يَـٰبَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ ٱذْكُرُوا۟ نِعْمَتِىَ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَنْعَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَأَنِّى فَضَّلْتُكُمْ عَلَى ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ 122
Translations
O Children of Israel, remember My favor which I have bestowed upon you and that I preferred you over the worlds.
Transliteration
Ya bani Isra'ila udhkuru ni'mati allatī an'amtu 'alaikum wa annī faddaltukum 'ala al-'alamīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah addresses the Children of Israel, commanding them to remember the countless blessings He bestowed upon them and their privileged status as a chosen people above the worlds of their time. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that this ayah refers to specific favors such as the Torah, prophethood among their lineage, protection from Pharaoh, and the parting of the Red Sea. However, this honor came with the responsibility to obey Allah's commandments, and their privilege could be forfeited through disobedience and rejection of the truth.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the opening section of Surah Al-Baqarah (verses 40-103) which directly addresses the Children of Israel regarding their covenant with Allah. The broader context is to remind them of their historical obligations and to prepare them to receive guidance, particularly regarding the coming of Prophet Muhammad and the verification of previous scriptures.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best day on which the sun has risen is Friday. On it Adam was created, on it he was made to enter Paradise, and on it he was expelled from it.' (Sahih Muslim 854). More directly related: 'The Children of Israel were divided into seventy-two sects, and my Ummah will be divided into seventy-three sects, all of which will be in Hell except one.' (Sunan Ibn Majah 3992) - highlighting the shift from their unique status to the new community of believers.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers are reminded that privileges and blessings from Allah come with corresponding duties and responsibilities; simply being favored is insufficient without obedience and gratitude. This ayah teaches us to reflect on Allah's grace in our lives and recognize that true honor lies in fulfilling our obligations to Him, not merely in inherited status or past glories.