What Blessings Did Allah Bestow Upon the Children of Israel, Which Moses Reminded His People Of? What Was the Purpose?
ما هي النعم التي أنعم الله بها على بني إسرائيل والتي ذكّرهم بها موسى؟ وما الغاية من ذكر تلك النعم؟
First, among those blessings Allah bestowed upon the Children of Israel: "He raised prophets from among you," who call to guidance, warn against evil, urge striving for eternal bliss, and teach what was not known, since the blessing of faith is the greatest of Allah's blessings to His servants. "Made you sovereign," meaning they controlled their own affairs: their enemy's enslavement of them had ended, so they were masters of their affairs and able to establish their religion. "And gave you what He had never given anyone in the world," meaning He gave them religious and worldly blessings not given to those before them, since the Children of Israel, at that time, were the best of creation and most honored by Allah, given blessings unlike anyone else.
Second, the reason the Prophet of Allah Moses reminded his people of the blessings Allah had bestowed upon them is that when a person remembers Allah's blessings upon them, it becomes easier to make sacrifices for His sake, Majestic is His Majesty and holy are His names. Remembering Allah's blessings leads a servant to love their Lord, Master and Protector, and strengthens them in performing acts of worship. This is why Moses mentioned these blessings immediately before the divine command, "Enter the Holy Land."
Accordingly, if a Muslim feels reluctant to do a righteous deed, or their own self pushes them toward a wrong one, they should remember Allah's blessings upon them, hearing, sight, wealth, strength, and so on, and that it is Allah who bestowed these blessings. It is not fitting to answer Allah's blessing with disobedience, and He is ever watchful over His servant.
(And ˹remember˺ when Moses said to his people, "O my people! Remember Allah's favours upon you when He raised prophets from among you, made you sovereign, and gave you what He had never given anyone in the world.") Al-Ma'idah 5:20
أولاً، من تلك النعم التي أنعم الله بها على بني إسرائيل: "جَعَلَ فِيكُمْ أَنبِيَاءَ" يدعونكم إلى الهدى، ويحذرونكم من الردى، ويحثونكم على سعادتكم الأبدية، ويعلمونكم ما لم تكونوا تعلمون، لأن نعمة الدين أعظم نعم الله على عباده. "وَجَعَلَكُم مُّلُوكًا" أي تملكون أمركم، بحيث إنه زال عنكم استعباد عدوكم لكم، فكنتم تملكون أمركم، وتتمكنون من إقامة دينكم. "وَآتَاكُم مَّا لَمْ يُؤْتِ أَحَدًا مِّنَ الْعَالَمِينَ" أي أعطاكم من النعم الدينية والدنيوية ما لم يعطه من كان قبلكم، فقد كان بنو إسرائيل في ذلك الزمان خيرة الخلق وأكرمهم على الله تعالى، وقد أنعم عليهم بنعم ما كانت لغيرهم.
ثانيًا، سبب تذكير نبي الله موسى قومه بما أنعم الله به عليهم من النعم أن الإنسان إذا تذكر نعمة الله عليه سهل عليه التضحية له، جل جلاله وتقدست أسماؤه، ولأن ذكر نعمة الله مؤدٍّ إلى محبة العبد لربه وسيده ومولاه، وينشط العبد على أداء العبادات، ولذلك ذكر النعم وأعقبها بالأمر الإلهي فورًا: ادخلوا الأرض المقدسة.
ولذلك ينبغي للمسلم إذا كسل عن عمل صالح أو قادته نفسه إلى عمل غير صالح أن يتذكر نعمة الله عليه من سمع وبصر ومال وقوة ونحو ذلك، وأن الذي أنعم عليه هو الله عز وجل، فلا يليق أن يقابل نعمة الله عليه بعصيانه، وهو سبحانه مطلع عليه.
(وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوْمِهِ يَا قَوْمِ اذْكُرُوا نِعْمَةَ اللَّـهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ جَعَلَ فِيكُمْ أَنبِيَاءَ وَجَعَلَكُم مُّلُوكًا وَآتَاكُم مَّا لَمْ يُؤْتِ أَحَدًا مِّنَ الْعَالَمِينَ) المائدة 5: 20
1. Prophets Raised Among Them, the Greatest Blessing | أنبياءٌ منهم، أعظم النعم
The first blessing named is having prophets raised from among their own people, guiding them, warning them, and teaching what they did not already know. The answer gives the reason: the blessing of faith is the greatest of Allah's blessings to His servants, outweighing any material provision.
أول نعمة مذكورة أن الله جعل فيهم أنبياء من قومهم، يهدونهم وينذرونهم ويعلمونهم ما لم يكونوا يعلمون. ويذكر الجواب السبب: نعمة الدين أعظم نعم الله على عباده، وهي أعظم من أي عطاء مادي.
2. Made Sovereign Over Their Own Affairs | جعلهم أصحاب سيادة على أمرهم
The second blessing is self-governance, freedom from the enslavement they had endured under Pharaoh, and the ability to establish their own religion without external control. This directly follows their escape from Pharaoh's oppression, giving the reminder concrete, recent grounding rather than abstract praise.
النعمة الثانية امتلاكهم أمرهم، والتحرر من الاستعباد الذي عانوه في ظل فرعون، والتمكن من إقامة دينهم دون سيطرة خارجية. ويأتي هذا مباشرة بعد نجاتهم من ظلم فرعون، فيمنح التذكير أساسا ملموسا وقريبا لا ثناء مجردا.
3. Given What No Other Nation Had Received | أُعطوا ما لم يُعطَ أحدٌ من العالمين
The third blessing is described as unmatched by any people before them, both religiously and materially, reflecting their status at that time as, in the answer's words, the most honored of creation before Allah. This claim is specifically bound to that historical moment, not a permanent or unconditional standing.
النعمة الثالثة توصف بأنها لم يُعطها أحد قبلهم، في الدين والدنيا معا، تعبيرا عن مكانتهم في ذلك الوقت بأنهم، بعبارة الجواب، خيرة الخلق وأكرمهم على الله. وهذا الوصف مقيد بتلك المرحلة التاريخية تحديدا، لا مكانة دائمة أو غير مشروطة.
4. Why Blessings Were Named Right Before a Difficult Command | لماذا ذُكرت النعم قبل أمرٍ صعبٍ مباشرة
Musa deliberately places this reminder immediately before commanding them to enter the Holy Land, since remembering Allah's favor makes sacrifice for His sake easier and strengthens love and devotion. The answer extends this into a general principle: anyone hesitant about a good deed, or tempted toward a bad one, should recall the blessings already given to them, since answering Allah's blessing with disobedience is unfitting. Practical ways of giving that thanks are covered in how to thank Allah for His blessings.
يضع موسى هذا التذكير عمدا قبيل أمرهم بدخول الأرض المقدسة، لأن تذكر نعمة الله يسهّل التضحية في سبيله ويقوي المحبة والإقبال عليه. ويجعل الجواب من هذا قاعدة عامة: من تردد في عمل صالح، أو مالت نفسه إلى عمل سيئ، فليتذكر النعم التي أُعطيها، لأن مقابلة نعمة الله بالمعصية لا تليق.
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
What blessings did Moses remind the Children of Israel of?
Prophets raised among them, sovereignty over their own affairs, and favor unmatched by any other nation of their time.
Why is having prophets called the greatest blessing?
Because guidance in faith is considered the greatest of Allah's blessings to His servants.
Why did Moses mention these blessings right before commanding them to enter the Holy Land?
Because remembering Allah's blessings makes sacrifice for His sake easier and strengthens devotion.
What general lesson does this offer any believer today?
That recalling Allah's blessings, like hearing, sight, wealth, and strength, can renew motivation toward obedience when facing hesitation or temptation.