فَجَعَلْنَـٰهَا نَكَـٰلًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهَا وَمَا خَلْفَهَا وَمَوْعِظَةً لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ 66
Translations
And We made it a deterrent punishment for those who were present and those who succeeded [them] and a lesson for those who fear Allāh.
Transliteration
Fa-ja'alnaha nakalan lima bayna yadayha wa-ma khalfaha wa-maw'izatan lil-muttaqin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the transformation of the Sabbath-breakers into apes as a deterrent and warning sign. Allah made their punishment exemplary for those who came before them and after them, serving as an admonition for the God-conscious. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this severe consequence was meant to serve as a living testimony to the gravity of violating divine commandments and to instill fear in those who might consider transgressing Allah's boundaries.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative (2:63-66) concerning the Children of Israel who were commanded to observe the Sabbath. A group among them violated this command by fishing on the Sabbath, and Allah punished them by transforming them into apes. This passage was revealed in Medina to warn the Muslim community about the consequences of disobeying Allah's commands and to provide historical perspective on previous nations.
Related Hadiths
Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'May the curse of Allah be upon the Jews, for they were forbidden fat but they melted it and sold it.' (Sahih Bukhari 5541) - This relates to violations of dietary laws. Additionally, the incident of the Sabbath-breakers is referenced in various hadith collections as a cautionary tale about transgression.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that Allah's punishments are not merely individual but can serve as collective warnings for entire communities, emphasizing that deliberate violation of divine commandments carries serious consequences. For believers, it underscores the importance of maintaining taqwa (piety and God-consciousness) as the ultimate shield against divine retribution.