who was from the Children of Israel, lived at the time of Prophet Musa. He was wealthy and affluent, so much so that carrying the keys to his treasure was a burden and only given to the strongest men.
The righteous people advised him to be benevolent to his kin, as God had gifted him in abundance. Qaroun refused to listen to their advice, stating that he had made his fortune so he had the right to do with his wealth as he wished.
One day, when he went to show off his wealth amongst the people, the earth swallowed him with his treasure. Qaroun failed to accept that blessings are endowed only through the benediction of Allah (SWT). Without God’s Will, these tidings would have been unattainable and could be taken from him at any time.
Remembering Divine Blessings brings humankind closer to Allah (SWT), instils the spirit of servitude towards God, and helps individuals be consciously grateful for the blessings of life.
The Divine Covenant “Ahd” [Arabic: (عَهْدِ)]: The Arabic word “Ahd” [Arabic: (عَهْدِ)] means to guard and observe. Since a promise is guarded and kept, the word “Ahad” has the connotation of a covenant, promise, oath, and vow[6].
The phrase (وَأَوْفُوا بِعَهْدِي) refers to a promise that Allah (SWT) took from humankind to worship, obey, and follow God’s religion:
يَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ …وَأَوْفُوا بِعَهْدِي … ﴿٤٠﴾
2:40 O Children of Israel… follow My religion.
The phrase (أُوفِ بِعَهْدِكُمْ) refers to abode in Paradise, which intrinsically we are all hoping for and expecting on the Day of Judgment[7]. Hence, the meaning of the Verse is:
يَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ … وَأَوْفُوا بِعَهْدِي أُوفِ بِعَهْدِكُمْ .. ﴿٤٠﴾
2:40 O’ Children of Israel…worship, obey, and follow My religion as you promised so I would fulfil your expectation, which is abode in the eternal Paradise, on the Day of Judgment…
Only Fear God: In the end, the verse asserts that one should submit to the authority of Allah (SWT) with awe and reverence. Possessing a baseless fear of others should not deter one from fulfilling religious obligations.
Word-for-Word Translation:
2:40 [يَا] O [بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ] Children of Israel [اذْكُرُوا] Remember [نِعْمَتِيَ] My Favor [الَّتِي] which [أَنْعَمْتُ] I bestowed [عَلَيْكُمْ] upon you [وَأَوْفُوا] and fulfil [بِعَهْدِي] My Covenant (with you) [أُوفِ] (so that) I will fulfil [بِعَهْدِكُمْ] your covenant (with Me) [وَإِيَّايَ] and Me alone [فَارْهَبُونِ] fear.
Note:
[1]. The Qur’an, Al-Hadid 57:7.
[2]. The Qur’an, Aal-e-Imran 3:189.
[3]. The Qur’an, Al-Isra 17:83 & Fussilat, 41:51.
[4]. The Qur’an, Al-Alaq 96:7.
[5]. The Qur’an, Al-Qasas, 28:76.
[6]. (قاموس قران ،ج ۵ ، ص ۲۰۳).
[7]. Tafser-e-Namoona, Vol.1 , P.203.
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Commentary on the Holy Quran (2:49-50)