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
كَيْفَ تَكْفُرُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَكُنتُمْ أَمْوَٰتًا فَأَحْيَـٰكُمْ ۖ ثُمَّ يُمِيتُكُمْ ثُمَّ يُحْيِيكُمْ ثُمَّ إِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ
How can you disbelieve in Allāh when you were lifeless and He brought you to life; then He will cause you to die, then He will bring you [back] to life, and then to Him you will be returned.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ
O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous -
وَإِذْ قُلْتُمْ يَـٰمُوسَىٰ لَن نُّؤْمِنَ لَكَ حَتَّىٰ نَرَى ٱللَّهَ جَهْرَةً فَأَخَذَتْكُمُ ٱلصَّـٰعِقَةُ وَأَنتُمْ تَنظُرُونَ
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.
إِنَّمَا يَأْمُرُكُم بِٱلسُّوٓءِ وَٱلْفَحْشَآءِ وَأَن تَقُولُوا۟ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
He only orders you to evil and immorality and to say about Allāh what you do not know.