Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Baqarah Verse 83

Mufti Taqi Usmani

(Remember) when We took a pledge from the children of Isrā’īl (Israel): “You shall not worship anyone other than Allah; and you shall do good to the parents, and to near of kin, and to orphans and the needy. And say to the people what is good, and be steadfast in Salāh (prayer), and pay Zakāh .” Then, you went back (on your word), all but a few among you, and you are used to turning away.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

And ˹remember˺ when We took a covenant from the children of Israel ˹stating˺, “Worship none but Allah; be kind to parents, relatives, orphans and the needy; speak kindly to people; establish prayer; and pay alms-tax.” But you ˹Israelites˺ turned away—except for a few of you—and were indifferent.

Ruwwad Translation Center

And [remember] when We took a covenant from the Children of Israel, “Do not worship except Allah; be kind to parents and kindred, and to orphans and those in need; speak good words to people; establish prayer; and give Zakah.” But then you turned away paying no heed, except a few of you.

A. J. Arberry

And when We took compact with the Children of Israel: 'You shall not serve any save God; and to be good to parents, and the near kinsman, and to orphans, and to the needy; and speak good to men, and perform the prayer, and pay the alms.' Then you turned away, all but a few of you, swerving aside.

Abdul Haleem

Remember when We took a pledge from the Children of Israel: ‘Worship none but God; be good to your parents and kinsfolk, to orphans and the poor; speak good words to all people; keep up the prayer and pay the prescribed alms.’ Then all but a few of you turned away and paid no heed.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And recall what time We took a bond with the Children of Israel saying: worship not any god save Allah, and unto parents show kindness, and also unto the kindred and the orphans and the poor, and speak kindly unto mankind, and establish prayer and give the poor rate. Then ye turned away, save a few of you, and ye are backsliders.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

And remember We took a covenant from the Children of Israel (to this effect); Worship none but Allah; treat with kindness your parents and kindred, and orphans and those in need; speak fair to the people; be steadfast in prayer; and practise regular charity. Then did ye turn back, except a few among you, and ye backslide (even now).

Abul Ala Maududi

Remember that We made a solemn covenant with the children of Israel to this effect: worship none save Allah: be good to your parents, to your relatives, to the orphans and to the helpless; speak aright with the people: establish the Salat and pay the Zakat. But with the exception of a few, you all slid back from it and are paying no heed to it even now.

Ahmed Ali

Remember, when We made a covenant with the people of Israel and said: "Worship no one but God, and be good to your parents and your kin, and to orphans and the needy, and speak of goodness to men; observe your devotional obligations, and give zakat (the due share of your wealth for the welfare of others)," you went back (on your word), except only a few, and paid no heed.

Ahmed Raza Khan

And (remember) when We took a covenant from the Descendants of Israel that, “Do not worship anyone except Allah; and be good to parents, relatives, orphans and the needy, and speak kindly to people and keep the prayer established and pay the charity”; thereafter you retracted, except some of you; and you are those who turn away.

Ali Quli Qarai

When We took a pledge from the Children of Israel, [saying]: ‘Worship no one but Allah, do good to your parents, relatives, orphans, and the needy, speak kindly to people, maintain the prayer, and give the zakat,’ you turned away, except a few of you, and you were disregardful.

Ali Ünal

And (remember) when We took a promise from the Children of Israel: You shall worship none save God (as the only Deity, Lord and Sovereign), and do good to parents in the best way possible, and to the near (relatives), to the orphans, and to the destitute; and speak kindly and well to the people; and establish the Prayer, and pay the Prescribed Purifying Alms. But then you turned away in aversion, all except a few of you; in fact you are a people always avoiding your compacts and responsibilities.

Amatul Rahman Omar

And (recall) when We took a covenant from the Children of Israel, `You shall worship none except Allâh, and do good to (your) parents and to the near of kin and the orphans and the poor (as well), and you shall speak kindly to all people and observe Prayer and present purifying alms.´ But (afterwards) you all turned away (and broke your covenant) except a few of you and you are averse (to guidance and ways of virtue).

English Literal

And when We took Israel`s sons` and daughters` promise/covenant, "Do not worship except God, and with the parents a goodness and of the relations/near , and the orphans and the poorest of the poor/poor oppressed , and say to the people goodness, and keep up/take care of the prayers and give/bring the charity/purification." Then you turned away except (a) few from you and you are objecting/opposing .

Faridul Haque

And (remember) when We took a covenant from the Descendants of Israel that, "Do not worship anyone except Allah; and be good to parents, relatives, orphans and the needy, and speak kindly to people and keep the prayer established and pay the charity"; thereafter you retracted, except some of you; and you are those who turn away.

Hamid S. Aziz

And remember when We took from the children of Israel a covenant, saying, "Serve you none but Allah, and to your two parents show kindness, and to your kindred and the orphans and the needy, and speak to men kindly, and be steadfast in prayer, and give alms;" and then you turned back, save a few of you, and you backslide (even now).

Hilali & Khan

And (remember) when We took a covenant from the Children of Israel, (saying): Worship none but Allah (Alone) and be dutiful and good to parents, and to kindred, and to orphans and Al-Masakin (the poor), [Tafsir At-Tabari, Vol. 10, Page 158 (Verse 9:60)] and speak good to people [i.e. enjoin righteousness and forbid evil, and say the truth about Muhammad Peace be upon him], and perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat), and give Zakat. Then you slid back, except a few of you, while you are backsliders. (Tafsir Al-Qurtubi, Vol. 2, Page 392).

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And when We made a covenant with the Children of Israel. You shall serve none but Allah. And do good to (your) parents, and to the near of kin and to orphans and the needy, and speak good (words) to (all) men, and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate. Then you turned back except a few of you, and you are averse.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And when We made a covenant with the children of Israel: You shall not serve any but Allah and (you shall do) good to (your) parents, and to the near of kin and to the orphans and the needy, and you shall speak to men good words and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate. Then you turned back except a few of you and (now too) you turn aside.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

And (remember) when We made a covenant with the Children of Israel, (saying): Worship none save Allah (only), and be good to parents and to kindred and to orphans and the needy, and speak kindly to mankind; and establish worship and pay the poor-due. Then, after that, ye slid back, save a few of you, being averse.

Muhammad Sarwar

We made a covenant with the children of Israel that they should not worship anyone except Me, that they should serve their parents, relatives, orphans, and the destitute, that they should speak righteous words to people, and that they should be steadfast in their prayers and pay the religious tax. But soon after you made this covenant, all but a few of you broke it heedlessly.

Qaribullah & Darwish

(Remember) when We made a covenant with the Children of Israel, you shall worship none except Allah. Show kindness to your parents, to kinsmen, to the orphans, and to the needy, and speak of goodness to people. Establish your prayers and pay the obligatory charity. But, except for a few, you all turned your backs and gave no heed.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And (remember) when We took a covenant from the Children of Israel, (saying): Worship none but Allah (alone) and be dutiful and good to parents, and to kindred, and to orphans and (the poor), and speak good to people and perform As-Salah and give Zakah. Then you slid back, except a few of you, while you are backsliders.

Wahiduddin Khan

Remember when We made a covenant with the Children of Israel, "Worship none but God and be good to your parents and to relatives and orphans and the needy. And speak kindly to people. Attend to your prayers and pay the zakat [prescribed alms]." But with the exception of a few, you turned away [in aversion] and paid no heed.

Talal Itani

We made a covenant with the Children of Israel: “Worship none but God; and be good to parents, and relatives, and orphans, and the needy; and speak nicely to people; and pray regularly, and give alms.” Then you turned away, except for a few of you, recanting.

Tafsir jalalayn

And, mention, when We made a covenant with the Children of Israel, in the Torah, where We said; `You shall not worship (a variant reading [for l ta`budna] has [third person plural] l ya`budn [`they shall not worship']) any other than God (l ta`budna ill Llha is a predicate denoting a prohibition; one may also read l ta`bud [Worship you not]); and to be good, and righteous, to parents, and the near of kin; here kinship is adjoined to parents; and to orphans, and to the needy; and speak well, [good] words, to men, commanding good and forbidding evil, being truthful with regard to the status of Muhammad (s), and being kind to them [sc. orphans and the needy] (a variant reading [for hasanan] has husnan, the verbal noun, used as a hyperbolic description); and observe prayer and pay the alms', which you actually accepted, but, then you turned away, refusing to fulfil these [obligations] (here the second person address is used, but their forefathers are [still] meant); all but a few of you, rejecting it, like your forefathers.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

The Covenant that Allah took from the Children of Israel

Allah says;

وَإِذْ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَاقَ بَنِي إِسْرَايِيلَ لَا تَعْبُدُونَ إِلاَّ اللّهَ وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَاناً وَذِي الْقُرْبَى

وَالْيَتَامَى وَالْمَسَاكِينِ

And (remember) when We took a covenant from the Children of Israel, (saying);Worship none but Allah (alone) and be dutiful and good to parents, and to kindred, and to orphans and (the poor),

Allah reminded the Children of Israel of the commandments that He gave them, and the covenants that He took from them to abide by those commands, and how they intentionally and knowingly turned away from all of that. Allah commanded them to worship Him and to associate none with Him in worship, just as He has commanded all of His creatures, for this is why Allah created them.

Allah said,

وَمَأ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ مِن رَّسُولٍ إِلاَّ نُوحِى إِلَيْهِ أَنَّهُ لا إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ أَنَاْ فَاعْبُدُونِ

And We did not send any Messenger before you (O Muhammad) but We revealed to him (saying);La ilaha illa Ana (none has the right to be worshipped but I (Allah)), so worship Me (alone and none else). (21;25)

and,

وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِى كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَّسُولاً أَنِ اعْبُدُواْ اللَّهَ وَاجْتَنِبُواْ الْطَّـغُوتَ

And verily, We have sent among every Ummah (community, nation) a Messenger (proclaiming);"Worship Allah (alone), and avoid the Taghut (all false deities). (16;36)

This is the highest and most important right, that is, Allah's right that He be worshipped alone without partners.

After that comes the right of the creatures, foremost, the right of the parents. Allah usually mentions the rights of the parents along with His rights. For instance, Allah said,

أَنِ اشْكُرْ لِى وَلِوَلِدَيْكَ إِلَىَّ الْمَصِيرُ

Give thanks to Me and to your parents. Unto Me is the final destination. (31;14)

Also, Allah said,

وَقَضَى رَبُّكَ أَلاَّ تَعْبُدُواْ إِلاَّ إِيَّـهُ وَبِالْوَلِدَيْنِ إِحْسَـناً

And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And that you be dutiful to your parents, (17;23), until,

وَءَاتِ ذَا الْقُرْبَى حَقَّهُ وَالْمِسْكِينَ وَابْنَ السَّبِيلِ

And give to the kinsman his due and to the Miskin (poor) and to the wayfarer. (17;26)

The Two Sahihs record that Ibn Mas`ud said,

I said, `O Messenger of Allah! What is the best deed?'

He said,

الصَّلَةُ عَلى وَقْتِهَا

`Performing the prayer on time.'

I said, 'Then what?' He said,

بِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْن

`Being kind to one's parents.'

I said, `Then what?'

He said,

الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ الله
`Jihad in the cause of Allah.'

Allah then said,

وَالْيَتَامَى

and to orphans,

meaning, the young who have no fathers to fend for them.

وَالْمَسَاكِينِ

and Al-Masakin (the poor),

plural for Miskin, the one who does not find what he needs to spend on himself and his family.

We will discuss these categories when we explain the Ayah of Surah An-Nisa where Allah said,

وَاعْبُدُواْ اللَّهَ وَلَا تُشْرِكُواْ بِهِ شَيْياً وَبِالْوَلِدَيْنِ إِحْسَـناً

Worship Allah and join none with Him (in worship); and do good to parents. (4;36)

Allah's statement,

وَقُولُواْ لِلنَّاسِ حُسْناً

and speak good to people,

meaning, say good words to them and be lenient with them, this includes commanding good and forbidding evil.

Al-Hasan Al-Basri commented on Allah's statement,

`The good saying' means commanding good and forbidding evil, and being patient and forgiving.

The `good words to people', as Allah commanded, also includes every good type of behavior that Allah is pleased with."

Imam Ahmad narrated that Abu Dharr said that the Prophet said,

لَاا تَحْقِرَنَّ مِنَ الْمَعْرُوفِ شَيْيًا وَإِنْ لَمْ تَجِدْ فَالْقَ أَخَاكَ بِوَجْهٍ مُنْطَلِق

Do not belittle any form of righteousness, and even if you did not find any good deed except meeting your brother with a smiling face, then do so.

This Hadith was also collected by Muslim in his Sahih and At-Tirmidhi, who graded it Sahih.

Allah commands the servants to say good words to people, after He commanded them to be kind to them, thereby mentioning two categories of manners;good speech and good actions.

He then emphasized the command to worship Him and the command to do good, ordaining the prayer and the Zakah,

وَأَقِيمُواْ الصَّلَةَ وَاتُواْ الزَّكَاةَ

and perform As-Salah and give Zakah.

ثُمَّ تَوَلَّيْتُمْ إِلاَّ قَلِيلً مِّنكُمْ وَأَنتُم مِّعْرِضُونَ



Then you slid back, except a few of you, while you are backsliders.

Allah informed us that the People of the Book, except for a few among them, ignored these orders, that is, they knowingly and intentionally abandoned them.

Allah ordered this Ummah similarly in Surah An-Nisa when He said,

وَاعْبُدُواْ اللَّهَ وَلَا تُشْرِكُواْ بِهِ شَيْياً وَبِالْوَلِدَيْنِ إِحْسَـناً وَبِذِى الْقُرْبَى وَالْيَتَـمَى وَالْمَسَـكِينِ وَالْجَارِ ذِى الْقُرْبَى وَالْجَارِ الْجُنُبِ وَالصَّـحِبِ بِالجَنْبِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ وَمَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَـنُكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ مَن كَانَ مُخْتَالاً فَخُوراً

Worship Allah and join none with Him (in worship); and do good to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, Al-Masakin (the poor), the neighbor who is near of kin, the neighbor who is a stranger, the companion by your side, the wayfarer (you meet), and those (servants) whom your right hands possess. Verily, Allah does not like such as are proud and boastful. (4;36).

Of these orders, this Ummah has practiced what no other nation before it has, and all praise is due to Allah