سَلْ بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ كَمْ ءَاتَيْنَـٰهُم مِّنْ ءَايَةٍۭ بَيِّنَةٍ ۗ وَمَن يُبَدِّلْ نِعْمَةَ ٱللَّهِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَتْهُ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ 211
Translations
Ask the Children of Israel how many a sign of evidence We have given them. And whoever exchanges the favor of Allāh [for disbelief] after it has come to him - then indeed, Allāh is severe in penalty.
Transliteration
Sal bani Isra'ila kam ataynahum min ayatin bayyinatin wa man yubaddil ni'matallahi min ba'da ma ja'ath hu fa-inna Allaha shadidu al-'iqab
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah commands the Prophet Muhammad to ask the Children of Israel about the numerous clear signs and miracles they were given throughout their history—yet they rejected and distorted them. This ayah emphasizes that those who reject or alter God's blessings and guidance after receiving clear knowledge face severe punishment from Allah. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir note this addresses the willful ingratitude and deviation of the Israelites, serving as a warning to the Muslim community to value and preserve divine guidance.
Revelation Context
Revealed in Medina during a period when the Prophet was engaging with Jewish communities in Arabia. The ayah is part of the broader Quranic discourse addressing the People of the Book (Ahl al-Kitab) regarding their rejection of prophets and distortion of scripture, establishing the superiority and finality of the Islamic message.
Related Hadiths
The hadith of the Qur'an being a cure and mercy (Sahih Muslim 2174) relates to rejecting divine blessings. Additionally, the hadith warning against altering the deen after the Prophet's time (Sunan Ibn Majah 43) connects thematically to changing God's blessings and guidance.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that receiving divine guidance carries immense responsibility—merely knowing the truth is insufficient without sincere acceptance and implementation. We must guard against spiritual ingratitude and the gradual erosion of our faith by worldly desires, remembering that Allah's justice is swift and certain for those who knowingly reject His blessings.
Related Ayahs
وَإِن كَانَ ذُو عُسْرَةٍ فَنَظِرَةٌ إِلَىٰ مَيْسَرَةٍ ۚ وَأَن تَصَدَّقُوا۟ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ ۖ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
And if someone is in hardship, then [let there be] postponement until [a time of] ease. But if you give [from your right as] charity, then it is better for you, if you only knew.
وَقَـٰتِلُوهُمْ حَتَّىٰ لَا تَكُونَ فِتْنَةٌ وَيَكُونَ ٱلدِّينُ لِلَّهِ ۖ فَإِنِ ٱنتَهَوْا۟ فَلَا عُدْوَٰنَ إِلَّا عَلَى ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
Fight them until there is no [more] fitnah and [until] religion [i.e., worship] is [acknowledged to be] for Allāh. But if they cease, then there is to be no aggression [i.e., assault] except against the oppressors.
ٱللَّهُ يَسْتَهْزِئُ بِهِمْ وَيَمُدُّهُمْ فِى طُغْيَـٰنِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ
[But] Allāh mocks them and prolongs them in their transgression [while] they wander blindly.
أَوْ كَصَيِّبٍ مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ فِيهِ ظُلُمَـٰتٌ وَرَعْدٌ وَبَرْقٌ يَجْعَلُونَ أَصَـٰبِعَهُمْ فِىٓ ءَاذَانِهِم مِّنَ ٱلصَّوَٰعِقِ حَذَرَ ٱلْمَوْتِ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ مُحِيطٌۢ بِٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
Or [it is] like a rainstorm from the sky within which is darkness, thunder and lightning. They put their fingers in their ears against the thunderclaps in dread of death. But Allāh is encompassing of the disbelievers.