Al-Baqarah · Ayah 211

سَلْ بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ كَمْ ءَاتَيْنَـٰهُم مِّنْ ءَايَةٍۭ بَيِّنَةٍ ۗ وَمَن يُبَدِّلْ نِعْمَةَ ٱللَّهِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَتْهُ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ 211

Translations

Ask the Children of Israel how many a sign of evidence We have given them. And whoever exchanges the favor of Allāh [for disbelief] after it has come to him - then indeed, Allāh is severe in penalty.

Transliteration

Sal bani Isra'ila kam ataynahum min ayatin bayyinatin wa man yubaddil ni'matallahi min ba'da ma ja'ath hu fa-inna Allaha shadidu al-'iqab

Tafsir (Explanation)

Allah commands the Prophet Muhammad to ask the Children of Israel about the numerous clear signs and miracles they were given throughout their history—yet they rejected and distorted them. This ayah emphasizes that those who reject or alter God's blessings and guidance after receiving clear knowledge face severe punishment from Allah. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir note this addresses the willful ingratitude and deviation of the Israelites, serving as a warning to the Muslim community to value and preserve divine guidance.

Revelation Context

Revealed in Medina during a period when the Prophet was engaging with Jewish communities in Arabia. The ayah is part of the broader Quranic discourse addressing the People of the Book (Ahl al-Kitab) regarding their rejection of prophets and distortion of scripture, establishing the superiority and finality of the Islamic message.

Related Hadiths

The hadith of the Qur'an being a cure and mercy (Sahih Muslim 2174) relates to rejecting divine blessings. Additionally, the hadith warning against altering the deen after the Prophet's time (Sunan Ibn Majah 43) connects thematically to changing God's blessings and guidance.

Themes

Ingratitude and rejection of divine signsDistortion and alteration of revelationDivine punishment for those who reject guidanceHistory of the Children of IsraelAccountability for rejecting mercy

Key Lesson

This ayah teaches us that receiving divine guidance carries immense responsibility—merely knowing the truth is insufficient without sincere acceptance and implementation. We must guard against spiritual ingratitude and the gradual erosion of our faith by worldly desires, remembering that Allah's justice is swift and certain for those who knowingly reject His blessings.

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Related Ayahs

2:123Al-Baqarah

وَٱتَّقُوا۟ يَوْمًا لَّا تَجْزِى نَفْسٌ عَن نَّفْسٍ شَيْـًٔا وَلَا يُقْبَلُ مِنْهَا عَدْلٌ وَلَا تَنفَعُهَا شَفَـٰعَةٌ وَلَا هُمْ يُنصَرُونَ

And fear a Day when no soul will suffice for another soul at all, and no compensation will be accepted from it, nor will any intercession benefit it, nor will they be aided.

2:42Al-Baqarah

وَلَا تَلْبِسُوا۟ ٱلْحَقَّ بِٱلْبَـٰطِلِ وَتَكْتُمُوا۟ ٱلْحَقَّ وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ

And do not mix the truth with falsehood or conceal the truth while you know [it].

2:275Al-Baqarah

ٱلَّذِينَ يَأْكُلُونَ ٱلرِّبَوٰا۟ لَا يَقُومُونَ إِلَّا كَمَا يَقُومُ ٱلَّذِى يَتَخَبَّطُهُ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ مِنَ ٱلْمَسِّ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّمَا ٱلْبَيْعُ مِثْلُ ٱلرِّبَوٰا۟ ۗ وَأَحَلَّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْبَيْعَ وَحَرَّمَ ٱلرِّبَوٰا۟ ۚ فَمَن جَآءَهُۥ مَوْعِظَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ فَٱنتَهَىٰ فَلَهُۥ مَا سَلَفَ وَأَمْرُهُۥٓ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَمَنْ عَادَ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ

Those who consume interest cannot stand [on the Day of Resurrection] except as one stands who is being beaten by Satan into insanity. That is because they say, "Trade is [just] like interest." But Allāh has permitted trade and has forbidden interest. So whoever has received an admonition from his Lord and desists may have what is past, and his affair rests with Allāh. But whoever returns [to dealing in interest or usury] - those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide eternally therein.

2:90Al-Baqarah

بِئْسَمَا ٱشْتَرَوْا۟ بِهِۦٓ أَنفُسَهُمْ أَن يَكْفُرُوا۟ بِمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ بَغْيًا أَن يُنَزِّلَ ٱللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِۦ عَلَىٰ مَن يَشَآءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِۦ ۖ فَبَآءُو بِغَضَبٍ عَلَىٰ غَضَبٍ ۚ وَلِلْكَـٰفِرِينَ عَذَابٌ مُّهِينٌ

How wretched is that for which they sold themselves - that they would disbelieve in what Allāh has revealed through [their] outrage that Allāh would send down His favor upon whom He wills from among His servants. So they returned having [earned] wrath upon wrath. And for the disbelievers is a humiliating punishment.