وَإِذْ قُلْنَا ٱدْخُلُوا۟ هَـٰذِهِ ٱلْقَرْيَةَ فَكُلُوا۟ مِنْهَا حَيْثُ شِئْتُمْ رَغَدًا وَٱدْخُلُوا۟ ٱلْبَابَ سُجَّدًا وَقُولُوا۟ حِطَّةٌ نَّغْفِرْ لَكُمْ خَطَـٰيَـٰكُمْ ۚ وَسَنَزِيدُ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ 58
Translations
And [recall] when We said, "Enter this city [i.e., Jerusalem] and eat from it wherever you will in [ease and] abundance, and enter the gate bowing humbly and say, 'Relieve us of our burdens [i.e., sins].' We will [then] forgive your sins for you, and We will increase the doers of good [in goodness and reward]."
Transliteration
Wa-idh qulna dkhulu hadhihi al-qaryata fakulu minha haythu shi'tum raghadan wa-dkhulu al-baba sujjadan wa-qulu hittah naghfir lakum khata'ayakum wa-sanuzi'id al-muhsineen
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the Children of Israel entering Jerusalem (or the land of Palestine) after their exodus from Egypt, where Allah commanded them to enter with humility and gratitude, eat from its abundance, and seek forgiveness by saying 'Hittah' (remission). The verse emphasizes that obedience and humble submission lead to divine forgiveness and additional rewards for those who do good. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note that the command to enter the gate 'sujjadan' (bowing/humbly) symbolizes the spiritual attitude required when entering a blessed land—one of reverence rather than arrogance.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of a passage (2:58-59) addressing the Israelites' entry into the Holy Land after their wilderness journey. It comes within the broader Medinan context of the surah, which frequently references the history of the Children of Israel to provide lessons for the Muslim community. The ayah illustrates both divine favor and the conditions attached to it: gratitude, humility, and moral conduct.
Related Hadiths
The concept relates to themes in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim regarding the importance of humility (tawadhu') in worship. Additionally, hadiths encouraging gratitude for sustenance are thematically connected, such as those in Jami' at-Tirmidhi about thanking Allah for provisions.
Themes
Key Lesson
True benefit from Allah's blessings comes not merely from physical enjoyment, but from approaching them with humility, gratitude, and sincere repentance. The ayah teaches that consistent good conduct (ihsan) attracts additional divine favor and forgiveness, reminding us that spiritual attitude matters as much as physical action.
Related Ayahs
۞ وَإِن كُنتُمْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ وَلَمْ تَجِدُوا۟ كَاتِبًا فَرِهَـٰنٌ مَّقْبُوضَةٌ ۖ فَإِنْ أَمِنَ بَعْضُكُم بَعْضًا فَلْيُؤَدِّ ٱلَّذِى ٱؤْتُمِنَ أَمَـٰنَتَهُۥ وَلْيَتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ رَبَّهُۥ ۗ وَلَا تَكْتُمُوا۟ ٱلشَّهَـٰدَةَ ۚ وَمَن يَكْتُمْهَا فَإِنَّهُۥٓ ءَاثِمٌ قَلْبُهُۥ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ عَلِيمٌ
And if you are on a journey and cannot find a scribe, then a security deposit [should be] taken. And if one of you entrusts another, then let him who is entrusted discharge his trust [faithfully] and let him fear Allāh, his Lord. And do not conceal testimony, for whoever conceals it - his heart is indeed sinful, and Allāh is Knowing of what you do.
وَإِن طَلَّقْتُمُوهُنَّ مِن قَبْلِ أَن تَمَسُّوهُنَّ وَقَدْ فَرَضْتُمْ لَهُنَّ فَرِيضَةً فَنِصْفُ مَا فَرَضْتُمْ إِلَّآ أَن يَعْفُونَ أَوْ يَعْفُوَا۟ ٱلَّذِى بِيَدِهِۦ عُقْدَةُ ٱلنِّكَاحِ ۚ وَأَن تَعْفُوٓا۟ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَىٰ ۚ وَلَا تَنسَوُا۟ ٱلْفَضْلَ بَيْنَكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ
And if you divorce them before you have touched them and you have already specified for them an obligation, then [give] half of what you specified - unless they forego the right or the one in whose hand is the marriage contract foregoes it. And to forego it is nearer to righteousness. And do not forget graciousness between you. Indeed Allāh, of whatever you do, is Seeing.
وَإِلَـٰهُكُمْ إِلَـٰهٌ وَٰحِدٌ ۖ لَّآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ
And your god is one God. There is no deity [worthy of worship] except Him, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
قُلْ أَتُحَآجُّونَنَا فِى ٱللَّهِ وَهُوَ رَبُّنَا وَرَبُّكُمْ وَلَنَآ أَعْمَـٰلُنَا وَلَكُمْ أَعْمَـٰلُكُمْ وَنَحْنُ لَهُۥ مُخْلِصُونَ
Say, [O Muḥammad], "Do you argue with us about Allāh while He is our Lord and your Lord? For us are our deeds, and for you are your deeds. And we are sincere [in deed and intention] to Him."