وَلَقَدْ ءَاتَيْنَا مُوسَى ٱلْهُدَىٰ وَأَوْرَثْنَا بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ 53
Translations
And We had certainly given Moses guidance, and We caused the Children of Israel to inherit the Scripture
Transliteration
Wa-laqad ātaynā Mūsā al-hudā wa-awrathnā banī Isrāʾīl al-kitāb
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that Allah granted Prophet Musa (Moses) clear guidance and wisdom, and bequeathed to the Children of Israel the Torah (al-Kitāb), establishing them as inheritors of divine revelation. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this verse emphasizes the honor and responsibility bestowed upon Bani Israel as custodians of scripture, though many later rejected or distorted its teachings. The inheritance of the Book represents both a tremendous blessing and a test of their obedience to Allah's commands.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the middle section of Surah Ghafir, which addresses the rejection of the Message by disbelievers in Mecca. The verse contextualizes the Quranic message within the continuum of prophetic guidance, reminding the Arabs of the previous scriptures given to the Israelites, thereby establishing the authenticity and continuity of Allah's revelations throughout human history.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best of you are those who learn the Quran and teach it' (Sahih Bukhari 5027). Additionally, the hadith in Sahih Muslim regarding the People of the Book states that the Prophet warned against following their path of division and distortion.
Themes
Key Lesson
Receiving divine guidance is both a blessing and a responsibility—those entrusted with knowledge of Allah's revelation must preserve, understand, and practice it sincerely. Modern believers should recognize that the Quran confirms and completes previous scriptures, and our duty is to learn, teach, and embody its teachings with full commitment.
Related Ayahs
وَءَاتَيْنَا مُوسَى ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَجَعَلْنَـٰهُ هُدًى لِّبَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ أَلَّا تَتَّخِذُوا۟ مِن دُونِى وَكِيلًا
And We gave Moses the Scripture and made it a guidance for the Children of Israel that you not take other than Me as Disposer of affairs,
۞ وَأَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَىٰ مُوسَىٰٓ أَنْ أَسْرِ بِعِبَادِىٓ إِنَّكُم مُّتَّبَعُونَ
And We inspired to Moses, "Travel by night with My servants; indeed, you will be pursued."
كَذَٰلِكَ نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ أَنۢبَآءِ مَا قَدْ سَبَقَ ۚ وَقَدْ ءَاتَيْنَـٰكَ مِن لَّدُنَّا ذِكْرًا
Thus, [O Muḥammad], We relate to you from the news of what has preceded. And We have certainly given you from Us a message [i.e., the Qur’ān].
قَدْ نَرَىٰ تَقَلُّبَ وَجْهِكَ فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ ۖ فَلَنُوَلِّيَنَّكَ قِبْلَةً تَرْضَىٰهَا ۚ فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ ۚ وَحَيْثُ مَا كُنتُمْ فَوَلُّوا۟ وُجُوهَكُمْ شَطْرَهُۥ ۗ وَإِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ لَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ ٱلْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ ۗ وَمَا ٱللَّهُ بِغَـٰفِلٍ عَمَّا يَعْمَلُونَ
We have certainly seen the turning of your face, [O Muḥammad], toward the heaven, and We will surely turn you to a qiblah with which you will be pleased. So turn your face [i.e., yourself] toward al-Masjid al-Ḥarām. And wherever you [believers] are, turn your faces [i.e., yourselves] toward it [in prayer]. Indeed, those who have been given the Scripture [i.e., the Jews and the Christians] well know that it is the truth from their Lord. And Allāh is not unaware of what they do.