وَإِذْ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَـٰقَ بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ لَا تَعْبُدُونَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ وَبِٱلْوَٰلِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا وَذِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَٱلْيَتَـٰمَىٰ وَٱلْمَسَـٰكِينِ وَقُولُوا۟ لِلنَّاسِ حُسْنًا وَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُوا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ ثُمَّ تَوَلَّيْتُمْ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا مِّنكُمْ وَأَنتُم مُّعْرِضُونَ 83
Translations
And [recall] when We took the covenant from the Children of Israel, [enjoining upon them], "Do not worship except Allāh; and to parents do good and to relatives, orphans, and the needy. And speak to people good [words] and establish prayer and give zakāh." Then you turned away, except a few of you, and you were refusing.
Transliteration
Wa-idh akhadhna mīthāqa banī Isrā'īl lā ta'budūn illā Allāh wa-bil-wālidayn ihsān wa-dhī al-qurbā wa-al-yatāmā wa-al-masākīn wa-qūlū lil-nās husnan wa-aqīmū al-salāt wa-ātū al-zakāt thumma tawallaytum illā qalīl minkum wa-antum mu'ridūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the covenant (mīthāq) that Allah took from the Children of Israel, binding them to worship Him alone and to practice virtuous conduct toward parents, relatives, orphans, and the poor, while speaking kindly to people and establishing prayer and giving zakah. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this covenant encapsulates the core obligations of the Torah, reflecting the timeless principles of monotheism and social justice. The closing statement—'then you turned away, except for a few of you, while you were averse'—serves as a rebuke, indicating that the majority of Bani Israel violated this sacred covenant, making it a historical lesson about the consequences of breaking divine promises.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of a Medinan passage that addresses the People of the Book, specifically the Jews in Medina. It contextualizes the failings of Bani Israel by recalling their original covenant with Allah, serving to remind both them and the Muslim community of the fundamental principles that transcend all revelations. The verse is part of a broader thematic section (2:40-103) discussing the relationship between Allah and Bani Israel.
Related Hadiths
1) The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family.' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3895). 2) 'Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should speak good words or remain silent; and whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should be kind to his neighbor; and whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should be kind to his guest.' (Sahih Bukhari 5672).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah emphasizes that fulfilling covenants with Allah is inseparable from compassion toward the vulnerable and ethical behavior toward all people; modern believers should recognize that true worship encompasses both vertical devotion to Allah and horizontal justice and kindness in society. The warning about turning away from the covenant serves as a reminder that faith without practice is hollow, and that accountability applies equally to all communities throughout history.
Related Ayahs
قُولُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا بِٱللَّهِ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْنَا وَمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَىٰٓ إِبْرَٰهِـۧمَ وَإِسْمَـٰعِيلَ وَإِسْحَـٰقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَٱلْأَسْبَاطِ وَمَآ أُوتِىَ مُوسَىٰ وَعِيسَىٰ وَمَآ أُوتِىَ ٱلنَّبِيُّونَ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِّنْهُمْ وَنَحْنُ لَهُۥ مُسْلِمُونَ
Say, [O believers], "We have believed in Allāh and what has been revealed to us and what has been revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the Descendants [al-Asbāṭ] and what was given to Moses and Jesus and what was given to the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and we are Muslims [in submission] to Him."
وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُم بِشَىْءٍ مِّنَ ٱلْخَوْفِ وَٱلْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ ٱلْأَمْوَٰلِ وَٱلْأَنفُسِ وَٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ
And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient,
وَٱلْمُطَلَّقَـٰتُ يَتَرَبَّصْنَ بِأَنفُسِهِنَّ ثَلَـٰثَةَ قُرُوٓءٍ ۚ وَلَا يَحِلُّ لَهُنَّ أَن يَكْتُمْنَ مَا خَلَقَ ٱللَّهُ فِىٓ أَرْحَامِهِنَّ إِن كُنَّ يُؤْمِنَّ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ ۚ وَبُعُولَتُهُنَّ أَحَقُّ بِرَدِّهِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ إِنْ أَرَادُوٓا۟ إِصْلَـٰحًا ۚ وَلَهُنَّ مِثْلُ ٱلَّذِى عَلَيْهِنَّ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ ۚ وَلِلرِّجَالِ عَلَيْهِنَّ دَرَجَةٌ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ
Divorced women remain in waiting [i.e., do not remarry] for three periods, and it is not lawful for them to conceal what Allāh has created in their wombs if they believe in Allāh and the Last Day. And their husbands have more right to take them back in this [period] if they want reconciliation. And due to them [i.e., the wives] is similar to what is expected of them, according to what is reasonable. But the men [i.e., husbands] have a degree over them [in responsibility and authority]. And Allāh is Exalted in Might and Wise.
إِنَّآ أَرْسَلْنَـٰكَ بِٱلْحَقِّ بَشِيرًا وَنَذِيرًا ۖ وَلَا تُسْـَٔلُ عَنْ أَصْحَـٰبِ ٱلْجَحِيمِ
Indeed, We have sent you, [O Muḥammad], with the truth as a bringer of good tidings and a warner, and you will not be asked about the companions of Hellfire.