وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوْمِهِ ٱذْكُرُوا۟ نِعْمَةَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ أَنجَىٰكُم مِّنْ ءَالِ فِرْعَوْنَ يَسُومُونَكُمْ سُوٓءَ ٱلْعَذَابِ وَيُذَبِّحُونَ أَبْنَآءَكُمْ وَيَسْتَحْيُونَ نِسَآءَكُمْ ۚ وَفِى ذَٰلِكُم بَلَآءٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ عَظِيمٌ 6
Translations
And [recall, O Children of Israel], when Moses said to his people, "Remember the favor of Allāh upon you when He saved you from the people of Pharaoh, who were afflicting you with the worst torment and were slaughtering your [newborn] sons and keeping your females alive. And in that was a great trial from your Lord.
Transliteration
Wa-idh qala Musa liqawmihi idh-kuru ni'mata Allahi alaikum idh anjaakum min ali Fir'awna yasuumunakum su'a al-'adhabi wa-yadhabbihuna abnaa'akum wa-yastahyuna nisaa'akum wa-fi dhalikum bala'un min rabbikum 'adhim
Tafsir (Explanation)
In this ayah, Prophet Musa (Moses) reminds the Children of Israel to recall Allah's immense favor in delivering them from the oppression of Pharaoh's people, who subjected them to severe torment, killed their sons, and enslaved their women. Ibn Kathir notes this was a call to gratitude and remembrance of divine deliverance, emphasizing that such trials served as a great test (bala') from Allah to purify their faith. Al-Tabari highlights that this reminder was meant to strengthen their monotheism and trust in Allah during their subsequent trials in the wilderness.
Revelation Context
Surah Ibrahim (Chapter 14) is a Meccan surah revealed to strengthen the believers during early Islamic persecution. While this specific ayah recounts Musa's historical address to his people, it serves as a parallel comfort to the early Muslims facing Meccan opposition, reminding them that Allah has always delivered His believers from tyranny. The surah's theme of gratitude and remembrance of Allah's favors connects to the early Muslim community's struggle.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Muslim (no. 2803) records that the Prophet Muhammad said: 'The best of you are those who learn the Quran and teach it'—relevant because Musa's reminder was an act of teaching and reminding about Allah's blessings. Additionally, Sunan Ibn Majah contains traditions about remembering Allah's favors as a means of increasing faith and steadfastness.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us to regularly reflect upon Allah's blessings and deliverances in our lives, both personal and collective, as gratitude strengthens faith and resilience during hardships. It reminds modern believers that apparent trials and difficulties are often divine tests that refine our character and deepen our reliance on the Almighty.