Rigidity upon the Children of Israel

Lesson # 581 From Holy Qur’aan

Rigidity upon the Children of Israel

Surah Nisaaa’ (Women) – Chapter – 4

Verses –160 & 161 of 176, Section – 22/24 (Part – 6)

160.  Because of the wrongdoing of the Jews We forbade them good things which were (before) made  lawful unto them, and because of their much hindering from Allaah’s Way- 161.  And because of their taking usury when they were forbidden it, and of their devouring people’s wealth by false pretences. And We have prepared for those of them who disbelieve a painful doom.

160.  Fabi-zulmim-minallaziina  haaduu  harramNaa  ‘alayhim  tayyi-baatin  ‘u-hillat  lahum  wa  bi-saddihim  ‘an  Sabii-LIllaahi   kasiiraa. 161.  Wa  ‘akh-zihimur-Ribaa  wa  nuhuu  ‘anhu  wa  ‘akli-him  ‘amwaa-lannaasi  bil-baatil.  Wa  ‘a’-tadNaa  lil-kaafiriina  minhum  ‘azaaban  ‘aliimaa.

                                                        

     

Lesson

Wicked deeds and bad descriptions of the Jews were mentioned in the previous verses. Much about them has already been described in Surah Al-Baqarah (The Cow – Chapter -2), from which it is easy to understand about their persistence and stubbornness. And really, every person, who joined them, found them as such with his own experience. It has been indicated in this verse that very severe orders were delivered to them due to their obstinacy and committing sins fearlessly. It was impossible to correct their tempers without severe punishments.

It is a famous saying, “An oak is not felled with one stroke”. They were punished very severely. Even then they were too much cruel that they used to be correct for a few days, and again used to become as they were earlier. In the beginning, which comforts were given to them by the Religious Law of Allaah Almighty, those were hardened and many lawful things were forbidden to be used by them. For instance, most eatable things were lawful for them and also the Divine Laws were not too much severe. But they practiced such mischief and tyrannies that, when Prophet Moses (peace be upon him) brought Torah, in It there were very severe commands for them. And they were deprived of many out of those lawful things.

Their tempers had been out of control due to facilities, therefore very severe Religious Laws were revealed for them. They had gone out from the limits of the Law. It had become their hobby to stop the people from the prescribed Way of Allaah Almighty. They never used to consider a little as badness in taking the usury/ interest, whereas they were forbidden from it. In addition to this, they used to take forcible possession of wealth and property too from the people wrongfully, as sometimes through robbery, sometime or other through deceiving the people and wheedling them. On the whole, they used to misappropriate fearlessly the wealth of others, as it might be possible.  

Transliterated Holy Qur’an in Roman Script & Translated from Arabic to English byMarmaduke Pickthall, Published by Paak Company, 17-Urdu Bazar, Lahore, Lessons collected from Dars e Qur’aan published By Idara Islaah wa Tableegh, Lahore (translated Urdu to English  by Muhammad Sharif)