Surah Al-Baqarah 2:90
سُورَةُ البَقَرَةِ · Medinan · Verse 90 of 286
بِئْسَمَا ٱشْتَرَوْا۟ بِهِۦٓ أَنفُسَهُمْ أَن يَكْفُرُوا۟ بِمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ بَغْيًا أَن يُنَزِّلَ ٱللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِۦ عَلَىٰ مَن يَشَآءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِۦ ۖ فَبَآءُو بِغَضَبٍ عَلَىٰ غَضَبٍۢ ۚ وَلِلْكَٰفِرِينَ عَذَابٌۭ مُّهِينٌۭ
Translation
Low indeed is the price for which they have sold their souls by denying the God-sent truth, out of envy that God should send His bounty to any of His servants He pleases. The disbelievers have ended up with wrath upon wrath, and a humiliating torment awaits them.
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
This powerful verse from Surah Al-Baqarah addresses the Children of Israel, exposing the profound error and devastating consequences of their choices. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) Himself is speaking, condemning their actions and revealing the true motivations behind their disbelief in Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the Quran. The tone is one of severe rebuke and warning.
A Terrible Transaction
The verse begins with the striking phrase `بِئْسَمَا ٱشْتَرَوْا۟ بِهِۦٓ أَنفُسَهُمْ` (how evil is that for which they sold themselves). The Arabic word `بِئْسَ` (bi'sa) is a verb of strong dispraise, immediately signaling deep condemnation. The imagery here is that of a disastrous transaction or bargain. Scholars like Ibn Ashur explain that the term `اشْتَرَوْا` (ishtaraw - they bought/sold) is used metaphorically. It describes a situation where one makes a choice, hoping for gain, but instead incurs immense loss. It's like someone entering a trade hoping for profit, only to suffer utter ruin. Whether they imagined they were "buying" protection for themselves by clinging to old ways, or "selling" their spiritual inheritance for fleeting worldly benefits, their exchange was utterly vile. They traded true faith and eternal reward for disbelief and humiliation.
The Root of Envy
The core reason for their wretched bargain is laid bare: `بَغْيًا أَن يُنَزِّلَ ٱللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِۦ عَلَىٰ مَن يَشَآءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِۦ` (out of envy that Allah should send down His grace upon whom He wills of His servants). The word `بَغْيًا` (baghyan) signifies envy, injustice, and transgression. Ibn Ashur clarifies that this specific injustice is *hasad* (envy) – wishing for the removal of a blessing from someone else without any benefit to oneself. This envy was directed at Allah's choice to bestow His `فَضْلِهِ` (fadlihi), His grace or bounty, which scholars like al-Jalalayn and Ibn Ashur identify as the revelation and prophethood, upon Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) from the Arab lineage, rather than their own. This highlights the grave sin of rejecting divine truth purely out of resentment for who was chosen to deliver it.
Wrath Upon Wrath
The consequence of this terrible transaction and deep-seated envy is severe: `فَبَآءُو بِغَضَبٍ عَلَىٰ غَضَبٍۢ` (so they incurred wrath upon wrath). The word `بَاءُو` (ba'ū) means "they returned" or "they incurred," further connecting to the earlier commercial metaphor of returning home with a crushing loss. The repetition of `غَضَبٍ عَلَىٰ غَضَبٍ` (wrath upon wrath) is a powerful Arabic idiom. Ibn Ashur explains that this construction, similar to `نُورٌ عَلَىٰ نُورٍ` (light upon light), signifies an *intensification* and *multiplication* of divine wrath. It suggests not just one instance of anger, but a severe, compounded displeasure. Al-Jalalayn specifies these as wrath for rejecting the Quran and earlier wrath for neglecting the Torah and disbelieving Jesus. This accumulation of divine displeasure culminates in `عَذَابٌۭ مُّهِينٌۭ` (a humiliating punishment) for all disbelievers. The word `مُّهِينٌ` (muhīn) emphasizes that the torment will not only be painful but will also strip them of all dignity and honor, utterly debasing them.
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 2:90 is discussed in 8 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
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