وَإِذْ قُلْتُمْ يَـٰمُوسَىٰ لَن نُّؤْمِنَ لَكَ حَتَّىٰ نَرَى ٱللَّهَ جَهْرَةً فَأَخَذَتْكُمُ ٱلصَّـٰعِقَةُ وَأَنتُمْ تَنظُرُونَ 55
Translations
And [recall] when you said, "O Moses, we will never believe you until we see Allāh outright"; so the thunderbolt took you while you were looking on.
Transliteration
Wa-idh qultum ya Musa lan nu'mina laka hatta nara Allaha jahrah fa-akhdhattakumu al-saa'iqah wa-antum tanzurun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the incident when the Children of Israel demanded to see Allah directly and visibly before they would believe in Moses' message. As a consequence of their arrogance and unreasonable demand, Allah sent down a thunderbolt (al-saa'iqah) that struck them while they were watching, which was a severe punishment for their transgression. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this event occurred after the Israelites witnessed the parting of the sea and other miracles, yet still their faith wavered due to their stubbornness and demand for the impossible—seeing the Unseen with their own eyes.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Baqarah's narrative recounting the history of the Children of Israel and their repeated ingratitude and disobedience. The verse specifically references the incident that occurred during the time of Prophet Moses when the Israelites, despite witnessing numerous miracles, demanded to see Allah directly. This thematic context emphasizes the pattern of human rebellion against divine guidance and the consequences of such arrogance.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Muslim records that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) mentioned that among the previous nations, seventy thousand were destroyed by a single thunderbolt due to their disobedience. Additionally, various hadith collections reference the severity of the punishment inflicted on those who reject clear signs, as seen in Surah Al-Baqarah 55.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that faith based on rational demands for supernatural proof, especially demands contrary to divine nature (like seeing the Unseen), reflects spiritual arrogance and a lack of true submission. For modern believers, it serves as a reminder that true faith requires accepting the limits of human perception and trusting in Allah's wisdom, rather than making unreasonable conditions for belief.
Related Ayahs
ءَامَنَ ٱلرَّسُولُ بِمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مِن رَّبِّهِۦ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ۚ كُلٌّ ءَامَنَ بِٱللَّهِ وَمَلَـٰٓئِكَتِهِۦ وَكُتُبِهِۦ وَرُسُلِهِۦ لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِّن رُّسُلِهِۦ ۚ وَقَالُوا۟ سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا ۖ غُفْرَانَكَ رَبَّنَا وَإِلَيْكَ ٱلْمَصِيرُ
The Messenger has believed in what was revealed to him from his Lord, and [so have] the believers. All of them have believed in Allāh and His angels and His books and His messengers, [saying], "We make no distinction between any of His messengers." And they say, "We hear and we obey. [We seek] Your forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the [final] destination."
وَقَالُوا۟ ٱتَّخَذَ ٱللَّهُ وَلَدًا ۗ سُبْحَـٰنَهُۥ ۖ بَل لَّهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ كُلٌّ لَّهُۥ قَـٰنِتُونَ
They say, "Allāh has taken a son." Exalted is He! Rather, to Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and the earth. All are devoutly obedient to Him,
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ وَأَقَامُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتَوُا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ لَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ
Indeed, those who believe and do righteous deeds and establish prayer and give zakāh will have their reward with their Lord, and there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.
كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ
Thus does Allāh make clear to you His verses [i.e., laws] that you might use reason.