Quran Quote  :  Do not turn your eyes covetously towards the embellishments of worldly life that We have bestowed upon various kinds of people to test them. - 20:131

Quran-2:47 Surah Al-baqarah English Translation,Transliteration and Tafsir(Tafseer).

يَٰبَنِيٓ إِسۡرَـٰٓءِيلَ ٱذۡكُرُواْ نِعۡمَتِيَ ٱلَّتِيٓ أَنۡعَمۡتُ عَلَيۡكُمۡ وَأَنِّي فَضَّلۡتُكُمۡ عَلَى ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ

Transliteration:( Yaa Baneee Israaa'eelaz kuroo ni'matiyal lateee an'amtu 'alaikum wa annee faddaltukum 'alal 'aalameen )

47. O Children of Israel! Remember My special favours [89], which I have bestowed upon you, and exalted you over the entire world [90]. (Kanzul Imaan Translation)

(47) O Children of Israel, remember My favor that I have bestowed upon you and that I preferred you over the worlds [i.e., peoples]. (Saheen International Translation)

Surah Al-Baqarah Ayat 47 Tafsir (Commentry)



  • Tafseer-e-Naeemi (Ahmad Yaar Khan)
  • Ibn Kathir
  • Ala-Madudi
  • Shaheen International

89. The Children of Yaqub (Bani Israeel) are reminded that Allah Almighty has raised many Prophets from them and granted them kingdom and leadership of the world. Thus, the greater the favour, the greater should be their expression of gratitude and appreciation.
90. From this verse two issues emerge.
1. To remember the favours and bounties of Allah is an act of worship. Thus, to hold Meelad functions and celebrate the Night of Me'raj are acts of Ibadat (worship).
2. Being from the progeny of the noble ancestors Is means of leadership and a recognition. The reason for obtaining world leadership by Bani Israeel was they were children of Prophetsﷺ. It is for this reason that all Sayeds - descendants of the Holy Prophet enjoy distinction, among the general Muslims.

Ibn-Kathir

47. O Children of Israel! Remember My favor which I bestowed upon you and that I preferred you over the `Alamin (nations)


Reminding the Children of Israel that They were preferred above the Other Nations

Allah reminds the Children of Israel of the favors that He granted their fathers and grandfathers, how He showed preference to them by sending them Messengers from among them and revealing Books to them, more so than any of the other previous nations. Similarly, Allah said,

﴿وَلَقَدِ اخْتَرْنَـهُمْ عَلَى عِلْمٍ عَلَى الْعَـلَمِينَ ﴾

(And We chose them (the Children of Israel) over the `Alamin, (nations) with knowledge.) (44:32) and,

﴿وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَى لِقَوْمِهِ يَـقَوْمِ اذْكُرُواْ نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ جَعَلَ فِيكُمْ أَنْبِيَآءَ وَجَعَلَكُمْ مُّلُوكاً وَءَاتَـكُمْ مَّا لَمْ يُؤْتِ أَحَداً مِّن الْعَـلَمِينَ ﴾

(And (remember) when Musa (Moses) said to his people: “O my people! Remember the favor of Allah to you: when He made Prophets among you, made you kings, honored you above the `Alamin (nations).”) (5:20).

Abu Ja`far Ar-Razi reported that Ar-Rabi` bin Anas said that Abu Al-`Aliyah said that Allah’s statement,

﴿وَأَنِّى فَضَّلْتُكُمْ عَلَى الْعَـلَمِينَ﴾

(and that I preferred you over the `Alamin) means, “The kingship, Messengers and Books that were granted to them, instead of granting such to the other kingdoms that existed during their time, for every period there is a nation.” It was also reported that Mujahid, Ar-Rabi` bin Anas, Qatadah and Isma`il bin Abi Khalid said similarly.

The Ummah of Muhammad is Better than the Children of Israel

This is the only way the Ayah can be understood, because this Ummah is better than theirs, as Allah said;

﴿كُنتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَلَوْ ءَامَنَ أَهْلُ الْكِتَـبِ لَكَانَ خَيْراً لَّهُمْ﴾

(You are the best of people ever raised up for mankind; you enjoin good and forbid evil, and you believe in Allah. And had the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) believed, it would have been better for them) (3:110).

Also, the Musnad and Sunan Collections of Hadith recorded that Mu`awiyah bin Haydah Al-Qushayri said that the Messenger of Allah said,

«أَنْتُمْ تُوَفُّونَ سَبْعِينَ أُمَّةً أَنْتُمْ خَيْرُهَا وَأَكْرَمُهَا عَلَى الله»

(You (Muslims) are the seventieth nation, but you are the best and most honored of them according to Allah.)

There are many Hadiths on this subject, and they will be mentioned when we discuss Allah’s statement,

﴿كُنتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ﴾

(You are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind) (3:110).

(2:47) Children of Israel! Recall My favour which I bestowed upon you, exalting you above all nations.[62]

Ala-Maududi

(2:47) Children of Israel! Recall My favour which I bestowed upon you, exalting you above all nations.[62]


62. This refers to that period of human history when, of all nations, only the Children of Israel possessed that knowledge of Truth which comes from God alone. At that time they were entrusted with the task of directing the nations of the world to righteousness; they were expected to serve God and to invite the rest of the world to do the same.

(47) O Children of Israel, remember My favor that I have bestowed upon you and that I preferred you over the worlds [i.e., peoples].

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