سُوْرَةُ الْجَاثِيَةِ
Surah Al-Jaathiya (45) — Ayah 16
وَلَقَدْ ءَاتَيْنَا بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلْحُكْمَ وَٱلنُّبُوَّةَ وَرَزَقْنَـٰهُم مِّنَ ٱلطَّيِّبَـٰتِ وَفَضَّلْنَـٰهُمْ عَلَى ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ ﴿16﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And indeed We gave the Children of Israel the Scripture, and the understanding of the Scripture and its laws, and the Prophethood; and provided them with good things, and preferred them above the ‘Âlamîn (mankind and jinn of their time, during that period),
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَلَقَدْ
walaqad
And certainly
ءَاتَيْنَا
ātaynā
We gave
بَنِىٓ
banī
(the) Children of Israel
إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ
is'rāīla
(the) Children of Israel
ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ
l-kitāba
the Book
وَٱلْحُكْمَ
wal-ḥuk'ma
and the wisdom
وَٱلنُّبُوَّةَ
wal-nubuwata
and the Prophethood
وَرَزَقْنَـٰهُم
warazaqnāhum
and We provided them
مِّنَ
mina
of
ٱلطَّيِّبَـٰتِ
l-ṭayibāti
the good things
وَفَضَّلْنَـٰهُمْ
wafaḍḍalnāhum
and We preferred them
عَلَى
ʿalā
over
ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
l-ʿālamīna
the worlds
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 16) ➊ In the previous verses { وَ لَقَدْ اٰتَيْنَا بَنِيْۤ اِسْرَآءِيْلَ الْكِتٰبَ …:}, Allah Almighty mentioned some of His blessings which He has bestowed upon all mankind, so that they may give thanks to Him and avoid disbelief and polytheism, and in this verse, He mentioned those blessings which He has especially bestowed upon the Children of Israel. By {’’ اَللّٰهُ الَّذِيْ سَخَّرَ لَكُمُ الْبَحْرَ ‘‘} is not meant any one particular book, but rather the category of book, because Allah Almighty sent many scripture-bearing prophets among the Children of Israel. The Torah, Gospel, and Psalms are generally well-known, besides these Allah knows best how many books He granted them.
➋ The meaning of {’’ الْكِتٰبَ ‘‘} is judgment and the power of decision. Here it means that We granted the Children of Israel freedom and sovereignty, in which they could make their own decisions, because without their own government, it is not possible to fully practice Islam. When Moses (peace be upon him) delivered the Children of Israel from Pharaoh and they gained freedom, he said to them that Allah Almighty has made you kings, because every individual of a free nation is a king, as He said: « وَ اِذْ قَالَ مُوْسٰى لِقَوْمِهٖ يٰقَوْمِ اذْكُرُوْا نِعْمَةَ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْكُمْ اِذْ جَعَلَ فِيْكُمْ اَنْۢبِيَآءَ وَ جَعَلَكُمْ مُّلُوْكًا وَّ اٰتٰىكُمْ مَّا لَمْ يُؤْتِ اَحَدًا مِّنَ الْعٰلَمِيْنَ» [ المائدۃ : ۲۰ ] “And when Moses said to his people, O my people! Remember Allah’s favor upon you when He appointed prophets among you and made you kings and gave you what He had not given to anyone among the worlds.” Later, the kingdoms of David (peace be upon him), Solomon (peace be upon him), and other Israelite rulers are also included in this {وَ الْحُكْمَ: ’’ الْحُكْمَ ‘‘} granted to them by Allah Almighty.
➌ {’’ الْحُكْمَ ‘‘} As many prophets were sent among the Children of Israel, there is no mention of so many prophets being sent to any other nation.
➍ { وَ النُّبُوَّةَ:} Among these pure things are included manna and quails for food in the desert, twelve springs for drinking, and the shade of clouds, and later the rule over the fertile and blessed land of Syria and Egypt and the countless blessings obtained from there are also included.
➎ { وَ رَزَقْنٰهُمْ مِّنَ الطَّيِّبٰتِ:} For its explanation, see Surah Al-Baqarah (47) and Surah Ad-Dukhan (32).
➋ The meaning of {’’ الْكِتٰبَ ‘‘} is judgment and the power of decision. Here it means that We granted the Children of Israel freedom and sovereignty, in which they could make their own decisions, because without their own government, it is not possible to fully practice Islam. When Moses (peace be upon him) delivered the Children of Israel from Pharaoh and they gained freedom, he said to them that Allah Almighty has made you kings, because every individual of a free nation is a king, as He said: « وَ اِذْ قَالَ مُوْسٰى لِقَوْمِهٖ يٰقَوْمِ اذْكُرُوْا نِعْمَةَ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْكُمْ اِذْ جَعَلَ فِيْكُمْ اَنْۢبِيَآءَ وَ جَعَلَكُمْ مُّلُوْكًا وَّ اٰتٰىكُمْ مَّا لَمْ يُؤْتِ اَحَدًا مِّنَ الْعٰلَمِيْنَ» [ المائدۃ : ۲۰ ] “And when Moses said to his people, O my people! Remember Allah’s favor upon you when He appointed prophets among you and made you kings and gave you what He had not given to anyone among the worlds.” Later, the kingdoms of David (peace be upon him), Solomon (peace be upon him), and other Israelite rulers are also included in this {وَ الْحُكْمَ: ’’ الْحُكْمَ ‘‘} granted to them by Allah Almighty.
➌ {’’ الْحُكْمَ ‘‘} As many prophets were sent among the Children of Israel, there is no mention of so many prophets being sent to any other nation.
➍ { وَ النُّبُوَّةَ:} Among these pure things are included manna and quails for food in the desert, twelve springs for drinking, and the shade of clouds, and later the rule over the fertile and blessed land of Syria and Egypt and the countless blessings obtained from there are also included.
➎ { وَ رَزَقْنٰهُمْ مِّنَ الطَّيِّبٰتِ:} For its explanation, see Surah Al-Baqarah (47) and Surah Ad-Dukhan (32).
