وَإِذْ قُلْتُمْ يَـٰمُوسَىٰ لَن نُّؤْمِنَ لَكَ حَتَّىٰ نَرَى ٱللَّهَ جَهْرَةً فَأَخَذَتْكُمُ ٱلصَّـٰعِقَةُ وَأَنتُمْ تَنظُرُونَ 55
Translations
And [recall] when you said, "O Moses, we will never believe you until we see Allāh outright"; so the thunderbolt took you while you were looking on.
Transliteration
Wa-idh qultum ya Musa lan nu'mina laka hatta nara Allaha jahrah fa-akhdhattakumu al-saa'iqah wa-antum tanzurun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the incident when the Children of Israel demanded to see Allah directly and visibly before they would believe in Moses' message. As a consequence of their arrogance and unreasonable demand, Allah sent down a thunderbolt (al-saa'iqah) that struck them while they were watching, which was a severe punishment for their transgression. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this event occurred after the Israelites witnessed the parting of the sea and other miracles, yet still their faith wavered due to their stubbornness and demand for the impossible—seeing the Unseen with their own eyes.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Baqarah's narrative recounting the history of the Children of Israel and their repeated ingratitude and disobedience. The verse specifically references the incident that occurred during the time of Prophet Moses when the Israelites, despite witnessing numerous miracles, demanded to see Allah directly. This thematic context emphasizes the pattern of human rebellion against divine guidance and the consequences of such arrogance.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Muslim records that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) mentioned that among the previous nations, seventy thousand were destroyed by a single thunderbolt due to their disobedience. Additionally, various hadith collections reference the severity of the punishment inflicted on those who reject clear signs, as seen in Surah Al-Baqarah 55.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that faith based on rational demands for supernatural proof, especially demands contrary to divine nature (like seeing the Unseen), reflects spiritual arrogance and a lack of true submission. For modern believers, it serves as a reminder that true faith requires accepting the limits of human perception and trusting in Allah's wisdom, rather than making unreasonable conditions for belief.
Related Ayahs
۞ تِلْكَ ٱلرُّسُلُ فَضَّلْنَا بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ ۘ مِّنْهُم مَّن كَلَّمَ ٱللَّهُ ۖ وَرَفَعَ بَعْضَهُمْ دَرَجَـٰتٍ ۚ وَءَاتَيْنَا عِيسَى ٱبْنَ مَرْيَمَ ٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ وَأَيَّدْنَـٰهُ بِرُوحِ ٱلْقُدُسِ ۗ وَلَوْ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ مَا ٱقْتَتَلَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِم مِّنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَتْهُمُ ٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتُ وَلَـٰكِنِ ٱخْتَلَفُوا۟ فَمِنْهُم مَّنْ ءَامَنَ وَمِنْهُم مَّن كَفَرَ ۚ وَلَوْ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ مَا ٱقْتَتَلُوا۟ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَفْعَلُ مَا يُرِيدُ
Those messengers - some of them We caused to exceed others. Among them were those to whom Allāh spoke, and He raised some of them in degree. And We gave Jesus, the son of Mary, clear proofs, and We supported him with the Pure Spirit [i.e., Gabriel]. If Allāh had willed, those [generations] succeeding them would not have fought each other after the clear proofs had come to them. But they differed, and some of them believed and some of them disbelieved. And if Allāh had willed, they would not have fought each other, but Allāh does what He intends.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱسْتَعِينُوا۟ بِٱلصَّبْرِ وَٱلصَّلَوٰةِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ
O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allāh is with the patient.
وَٱتَّقُوا۟ يَوْمًا لَّا تَجْزِى نَفْسٌ عَن نَّفْسٍ شَيْـًٔا وَلَا يُقْبَلُ مِنْهَا شَفَـٰعَةٌ وَلَا يُؤْخَذُ مِنْهَا عَدْلٌ وَلَا هُمْ يُنصَرُونَ
And fear a Day when no soul will suffice for another soul at all, nor will intercession be accepted from it, nor will compensation be taken from it, nor will they be aided.
وَأَنفِقُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا تُلْقُوا۟ بِأَيْدِيكُمْ إِلَى ٱلتَّهْلُكَةِ ۛ وَأَحْسِنُوٓا۟ ۛ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
And spend in the way of Allāh and do not throw [yourselves] with your [own] hands into destruction [by refraining]. And do good; indeed, Allāh loves the doers of good.