سُوْرَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 59
فَبَدَّلَ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ قَوْلًا غَيْرَ ٱلَّذِى قِيلَ لَهُمْ فَأَنزَلْنَا عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ رِجْزًا مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَفْسُقُونَ ﴿59﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
But those who did wrong changed the word from that which had been told to them for another, so We sent upon the wrong-doers Rijz (a punishment) from the heaven because of their rebelling against Allâh’s obedience. (Tafsir At-Tabarî).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
فَبَدَّلَ
fabaddala
But changed
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
those who
ظَلَمُوا۟
ẓalamū
wronged
قَوْلًا
qawlan
(the) word
غَيْرَ
ghayra
other (than)
ٱلَّذِى
alladhī
(that) which
قِيلَ
qīla
was said
لَهُمْ
lahum
to them
فَأَنزَلْنَا
fa-anzalnā
so We sent down
عَلَى
ʿalā
upon
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
those who
ظَلَمُوا۟
ẓalamū
wronged
رِجْزًۭا
rij'zan
a punishment
مِّنَ
mina
from
ٱلسَّمَآءِ
l-samāi
the sky
بِمَا
bimā
because
كَانُوا۟
kānū
they were
يَفْسُقُونَ
yafsuqūna
defiantly disobeying
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 59) But those wrongdoers mocked Allah’s command. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “It was said to the Children of Israel: «{ وَ ادْخُلُوا الْبَابَ سُجَّدًا وَّ قُوْلُوْا حِطَّةٌ }» ‘And enter the gate prostrating and say: Forgive [us].’” But they changed it and entered dragging themselves on their buttocks, and they said: [ حَبَّةٌ فِيْ شَعْرَةٍ ] “A grain in a stalk.” [ بخاری، أحادیث الأنبیاء، بابٌ : ۳۴۰۳۔ مسلم : ۳۰۱۵ ] Tell me, what could be greater stubbornness and opposition to the command of Allah than this? The Qur’an has described this great disobedience as “fisq,” which means to completely go beyond the limits set by Allah. On this basis, they were declared wrongdoers, and as a punishment for their wrongdoing, the plague was sent down upon them. The meaning of { ”رِجْزًا“ } is generally any punishment, but from the hadith it is known that what is meant is the plague. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ اَلطَّاعُوْنَ رِجْسٌ اُرْسِلَ عَلٰی طَائِفَةٍ مِنْ بَنِيْ اِسْرَائِيْلَ أَوْ عَلٰی مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ ] [ بخاری، أحادیث الأنبیاء، باب : ۳۴۳۷، عن اسامۃ بن زید رضی اللہ عنھما ] “The plague is a punishment that was sent upon a group from the Children of Israel or upon those who were before you.” In Muslim, instead of { ”رِجْسٌ“ }, it is {”رِجْزٌ“}. [ مسلم، السلام، باب الطاعون والطیرۃ … : ۲۲۱۸ ] Hafiz Ibn Kathir (may Allah have mercy on him) writes that this story is also mentioned in Surah Al-A’raf, but since that surah is Makki, it is mentioned there in the third person, and this surah is Madani, and the Jews were present in Madinah, so it is mentioned in the second person. In short, there are ten differences between these two stories (in Al-Baqarah and Al-A’raf) in terms of context, some of which relate to wording and some to meaning. Imam Razi and Imam Zamakhshari (may Allah have mercy on them) have explained those ten differences in detail.
