سُوْرَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 40
يَـٰبَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ ٱذْكُرُوا۟ نِعْمَتِىَ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَنْعَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَأَوْفُوا۟ بِعَهْدِىٓ أُوفِ بِعَهْدِكُمْ وَإِيَّـٰىَ فَٱرْهَبُونِ ﴿40﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
O Children of Israel! Remember My Favour which I bestowed upon you, and fulfil (your obligations to) My Covenant (with you) so that I fulfil (My Obligations to) your covenant (with Me), and fear none but Me.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
يَـٰبَنِىٓ
yābanī
O Children
إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ
is'rāīla
(of) Israel
ٱذْكُرُوا۟
udh'kurū
Remember
نِعْمَتِىَ
niʿ'matiya
My Favor
ٱلَّتِىٓ
allatī
which
أَنْعَمْتُ
anʿamtu
I bestowed
عَلَيْكُمْ
ʿalaykum
upon you
وَأَوْفُوا۟
wa-awfū
and fulfill
بِعَهْدِىٓ
biʿahdī
My Covenant
أُوفِ
ūfi
I will fulfill
بِعَهْدِكُمْ
biʿahdikum
your covenant
وَإِيَّـٰىَ
wa-iyyāya
and Me Alone
فَٱرْهَبُونِ
fa-ir'habūni
fear [Me]
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah 40) ➊ Before this, the invitation was to all people with { ”يٰۤاَيُّهَا النَّاسُ“ }, now there is a special address to the Children of Israel, because being People of the Book, they have more right to believe in the Prophet (peace be upon him). This address is sometimes by reminding them of the favors bestowed upon them, sometimes with rebuke for their evil deeds, and sometimes with mention of the punishments given to them for their disobedience. From here up to verse one hundred and forty-seven, there is mention of ten favors upon them, their ten evil deeds, and the ten punishments given to them. (Al-Tashil)
➋ Israel is the second name or title of Yaqub (peace be upon him), which means the servant of Allah. Therefore, his descendants are called the Children of Israel. Among the Children of Israel, the first prophet is Yusuf (peace be upon him) and the last prophet is Isa (peace be upon him). (Qurtubi)
➌ The Children of Israel of the time of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) were reminded of these things, even though all this happened to the previous Children of Israel, because the favors upon their elders were also favors upon them, and they were still following in the footsteps of their elders in their bad habits. Along with the previous Children of Israel, the evil deeds of the Children of Israel present in your time were also mentioned, such as disbelief despite recognizing the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), distortion of the Book of Allah, enmity with Jibril (peace be upon him), practicing magic, killing one another, etc. The purpose of mentioning the conditions of the Children of Israel in such detail is also so that the Ummah of Muhammad (peace be upon him) may avoid these evil deeds and remain fearful of their consequences.
➍ { نِعْمَتِی:} Although this word is singular, the genus is meant, which includes all blessings.
➎ {وَ اَوْفُوْا بِعَهْدِيْۤ: } The details of this covenant are not mentioned here; the details of this covenant are present in Surah Al-Ma'idah (12). According to that, their covenant with Allah Almighty was that you will establish prayer and give zakah and believe in My messengers (among whom is Muhammad, peace be upon him), help them, and give Allah a good loan, and Allah's covenant with them was that I will be with you and remove your sins from you and admit you into gardens (Paradise).
➏ {وَ اِيَّايَ فَارْهَبُوْنِ:} The meaning of { ”اِيَّايَ“ } is "especially from Me." { ”فَارْهَبُوْنِ“ } was originally {”فَارْهَبُوْنِيْ“}. The "ya" was omitted; its meaning is also "fear Me." Because after "especially from Me" it is again said "fear Me," it is translated as "fear only Me." Otherwise, after "especially," the word "Me" would have been sufficient, there would have been no need for "only Me."
➋ Israel is the second name or title of Yaqub (peace be upon him), which means the servant of Allah. Therefore, his descendants are called the Children of Israel. Among the Children of Israel, the first prophet is Yusuf (peace be upon him) and the last prophet is Isa (peace be upon him). (Qurtubi)
➌ The Children of Israel of the time of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) were reminded of these things, even though all this happened to the previous Children of Israel, because the favors upon their elders were also favors upon them, and they were still following in the footsteps of their elders in their bad habits. Along with the previous Children of Israel, the evil deeds of the Children of Israel present in your time were also mentioned, such as disbelief despite recognizing the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), distortion of the Book of Allah, enmity with Jibril (peace be upon him), practicing magic, killing one another, etc. The purpose of mentioning the conditions of the Children of Israel in such detail is also so that the Ummah of Muhammad (peace be upon him) may avoid these evil deeds and remain fearful of their consequences.
➍ { نِعْمَتِی:} Although this word is singular, the genus is meant, which includes all blessings.
➎ {وَ اَوْفُوْا بِعَهْدِيْۤ: } The details of this covenant are not mentioned here; the details of this covenant are present in Surah Al-Ma'idah (12). According to that, their covenant with Allah Almighty was that you will establish prayer and give zakah and believe in My messengers (among whom is Muhammad, peace be upon him), help them, and give Allah a good loan, and Allah's covenant with them was that I will be with you and remove your sins from you and admit you into gardens (Paradise).
➏ {وَ اِيَّايَ فَارْهَبُوْنِ:} The meaning of { ”اِيَّايَ“ } is "especially from Me." { ”فَارْهَبُوْنِ“ } was originally {”فَارْهَبُوْنِيْ“}. The "ya" was omitted; its meaning is also "fear Me." Because after "especially from Me" it is again said "fear Me," it is translated as "fear only Me." Otherwise, after "especially," the word "Me" would have been sufficient, there would have been no need for "only Me."
