Lesson of Surah Baqarah:61-62 Faith, Gratitude and Unity

وَإِذْ قُلْتُمْ يَا مُوسَىٰ لَنْ نَصْبِرَ عَلَىٰ طَعَامٍ وَاحِدٍ فَادْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُخْرِجْ لَنَا مِمَّا تُنْبِتُ الْأَرْضُ مِنْ بَقْلِهَا وَقِثَّائِهَا وَفُومِهَا وَعَدَسِهَا وَبَصَلِهَا ۖ قَالَ أَتَسْتَبْدِلُونَ الَّذِي هُوَ أَدْنَىٰ بِالَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ ۚ اهْبِطُوا مِصْرًا فَإِنَّ لَكُمْ مَا سَأَلْتُمْ ۗ وَضُرِبَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ الذِّلَّةُ وَالْمَسْكَنَةُ وَبَاءُوا بِغَضَبٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ ۗ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا يَكْفُرُونَ بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ وَيَقْتُلُونَ النَّبِيِّينَ بِغَيْرِ الْحَقِّ ۗ ذَٰلِكَ بِمَا عَصَوْا وَكَانُوا يَعْتَدُونَ {61}

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَالَّذِينَ هَادُوا وَالنَّصَارَىٰ وَالصَّابِئِينَ مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا فَلَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ {62}

Surah Al-Baqarah, verses 61 and 62 Translation:

And when you said: O Musa! we cannot bear with one food, therefore pray Lord on our behalf to bring forth for us out of what the earth grows, of its herbs and its cucumbers and its garlic and its lentils and its onions. He said: Will you exchange that which is better for that which is worse? Enter a city, so you will have what you ask for. And abasement and humiliation were brought down upon them, and they became deserving of Allah’s wrath; this was so because they disbelieved in the communications of Allah and killed the prophets unjustly; this was so because they disobeyed and exceeded the limits. Surely those who believe, and those who are Jews, and the Christians, and the Sabeans, whoever believes in Allah and the Last day and does good, they shall have their reward from their Lord, and there is no fear for them, nor shall they grieve. Surah Baqarah 2:61-62

It hold profound significance in Islamic teachings. Here’s a detailed translation and explanation of these verses, incorporating sayings of Nabi Muhammad (saww) and Mola Ali (a.s.).

Understanding Surah Al-Baqarah: Verses 61 and 62

verse 61

In Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 61, Allah describes a moment of discontent among the Children of Israel, who expressed their desire for food and complained about their circumstances. The verse states: “And [recall] when you said, ‘O Moses, we can never endure one food. So invoke for us your Lord to bring forth for us from the earth its crops and its cucumbers and its garlic and its lentils and its onions.’ Moses said, ‘Would you exchange what is better for what is less? Go into any settlement, and indeed you will have what you have asked.’ And humiliation and poverty were put upon them, and they were returned with wrath from Allah.”

Ingratitude and Lack of Faith

This verse highlights the ingratitude and lack of faith of the Children of Israel, who, despite being provided with divine sustenance, yearned for the trivial comforts of worldly food. Nabi Muhammad (saww) emphasized the importance of gratitude in his teachings, stating, “He who does not thank people does not thank Allah.” This underscores the necessity of appreciating the blessings we receive, rather than focusing on what we lack.

Message of Inclusivity and The Importance of Faith and Righteous Actions:

Verse62

Verse 62 continues this theme, stating: “Indeed, those who have believed and those who were Jews or Christians or Sabians – those who believed in Allah and the Last Day and did righteous deeds – will have their reward with their Lord, and no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve.” This verse conveys a powerful message of inclusivity and the importance of faith and righteous actions, regardless of one’s background.

Mola Ali (a.s.) has articulated the significance of unity and faith, stating, “The best among you are those who have the best manners and character.” This reinforces the idea that true belief is reflected in one’s actions and interactions with others.

Summary

In summary, these verses serve as a reminder to cultivate gratitude, embrace faith, and engage in righteous deeds. They highlight that the path to divine reward transcends religious boundaries, welcoming all believers who strive for goodness.

This structure provides a clear translation and interpretation of the verses while incorporating relevant teachings from Nabi Muhammad (saww) and Mola Ali (a.s.).