Surah Al-Baqarah 2:61
سُورَةُ البَقَرَةِ · Medinan · Verse 61 of 286
وَإِذْ قُلْتُمْ يَٰمُوسَىٰ لَن نَّصْبِرَ عَلَىٰ طَعَامٍۢ وَٰحِدٍۢ فَٱدْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُخْرِجْ لَنَا مِمَّا تُنۢبِتُ ٱلْأَرْضُ مِنۢ بَقْلِهَا وَقِثَّآئِهَا وَفُومِهَا وَعَدَسِهَا وَبَصَلِهَا ۖ قَالَ أَتَسْتَبْدِلُونَ ٱلَّذِى هُوَ أَدْنَىٰ بِٱلَّذِى هُوَ خَيْرٌ ۚ ٱهْبِطُوا۟ مِصْرًۭا فَإِنَّ لَكُم مَّا سَأَلْتُمْ ۗ وَضُرِبَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلذِّلَّةُ وَٱلْمَسْكَنَةُ وَبَآءُو بِغَضَبٍۢ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ ۗ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ يَكْفُرُونَ بِـَٔايَٰتِ ٱللَّهِ وَيَقْتُلُونَ ٱلنَّبِيِّۦنَ بِغَيْرِ ٱلْحَقِّ ۗ ذَٰلِكَ بِمَا عَصَوا۟ وَّكَانُوا۟ يَعْتَدُونَ
Translation
Remember when you said, ‘Moses, we cannot bear to eat only one kind of food, so pray to your Lord to bring out for us some of the earth’s produce, its herbs and cucumbers, its garlic, lentils, and onions.’ He said, ‘Would you exchange better for worse? Go to Egypt and there you will find what you have asked for.’ They were struck with humiliation and wretchedness, and they incurred the wrath of God because they persistently rejected His messages and killed prophets contrary to all that is right. All this was because they disobeyed and were lawbreakers.
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
This verse recounts a moment when the Children of Israel, despite being miraculously sustained with manna and quails in the desert, displayed profound ingratitude and a lack of appreciation for Allah's blessings. It serves as a powerful reminder of how our words and attitudes can impact divine favor.
Their Impatient Demand
The story opens with "وَإِذْ قُلْتُمْ يَا مُوسَىٰ لَنْ نَصْبِرَ عَلَىٰ طَعَامٍ وَاحِدٍ" (And [remember] when you said, "O Moses, we can never endure one kind of food"). The word "لَنْ" (lan) is crucial here; it signifies an absolute, emphatic negation, conveying their utter exasperation and a refusal to continue eating the manna and quails. It's not just "we won't endure," but "we can *never* endure." Their impatience had reached its peak. Furthermore, "طَعَامٍ وَاحِدٍ" (one kind of food) refers not to a single item, but to an unchanging *type* of food, highlighting their weariness with its daily consistency, even though it consisted of both manna and quails.
When they ask Musa, "فَادْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُخْرِجْ لَنَا مِمَّا تُنْبِتُ الْأَرْضُ" (So invoke your Lord for us to bring forth for us from what the earth grows), the grammar of "يُخْرِجْ" (yukhrij - He brings forth) is noteworthy. Instead of saying "أن يُخرِجَ" (that He brings forth), which would be expected after "to ask that," the jussive form "يُخْرِجْ" is used. This implies their firm conviction that if Musa simply asks, Allah will immediately provide. It reflects a certain audacious confidence in Musa's status with Allah, even as they displayed such a lack of reverence. Among the requested foods, "فُومِهَا" (fumaha) has been interpreted differently by scholars; some say it means garlic, which fits its context among other vegetables, while others suggest wheat.
Musa's Rebuking Question
Musa's reply, "أَتَسْتَبْدِلُونَ الَّذِي هُوَ أَدْنَىٰ بِالَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ" (Are you exchanging that which is lower for that which is better?), is a stern rebuke. The interrogative "أَ" (a-) is used for astonishment and strong disapproval. The verb "تَسْتَبْدِلُونَ" (tastabdiloon - are you exchanging) implies actively giving up one thing for another. The linguistic structure with "بِالَّذِي" (bil-lathee) for the better item indicates that they are *giving away* the good (manna and quails) *for* the inferior (earthly vegetables), a choice that is foolish and short-sighted. The manna and quails were a direct, effortless gift from Allah, superior in their divine origin and ease of provision compared to the laborious, common vegetables they craved.
The divine command "اهْبِطُوا مِصْرًا فَإِنَّ لَكُمْ مَا سَأَلْتُمْ" (Descend to any city, and indeed for you is what you requested) is a response mixed with rebuke. The indefinite "مِصْرًا" (misran - any city) rather than "مِصْرَ" (Misr - Egypt, the specific country) suggests that if they yearn for common foods, they must descend from their privileged state of divine provision in the wilderness to a regular city, where such foods are plentiful but require labor and effort. It's as if Allah is saying, "You want common food? Go earn it."
The Lasting Consequence
The verse then declares a lasting consequence: "وَضُرِبَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ الذِّلَّةُ وَالْمَسْكَنَةُ" (And humiliation and destitution were stamped upon them). The verb "ضُرِبَتْ" (duribat - was struck/stamped) is a powerful metaphor. It conveys that humiliation ("الذِّلَّةُ") and poverty of spirit ("المَسْكَنَةُ") became so deeply ingrained and encompassing for them, like a tent pitched around them or clay plastered onto a wall, a permanent and pervasive state. This was not a temporary affliction but a lasting characteristic. They "وَبَاءُو بِغَضَبٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ" (returned with anger from Allah), meaning they became deserving of and enveloped by His wrath.
The verse then outlines the profound reasons for this punishment: "ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا يَكْفُرُونَ بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ وَيَقْتُلُونَ النَّبِيِّينَ بِغَيْرِ الْحَقِّ ۗ ذَلِكَ بِمَا عَصَوْا وَكَانُوا يَعْتَدُونَ" (That was because they used to disbelieve in the signs of Allah and kill the prophets without right. That was because they disobeyed and used to transgress). The repetition of "ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ" (That was because they...) and "ذَلِكَ بِمَا" (That was because of what...) emphasizes the multiple, grave reasons for their fate, highlighting a pattern of deep-seated disbelief, transgression, and outright criminality. The phrase "بِغَيْرِ الْحَقِّ" (without right) when referring to killing prophets, though seemingly obvious (as killing prophets is never right), serves to emphasize that their actions were not merely wrong but utterly devoid of any justification, even by their own standards. It underscores the complete moral depravity of their actions, revealing a chronic and habitual state of disobedience.
Sources: Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi), al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), al-Jalalayn
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Al-Baqarah 2:61 is discussed in 15 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
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