The Holy Quran 2:61 — Surah Al-Baqarah

Arabic text

وَإِذْ قُلْتُمْ يَـٰمُوسَىٰ لَن نَّصْبِرَ عَلَىٰ طَعَامٍ وَٰحِدٍ فَٱدْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُخْرِجْ لَنَا مِمَّا تُنۢبِتُ ٱلْأَرْضُ مِنۢ بَقْلِهَا وَقِثَّآئِهَا وَفُومِهَا وَعَدَسِهَا وَبَصَلِهَا ۖ قَالَ أَتَسْتَبْدِلُونَ ٱلَّذِى هُوَ أَدْنَىٰ بِٱلَّذِى هُوَ خَيْرٌ ۚ ٱهْبِطُوا۟ مِصْرًا فَإِنَّ لَكُم مَّا سَأَلْتُمْ ۗ وَضُرِبَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلذِّلَّةُ وَٱلْمَسْكَنَةُ وَبَآءُو بِغَضَبٍ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ ۗ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ يَكْفُرُونَ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ وَيَقْتُلُونَ ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ بِغَيْرِ ٱلْحَقِّ ۗ ذَٰلِكَ بِمَا عَصَوا۟ وَّكَانُوا۟ يَعْتَدُونَ

Translation

When you (the Bani Israa'eel) said, "Oh Moosa! We cannot tolerate (patiently bear) one type of food (manna and Salwaa), so pray to your Rabb on our behalf (asking Him) to bring forth for us what the earth produces, from its greens, cucumbers, wheat, lentils and onions." Moosa عليه الصلاة والسلام said, "Do you wish to receive what is inferior in exchange for that which is superior?" (However, when they refused to change their minds, Moosa prayed to Allaah and Allaah issued a command saying) "Go down to any town and you will find what you ask for." Disgrace and homelessness (poverty) were struck on them (became their fate) and they became deserving of Allaah's anger. This was because they disbelieved in Allaah's Aayaat and used to kill the prophets unjustly. This was because of their disobedience and wrongdoing (because they did not live within the limits set by Allaah).

Tafsir (excerpt) — Tafsir Usmani

Demanding vegetables instead of manna and salwa: this story too took place in the same wilderness. The Children of Israel grew tired of constantly eating the heavenly food, manna and salwa, and began to say, “We cannot bear a single kind of food. We want the grain of the earth, vegetables, leafy greens and herbs.

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