Chapter 2: Surat Al-Baqarah (The Cow), verses 58-61

Translation:

‘Enter this city,’ We said, ‘and eat where you will to your hearts’ content. Make your way reverently through the gates saying: “Forgive us.” We shall forgive you your sins and bestow abundance on the righteous.’ But the wrongdoers perverted Our words and We let loose on them a scourge from heaven as a punishment for their misdeeds. When Moses prayed for water for his people, We said to him: ‘Strike the rock with your staff.’ Thereupon twelve springs gushed from it, and each tribe knew their drinking-place. We said: ‘Eat and drink of that which God has provided and do not corrupt the land with evil.’ ‘Moses,’ you said, ‘we will no longer put up with this monotonous diet. Call on your Lord to give us some of the varied produce of the earth, green herbs and cucumbers, wheat and lentils and onions.’ ‘What?’ he answered, ‘Would you exchange that which is good for that which is worse? Go back to one of the cities. There you shall find all that you have asked for.’ Shame and misery were stamped upon them and they incurred the wrath of God; because they disbelieved His signs and slayed His Prophets unjustly; because they were rebels and transgressors.

Tafsir (Commentary):

God bestowed special blessings upon the Jewish people. They should have shown their gratitude by remaining obedient to Him, but they did quite the opposite. They were given possession of a great city and told to enter it—not in a vainglorious manner—but in humility and repentance; but instead they started rejoicing in their victory. Divine provision was given to them in the form of manna and quails so that, free from the struggle for a livelihood, they would be able to devote themselves entirely to carrying out God’s commandments; but they took to demanding spicy, cooked foods instead. Beyond the basic necessities of life, they sought to indulge in worldly luxury. So insensitive did they become that even the clear signs of God could not melt their hearts. They opposed and even killed those servants of God who rose to admonish them. The reason for the Jews’ heedlessness was that they thought salvation was their national right, whereas God will not judge anyone on an ethnic or hereditary basis. Jews will be judged according to the same divine law as Gentiles. Heaven is for those who prove themselves worthy of it by their actions; it is not the monopoly of any clan or community. Man’s harmony with nature comes from his leading a life of thanksgiving, humility and abstinence; by remaining steadfast in the face of adversity. Ingratitude, hot-headedness, pride and greed spread only evil throughout our world, and create a deviation from the natural order established by God.