يَـٰبَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ ٱذْكُرُوا۟ نِعْمَتِىَ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَنْعَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَأَوْفُوا۟ بِعَهْدِىٓ أُوفِ بِعَهْدِكُمْ وَإِيَّـٰىَ فَٱرْهَبُونِ 40
Translations
O Children of Israel, remember My favor which I have bestowed upon you and fulfill My covenant [upon you] that I will fulfill your covenant [from Me], and be afraid of [only] Me.
Transliteration
Ya bani isra'ila udhkuru ni'mati allatī an'amtu 'alaikum wa-awfū bi-'ahdī ūfin bi-'ahdikum wa-iyyāya farhabūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah addresses the Children of Israel, commanding them to remember His favors (the miracles and deliverance from Egypt, the Torah, and the covenant) and to fulfill His covenant, promising that He will fulfill His covenant with them in return. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that this verse establishes the principle of reciprocal covenant (mu'āhada) between Allah and His people—if they honor their obligations, Allah will honor His promise, and they should fear only Him. The verse also implies a warning that failure to honor the covenant would result in the withdrawal of divine blessings.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the opening section of Surah Al-Baqarah (ayat 40-103), which directly addresses the Children of Israel regarding their covenant with Allah. Revealed in Medina where a significant Jewish population dwelled, the surah reminds them of their responsibilities after receiving the Torah and emphasizes their duty to honor the divine covenant, setting the foundation for the Islamic-Jewish relations in the nascent Muslim state.
Related Hadiths
The hadith of 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar (reported in Sahih Bukhari): 'The most truthful speech is the Book of Allah, and the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad,' reflects the value of honoring divine revelation and covenant. Also relevant is the hadith in Sahih Muslim regarding the sanctity of covenants: 'On the Day of Resurrection, the most detested person to Allah will be the one who breaks covenants.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that gratitude for divine blessings must be paired with fulfilling our covenant obligations to Allah—sincere remembrance without action is insufficient. It also reminds us that our relationship with the Divine is based on mutual commitment: as we honor our promises to Allah through obedience, He honors His promises of mercy and guidance.
Related Ayahs
فِى قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ فَزَادَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ مَرَضًا ۖ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌۢ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْذِبُونَ
In their hearts is disease, so Allāh has increased their disease; and for them is a painful punishment because they [habitually] used to lie.
خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا ۖ لَا يُخَفَّفُ عَنْهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ وَلَا هُمْ يُنظَرُونَ
Abiding eternally therein. The punishment will not be lightened for them, nor will they be reprieved.
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.
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱشْتَرَوُا۟ ٱلضَّلَـٰلَةَ بِٱلْهُدَىٰ وَٱلْعَذَابَ بِٱلْمَغْفِرَةِ ۚ فَمَآ أَصْبَرَهُمْ عَلَى ٱلنَّارِ
Those are the ones who have exchanged guidance for error and forgiveness for punishment. How patient they are for [i.e., in pursuit of] the Fire!