Draft:Verse 55 of sura al baghara
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| Verse's Information | |
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| About | Story of Musa (a) and the Banu Isra'il |
The Holy Qur'an 2:55 refers to the request of the Banu Isra'il from Musa (a) to see God with their physical eyes and their subsequent destruction. The verse is addressed to the Jews of the time of the Prophet Muhammad (s), reminding them of the excuses and the perishing of their ancestors. It is cited as evidence for the impossibility of seeing the Divine with the physical eyes.
Introduction, Text, and Translation
Quran 2:55 mentions the impossibility of seeing God with material eyes. After the Banu Isra'il were saved from the dominion of Pharaoh, when Musa (a) returned to his people from Mount Sinai after speaking with God, they refused to accept his prophethood. They asked Musa (a) to let them hear God's speech and whispering. After hearing it, they then demanded to see God openly. Following this request, a thunderbolt struck and they were all burnt by the fire.[1] The content of this verse also appears in other verses of the Qur'an, such as Sura al-A'raf verses 155 and 143, and Sura al-Nisa' verse 153.
Obstinacy in Demanding to See God and Destruction by the Thunderbolt
In Tafsir-i balagh, Sayyid Abu l-Fadl Mir Muhammadi Zarandi considers Quran 2:55 to be God's address to the Jews of the era of the Prophet (s), reminding them of the excuses and destruction of their forefathers.[2] Abdullah Jawadi Amuli, a commentator on the Qur'an, cites a narration from Imam al-Rida (a) regarding this verse, stating that these individuals were seventy people whom Musa (a) had chosen for the Miqat (appointment) with God. However, after hearing God's word, they requested to see the Divine with their physical eyes, whereupon the thunderbolt struck them and they were all killed.[3]
Regarding this group, it is stated that when Musa (a) returned from Mount Sinai to his people with the Tablets of the Torah, they refused to accept Musa's (a) prophethood and wanted to hear God's voice themselves. This group, after hearing the conversation between Musa (a) and God, again demanded that they must see God with their own eyes in order to attain iman (faith).[4] Makarem Shirazi believes that this request was due to their ignorance or because of the obstinacy and excuse-making of the Banu Isra'il, which are among their characteristics.[5]
Impossibility of Seeing God
Quran 2:55 refers to the impossibility of seeing God with the material eye[6] and considers the consequence of obstinacy and excuse-making in the face of clear Divine signs to be a severe punishment.[7] Muhsin Qara'ati believes that although this verse is addressed to the Banu Isra'il, it implicitly consoles the Prophet (s) not to be concerned about the people's futile requests, because the Banu Isra'il had made much more dangerous demands of Musa (a).[8]
Notes
- ↑ Makārim Shīrāzī, Tafsīr-i namūna, 1372 Sh, vol. 1, p. 257.
- ↑ Mīr Muḥammadī Zarandī, Tafsīr-i balāgh, 1389 Sh, vol. 1, p. 181.
- ↑ Jawādī Āmulī, Tafsīr-i tasnīm, 1389 Sh, vol. 4, p. 511.
- ↑ Qirāʾatī, Tafsīr-i nūr, 1384 Sh, vol. 1, p. 118.
- ↑ Makārim Shīrāzī, Tafsīr-i namūna, 1372 Sh, vol. 1, p. 257.
- ↑ Hāshimī Rafsanjānī, Tafsīr-i rāhnamā, 1386 Sh, vol. 1, pp. 144–145.
- ↑ Makārim Shīrāzī, Tafsīr-i namūna, 1372 Sh, vol. 1, pp. 257–258.
- ↑ Qirāʾatī, Tafsīr-i nūr, 1384 Sh, vol. 1, p. 118.
References
- Hāshimī Rafsanjānī, Akbar. Tafsīr-i rāhnamā. Qom, Būstān-i Kitāb, 5th ed., 1386 Sh.
- Jawādī Āmulī, ʿAbd Allāh. Tafsīr-i tasnīm. Qom, Isrāʾ, 6th ed., 1389 Sh.
- Makārim Shīrāzī, Nāṣir. Tafsīr-i namūna. Tehran, Dār al-Kutub al-Islāmiyya, 30th ed., 1372 Sh.
- Mīr Muḥammadī Zarandī, Sayyid Abū l-Faḍl. Tafsīr-i balāgh. Tehran, Shirkat-i Chāp wa Nashr-i Bayn al-Milal, 2nd ed., 1389 Sh.
- Qirāʾatī, Muḥsin. Tafsīr-i nūr. Tehran, Cultural Center of Lessons from the Qur'an, 11th ed., 1384 Sh.