Transliteration:( Sal Banee Israaa'eela kam aatainaahum min aayatim baiyinah; wa mai yubaddil ni'matal laahi mim ba'di maa jaaa'athu fa innallaaha shadeedul'iqaab )
211. Ask [487] the Children of Israel how many clear signs We have sent to them. And whoever changes Allah's favor after it has come to him, then surely, Allah is severe in punishment. [488]
This command to “ask” the Children of Israel is meant to convince and embarrass them by reminding them of the numerous clear signs they were given.
🔹 It urges them to admit their denial of Allah’s bounties and their persistent disobedience, despite receiving divine guidance.
The Yahud (Jews) deliberately distorted the verses of the Torah that described the Holy Prophet ﷺ and his qualities.
🔹 This verse refers to that act of alteration and distortion.
🔹 From this, we learn that Allah’s revelations are His greatest blessings, and to alter or misinterpret them—whether in wording or meaning—is a grave sin.
🔹 This serves as a warning to unlearned or misleading commentators of the Qur’an to avoid repeating such mistakes.
210. Do they then wait for anything other than that Allah should come to them over the shadows of the clouds and the angels (Then) the case would be already judged. And to Allah return all matters (for decision).
(Do they then wait for anything other than that Allah should come to them over the shadows of the clouds and the angels) on the Day of Resurrection to judge the early and the latter creations. Allah shall then reward each according to his or her deeds; and whoever does good shall see it, and whoever does evil shall see it. This is why Allah said:
((Then) the case would be already judged. And to Allah return all matters (for decision).)
Similarly, Allah said:
(Nay! When the earth is ground to powder. And your Lord comes with the angels in rows. And Hell will be brought near that Day. On that Day will man remember, but how will that remembrance (then) avail him) (89:21-23) and:
(Do they then wait for anything other than that the angels should come to them, or that your Lord (Allah) should come, or that some of the signs of your Lord should come (i. e., portents of the Hour, e.g., rising of the sun from the west)!) (6:158)
Abu Ja`far Razi reported that Abu Al-`Aliyah narrated that:
(Do they then wait for anything other than that Allah should come to them over the shadows of the clouds and the angels) means, the angels will descend on the shadows of clouds, while Allah comes as He wills. Some of the reciters read it,
Do they then wait for anything other than that Allah should come to them and also the angels over the shadows of the clouds. This is similar to Allah’s other statement:
(And (remember) the Day when the heaven shall be rent asunder with clouds, and the angels will be sent down, with a grand descending.) (25:25)
(2:211) Ask the Children of Israel how many Clear Signs We gave them! And when a people tamper with Allah’s bounty after it has been bestowed on them – then indeed Allah is severe in punishment.[229]
229. There are two reasons why this query is addressed to the Children of Israel. In the first place, a group of living human beings provide a better source of instruction and admonition than mute archaeological findings. In the second place, the Israelites were a people who, having been endowed with Scripture and prophethood, were entrusted with the leadership of the world. By falling prey to worldliness, hypocrisy and other errors of belief and conduct they subsequently lost God’s favour. A people entrusted with the task of universal leadership could derive no better lesson from another people than this one.
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