Word يَٰمُوسَىٰ - Quran Morphology

English - Hazrat Molavi Sher Ali ^ra

And remember the time when you said: ‘O Moses, surely, we will not remain content with one kind of food; pray, then, to thy Lord for us that He bring forth for us of what the earth grows — of its herbs and its cucumbers and its wheat and its lentils and its onions.’ He said: ‘Would you take in exchange that which is inferior for that which is superior? Go down to some town, and there is for you what you ask.’ And they were smitten with abasement and destitution, and they incurred the wrath of Allah: that was because they rejected the Signs of Allah and would kill the Prophets unjustly; that was because they rebelled and transgressed.

اردو ترجمہ مرزا طاہر احمد خلیفة المسیح الرابعؒ

اور جب تم نے کہا اے موسیٰ! ہم ایک ہی کھانے پر ہرگز صبر نہیں کر سکیں گے ۔ پس ہمارے لئے اپنے ربّ سے دعا کر کہ وہ ہمارے لئے وہ چیزیں نکالے جو زمین اُگاتی ہے از قسم اپنی سبزیوں کے اور اپنی ککڑیوں کے اور اپنی گندم کے اور اپنی دالوں کے اور اپنے پیاز کے۔اس نے کہا کیا تم تبدیل کرنا چاہتے ہو اُس سے جو ادنیٰ ہے اُس چیز کو جو بہتر ہے؟ تم کسی شہر میں داخل ہو جاؤ۔ یقیناً تمہیں وہ مل جائے گا جو تم نے طلب کیا ہے۔ اور ان پر ذلت اور مسکینی کی مار ڈالی گئی اور وہ اللہ کا غضب لے کر لوٹے۔ یہ اس لئے ہوا کہ وہ اللہ کے نشانات کا انکار کیا کرتے تھے اور انبیاءکو ناحق قتل کرتے تھے۔ (ہاں) یہ اس لئے ہوا کہ انہوں نے نافرمانی کی اور وہ حد سے تجاوز کیا کرتے تھے۔

French

Et souvenez-vous quand vous aviez dit : « Ô Moïse, en vérité nous ne pouvons plus nous contenter d’une seule sorte de nourriture. Prie donc ton Seigneur en notre faveur afin qu’Il fasse sortir pour nous de ce que la terre produit, de ses légumes, ses concombres, son froment, ses lentilles, ses oignons. » Il répondit : « Voudrez-vous prendre ce qui est inférieur en échange de ce qui est supérieur ? Descendez dans une ville quelconque où vous trouverez ce que vous demandez. » Et ils furent frappés d’humiliation et de misère et ils encoururent la colère d’Allāh. C’était parce qu’ils avaient rejeté les Signes d’Allāh, et mettaient injustement les Prophètes à mort chaque fois qu’ils le pouvaient ; c’était parce qu’ils avaient désobéi et avaient transgressé.

German

Und (gedenket der Zeit) da ihr sprachet: "O Mose, gewiss, wir werden uns nicht zufrieden geben mit einerlei Speise; bitte also deinen Herrn für uns, dass Er für uns hervorbringe von dem, was die Erde wachsen lässt – von ihren Kräutern und ihren Gurken und ihrem Weizen und ihren Linsen und ihren Zwiebeln." Er sprach: "Wolltet ihr das Geringere in Tausch nehmen für das Bessere? Geht in irgendeine Stadt, und ihr werdet finden, was ihr verlangt." Und sie wurden mit Schande und Elend geschlagen, und sie luden Allahs Zorn auf sich; dies, weil sie die Zeichen Allahs verwarfen und die Propheten zu Unrecht töten wollten; das war, weil sie widerspenstig waren und frevelten.

Chinese

(也要记得那个时候:) 当你们说: “穆撒啊! 我们忍受不了一种食物。请你替我们祈求你的养主为我们从大地上生长一些物品-------蔬菜、黄瓜、麦子、扁豆、大葱。” (当时) 他说: “难道你们要以高贵的东西替换低贱的东西吗? (如果是这样,) 你们 (就) 到一座城里去吧! (在那里) 你们一定会得到你们所要求的。” 之后, [a]他们常遭受耻辱和困乏, [b]成为安拉恼怒的对象。(这结局) 是因为他们不信安拉的迹象, 企图枉杀[57] [c]先知。而这 (罪行) 是因为他们不服从且又经常作奸犯科。

Italian

E ricordate il tempo in cui voi diceste: «Mosè, di certo noi non ci accontenteremo di una sola specie di cibo; prega quindi il tuo Signore per noi, affinché Egli faccia maturare per noi dalla terra quel che essa produce: le sue erbe e i suoi cetrioli e il suo grano e le sue lenticchie e le sue cipolle.» Egli disse: «Volete prendere ciò che è inferiore in cambio di ciò che è superiore? Andatevene in qualche città, dove troverete quel che chiedete.» Ed essi furono colpiti dalla vergogna e dalla miseria ed incorsero nell'ira di Allah. Questo per aver rigettato i segni di Allah e per aver voluto uccidere i profeti ingiustamente; e ciò perché si erano ribellati ed avevano trasgredito.

Spanish

Y acordaos de cuando dijisteis: “Oh, Moisés, ciertamente no soportaremos una sola clase de comida; ruega, pues, a tu Señor por nosotros para que haga brotar a nuestro favor lo que la tierra produce: sus hierbas, sus pepinos, su trigo, sus lentejas y sus cebollas”. Él dijo: “¿Acaso vais a cambiar lo inferior por lo superior? Bajad a alguna ciudad y allí tendréis lo que pedís.” Y fueron golpeados con el abatimiento y la pobreza, e incurrieron en la cólera de Al-lah: así ocurrió porque rechazaron los Signos de Al-lah y mataron injustamente a los Profetas; y fue porque se rebelaron y fueron transgresores.

اردو تفسیرِ صغیر

اور (اس وقت کو بھی یاد کرو) جب تم نے کہا تھا کہ اے موسیٰ! ہم ایک ہی کھانے پر صبر نہیں کر سکیں گے اس لئے تو ہمارے لئے اپنے رب سے دعا کر کہ وہ ہمارے لئے بعض ایسی چیزیں جنہیں زمین اگاتی ہے پیدا کرے۔ یعنی اس کی سبزیاں‘ ککڑیاں‘ گیہوں‘ مسور اور پیاز۔ (اس پر اللہ نے) کہا کہ کیا تم اس چیز کی بجائے جو اعلیٰ ہے اس چیز کو لینا چاہتے ہو جو ادنیٰ ہے۔ کسی شہر میں چلے جاؤ (وہاں) جو کچھ تم نے مانگا ہے تمہیں ضرور مل جائے گا (تب) انہیں ہمیشہ کے لئے ذلیل اور بے بس کر دیا گیا اور وہ اللہ کے غضب کا مورد بن گئے۔ یہ اس وجہ سے (ہوا) کہ وہ اللہ کی آیتوں کا انکار کرتے تھے اور نبیوں کو ناحق قتل کرنا چاہتے تھے (اور) یہ (گناہ) ان کے نافرمانی کرنے اور حد سے بڑھے ہوئے ہونے کے سبب سے (ان میں پیدا ہو گیا) تھا۔

English - Short Commentary Translation

And remember when you said, ‘O Moses, surely, we will not remain content with one kind of food; pray, then, to thy Lord for us that He may bring forth for us of what the earth grows—of its herbs and its cucumbers and its wheat and its lentils and its onions.’ He said, ‘Would you take in exchange that which is worse for that which is better? Go down to some town and there is for you what you ask.’[102] And [a]they were smitten with abasement and destitution, and [b]they incurred the wrath of Allah; that was because they rejected the Signs of Allah and sought to slay[103] [c]the Prophets unjustly; that was because they rebelled and transgressed.

English - Five Volume Translation

And remember the time when you said, ‘O Moses, surely, we will not remain content with one kind of food; pray, then, to thy Lord for us that He bring forth for us of what the earth grows—of its herbs and its cucumbers and its wheat and its lentils and its onions’. He said: ‘Would you take in exchange that which is inferior for that which is superior? Go to some town, and there is for you what you ask’. And [a]they were smitten with abasement and destitution, and [b]they incurred the wrath of Allah: that was because they rejected the Signs of Allah and [c]would kill the Prophets unjustly; that was because they rebelled and transgressed.[68]

3:113.

2:91; 3:113; 5:61.

2:88; 3:22, 113, 184; 5:71.

Important Words:

فومھا (its wheat). فوم means: (1) wheat; (2) any corn suitable for making bread; (3) garlic; (4) chick-pea (Aqrab).

مصر (a town) means:(1) a town or a city; (2) the frontier between two countries; (3) the thing that intervenes between two things (Aqrab).

یقتلون (would kill) is derived from قتل i.e. he killed. The infinitive means: (1) killing with a sword or with a stone or with poison or by any other means; (2) attempting to kill; (3) making up the mind to kill; (4) boycotting or cutting off all connections; (5) killing one’s carnal desires; (6) weakening the strength of a thing, as alcohol is "killed" with the addition of water, or hunger is "killed" with food, etc.; (7) humbling a person completely; (8) rendering a person like unto one killed either physically or morally or spiritually; (9) acquiring complete and certain knowledge about a thing; and (10) cursing a person or thing (Aqrab, Mufradat & Lisan)

Commentary:

In this verse another instance is cited to show how the Israelites made no effort to turn the favours of God to good account. When they were in the desert, God sent them Manna and Salwa. But soon after this they began to exhibit discontent with one kind of food and to clamour for a variety of grain, onions, salad and green-stuff (Num. 11:5-11). It may be noted that both Manna and Salwa taken together were considered one kind of food as they were taken continuously for a long time. It is further learnt from the Bible that the supply of Salwa was discontinued after a while and the Israelites were thus left to live on Manna alone (Num. 11:6). As the demand was not based on a right understanding of the wisdom of God Who wanted the Israelites to breathe the free air of the desert for a time, they met with disgrace and drew upon themselves the wrath of God.

God’s displeasure with the Israelites was not due to their demand for other food. The real cause lay elsewhere. Having lived for a long time in bondage and a state of dependence, they had become cowardly and indolent. So God wished them to stay in the desert for sometime, living on game and wild herbs, that they might get rid of their cowardice and indolence by living an independent life in the desert. Thus revitalized, they were to be led to the Promised Land and made rulers of Palestine. The Israelites, however, failed to understand the real purpose of God or having understood it, failed to appreciate it, and foolishly insisted upon living in a town. God pointed out their error, saying that they had asked for a life of agriculture in preference to what was to lead them to sovereignty. He wanted to prepare them for rule over the Promised Land, but they hungered for husbandry. So He indignantly ordered them to go down to a town where they would get the desired things.

The Israelites deserved punishment, because their impatience was the outcome of a want of faith in the promise of God. This lack of faith in God was due to their opposition to His Prophets and, disbelief in His Signs, and they opposed the Prophets because they were transgressors and evildoers. The Prophets invited them to guidance and virtue which they disliked, and, as a result, they opposed them. Thus the Quran admirably traces the causal sequence of every evil to its origin and strikes at its very root so as to prevent all possibility of recurrence.

The words, we will not remain content with one kind of food, contain a threat and are full of arrogance. If the Israelites had meant simply to express a wish, the words would have been "we are unable to remain content with one kind of food," and not as they stand in the Quran. The Bible gives a vivid picture of their insolent and almost rebellious attitude on this occasion (Num. 11:5-15).

The words یقتلون النبیین translated in the verse as "would kill the Prophets" do not mean that the Israelites actually killed the Prophets, because, up to the time of Moses, no Prophet is known to have been slain by them. As a matter of fact, Moses is the first Prophet who was sent to the Israelites as a nation. Thus Moses and his brother, Aaron, are the only persons to whom the words can be applied; but obviously these two Prophets were not killed by the Israelites, although the latter often opposed them and were sometimes even bent upon killing them (Exod. 17:4). Hence, the word قتل in the verse cannot possibly mean actual killing. Its only meaning here is that they severely opposed the Prophets and were even prepared to kill them. This interpretation finds corroboration not only in Arabic lexicons, for which see Important Words, but the Quran itself supports it in a number of verses where the word قتل has been used undoubtedly, not in the sense of actual killing but in that of attempting to kill or intending to kill (3:22 and 40:29). Bukhari also relates a tradition to the effect that once certain hot-headed Quraish youths brutally assaulted the Holy Prophet in the precincts of the Ka‘bah, whereupon Abu Bakr rushed to his rescue, saying, اتقتلون رجلا ان یقول ربی الله "Do you kill a man because he says Allah is his Lord and Master?" (chapter on Tafsir). In this hadith the word قتل is clearly used in the sense of attempting to kill or intending to kill and not actual killing.

It will not be out of place to point out here that the purport of verse 2:59 discussed above is altogether different from the one under comment. Though in both of them God apparently orders the Israelites to go to some habitation, yet the meaning is entirely different, rather quite the opposite in each case. As a matter of fact, whereas in verse 2:59 God Himself willingly commands the Israelites to go to some habitation, His ordering them to "go down into a town" in the verse under comment is expressive of definite displeasure and anger. In the previous verse the قریة or habitation meant only a habitation found in the desert by going into which the Israelites did not leave the free desert life but rather combined it with the facilities of a habitation. On the contrary, by "going down into" a مصر i.e. a town or city as mentioned in the verse under comment, they altogether abandoned the desert life and adopted a life of ease, as is led in towns and cities. Hence the difference. This is why the Quran uses the simple word ادخلوا i.e. "enter" in 2:59 and the word اھبطوا i.e. "go down", a term expressive of decline, in the verse under comment. Similarly, whereas in verse 2:59 the Quran follows up the commandment with the words eat therefrom plentifully wherever you like, in the present verse the commandment is followed by the words and they were smitten with abasement and destitution. The difference is apparent. The former expression is indicative of the freedom of life in the desert, and the latter of the suffocating atmosphere and mental slavery of towns and cities.

اردو ترجمہ مودودی

یاد کرو، جب تم نے کہا تھا کہ، "اے موسیٰؑ، ہم ایک ہی طرح کے کھانے پر صبر نہیں کرسکتے اپنے رب سے دعا کرو کہ ہمارے لیے زمین کی پیداوار ساگ، ترکاری، کھیرا، ککڑی، گیہوں، لہسن، پیاز، دال وغیرہ پیدا کرے" تو موسیٰؑ نے کہا: "کیا ایک بہتر چیز کے بجائے تم ادنیٰ درجے کی چیزیں لینا چاہتے ہو؟ اچھا، کسی شہری آبادی میں جا رہو جو کچھ تم مانگتے ہو، وہاں مل جائے گا" آخر کار نوبت یہاں تک پہنچی کہ ذلت و خواری اور پستی و بد حالی اُن پر مسلط ہو گئی اور وہ اللہ کے غضب میں گھر گئے یہ نتیجہ تھا اس کا کہ وہ اللہ کی آیات سے کفر کرنے لگے اور پیغمبروں کو ناحق قتل کرنے لگے یہ نتیجہ تھا ان کی نافرمانیوں کا اور اس بات کا کہ وہ حدود شرع سے نکل نکل جاتے تھے

English - Sahih

And [recall] when you said, "O Moses, we can never endure one [kind of] food. So call upon your Lord to bring forth for us from the earth its green herbs and its cucumbers and its garlic and its lentils and its onions." [Moses] said, "Would you exchange what is better for what is less? Go into [any] settlement and indeed, you will have what you have asked." And they were covered with humiliation and poverty and returned with anger from Allah [upon them]. That was because they [repeatedly] disbelieved in the signs of Allah and killed the prophets without right. That was because they disobeyed and were [habitually] transgressing.

اردو ترجمہ احمد علی

اور جب تم نے کہا اے موسیٰ ہم ایک ہی طرح کے کھانے پر ہرگز صبر نہ کریں گے سو ہمارے لیے اپنے رب سے دعا مانگ کہ وہ ہمارے لیے زمین کی پیداوار میں سے ساگ اور ککڑی اور گیہوں اور مسور اور پیاز پیدا کر دے کہا کیا تم اس چیز کو لینا چاہتے ہو جو ادنیٰ ہے بدلہ اس کے جو بہتر ہے کسی شہر میں اُترو بے شک جو تم مانگتے ہو تمہیں ملے گا اور ان پر ذلت اور محتاجی ڈال دی گئی اور انہوں نے غضب الہیٰ کمایا یہ اس لیے کہ وہ الله کی نشانیوں کا انکار کرتے تھے اور نبیوں کو ناحق قتل کرتے تھے یہ اس لیے کہ نافرمان تھے اور حد سے بڑھ جاتے تھے

English - Talal Itani

And when you said, "O Musa! Never (will) we endure [on] food (of) one (kind), so pray for us (to) your Lord to bring forth for us out of what grows the earth, of its herbs, [and] its cucumbers, [and] its garlic, [and] its lentils, and its onions." He said, "Would you exchange that which [it] (is) inferior for that which [it] (is) better? Go down (to) a city, so indeed for you (is) what you have asked (for)." And were struck on them the humiliation and the misery and they drew on themselves wrath of Allah That (was) because they used to disbelieve in (the) Signs (of) Allah and kill the Prophets without (any) [the] right. That (was) because they disobeyed and they were transgressing.

Chinese Commentary ^*

Cross Refs:

a

3:113.

b

2:91; 3:113; 5:61.

c

2:88; 3:22, 113, 184; 5:71.

57

قَتْل (Qatl) 这词除了它的主要意义为实际杀死之外, 还有企图或打算杀死; 拷打; 诅咒; 与之无关以及抵销事物的坏影响; 而词语 يَقْتُلُوْنَ النَّبِيّٖنَ (yaqtulunan-Nabiyyin) 并不含意为古以色列人实际上杀害了那些先知, 因为直到穆撒那时期, 并不知道有先知曾被他们杀害。事实上, 穆撒是第一位先知被送往作为民族的古以色列人那里去的。这些话只有他和他的兄弟哈融 (哈伦) 用得上, 但很明显他们没有被古以色列人杀死, 尽管他们有时候曾一心想把他们俩兄弟杀死 («出埃及记»17:4)。因此 قَتْل (Qatl) 这词在本节经文中不能解释为 “真正杀死”。它只能含意为他们极端反对先知, 如果他们能够的话, 他们想把他们俩兄弟杀死。请参考3:22和40:29。

اردہ تفصیرِ صغیر نوٹس ^*

English - Arberry

And when you said, 'Moses, we will not endure one sort of food; pray to thy Lord for us, that He may bring forth for us of that the earth produces - green herbs, cucumbers, corn, lentils, onions.' He said, 'Would you have in exchange what is meaner for what is better? Get you down to Egypt; you shall have there that you demanded.' And abasement and poverty were pitched upon them, and they were laden with the burden of God's anger; that, because they had disbelieved the signs of God and slain the Prophets unrightfully; that, because they disobeyed, and were transgressors.

English - Maududi

Remember: You grumbled: "O Moses, we cannot endure one and the same sort of food. Pray your Lord to bring for us the products of the earth green herbs, vegetables, corn, garlic, onions, pulses and the like." Moses replied: "What! would you exchange that which is meaner for that which is nobler? Well, go and live in a town and you will get there what you demand." By and by, they became so degraded that disgrace and humiliation, misery and wretchedness were stamped upon them and they incurred Allah's wrath. That was because they began to reject the Revelations of Allah and kill His Messengers without any just cause; that was the consequence of their disobedience and their persistent transgression against the Law.

English - Ahmed Ali

Remember, when you said: "O Moses, we are tired of eating the same food (day after day), ask your Lord to give us fruits of the earth, herbs and cucumbers, grains and lentils and onions;" he said: "Would you rather exchange what is good with what is bad? Go then to the city, you shall have what you ask." So they were disgraced and became indigent, earning the anger of God, for they disbelieved the word of God, and slayed the prophets unjustly, for they transgressed and rebelled.

English - Yusuf Ali

And remember ye said: "O Moses! we cannot endure one kind of food (always); so beseech thy Lord for us to produce for us of what the earth groweth, -its pot-herbs, and cucumbers, Its garlic, lentils, and onions." He said: "Will ye exchange the better for the worse? Go ye down to any town, and ye shall find what ye want!" They were covered with humiliation and misery; they drew on themselves the wrath of Allah. This because they went on rejecting the Signs of Allah and slaying His Messengers without just cause. This because they rebelled and went on transgressing.

English - Five Volume Commentary ^*

Cross Refs:

a

3:113.

b

2:91; 3:113; 5:61.

c

2:88; 3:22, 113, 184; 5:71.

68

Important Words:

فومھا (its wheat). فوم means: (1) wheat; (2) any corn suitable for making bread; (3) garlic; (4) chick-pea (Aqrab).

مصر (a town) means:(1) a town or a city; (2) the frontier between two countries; (3) the thing that intervenes between two things (Aqrab).

یقتلون (would kill) is derived from قتل i.e. he killed. The infinitive means: (1) killing with a sword or with a stone or with poison or by any other means; (2) attempting to kill; (3) making up the mind to kill; (4) boycotting or cutting off all connections; (5) killing one’s carnal desires; (6) weakening the strength of a thing, as alcohol is "killed" with the addition of water, or hunger is "killed" with food, etc.; (7) humbling a person completely; (8) rendering a person like unto one killed either physically or morally or spiritually; (9) acquiring complete and certain knowledge about a thing; and (10) cursing a person or thing (Aqrab, Mufradat & Lisan)

Commentary:

In this verse another instance is cited to show how the Israelites made no effort to turn the favours of God to good account. When they were in the desert, God sent them Manna and Salwa. But soon after this they began to exhibit discontent with one kind of food and to clamour for a variety of grain, onions, salad and green-stuff (Num. 11:5-11). It may be noted that both Manna and Salwa taken together were considered one kind of food as they were taken continuously for a long time. It is further learnt from the Bible that the supply of Salwa was discontinued after a while and the Israelites were thus left to live on Manna alone (Num. 11:6). As the demand was not based on a right understanding of the wisdom of God Who wanted the Israelites to breathe the free air of the desert for a time, they met with disgrace and drew upon themselves the wrath of God.

God’s displeasure with the Israelites was not due to their demand for other food. The real cause lay elsewhere. Having lived for a long time in bondage and a state of dependence, they had become cowardly and indolent. So God wished them to stay in the desert for sometime, living on game and wild herbs, that they might get rid of their cowardice and indolence by living an independent life in the desert. Thus revitalized, they were to be led to the Promised Land and made rulers of Palestine. The Israelites, however, failed to understand the real purpose of God or having understood it, failed to appreciate it, and foolishly insisted upon living in a town. God pointed out their error, saying that they had asked for a life of agriculture in preference to what was to lead them to sovereignty. He wanted to prepare them for rule over the Promised Land, but they hungered for husbandry. So He indignantly ordered them to go down to a town where they would get the desired things.

The Israelites deserved punishment, because their impatience was the outcome of a want of faith in the promise of God. This lack of faith in God was due to their opposition to His Prophets and, disbelief in His Signs, and they opposed the Prophets because they were transgressors and evildoers. The Prophets invited them to guidance and virtue which they disliked, and, as a result, they opposed them. Thus the Quran admirably traces the causal sequence of every evil to its origin and strikes at its very root so as to prevent all possibility of recurrence.

The words, we will not remain content with one kind of food, contain a threat and are full of arrogance. If the Israelites had meant simply to express a wish, the words would have been "we are unable to remain content with one kind of food," and not as they stand in the Quran. The Bible gives a vivid picture of their insolent and almost rebellious attitude on this occasion (Num. 11:5-15).

The words یقتلون النبیین translated in the verse as "would kill the Prophets" do not mean that the Israelites actually killed the Prophets, because, up to the time of Moses, no Prophet is known to have been slain by them. As a matter of fact, Moses is the first Prophet who was sent to the Israelites as a nation. Thus Moses and his brother, Aaron, are the only persons to whom the words can be applied; but obviously these two Prophets were not killed by the Israelites, although the latter often opposed them and were sometimes even bent upon killing them (Exod. 17:4). Hence, the word قتل in the verse cannot possibly mean actual killing. Its only meaning here is that they severely opposed the Prophets and were even prepared to kill them. This interpretation finds corroboration not only in Arabic lexicons, for which see Important Words, but the Quran itself supports it in a number of verses where the word قتل has been used undoubtedly, not in the sense of actual killing but in that of attempting to kill or intending to kill (3:22 and 40:29). Bukhari also relates a tradition to the effect that once certain hot-headed Quraish youths brutally assaulted the Holy Prophet in the precincts of the Ka‘bah, whereupon Abu Bakr rushed to his rescue, saying, اتقتلون رجلا ان یقول ربی الله "Do you kill a man because he says Allah is his Lord and Master?" (chapter on Tafsir). In this hadith the word قتل is clearly used in the sense of attempting to kill or intending to kill and not actual killing.

It will not be out of place to point out here that the purport of verse 2:59 discussed above is altogether different from the one under comment. Though in both of them God apparently orders the Israelites to go to some habitation, yet the meaning is entirely different, rather quite the opposite in each case. As a matter of fact, whereas in verse 2:59 God Himself willingly commands the Israelites to go to some habitation, His ordering them to "go down into a town" in the verse under comment is expressive of definite displeasure and anger. In the previous verse the قریة or habitation meant only a habitation found in the desert by going into which the Israelites did not leave the free desert life but rather combined it with the facilities of a habitation. On the contrary, by "going down into" a مصر i.e. a town or city as mentioned in the verse under comment, they altogether abandoned the desert life and adopted a life of ease, as is led in towns and cities. Hence the difference. This is why the Quran uses the simple word ادخلوا i.e. "enter" in 2:59 and the word اھبطوا i.e. "go down", a term expressive of decline, in the verse under comment. Similarly, whereas in verse 2:59 the Quran follows up the commandment with the words eat therefrom plentifully wherever you like, in the present verse the commandment is followed by the words and they were smitten with abasement and destitution. The difference is apparent. The former expression is indicative of the freedom of life in the desert, and the latter of the suffocating atmosphere and mental slavery of towns and cities.

English - Short Commentary Notes ^*

Cross Refs:

a

3:113.

b

2:91; 3:113; 5:61.

c

2:88; 3:22, 113, 184; 5:71.

102

Having lived for a long time in bondage and in a state of dependence, the Israelites had become cowardly and indolent. So God intended them to stay in the desert for some time and to live on game and wild herbs in order that they might shed their cowardice and indolence by living an independent life in the desert. Thus revitalized, they were to be led to the Promised Land and made rulers of Palestine. The Israelites, however, failed to understand the real purpose of God or, having understood it, failed to appreciate it and foolishly insisted upon living in a town. God wanted to prepare them for rule over the Promised Land but those unfortunate people hungered after husbandry. So they were told to go down to a town where they would get the desired things.

103

The word Qatl besides its primary sense of actual killing means, to attempt or intend to kill; to beat; to curse; to have nothing to do with, and to neutralise the blighting influence of a thing; and the expression Yaqtulunan- Nabiyyin does not signify that the Israelites actually slew the Prophets, because, up to the time of Moses no Prophet is known to have been slain by them. As a matter of fact, Moses was the first Prophet who was sent to the Israelites as a nation. He and his brother, Aaron, are the only persons to whom these words can be applied, but obviously they were not killed by the Israelites, although they were sometimes bent upon killing them (Exod. 17: 4). Hence, the word Qatl in the verse cannot possibly mean "actual killing." It only means that they severely opposed the Prophets and would have killed them if they could. See also 3:22 & 40:29.

English - Pickthall

And when ye said: O Moses! We are weary of one kind of food; so call upon thy Lord for us that He bring forth for us of that which the earth groweth - of its herbs and its cucumbers and its corn and its lentils and its onions. He said: Would ye exchange that which is higher for that which is lower? Go down to settled country, thus ye shall get that which ye demand. And humiliation and wretchedness were stamped upon them and they were visited with wrath from Allah. That was because they disbelieved in Allah's revelations and slew the prophets wrongfully. That was for their disobedience and transgression.

English - Muhammad Ali ^ra

And when you said: O Moses, we cannot endure one food, so pray they Lord on our behalf to bring forth for us out of what the earth grows, of its herbs and its cucumbers and its garlic and its lentils and its onions. He said: Would you exchange that which is better for that which is worse? Enter a city, so you will have what you ask for. And abasement and humiliation were stamped upon them, and they incurred Allah´s wrath. That was so believe they disbelieved in the messages of Allah and would kill the prophets unjustly. That was so because they disobeyed and exceeded the limits.

English - Sir Muhammad Zafrullah Khan ^ra

Call to mind also when you said to Moses: We cannot restrict ourselves to one kind of food; pray, then, to thy Lord for us that He bring forth for us of what the earth grows, of its herbs, cucumbers, wheat, lentils and onions. Allah rebuked them: Would you change that which is better for that which is worse? If that is what you desire, go down into any town and there you will find what you demand. Thus were they smitten with abasement and penury, and they incurred the wrath of Allah because they rejected the Signs of Allah and would slay the Prophets unjustly, and this had resulted from their persisting in rebellion and transgression.

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