Human beings have always been fascinated by the idea of being chosen. Nations seek it, civilisations claim it, and religious communities often find comfort in believing that they occupy a special place in the Divine plan. Yet one of the most profound lessons of the Quran is that being chosen is not a privilege to be celebrated; it is a responsibility to be fulfilled.

Few narratives illustrate this better than the Quranic account of Bani Israel in Surah Al-Baqarah. The Quran repeatedly reminds them of the extraordinary favours bestowed upon them: liberation from Pharaoh's tyranny, divine revelation, and a position of moral leadership among nations. "I preferred you above all peoples," the Quran declares. But what follows is not a celebration of superiority. Instead, it is a sobering catalogue of moral failings.

One may wonder why the Quran dwells so extensively on these shortcomings. The answer lies in the distinction between ordinary failure and leadership failure. Bani Israel were not judged against the........

© The Express Tribune