﷽
*Surah Al-Baqara, Verse 83:*
وَإِذْ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَاقَ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ لَا تَعْبُدُونَ إِلَّا اللَّهَ وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا وَذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَالْيَتَامَىٰ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَقُولُوا لِلنَّاسِ حُسْنًا وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ ثُمَّ تَوَلَّيْتُمْ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا مِّنكُمْ وَأَنتُم مُّعْرِضُونَ
And (remember) when We took a covenant from the Children of Israel, (saying): Worship none but Allāh (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 turn back, except a few of you, while you are backsliders. (Tafsir Al-Qurtubi, Vol. 2, Page 392).
*COMMENTARY*
So far from the Covenant being of the kind you suggest in verse 80 (Sūra Al-Baqarah), the real Covenant is about the moral law, which is set out in verse 83 (Sūra Al-Baqarah). This moral law is universal, and if you break it, no privileges will lighten your punishment or help you in any way Sūra Al-Baqarah, verse 86). "Speak fair to the people" not only means outward courtesy from the leaders to the meanest among the people, but the protection of the people from being exploited, deceived, defrauded, or doped with things to lull their intelligence.
﷽
*Surah Al-Baqara, Verse 84:*
وَإِذْ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَاقَكُمْ لَا تَسْفِكُونَ دِمَاءَكُمْ وَلَا تُخْرِجُونَ أَنفُسَكُم مِّن دِيَارِكُمْ ثُمَّ أَقْرَرْتُمْ وَأَنتُمْ تَشْهَدُونَ
And (remember) when We took your covenant (saying): Shed not the blood of your people, nor turn out your own people from their dwellings. Then, (this) you ratified and (to this) you bear witness.
*COMMENTARY*
Verse 83 (Sūra Al-Baqarah) referred to the universal moral law. This verse 84 (Sūra Al-Baqarah) refers to its application under a special Covenant entered into with the Jews of Madinah by the newborn Muslim Commonwealth under its Guide and teacher Muhammad (Blessings and Peace be upon him). This Covenant is given in Ibn Hishām's Sīrat-ur-Rasūl. It was entered into in the second year of the Hijra, and was treacherously broken by the Jews almost immediately by afterwards.
*Surah Al-Baqara, Verse 83:*
وَإِذْ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَاقَ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ لَا تَعْبُدُونَ إِلَّا اللَّهَ وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا وَذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَالْيَتَامَىٰ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَقُولُوا لِلنَّاسِ حُسْنًا وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ ثُمَّ تَوَلَّيْتُمْ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا مِّنكُمْ وَأَنتُم مُّعْرِضُونَ
And (remember) when We took a covenant from the Children of Israel, (saying): Worship none but Allāh (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 turn back, except a few of you, while you are backsliders. (Tafsir Al-Qurtubi, Vol. 2, Page 392).
*COMMENTARY*
So far from the Covenant being of the kind you suggest in verse 80 (Sūra Al-Baqarah), the real Covenant is about the moral law, which is set out in verse 83 (Sūra Al-Baqarah). This moral law is universal, and if you break it, no privileges will lighten your punishment or help you in any way Sūra Al-Baqarah, verse 86). "Speak fair to the people" not only means outward courtesy from the leaders to the meanest among the people, but the protection of the people from being exploited, deceived, defrauded, or doped with things to lull their intelligence.
﷽
*Surah Al-Baqara, Verse 84:*
وَإِذْ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَاقَكُمْ لَا تَسْفِكُونَ دِمَاءَكُمْ وَلَا تُخْرِجُونَ أَنفُسَكُم مِّن دِيَارِكُمْ ثُمَّ أَقْرَرْتُمْ وَأَنتُمْ تَشْهَدُونَ
And (remember) when We took your covenant (saying): Shed not the blood of your people, nor turn out your own people from their dwellings. Then, (this) you ratified and (to this) you bear witness.
*COMMENTARY*
Verse 83 (Sūra Al-Baqarah) referred to the universal moral law. This verse 84 (Sūra Al-Baqarah) refers to its application under a special Covenant entered into with the Jews of Madinah by the newborn Muslim Commonwealth under its Guide and teacher Muhammad (Blessings and Peace be upon him). This Covenant is given in Ibn Hishām's Sīrat-ur-Rasūl. It was entered into in the second year of the Hijra, and was treacherously broken by the Jews almost immediately by afterwards.
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