Quran Ayah of the Day, 2:47

Hassan

Laa ilaha ilaa Allah
Staff member
Al Baqarah, 2:47

يَا‌ بَنِ‍‍ي‍ ‌إِسْر‍َ‌ائ‍‍ِ‍ي‍‍لَ ‌ا‌ذْكُرُ‌و‌ا‌ نِعْمَتِيَ ‌الَّتِ‍‍ي‍ ‌أَنْعَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ ‌وَ‌أَنّ‍‍ِ‍ي فَضَّلْتُكُمْ عَلَى‌ ‌الْعَالَم‍‍ِ‍ي‍‍نَ

Transliteration:
Yā Banī 'Isrā'īla Adhkurū Ni`matiya Allatī 'An`amtu `Alaykum Wa 'Annī Fađđaltukum `Alá Al-`Ālamīna

Translation:

Yusuf Ali: O children of Israel! call to mind the (special) favour which I bestowed upon you, and that I preferred you to all others (for My Message).
Dr. Mohsin: O Children of Israel! Remember My Favour which I bestowed upon you and that I preferred you to the 'Alamîn [mankind and jinn (of your time period, in the past)].

Tafsir al-Jalalayn:
O Children of Israel, remember My favour wherewith I favoured you, by giving thanks through obedience to Me, and that I have preferred you, your forefathers, above all the worlds, of their time;

Tafsir ibn Kathir:
(47. O Children of Israel! Remember My favor which I bestowed upon you and that I preferred you over the `Alamin (nations))

Reminding the Children of Israel that They were preferred above the Other Nations

Allah reminds the Children of Israel of the favors that He granted their fathers and grandfathers, how He showed preference to them by sending them Messengers from among them and revealing Books to them, more so than any of the other previous nations. Similarly, Allah said,

﴿وَلَقَدِ اخْتَرْنَـهُمْ عَلَى عِلْمٍ عَلَى الْعَـلَمِينَ ﴾

(And We chose them (the Children of Israel) over the `Alamin, (nations) with knowledge.) (44:32) and,

﴿وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَى لِقَوْمِهِ يَـقَوْمِ اذْكُرُواْ نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ جَعَلَ فِيكُمْ أَنْبِيَآءَ وَجَعَلَكُمْ مُّلُوكاً وَءَاتَـكُمْ مَّا لَمْ يُؤْتِ أَحَداً مِّن الْعَـلَمِينَ ﴾


(And (remember) when Musa (Moses) said to his people: "O my people! Remember the favor of Allah to you: when He made Prophets among you, made you kings, honored you above the `Alamin (nations).'') (5:20).

Abu Ja`far Ar-Razi reported that Ar-Rabi` bin Anas said that Abu Al-`Aliyah said that Allah's statement,

﴿وَأَنِّى فَضَّلْتُكُمْ عَلَى الْعَـلَمِينَ﴾

(and that I preferred you over the `Alamin) means, "The kingship, Messengers and Books that were granted to them, instead of granting such to the other kingdoms that existed during their time, for every period there is a nation.'' It was also reported that Mujahid, Ar-Rabi` bin Anas, Qatadah and Isma`il bin Abi Khalid said similarly.

The Ummah of Muhammad is Better than the Children of Israel

This is the only way the Ayah can be understood, because this Ummah is better than theirs, as Allah said;

﴿كُنتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَلَوْ ءَامَنَ أَهْلُ الْكِتَـبِ لَكَانَ خَيْراً لَّهُمْ﴾

(You are the best of people ever raised up for mankind; you enjoin good and forbid evil, and you believe in Allah. And had the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) believed, it would have been better for them) (3:110).

Also, the Musnad and Sunan Collections of Hadith recorded that Mu`awiyah bin Haydah Al-Qushayri said that the Messenger of Allah said,

«أَنْتُمْ تُوَفُّونَ سَبْعِينَ أُمَّةً أَنْتُمْ خَيْرُهَا وَأَكْرَمُهَا عَلَى الله»

(You (Muslims) are the seventieth nation, but you are the best and most honored of them according to Allah.)

There are many Hadiths on this subject, and they will be mentioned when we discuss Allah's statement,

﴿كُنتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ﴾

(You are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind) (3:110).
 

uniqueskates

Rabbe Zidni Illma
Al Baqarah, 2:47

يَا‌ بَنِ‍‍ي‍ ‌إِسْر‍َ‌ائ‍‍ِ‍ي‍‍لَ ‌ا‌ذْكُرُ‌و‌ا‌ نِعْمَتِيَ ‌الَّتِ‍‍ي‍ ‌أَنْعَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ ‌وَ‌أَنّ‍‍ِ‍ي فَضَّلْتُكُمْ عَلَى‌ ‌الْعَالَم‍‍ِ‍ي‍‍نَ

(You are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind) (3:110).

Assalaamualaikum wa re wa barakatuhu.
Hope we stand up to that word. InshaaAllah. May Allah make us among the pious and the people of Jannah.
 
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