ALLAH IS BENEFICENT; BANI ISRAEL IS THE PROOF 1

BY
Shaikh Jalilu Issah

In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most merciful

English Transliteration

[002:057 Wathallalna (and We shaded) AAalaykumu (over you) alghamama (with the
clouds) waanzalna (and sent down) AAalaykumu (on you) almanna (Al Manna)
waalssalwa ( and the quails) kuloo (eat) min (of) tayyibati (good pure, lawful things)
ma (which) razaqnakum (We have provided for you) wama (and did not) thalamoona
(they wrong Us) walakin (but) kanoo (they did) anfusahum (themselves) yathlimoona
(wrong)]

[002: 058 Wa-ith (and remember when) qulna (We said) odkhuloo (enter) hathihi (this)
alqaryata (town) fakuloo (and eat) minha (therein) haythu (wherever) shi/tum (you
wish) raghadan (with pleasure) waodkhuloo (and enter) albaba (the gate) sujjadan (in
 ALLAH IS BENEFICENT; BANI ISRAEL IS THE PROOF 2
BY
Shaikh Jalilu Issah

prostration) waqooloo (and say) hittatun (forgive us) naghfir (We shall forgive) lakum
(you) khatayakum (your sins) wasanazeedu (and We will increase) almuhsineena (for
the good-doers)]

[002:059 Fabaddala (but changed) allatheena (those who) thalamoo (did wrong
change) qawlan (the word) ghayra (other than) allathee (that which) qeela (was told)
lahum (to them) faanzalna (so We sent) AAala (upon) allatheena (those) thalamoo (who
wronged) rijzan (punishment) mina (from) alssama-i (the heaven) bima (because)
kanoo (they used to) yafsuqoona (disobey)]

Translation

[002.057 And We caused the clouds to comfort you with their shade, and sent down unto
you manna and quails. [saying,] "Partake of the good things which We have provided for
you as sustenance."
And [by all their sinning] they did no harm unto Us-but [only] against their own selves
did they sin.]

[002:058 And [remember the time] when We said: "Enter this land,* and eat of its food
as you may desire. abundantly; but enter the gate humbly and say, `Remove Thou from
us the burden of our sins',** [whereupon] We shall forgive you your sins, and shall
amply reward the doers of good."]
*The word qaryah primarily denotes a "village" or "town", but is also used in the sense of
"land". Here it apparently refers to Jersusalem.

[002:059 But those who were bent on evildoing substituted another saying for that which
had been given them:* and so We sent down upon those evildoers a plague from heaven
in requital for all their iniquity.]

Exegeses:

In the holy verses mentioned above we are being told that what kind of blessings were
showered on the Jews/Bani Israel. In this verse Allah is telling that the Jews were given
the shade of the clouds and they were given the food of Al Manna and the quail to eat.
The Children of Israel are also known as the twelve tribes. This verse was revealed when
the nation of Bani Israel was rescued from the raptorial talons of Pharaoh. Then after that
they were asked to proceed to the land of Palestine. This nation was under the direct
supervision of the prophet Moses. But they refused the command of Allah. They
insisted that they would go there on the condition if the tyrants believed in. They were
asked to go to the land of Palestine to fight with the tyrants of that time. But despite the
fact that Bani Israel/Jews refused to do so. They said
you Mosses with your Lord go
over there and fight, we would stay here.
 ALLAH IS BENEFICENT; BANI ISRAEL IS THE PROOF 3
BY
Shaikh Jalilu Issah

Actually the opponents of the Bani Israel were physically so strong. That’s why
they were afraid to fight with them. They had no courage to fight with them. They
entirely forgot that they were commanded by Allah Subhana-Wa-Ta’aala to go and fight
with them. On their blatant refusal their prophet Moses was so upset. Then Moses told

them (Oh my Lord! I have power only

over myself and my brother…). I am alone and I do have only one help and he is my
brother Haroon. The prophet Moses prayed to Allah to separate corrupt people from him.
After this Du’a of the prophet Moses, Allah sent a punishment on Bani Israel. They had
to stay in that desert for 40 years. Some of them regretted and returned to Allah
Subhana-Wa-Ta’aala. They did tauba (repentance). Allah Subhana-Wa-Ta’aala
accepted their tauba (repentance). They were returned home for the second time. Allah
Subhana-Wa-Ta’aala did not forget them that in the desert they were given shade on their
heads in the form of clouds. And for the proving them shade no services of Gabriel were
obtained. Allah did all it by Himself. Not only this they were also given pure and great
food in the wild desert. It means that we should learn a lesson that when a man returns to
Allah Subhana-Wa-Ta’aala, He also returns to him. Allah is Merciful. How much Allah
Subhana-Wa-Ta’aala is Merciful, an ordinary human brain can not think of it. But rest
assured Allah is beneficent and merciful.
We may lean the wisdom of phenomenon, that there are billions of the
disbelievers/blasphemers, but despite the fact Allah Subhana-Wa-Ta’aala is giving the
food. Their harvest is giving them good yield. Their resources are full of blessings for
the sake of the welfare and survival of the humanity. So Allah is very kind to us that we
can not imagine.
Allah says that they did not do any wrong to Allah but they did wrong to
themselves only. What could go of Allah? Nothing. It is ours. The after effects of the
wrong deeds not only go to the doer but these may also go to his family etc. That’s why
The holy Quran said (but they did
themselves wrong). So we do not do any wrong to Allah Subhana-Wa-Ta’aala but we do
it to ourselves only.
There is one word in the holy Quran in the verse alghamama (the clouds). And
there is one more word Al Sahaab (the clouds). Some say that alghamama and al Sahaab
have the same meanings. In Arabic if you have two or three words and they have the
same meanings. We call them Al Ifraad. And if you have one word “buy” they have
different meanings. We call it Al Ishtraaq. For example: Al Adam, Al Basher, Al Insaan
– these three words give the same meanings, the human being. The opponent of it is Al
Aeen. It is used for water spring, and sky etc. This Al Ishtraaq. But there is some
difference if the clouds are white they are called Al ghamam. Black clouds are called Al
Sahaab. Scholars say that Al ghamam is from Al gham and it means to cover something.
When Al ghamam used to come, those would cover the sky entirely. And Al gham also
means grief and sadness. When it comes it covers the heart. So Al ghamam means white
clouds little bit cold to cover the sky. It was a blessing for the Bani Israel in the desert to
save them from the scorching heat of the sun Al ghamam would cover them from all
 ALLAH IS BENEFICENT; BANI ISRAEL IS THE PROOF 4
BY
Shaikh Jalilu Issah

around. Allah Subhana-Wa-Ta’aala says

and remember when
We said Enter this town (Jersusalem) and eat bountifully therein with pleasure and
delight wherever you wish, and enter the gate in prostration (or bowing with humility)
and say; Forgive us…The holy Quran is telling us that they did in their life and what they
ddi with their prophet Moses and his brother Haroon. Allah says (I
would write its translation).
Dear readers I would like to mention here that it is not only a story for story.
There is a complete human and divine wisdom. We have got a lesson that who can we
decorate our lives in accordance with the holy Quran. The first lesson is this that we
should maintain justice, and we should have patience. We should fight with the great
powers. We should thankful to Allah and to our messengers. We should not ignore the
blessings of Allah. We should train ourselves for the tough training. We do have a
purpose to come in this world. We should not destroy this opportunity.
After all these incidents what Allah Subhana-Wa-Ta’aala said to them, let me
quote again for your convenience We said Enter this town (Jersusalem) and eat
bountifully therein with pleasure and delight wherever you wish, and enter the gate in
prostration (or bowing with humility). They were asked to start a new life. They were
given a holy town Jerusalem. It was at their disposal. And Allah also asked them to
remember their Lord – bowing with humility, with humble heart. Subhan Allah (all glory
to Allah). It was also asked by Allah to seek forgiveness from their Lord - Allah
Subhana-Wa-Ta’aala. And Allah told them if they asked Allah to forgive them He
would forgive them. One thing we should not forget that Allah Subhana-Wa-Ta’aala was
not only kind to the Bani Israel, He is still kind to the mankind. This is the custom of
Allah to be always kind to the creature.
There are thousands of blessings around man, which would be Inshallah discussed
in detail in next session. In the following you can see that at how many places alghamam
has been used in the holy Quran:

• Al-Baqara (The Cow) [2:210][2:57]

• Al-A'raf (The Heights) [7:160]
• Al-Furqan (The Criterion) [25:25]
Dear readers, you must have come to know the facts that how Bani Israel were
granted blessings and how there proved themselves to be obstinate to the commandments
of Allah. Here we have got the lesson that when we bow before Allah with humble heart,
Allah grants us more than our expectations. May Allah give us strength to bow in the
court of Allah.
 ALLAH IS BENEFICENT; BANI ISRAEL IS THE PROOF 5
BY
Shaikh Jalilu Issah

Further would be discussed in detail in next session Inshallah! Your comments

would be appreciated please.