يَـٰبَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ ٱذْكُرُوا۟ نِعْمَتِىَ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَنْعَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَأَوْفُوا۟ بِعَهْدِىٓ أُوفِ بِعَهْدِكُمْ وَإِيَّـٰىَ فَٱرْهَبُونِ 40
Translations
O Children of Israel, remember My favor which I have bestowed upon you and fulfill My covenant [upon you] that I will fulfill your covenant [from Me], and be afraid of [only] Me.
Transliteration
Ya bani isra'ila udhkuru ni'mati allatī an'amtu 'alaikum wa-awfū bi-'ahdī ūfin bi-'ahdikum wa-iyyāya farhabūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah addresses the Children of Israel, commanding them to remember His favors (the miracles and deliverance from Egypt, the Torah, and the covenant) and to fulfill His covenant, promising that He will fulfill His covenant with them in return. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that this verse establishes the principle of reciprocal covenant (mu'āhada) between Allah and His people—if they honor their obligations, Allah will honor His promise, and they should fear only Him. The verse also implies a warning that failure to honor the covenant would result in the withdrawal of divine blessings.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the opening section of Surah Al-Baqarah (ayat 40-103), which directly addresses the Children of Israel regarding their covenant with Allah. Revealed in Medina where a significant Jewish population dwelled, the surah reminds them of their responsibilities after receiving the Torah and emphasizes their duty to honor the divine covenant, setting the foundation for the Islamic-Jewish relations in the nascent Muslim state.
Related Hadiths
The hadith of 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar (reported in Sahih Bukhari): 'The most truthful speech is the Book of Allah, and the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad,' reflects the value of honoring divine revelation and covenant. Also relevant is the hadith in Sahih Muslim regarding the sanctity of covenants: 'On the Day of Resurrection, the most detested person to Allah will be the one who breaks covenants.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that gratitude for divine blessings must be paired with fulfilling our covenant obligations to Allah—sincere remembrance without action is insufficient. It also reminds us that our relationship with the Divine is based on mutual commitment: as we honor our promises to Allah through obedience, He honors His promises of mercy and guidance.
Related Ayahs
وَمَآ أَنفَقْتُم مِّن نَّفَقَةٍ أَوْ نَذَرْتُم مِّن نَّذْرٍ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَعْلَمُهُۥ ۗ وَمَا لِلظَّـٰلِمِينَ مِنْ أَنصَارٍ
And whatever you spend of expenditures or make of vows - indeed, Allāh knows of it. And for the wrongdoers there are no helpers.
مَّن ذَا ٱلَّذِى يُقْرِضُ ٱللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا فَيُضَـٰعِفَهُۥ لَهُۥٓ أَضْعَافًا كَثِيرَةً ۚ وَٱللَّهُ يَقْبِضُ وَيَبْصُۜطُ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ
Who is it that would loan Allāh a goodly loan so He may multiply it for him many times over? And it is Allāh who withholds and grants abundance, and to Him you will be returned.
وَأَتِمُّوا۟ ٱلْحَجَّ وَٱلْعُمْرَةَ لِلَّهِ ۚ فَإِنْ أُحْصِرْتُمْ فَمَا ٱسْتَيْسَرَ مِنَ ٱلْهَدْىِ ۖ وَلَا تَحْلِقُوا۟ رُءُوسَكُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَبْلُغَ ٱلْهَدْىُ مَحِلَّهُۥ ۚ فَمَن كَانَ مِنكُم مَّرِيضًا أَوْ بِهِۦٓ أَذًى مِّن رَّأْسِهِۦ فَفِدْيَةٌ مِّن صِيَامٍ أَوْ صَدَقَةٍ أَوْ نُسُكٍ ۚ فَإِذَآ أَمِنتُمْ فَمَن تَمَتَّعَ بِٱلْعُمْرَةِ إِلَى ٱلْحَجِّ فَمَا ٱسْتَيْسَرَ مِنَ ٱلْهَدْىِ ۚ فَمَن لَّمْ يَجِدْ فَصِيَامُ ثَلَـٰثَةِ أَيَّامٍ فِى ٱلْحَجِّ وَسَبْعَةٍ إِذَا رَجَعْتُمْ ۗ تِلْكَ عَشَرَةٌ كَامِلَةٌ ۗ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَن لَّمْ يَكُنْ أَهْلُهُۥ حَاضِرِى ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ
And complete the ḥajj and ʿumrah for Allāh. But if you are prevented, then [offer] what can be obtained with ease of sacrificial animals. And do not shave your heads until the sacrificial animal has reached its place of slaughter. And whoever among you is ill or has an ailment of the head [making shaving necessary must offer] a ransom of fasting [three days] or charity or sacrifice. And when you are secure, then whoever performs ʿumrah [during the ḥajj months] followed by ḥajj [offers] what can be obtained with ease of sacrificial animals. And whoever cannot find [or afford such an animal] - then a fast of three days during ḥajj and of seven when you have returned [home]. Those are ten complete [days]. This is for those whose family is not in the area of al-Masjid al-Ḥarām. And fear Allāh and know that Allāh is severe in penalty.
وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْجَنَّةِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ
But they who believe and do righteous deeds - those are the companions of Paradise; they will abide therein eternally.