Posted by Umm Sahl in Quran Reminders | 5 Comments
The Ummah of Muhammad (SAW) is Better
يَـٰبَنِىٓ إِسۡرَٲٓءِيلَ ٱذۡكُرُواْ نِعۡمَتِىَ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَنۡعَمۡتُ
عَلَيۡكُمۡ وَأَنِّى فَضَّلۡتُكُمۡ عَلَى ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ
O Children of Israel! Remember My favor which I bestowed upon you and that I preferred you over the `Alamin (nations) (2:47)
Reminding the Children of Israel that They were preferred above the Other Nations
Allah reminds the Children of Israel of the favors that He granted their fathers and grandfathers, how He showed preference to them by sending them Messengers from among them and revealing Books to them, more so than any of the other previous nations. Similarly, Allah said,
And We chose them (the Children of Israel) over the `Alamin, (nations) with knowledge. (44:32) and,
And (remember) when Musa (Moses) said to his people: “O my people! Remember the favor of Allah to you: when He made Prophets among you, made you kings, honored you above the `Alamin (nations).” (5:20).
(and that I preferred you over the `Alamin) means, “The kingship, Messengers and Books that were granted to them, instead of granting such to the other kingdoms that existed during their time, for every period there is a nation.”
The Ummah of Muhammad is Better than the Children of Israel
This is the only way the Ayah can be understood, because this Ummah is better than theirs, as Allah said;
You are the best of people ever raised up for mankind; you enjoin good and forbid evil, and you believe in Allah. And had the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) believed, it would have been better for them (3:110). (Tafsir Ibn Kathir)
Umm Sahl, your sister in Islam, a wife and mother of 3 beautiful blessed babies
Subhan Allah!
Preferred Nation… Masha Allah
Assalamu Alaikum!!
Subuhanallah! I just finished these Ayahs regarding the Bani Israel in my Tafseer class.
What it means is that they were the preferred nation at that time for all of the reasons stated above but they didn’t fulfill any of the commands they were asked to follow… (1)They were asked to hold on firmly to the Tawrah, but they said " we hear and we disobey"[2:93],changed it with their own hands [2:79], believing in some parts whilst disbelieving in others [2:85]. (2) A few of the Prophets that were sent to them they belied and others they killed(including Zackariya and Yahya (AS)) and tried to kill others like Isa (AS) and Muhammed (SAL)[2:87] (3) Having just witnessed the splitting of the Red Sea, a miracle from Allah which no man has ever seen or could even visualise, they took to the worship of a calf in the absence of Musa (AS), which was blatant Shirk [2:54&92]. (4) Rejected Isa (AS) and the Injil (5) Rejected Muhammed (SAW) and the Qur’an (which was only confirming what was with them in the Tawrah for Muhammed (SAW)’s description was given in the Tawrah (2:89). They disobeyed Allah (SWT) in many more instances.
Chances upon chances were given to them by Allah for they were the chosen nation but they chose to disobey(after having known the truth, acknowledging it as the truth, understanding it and then eventually rejecting it).They only earned the wrath of Allah upon themselves (2:90).
So Allah made the Ummah of Muhammed (SAW) the chosen nation after the Children of Israel so as to implement His Deen on earth.So we are tested now like the Bani Israel was before us, in the implementation of our Deen!! In short they are a people from whom many lessons can be derived so that we can avoid the mistakes they committed.
JazakAllahu Khairan sister Raunaq
It was very nice of you for sharing these points with us. Continue the participation and help us learn more:)
Wa Iyyaki… Insha Allah I’ll try my best to share what I learn. As of today I’ve finished 112 verses of Surah Baqarah and beleive me just getting to know what Allah (SWT) is saying to us is just amazing and is a Great Emaan Booster.
An Advice to everyone out there: Just get conneceted to Allah (SWT) through the Qur’an and feel your life changing for the best Insha Allah!!