Humiliation and Poverty Were Struck Upon Them — Allah's Way With the Ungrateful Nation
tadabbur
Level: intermediate
baqarah
td-183
وَضُرِبَتۡ عَلَيۡهِمُ ٱلذِّلَّةُ وَٱلۡمَسۡكَنَةُ
— البقرة 61
Verse: "And humiliation and poverty were struck upon them and they returned with anger from Allah." (2:61)
The explicit cause: "Because they disobeyed" — humiliation is caused by disobedience not ethnicity. This makes the verse a warning for every nation that follows this path, including Muslims.
Allah's way with nations: A nation that disobeys Allah, kills its prophets, and enjoys material life without taqwa — humiliation is struck upon it. A historical law for all nations.
Source: Ibn Kathir (1/225); Al-Sadi; Al-Qurtubi (1/418)
Question: What explicit cause does the Quran give for striking humiliation upon the Israelites?
Answer: "Because they disobeyed and were transgressing" — disobedience and transgression. Not ethnicity but behavior. This makes it a universal law applying to all who do likewise.