وَإِذْ قِيلَ لَهُمُ ٱسْكُنُوا۟ هَـٰذِهِ ٱلْقَرْيَةَ وَكُلُوا۟ مِنْهَا حَيْثُ شِئْتُمْ وَقُولُوا۟ حِطَّةٌ وَٱدْخُلُوا۟ ٱلْبَابَ سُجَّدًا نَّغْفِرْ لَكُمْ خَطِيٓـَٔـٰتِكُمْ ۚ سَنَزِيدُ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ 161
Translations
And [mention, O Muḥammad], when it was said to them, "Dwell in this city [i.e., Jerusalem] and eat from it wherever you will and say, 'Relieve us of our burdens [i.e., sins],' and enter the gate bowing humbly; We will [then] forgive you your sins. We will increase the doers of good [in goodness and reward]."
Transliteration
Wa-idh qīla lahumu-skunu hādhihi-l-qaryata wa-kulū minhā haythu shi'tum wa-qūlū hittah wa-dkhulū-l-bāb sujjadā naghfir lakum khatāyākum sa-nazīdu-l-muhsinīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the Bani Isra'il's entry into the Holy Land (al-Ard al-Muqaddasa), where Allah commanded them to dwell in Jerusalem and eat from its abundance, while uttering the word 'hittah' (meaning 'forgiveness' or 'a grain/food'), bowing at the gate in humility and obedience. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this was a test of their obedience and humility; those who followed these commands would receive forgiveness of their sins, and Allah would grant additional rewards to those who do good. The Bani Isra'il, however, mocked this command and changed the word to something else, exemplifying their rebelliousness against divine instruction.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative recounting the trials and disobedience of Bani Isra'il during their wilderness period and entry into the Promised Land. It comes after Surah 7:160 where the twelve springs gushed forth for the twelve tribes, illustrating Allah's favor followed by their ingratitude and rebellion—a recurring theme in Al-A'raf highlighting the contrast between divine mercy and human defiance.
Related Hadiths
While no specific hadith directly addresses this ayah, the theme of obedience and humility before Allah relates to the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The closest a servant comes to his Lord is when he is prostrating (in sujud),' reflecting the spiritual significance of bowing mentioned here.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that Allah provides clear, simple commands as tests of our sincerity and obedience, and that humility and straightforwardness in following divine guidance lead to forgiveness and divine favor. For modern believers, it serves as a reminder that our excuses and subtle disobedience (like changing the words or meaning of commands) displease Allah more than outright admission of weakness, and that true advancement comes through sincere submission to His will.
Related Ayahs
فَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ وَرِزْقٌ كَرِيمٌ
And those who have believed and done righteous deeds - for them is forgiveness and noble provision.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَءَامِنُوا۟ بِرَسُولِهِۦ يُؤْتِكُمْ كِفْلَيْنِ مِن رَّحْمَتِهِۦ وَيَجْعَل لَّكُمْ نُورًا تَمْشُونَ بِهِۦ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
O you who have believed, fear Allāh and believe in His Messenger; He will [then] give you a double portion of His mercy and make for you a light by which you will walk and forgive you; and Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.
لَّيْسَ عَلَى ٱلضُّعَفَآءِ وَلَا عَلَى ٱلْمَرْضَىٰ وَلَا عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَجِدُونَ مَا يُنفِقُونَ حَرَجٌ إِذَا نَصَحُوا۟ لِلَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ ۚ مَا عَلَى ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ مِن سَبِيلٍ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
There is not upon the weak or upon the ill or upon those who do not find anything to spend any discomfort [i.e., guilt] when they are sincere to Allāh and His Messenger. There is not upon the doers of good any cause [for blame]. And Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ نَتَقَبَّلُ عَنْهُمْ أَحْسَنَ مَا عَمِلُوا۟ وَنَتَجَاوَزُ عَن سَيِّـَٔاتِهِمْ فِىٓ أَصْحَـٰبِ ٱلْجَنَّةِ ۖ وَعْدَ ٱلصِّدْقِ ٱلَّذِى كَانُوا۟ يُوعَدُونَ
Those are the ones from whom We will accept the best of what they did and overlook their misdeeds, [their being] among the companions of Paradise. [That is] the promise of truth which they had been promised.