Surah Al-Baqarah 2:211

The Punishment for changing Allah's Favor and mocking the Believers

Allah mentioned that the Children of Israel, were witnesses to many clear signs that attest to the truth of Moses regarding what he was sent with for them. They witnessed his hand (when it became lit with light), his parting the sea, his striking the rock (and water flowed from the rock), the clouds that shaded them during the intense heat, the manna and the quails, and so forth. These signs attested to the existence of the Creator and the truth of Moses by whose hand these signs appeared. Yet, so many among them changed Allah's favor, by preferring disbelief to faith and by ignoring Allah's favors,

(And whoever changes Allah's favor after it had come to him, then surely, Allah is severe in punishment.)

Similarly, Allah said about the disbelievers of Quraysh:

(Have you not seen those who have changed the blessings of Allah into disbelief, and caused their people to dwell in the house of destruction Hell, in which they will burn, ـ and what an evil place to settle in!) (14:28, 29)

Then Allah states that He has made the life of this world beautiful for the disbelievers who are satisfied with it, who collect wealth, but refrain from spending it on what they have been commanded, which could earn them Allah's pleasure. Instead, they ridicule the believers who ignore this life and who spend whatever they earn on what pleases their Lord. The believers spend seeking Allah's Face, and this is why they have gained the ultimate happiness and the best share on the Day of the Return. Therefore, they will be exalted above the disbelievers at the Gathering Place, when they are gathered, during the resurrection and in their final destination. The believers will reside in the highest grades in the utmost highs, while the disbelievers will reside in the lowest of lows (in the Fire).

This is why Allah said:

(And Allah gives to whom He wills without limit.)

This Ayah indicates that Allah gives sustenance to whomever He wills of His servants without count or limit in this and the Hereafter. A Hadith has stated (that Allah said):

(O son of Adam! Spend (in Allah's cause) and I (Allah) will spend on you.) The Prophet said:

(O Bilal! Spend and do not fear deprivation from the Owner of the Throne.)

Allah said:

(...and whatsoever you spend of anything (in Allah's cause), He will replace it.) (34:39) In addition, it is reported in the Sahih (that the Prophet said):

(Every day two angels come down from heavens and one of them says, `O Allah! Compensate every person who spends in Your cause,' and the other (angel) says, `O Allah! Destroy every miser.') Also in the Sahih:

(The son of Adam says, `My money, my money!' Yet, what is your money except that which you eat and use up, wear and tear, and spend in charity and thus keep (in your record). Other than that, it will go away and will be left for the people (the inheritors).)

In addition, Imam Ahmad reported that the Prophet said:

(The Dunya (life of this world) is the residence of those who have no residence, the wealth of those who have no wealth, and it is harvested by those who have no sense of reason.)

Bani Israil telah rusak karena pengaruh keduniaan sehingga tidak sedikit dosa yang telah mereka lakukan dan tidak sedikit pula nikmat Allah yang telah diingkarinya. Karena itu, Nabi Muhammad saw diperintahkan Allah swt menanyakan kepada mereka berapa banyak sudah ayat-ayat dan tanda-tanda kekuasaan Allah yang telah diperlihatkan kepada mereka?

Pertanyaan ini bukan untuk dijawab tetapi sebagai peringatan untuk dapat diinsafi dan disadari, agar mereka taat kepada Allah dan meninggalkan perbuatan jahat.

Allah telah memperlihatkan kepada mereka mukjizat-mukjizat yang terjadi pada nabi-nabi mereka yang menunjukkan kebenaran ajaran-ajaran yang dibawanya itu, seperti tongkat Nabi Musa a.s. ketika dipukulkan kepada batu lalu memancarlah dari padanya dua belas mata air, dan awan yang menaungi mereka pada waktu panas ketika berjalan di padang pasir, makanan yang berupa mann dan salwa, dan sebagainya. Tetapi mereka tetap saja keras kepala dan tidak ada tanda-tanda sedikit pun bahwa mereka akan sadar dan insaf. Oleh karena itu, Allah swt memberikan satu peringatan keras, yaitu barang siapa yang menukar nikmat Allah dengan kekafiran sesudah nikmat itu datang kepadanya dan mengganti ayat-ayat-Nya, Allah akan membalas mereka dengan azab yang keras dan pedih terutama di hari kemudian dengan menjebloskan mereka ke dalam neraka Jahanam.

Allah swt berfirman:

Tidakkah kamu memperhatikan orang-orang yang telah menukar nikmat Allah dengan ingkar kepada Allah dan menjatuhkan kaumnya ke lembah kebinasaan?Yaitu neraka Jahanam; mereka masuk ke dalamnya; dan itulah seburuk-buruk tempat kediaman. (Ibrahim/14: 28-29).