“Surah Baqarah: 2:58-59 Consequences of Broken Promises.”

Exegesis of Surah Baqarah: Verse 2:58-59

Regarding the Allah Almighty’s words:

وَإِذْ قُلْنَا ادْخُلُوا هَٰذِهِ الْقَرْيَةَ فَكُلُوا مِنْهَا حَيْثُ شِئْتُمْ رَغَدًا وَادْخُلُوا الْبَابَ سُجَّدًا وَقُولُوا حِطَّةٌ نَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ خَطَايَاكُمْ ۚ وَسَنَزِيدُ الْمُحْسِنِينَ {58}

When We instructed you to enter this city, you were to enjoy its plentiful food from any place you liked. As you entered through the gate, approach with humility and say, “Forgive us.” We will pardon your wrongs and grant even greater rewards to those who do good to others.

فَبَدَّلَ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا قَوْلًا غَيْرَ الَّذِي قِيلَ لَهُمْ فَأَنْزَلْنَا عَلَى الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا رِجْزًا مِنَ السَّمَاءِ بِمَا كَانُوا يَفْسُقُونَ {59}

However, those who acted unjustly altered the words that had been given to them. As a result, We sent down a plague from the heavens upon those wrongdoers because they overstepped their bounds.

And remember when I instructed your forefathers to enter this village (Baitul Maqdas) and enjoy its plentiful provisions.

Entering with Humility

They were to enter through the city gate with humility, saying “HITTATUN.” I promised to forgive their mistakes and reward the doers of good abundantly. However, the unjust among them changed the command I had given.

Divine Punishment

As a result, I sent down punishment from the heavens upon those wrongdoers. Recall the time when the people of Musa were thirsty and he prayed to Me for water. I commanded him to strike the rock with his staff, and when he did, twelve springs burst forth, providing each of your twelve tribes with their own water source.

Provisions and Corruption

I instructed them to enjoy the provisions I provided and to eat and drink, but not to spread corruption on the earth. Remember when your ancestors said to Musa,

“We cannot be satisfied with just one kind of food. Ask your Lord to give us produce like vegetables, wheat, cucumbers, onions, and other crops.”

Musa replied, “Do you wish to exchange something inferior for what is better?”

Consequences of Disobedience

Then the command was given: Go to a city where you will find everything you desire. They were humiliated and deprived, facing divine punishment because they denied the Signs of Allah and unjustly killed His prophets. All of this occurred because they disobeyed the Almighty, were ungrateful, and acted against the truth.

Faith in Allah

The believers, as well as the Jews, Christians, and Sabeans, hold sincere faith in Allah.

Those who have done wrong and broke their promise became unjust and changed the word that was spoken to them.

Allah ordered them to make obeisance, but they did not comply and turned their backs from the gate as they entered the city.

They did not bow down or pay obeisance, saying the gate was too big, questioning why they should bend to enter. They thought that Prophet Musa and Yusha would laugh at such a “useless task.” They expressed a preference for red wheat over the words and promises given to them.

فَبَدَّلَ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا قَوْلًا غَيْرَ الَّذِي قِيلَ لَهُمْ فَأَنزَلْنَا عَلَى الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا رِجْزًا مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ بِمَا كَانُوا يَفْسُقُونَ

So We sent upon those who were unjust a pestilence from heaven because they transgressed. Surah Baqarah 2:59

In simple terms, they changed the meaning of the words spoken to them and did not believe in Muhammad (S), Ali(a s), and their progeny. As a result, We sent

Those who have done wrong and broke their promise became unjust and changed the word that was spoken to them. Allah ordered them to make obeisance, but they did not comply and turned their backs from the gate as they entered the city.

They did not bow down or pay obeisance, saying the gate was too big, questioning why they should bend to enter. They thought that Prophet Musa and Yusha would laugh at such a “useless task.” They expressed a preference for red wheat over the words and promises given to them.

It was a plague, and a hundred and twenty thousand died in a single day. Allah knows they are disbelievers and will not seek forgiveness. The divine wrath fell upon those who were unjust and transgressors.