Surah 1-2 - YasSarNal QuR'aN

Al-Baqarah (The Cow) | MAN IN CHARGE OF THE EARTHmentioned here for comparison with the attitude of the Prophet Muĥammad’s Jewishcontemporaries, who were demanding impossible proof to verify the truth of hisclaim to prophethood.And [remember] when you said, Moses, we will not believe in you until we see God inperson. ‘You were then struck by a thunderbolt while you were looking on. But Weraised you again after you had been as dead, so that you might be thankful. We causedthe clouds to provide shade for you, and sent down for you manna and quails. ‘Eat ofthe good things We have provided for you. ‘Indeed, to Us they did no harm, butthemselves did they wrong. (Verses 55-57)Neither the signs and favours nor God’s forgiveness and generosity had any effecton the Israelites’ obdurate, materialistic and cynical nature. The prolonged and harshpersecution they had endured under the tyranny of the Pharaoh seems to havefinally corrupted their souls, so that they would yield only to force. Nothing corruptssouls and natures than writhing under tyranny for a long time. They had acquiredthe slave characteristics of being submissive when overpowered and subjugated, butvicious and revengeful when not under threat. Over the centuries, this became, andremains today, a defining character of the Jewish people.While on Mount Sinai, the Israelites had the audacity to demand from Moses thatthey should see God in person, to which God responded by striking them with athunderbolt that left them as dead. Nevertheless, God was again merciful towardsthem and restored them to consciousness, so that they might appreciate His kindnessand show gratitude.God also recalls for them how He had taken care of their forefathers when theywere lost in the wilderness, providing them with food and protecting them againstthe scorching heat of the sun. Historic records indicate that the Israelites, on leavingEgypt, crossed the Red Sea into the Sinai desert. It was hot and without water, whichput them in danger of dying of starvation. But, God bestowed His grace on them andprovided them with a special type of food, as sweet as honey, which they calledmanna. God also sent them flocks of quail which they could easily catch and eat.Clouds would gather above them to protect them from the heat of the desert sun.Thus God alleviated their suffering in the wilderness, but, as the verse comments,they showed no appreciation or gratitude. As such, they were the losers: “Indeed toUs they did no harm, but themselves did they wrong.” (Verse 57)Inviting God’s PunishmentThe sūrah reminds the Children of Israel of more of their acts of intransigence andheartless behaviour: “And [remember] when We said, ‘Enter this city, eat of its abundant75