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 Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
59. But the wrongdoers changed the word that had been said to them for another. So We sent down upon those wrongdoers a punishment from the sky because of their disobedience [75].
[75]
The Arrogance of Bani Israel at the Time of Conquest:
But these people set aside the instructions of Allah and did the exact opposite. Instead of entering the town in prostration, they entered arrogantly, dragging themselves on their buttocks, and instead of repenting and seeking forgiveness, they pursued worldly wealth and riches, as is made clear by the following hadith. Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah ؓ narrates: The Noble Prophet ﷺ said: "The Children of Israel were commanded to enter the gate of the city bowing and to say with their tongues «حطة» (that is, to seek forgiveness for their sins), but they entered dragging themselves on their buttocks and instead of «حِطَّةٌ», they began to say «حَبَّةٌ فى شعرة» (grain inside its husk)." [بخاري، كتاب التفسير] And in Muslim, instead of «حبة فى شعرة», the words «حنطة فى شعرة» (wheat in its husk) are mentioned. [مسلم، كتاب التفسير]
The Punishment of Plague:
When the Children of Israel took control of the city, they began to commit immoral acts, for which Allah punished them by sending down a calamity from the sky (in the form of a plague), as a result of which, according to one narration, seventy thousand Jews died.
[75]
The Arrogance of Bani Israel at the Time of Conquest:
But these people set aside the instructions of Allah and did the exact opposite. Instead of entering the town in prostration, they entered arrogantly, dragging themselves on their buttocks, and instead of repenting and seeking forgiveness, they pursued worldly wealth and riches, as is made clear by the following hadith. Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah ؓ narrates: The Noble Prophet ﷺ said: "The Children of Israel were commanded to enter the gate of the city bowing and to say with their tongues «حطة» (that is, to seek forgiveness for their sins), but they entered dragging themselves on their buttocks and instead of «حِطَّةٌ», they began to say «حَبَّةٌ فى شعرة» (grain inside its husk)." [بخاري، كتاب التفسير] And in Muslim, instead of «حبة فى شعرة», the words «حنطة فى شعرة» (wheat in its husk) are mentioned. [مسلم، كتاب التفسير]
The Punishment of Plague:
When the Children of Israel took control of the city, they began to commit immoral acts, for which Allah punished them by sending down a calamity from the sky (in the form of a plague), as a result of which, according to one narration, seventy thousand Jews died.
