5:22 Al-Maaida (The Table)

تفسير الآيات من 20 حتى 26 :ـ لما امتن الله على موسى وقومه بنجاتهم من فرعون وقومه وأسرهم واستبعادهم، ذهبوا قاصدين لأوطانهم ومساكنهم، وهي بيت المقدس وما حواليه، وقاربوا وصول بيت المقدس، وكان الله قد فرض عليهم جهاد عدوهم ليخرجوه من ديارهم. فوعظهم موسى عليه السلام؛ وذكرهم ليقدموا على الجهاد فقال لهم: { اذْكُرُوا نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ } بقلوبكم وألسنتكم. فإن ذكرها داع إلى محبته تعالى ومنشط على العبادة، { إِذْ جَعَلَ فِيكُمْ أَنبِيَاءَ } يدعونكم إلى الهدى، ويحذرونكم من الردى، ويحثونكم على سعادتكم الأبدية، ويعلمونكم ما لم تكونوا تعلمون { وَجَعَلَكُم مُّلُوكًا } تملكون أمركم، بحيث إنه زال عنكم استعباد عدوكم لكم، فكنتم تملكون أمركم، وتتمكنون من إقامة دينكم. { وَآتَاكُمْ } من النعم الدينية والدنيوية { مَا لَمْ يُؤْتِ أَحَدًا مِّنَ الْعَالَمِينَ } فإنهم في ذلك الزمان خيرة الخلق، وأكرمهم على الله تعالى. وقد أنعم عليهم بنعم ما كانت لغيرهم. فذكرهم بالنعم الدينية والدنيوية، الداعي ذلك لإيمانهم وثباته، وثباتهم على الجهاد، وإقدامهم عليه، ولهذا قال: { يَا قَوْمِ ادْخُلُوا الْأَرْضَ الْمُقَدَّسَةَ } أي: المطهرة { الَّتِي كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ } فأخبرهم خبرا تطمئن به أنفسهم، إن كانوا مؤمنين مصدقين بخبر الله، وأنه قد كتب الله لهم دخولها، وانتصارهم على عدوهم. { وَلَا تَرْتَدُّوا } أي: ترجعوا { عَلَى أَدْبَارِكُمْ فَتَنْقَلِبُوا خَاسِرِينَ } قد خسرتم دنياكم بما فاتكم من النصر على الأعداء وفتح بلادكم. وآخرتكم بما فاتكم من الثواب، وما استحققتم -بمعصيتكم- من العقاب، فقالوا قولا يدل على ضعف قلوبهم، وخور نفوسهم، وعدم اهتمامهم بأمر الله ورسوله. { يَا مُوسَى إِنَّ فِيهَا قَوْمًا جَبَّارِينَ } شديدي القوة والشجاعة، أي: فهذا من الموانع لنا من دخولها. { وَإِنَّا لَن نَّدْخُلَهَا حَتَّى يَخْرُجُوا مِنْهَا فَإِن يَخْرُجُوا مِنْهَا فَإِنَّا دَاخِلُونَ } وهذا من الجبن وقلة اليقين، وإلا فلو كان معهم رشدهم، لعلموا أنهم كلهم من بني آدم، وأن القوي من أعانه الله بقوة من عنده، فإنه لا حول ولا قوة إلا بالله، ولعلموا أنهم سينصرون عليهم، إذ وعدهم الله بذلك، وعدا خاصا. { قَالَ رَجُلَانِ مِنَ الَّذِينَ يَخَافُونَ } الله تعالى، مشجعين لقومهم، منهضين لهم على قتال عدوهم واحتلال بلادهم. { أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمَا } بالتوفيق، وكلمة الحق في هذا الموطن المحتاج إلى مثل كلامهم، وأنعم عليهم بالصبر واليقين. { ادْخُلُوا عَلَيْهِمُ الْبَابَ فَإِذَا دَخَلْتُمُوهُ فَإِنَّكُمْ غَالِبُونَ } أي: ليس بينكم وبين نصركم عليهم إلا أن تجزموا عليهم، وتدخلوا عليهم الباب، فإذا دخلتموه عليهم فإنهم سينهزمون، ثم أمَرَاهم بعدة هي أقوى العدد، فقالا: { وَعَلَى اللَّهِ فَتَوَكَّلُوا إِن كُنْتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ } فإن في التوكل على الله -وخصوصا في هذا الموطن- تيسيرا للأمر، ونصرا على الأعداء. ودل هذا على وجوب التوكل، وعلى أنه بحسب إيمان العبد يكون توكله، فلم ينجع فيهم هذا الكلام، ولا نفع فيهم الملام، فقالوا قول الأذلين: { يَا مُوسَى إِنَّا لَن نَدْخُلَهَا أَبَدًا مَّا دَامُوا فِيهَا فَاذْهَبْ أَنتَ وَرَبُّكَ فَقَاتِلَا إِنَّا هَاهُنَا قَاعِدُونَ } فما أشنع هذا الكلام منهم، ومواجهتهم لنبيهم في هذا المقام الحرج الضيق، الذي قد دعت الحاجة والضرورة إلى نصرة نبيهم، وإعزاز أنفسهم. وبهذا وأمثاله يظهر التفاوت بين سائر الأمم، وأمة محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم حيث قال الصحابة لرسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم -حين شاورهم في القتال يوم \"بدر\" مع أنه لم يحتم عليهم: يا رسول الله، لو خضت بنا هذا البحر لخضناه معك، ولو بلغت بنا برك الغماد ما تخلف عنك أحد. ولا نقول كما قال قوم موسى لموسى: { اذْهَبْ أَنتَ وَرَبُّكَ فَقَاتِلَا إِنَّا هَاهُنَا قَاعِدُونَ } ولكن اذهب أنت وربك فقاتلا إنا معكما مقاتلون، من بين يديك ومن خلفك، وعن يمينك وعن يسارك. فلما رأى موسى عليه السلام عتوهم عليه { قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّي لَا أَمْلِكُ إِلَّا نَفْسِي وَأَخِي } أي: فلا يدان لنا بقتالهم، ولست بجبار على هؤلاء. { فَافْرُقْ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَ الْقَوْمِ الْفَاسِقِينَ } أي: احكم بيننا وبينهم، بأن تنزل فيهم من العقوبة ما اقتضته حكمتك، ودل ذلك على أن قولهم وفعلهم من الكبائر العظيمة الموجبة للفسق. { قَالَ } الله مجيبا لدعوة موسى: { فَإِنَّهَا مُحَرَّمَةٌ عَلَيْهِمْ أَرْبَعِينَ سَنَةً يَتِيهُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ } أي: إن من عقوبتهم أن نحرم عليهم دخول هذه القرية التي كتبها الله لهم، مدة أربعين سنة، وتلك المدة أيضا يتيهون في الأرض، لا يهتدون إلى طريق ولا يبقون مطمئنين، وهذه عقوبة دنيوية، لعل الله تعالى كفر بها عنهم، ودفع عنهم عقوبة أعظم منها، وفي هذا دليل على أن العقوبة على الذنب قد تكون بزوال نعمة موجودة، أو دفع نقمة قد انعقد سبب وجودها أو تأخرها إلى وقت آخر. ولعل الحكمة في هذه المدة أن يموت أكثر هؤلاء الذين قالوا هذه المقالة، الصادرة عن قلوب لا صبر فيها ولا ثبات، بل قد ألفت الاستعباد لعدوها، ولم تكن لها همم ترقيها إلى ما فيه ارتقاؤها وعلوها، ولتظهر ناشئة جديدة تتربى عقولهم على طلب قهر الأعداء، وعدم الاستعباد، والذل المانع من السعادة. ولما علم الله تعالى أن عبده موسى في غاية الرحمة على الخلق، خصوصا قومه، وأنه ربما رق لهم، واحتملته الشفقة على الحزن عليهم في هذه العقوبة، أو الدعاء لهم بزوالها، مع أن الله قد حتمها، قال: { فَلَا تَأْسَ عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْفَاسِقِينَ } أي: لا تأسف عليهم ولا تحزن، فإنهم قد فسقوا، وفسقهم اقتضى وقوع ما نزل بهم لا ظلما منا.

"قالوا يا موسى إن فيها قوما جبارين وإنا لن تدخلها حتى يخرجوا منها فإن يخرجوا منها فإنا داخلون" أي اعتذروا بأن في هذه البلدة التي أمرتنا بدخولها وقتال أهلها قوما جبارين أي ذوي خلق هائلة وقوى شديدة وإننا لا نقدر على مقاومتهم ولا مصاولتهم ولا يمكننا الدخول إليها ما داموا فيها فإن يخرجوا منها دخلناها وإلا فلا طاقة لنا بهم وقد قال ابن جرير: حدثني عبد الكريم بن الهيثم حدثنا إبراهيم بن بشار حدثنا سفيان قال: قال أبو سعيد قال عكرمة عن ابن عباس قال: أمر موسى أن يدخل مدينة الجبارين قال: فسار موسى بمن معه حتى نزل قريبا من المدينة وهي أريحاء فبعث إليهم اثنا عشر عينا من كل سبط منهم عين ليأتوه بخبر القوم قال فدخلوا المدينة فرأوا أمرا عظيما من هيئتهم وجسمهم وعظمهم فدخلوا حائطا لبعضهم فجاء صاحب الحائط ليجتني الثمار من حائطه فجعل يجتني الثمار وينظر إلى آثارهم فتبعهم فكلما أصاب واحدا منهم أخذه فجعله في كمه مع الفاكهة حتى التقط الاثنا عشر كلهم فجعلهم في كمه مع الفاكهة وذهب بهم إلى ملكهم فنثرهم بين يديه فقال: لهم الملك قد رأيتم شأننا وأمرنا فاذهبوا فأخبروا صاحبكم قال فوجدوا إلى موسى فأخبروه بما عاينوا من أمرهم. وفي هذا الإسناد نظر وقال علي بن أبي طلحة: عن ابن عباس لما نزل موسى وقومه بعث منهم اثنا عشر رجلا وهم النقباء الذين ذكرهم الله فبعثهم ليأتوه بخبرهم فساروا فلقيهم رجل من الجبارين فجعلهم في كسائه فحمله حتى أتى بهم المدينة ونادى في قومه فاجتمعوا إليه فقالوا من أنتم؟ قالوا: نحن قوم موسى بعثنا نأتيه بخبركم فأعطوهم حبة من عنب تكفي الرجل فقالوا: لهم اذهبوا إلى موسى وقومه فقولوا لهم هذا قدر فاكهتهم فرجعوا إلى موسى فأخبروه بما رأوا فلما أمرهم موسى - عليه السلام- بالدخول عليهم وقتالهم قالوا: يا موسى اذهب أنت وربك فقاتلا إنا ههنا قاعدون رواه ابن أبي حاتم ثم قال: حدثنا أبي حدثنا ابن أبي مريم حدثنا يحيى بن أيوب عن يزيد بن الهادي حدثني يحيى بن عبد الرحمن قال: رأيت أنس بن مالك أخذ عصا فذرع فيها بشيء لا أدري كم ذرع ثم قاس بها في الأرض خمسين أو خمسا وخمسين ثم قال: هكذا طول العماليق. وقد ذكر كثير من المفسرين ههنا أخبارا من وضع بني إسرائيل في عظمة خلق هؤلاء الجبارين وأن منهم عوج بن عنق بنت آدم - عليه السلام- وأنه من طوله ثلاثة آلاف ذراع وثلاثمائة وثلاثة وثلاثون ذراعا وثلث ذراع تحرير الحساب وهذا شيء يستحي من ذكره ثم هو مخالف لما ثبت في الصحيحين أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال:" إن الله خلق آدم وطوله ستون ذراعا ثم لم يزل الخلق ينقص حتى الآن " ثم ذكروا أن هذا الرجل كان كافرا وأنه كان ولد زنية وأنه امتنع من ركوب سفينة نوح وأن الطوفان لم يصل إلى ركبته وهذا كذب وافتراء فإن الله تعالى ذكر أن نوحا دعا على أهل الأرض من الكافرين فقال " رب لا تذر على الأرض من الكافرين ديارا " وقال تعالى " فأنجيناه ومن معه في الفلك المشحون ثم أغرقنا بعد الباقين " وقال تعالى " لا عاصم اليوم من أمر الله إلا من رحم " وإذا كان ابن نوح الكافر غرق فكيف يبدل عوج بن عنق وهو كافر وولد زنية؟ هذا لا يسوغ في عقل ولا شرع ثم في وجود رجل يقال له عوج بن عنق نظر والله أعلم.

Musa Reminds His People of Allah's Favors on Them; The Jews Refuse to Enter the Holy Land

Allah states that His servant, Messenger, to whom He spoke directly, Musa, the son of `Imran, reminded his people that among the favors Allah granted them, is that He will give them all of the good of this life and the Hereafter, if they remain on the righteous and straight path. Allah said,

وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَى لِقَوْمِهِ يَـقَوْمِ اذْكُرُواْ نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ جَعَلَ فِيكُمْ أَنْبِيَآءَ

(And (remember) when Musa said to his people: "O my people! Remember the favor of Allah to you, when He made Prophets among you,) for whenever a Prophet died, another rose among them, from the time of their father Ibrahim and thereafter. There were many Prophets among the Children of Israel calling to Allah and warning against His torment, until `Isa was sent as the final Prophet from the Children of Israel. Allah then sent down the revelation to the Final Prophet and Messenger, Muhammad ﷺ, the son of `Abdullah, from the offspring of Isma`il, the son of Ibrahim, peace be upon them. Muhammad is the most honorable Prophet of all times. Allah said next,

وَجَعَلَكُمْ مُّلُوكاً

(made you kings) `Abdur-Razzaq recorded that Ibn `Abbas commented: "Having a servant, a wife and a house." In his Mustadrak, Al-Hakim recorded that Ibn `Abbas said, "A wife and a servant, and, a

وَءَاتَـكُمْ مَّا لَمْ يُؤْتِ أَحَداً مِّن الْعَـلَمِينَ

(and gave you what He had not given to any other among the nations (`Alamin).) means, during their time." Al-Hakim said, "Sahih according to the criteria of the Two Sahihs, but they did not collect it." Qatadah said, "They were the first people to take servants." A Hadith states,

«مَنْ أَصْبَحَ مِنْكُمْ مُعَافًى فِي جَسَدِهِ، آمِنًا فِي سِرْبِهِ، عِنْدَهُ قُوتُ يَوْمِهِ، فَكَأَنَّمَا حِيزَتْ لَهُ الدُّنْيَا بِحَذَافِيرِهَا»

(He among you who wakes up while healthy in body, safe in his family and having the provision for that very day, is as if the world and all that was in it were collected for him.) Allah's statement,

وَءَاتَـكُمْ مَّا لَمْ يُؤْتِ أَحَداً مِّن الْعَـلَمِينَ

(and gave you what He had not given to any other among the nations (Al-`Alamin).) means, during your time, as we stated. The Children of Israel were the most honorable among the people of their time, compared to the Greek, Copts and the rest of mankind. Allah said in another Ayah,

وَلَقَدْ ءَاتَيْنَا بَنِى إِسْرَءِيلَ الْكِتَـبَ وَالْحُكْمَ وَالنُّبُوَّةَ وَرَزَقْنَـهُمْ مِّنَ الطَّيِّبَـتِ وَفَضَّلْنَـهُمْ عَلَى الْعَـلَمينَ

(And indeed We gave the Children of Israel the Scripture, and the understanding of the Scripture and its laws, and the Prophethood; and provided them with good things, and preferred them above the nations (Al-`Alamin).) Allah said,

لَّهُمْ قَالُواْ يَمُوسَى اجْعَلْ لَّنَآ إِلَـهًا كَمَا لَهُمْ ءَالِهَةٌ قَالَ إِنَّكُمْ قَوْمٌ تَجْهَلُونَ

إِنَّ هَـؤُلاءِ مُتَبَّرٌ مَّا هُمْ فِيهِ وَبَـطِلٌ مَّا كَانُواْ يَعْمَلُونَ - قَالَ أَغَيْرَ اللَّهِ أَبْغِيكُمْ إِلَـهًا وَهُوَ فَضَّلَكُمْ عَلَى الْعَـلَمِينَ

(They said: "O Musa! Make for us a god as they have gods." He said: "Verily, you are an ignorant people." Musa added: "Verily, these people will be destroyed for that which they are engaged in (idol worship)." And all that they are doing is in vain. He said: "Shall I seek for you a god other than Allah, while He has given you superiority over the nations.") Therefore, they were the best among the people of their time. The Muslim Ummah is more respected and honored before Allah, and has a more perfect legislative code and system of life, it has the most honorable Prophet, the larger kingdom, more provisions, wealth and children, a larger domain and more lasting glory than the Children of Israel. Allah said,

وَكَذَلِكَ جَعَلْنَـكُمْ أُمَّةً وَسَطًا لِّتَكُونُواْ شُهَدَآءَ عَلَى النَّاسِ

(Thus We have made you, a just (the best) nation, that you be witnesses over mankind.) We mentioned the Mutawatir Hadiths about the honor of this Ummah and its status and honor with Allah, when we explained Allah's statement in Surah Al-`Imran (3),

كُنتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ

(You are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind...) Allah states next that Musa encouraged the Children of Israel to perform Jihad and enter Jerusalem, which was under their control during the time of their father Ya`qub. Ya`qub and his children later moved with his children and household to Egypt during the time of Prophet Yusuf. His offspring remained in Egypt until their exodus with Musa. They found a mighty, strong people in Jerusalem who had previously taken it over. Musa, Allah's Messenger, ordered the Children of Israel to enter Jerusalem and fight their enemy, and he promised them victory and triumph over the mighty people if they did so. They declined, rebelled and defied his order and were punished for forty years by being lost, wandering in the land uncertain of where they should go. This was their punishment for defying Allah's command. Allah said that Musa ordered them to enter the Holy Land,

الَّتِى كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ

(which Allah has assigned to you) meaning, which Allah has promised to you by the words of your father Isra'il, that it is the inheritance of those among you who believe.

وَلاَ تَرْتَدُّوا عَلَى أَدْبَـرِكُمْ

(and turn not back) in flight from Jihad.

فَتَنقَلِبُواْ خَـسِرِينَقَالُوا يَامُوسَى إِنَّ فِيهَا قَوْماً جَبَّارِينَ وَإِنَّا لَن نَّدْخُلَهَا حَتَّى يَخْرُجُواْ مِنْهَا فَإِن يَخْرُجُواْ مِنْهَا فَإِنَّا دَخِلُونَ

(". ..for then you will be returned as losers." They said, "O Musa! In it are a people of great strength, and we shall never enter it, till they leave it; when they leave, then we will enter.") Their excuse was this, in this very town you commanded us to enter and fight its people, there is a mighty, strong, vicious people who have tremendous physique and physical ability. We are unable to stand against these people or fight them. Therefore, they said, we are incapable of entering this city as long as they are still in it, but if they leave it, we will enter it. Otherwise, we cannot stand against them.

The Speeches of Yuwsha` (Joshua) and Kalib (Caleb)

Allah said,

قَالَ رَجُلاَنِ مِنَ الَّذِينَ يَخَافُونَ أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمَا

(Two men of those who feared (Allah and) on whom Allah had bestowed His grace said...) When the Children of Israel declined to obey Allah and follow His Messenger Musa, two righteous men among them, on whom Allah had bestowed a great bounty and who were afraid of Allah and His punishment, encouraged them to go forward. It was also said that the Ayah reads in a way that means that these men were respected and honored by their people. These two men were Yuwsha`, the son of Nun, and Kalib, the son of Yufna, as Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, `Ikrimah, `Atiyyah, As-Suddi, Ar-Rabi` bin Anas and several other Salaf and latter scholars stated. These two men said to their people,

ادْخُلُواْ عَلَيْهِمُ الْبَابَ فَإِذَا دَخَلْتُمُوهُ فَإِنَّكُمْ غَـلِبُونَ وَعَلَى اللَّهِ فَتَوَكَّلُواْ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ

("Assault them through the gate, for when you are in, victory will be yours. And put your trust in Allah if you are believers indeed.") Therefore, they said, if you rely on and trust in Allah, follow His command and obey His Messenger, then Allah will give you victory over your enemies and will give you triumph and dominance over them. Thus, you will conquer the city that Allah has promised you. This advice did not benefit them in the least,

قَالُواْ يَـمُوسَى إِنَّا لَنْ نَّدْخُلَهَآ أَبَداً مَّا دَامُواْ فِيهَا فَاذْهَبْ أَنتَ وَرَبُّكَ فَقَاتِلا إِنَّا هَـهُنَا قَـعِدُونَ

(They said, "O Musa! We shall never enter it as long as they are there. So go, you and your Lord, and fight you two, we are sitting right here.") This is how they declined to join Jihad, defied their Messenger, and refused to fight their enemy.

The Righteous Response of the Companions During the Battle of Badr

Compare this to the better response the Companions gave to the Messenger of Allah during the battle of Badr, when he asked for their advice about fighting the Quraysh army that came to protect the caravan led by Abu Sufyan. When the Muslim army missed the caravan and the Quraysh army, between nine hundred and one thousand strong, helmeted and drawing closer, Abu Bakr stood up and said something good. Several more Muhajirin also spoke, all the while the Messenger of Allah saying,

«أشيروا علي أيها المسلمون»

(Advise me, O Muslims!) inquiring of what the Ansar, the majority then, had to say. Sa`d bin Mu`adh said, "It looks like you mean us, O Messenger of Allah! By He Who has sent you with the Truth! If you seek to cross this sea and went in it, we will follow you and none among us will remain behind. We would not hate for you to lead us to meet our enemy tomorrow. We are patient in war, vicious in battle. May Allah allow you to witness from our efforts what comforts your eyes. Therefore, march forward with the blessing of Allah." The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was pleased with the words of Sa`d and was encouraged to march on. Abu Bakr bin Marduwyah recorded that Anas said that when the Messenger of Allah went to Badr, he asked the Muslims for their opinion, and `Umar gave his. The Prophet again asked the Muslims for their opinion and the Ansar said, "O Ansar! It is you whom the Prophet wants to hear." They said, "We will never say as the Children of Israel said to Musa,

فَاذْهَبْ أَنتَ وَرَبُّكَ فَقَاتِلا إِنَّا هَـهُنَا قَـعِدُونَ

(So go, you and your Lord, and fight you two, we are sitting right here.) By He Who has sent you with the Truth! If you took the camels to Bark Al-Ghimad (near Makkah) we shall follow you." Imam Ahmad, An-Nasa'i and Ibn Hibban also recorded this Hadith. In the Book of Al-Maghazi and At-Tafsir, Al-Bukhari recorded that `Abdullah bin Mas`ud said, "On the day of Badr, Al-Miqdad said, `O Messenger of Allah! We will never say to you what the Children of Israel said to Musa,

فَاذْهَبْ أَنتَ وَرَبُّكَ فَقَاتِلا إِنَّا هَـهُنَا قَـعِدُونَ

(So go, you and your Lord, and fight you two, we are sitting right here.) Rather, march on and we will be with you.' The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was satisfied after hearing this statement."

Musa Supplicates to Allah Against the Jews

Musa said,

قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّى لا أَمْلِكُ إِلاَّ نَفْسِى وَأَخِى فَافْرُقْ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَ الْقَوْمِ الْفَـسِقِينَ

("O my Lord! I have power only over myself and my brother, so separate us from the rebellious people!") When the Children of Israel refused to fight, Musa became very angry with them and supplicated to Allah against them,

رَبِّ إِنِّى لا أَمْلِكُ إِلاَّ نَفْسِى وَأَخِى

(O my Lord! I have power only over myself and my brother') meaning, only I and my brother Harun among them will obey, implement Allah's command and accept the call,

فَافْرُقْ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَ الْقَوْمِ الْفَـسِقِينَ

(So Ifruq us from the rebellious people!) Al-`Awfi reported that Ibn `Abbas said, "Meaning, judge between us and them." `Ali bin Abi Talhah reported similarly from him. Ad-Dahhak said that the Ayah means, "Judge and decide between us and them." Other scholars said that the Ayah means, "Separate between us and them."

Forbidding the Jews from Entering the Holy Land for Forty Years

Allah said,

فَإِنَّهَا مُحَرَّمَةٌ عَلَيْهِمْ أَرْبَعِينَ سَنَةً يَتِيهُونَ فِى الاٌّرْضِ

(Therefore it is forbidden to them for forty years; in distraction they will wander through the land.) When Musa supplicated against the Jews for refusing to fight in Jihad, Allah forbade them from entering the land for forty years. They wandered about lost in the land of At-Tih, unable to find their way out. During this time, tremendous miracles occurred, such as the clouds that shaded them and the manna and quails Allah sent down for them. Allah brought forth water springs from solid rock, and the other miracles that He aided Musa bin `Imran with. During this time, the Tawrah was revealed and the Law was established for the Children of Israel and the Tabernacle of the Covenant was erected.

Conquering Jerusalem

Allah's statement,

أَرْبَعِينَ سَنَةً

(for forty years;) defines,

يَتِيهُونَ فِى الاٌّرْضِ

(in distraction they will wander through the land.) When these years ended, Yuwsha` bin Nun led those who remained among them and the second generation, and laid siege to Jerusalem, conquering it on a Friday afternoon. When the sun was about to set and Yuwsha` feared that the Sabbath would begin, he said (to the sun), "You are commanded and I am commanded, as well. O Allah! Make it stop setting for me." Allah made the sun stop setting until Yuwsha` bin Nun conquered Jerusalem. Next, Allah commanded Yuwsha` to order the Children of Israel to enter Jerusalem from its gate while bowing and saying Hittah, meaning, `remove our sins.' Yet, they changed what they were commanded and entered it while dragging themselves on their behinds and saying, `Habbah (a seed) in Sha`rah (a hair)." We mentioned all of this in the Tafsir of Surat Al-Baqarah. Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Ibn `Abbas commented,

فَإِنَّهَا مُحَرَّمَةٌ عَلَيْهِمْ أَرْبَعِينَ سَنَةً يَتِيهُونَ فِى الاٌّرْضِ

(Therefore it is forbidden to them for forty years; in distraction they will wander through the land.) "They wandered in the land for forty years, during which Musa and Harun died, as well as everyone above forty years of age. When the forty years ended, Yuwsha` son of Nun assumed their leadership and later conquered Jerusalem. When Yuwsha` was reminded that the day was Friday and the sun was about to set, while they were still attacking Jerusalem, he feared that the Sabbath might begin. Therefore, he said to the sun, `I am commanded and you are commanded.' Allah made the sun stop setting and the Jews conquered Jerusalem and found wealth unseen before. They wanted to let the fire consume the booty, but the fire would not do that. Yuwsha` said, `Some of you have committed theft from the booty.' So he summoned the twelve leaders of the twelve tribes and took the pledge from them. Then, the hand of one of them became stuck to the hand of Yuwsha` and Yuwsha` said, `You committed the theft, so bring it forth.' So, that man brought a cow's head made of gold with two eyes made of precious stones and a set of teeth made of pearls. When Yuwsha` added it to the booty, the fire consumed it, as they were prohibited to keep the booty." There is evidence supporting all of this in the Sahih.

Allah Comforts Musa

Conforting Musa, Allah said

فَلاَ تَأْسَ عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْفَـسِقِينَ

(So do not greive for the rebellious people.) Allah said: Do not feel sorrow or sadness over My judgment against them, for they deserve such judgment. This story chastises the Jews, exposes their defiance of Allah and His Messenger, and their refusal to obey the order for Jihad. They were weak and could not bear the thought of fighting their enemy, being patient, and enduring this way. This occurred although they had the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and the one whom He spoke to among them, the best of Allah's creation that time. Their Prophet promised them triumph and victory against their enemies. They also witnessed the torment and punishment of drowning with which Allah punished their enemy Fir`awn and his soldiers, so that their eyes were pleased and comforted. All this did not happen too long ago, yet they refused to perform Jihad against people who had less than a tenth of the power and strength than the people of Egypt had. Therefore, the evil works of the Jews were exposed to everyone, and the exposure was such an enormous one that the night, or the tail, can never cover its tracks. They were also blinded by their ignorance and transgression. Thus, they became hated by Allah, and they became His enemies. Yet, they claim that they are Allah's children and His loved ones! May Allah curse their faces that were transformed to the shape of swine and apes, and may Allah's curse accompany them to the raging Fire. May Allah make them abide in the Fire for eternity, and He did; all thanks are due to Him.

They said ‘O Moses there are giants in it those remaining of the people of ‘Ād who were very tall and mighty; we will never enter it until they depart from it; if they depart from it then we will enter’ it.

Looking at verse 22 which begins with the words: قَالُوا يَا مُوسَىٰ (They said, 0 Musa ...), it will be recalled that, in the verse previous to it (21), Allah Ta` ala had commanded the Bani Isra'il through Sayyidna Musa (علیہ السلام) that they should wage a Jihad against the Amalkites and conquer Syria given along with it was the good news that the land of Syria has been destined for them, therefore, their victory is certain.

The present verse (22) tells us that, despite the Divine command and assurance, the Bani Isra'il, because of their well-known contumacy and crookedness, just did not obey that command as well. Instead of doing that, they said: ` 0 Musa, there is a nation of tyrants over there, and we shall never go in there until they get out of it. If they do get out of it, then, we are ready to go in.'

The actual event as reported from the masters of Tafsir (Exegesis), Sayyidna ` Abdullah ibn ` Abbas, ` Ikrimah, ibn Abi Talhah and others ؓ is that it was a time when the Amalkites ruled Syria and Baytul-Maqdis. They were an offshoot of the people of ` Ad, unusually big in height and size and very ferocious in looks and behavior. They were the people Sayyidna Musa (علیہ السلام) and his community were asked to fight against and go on to conquer Baytul-Maqdis.

To carry out the Divine command, Sayyidna Musa (علیہ السلام) marched towards Syria in the company of his people, the Bani Isra'il. Baytul-Maqdis was their first destination. After crossing the Jordan river, when they reached Ariha, the oldest city of the world, they made a stopover. We have already read about the appointment of twelve chiefs to administer the affairs of Bani' Isra'il in the previous verses of the Holy Qur'an. The same chiefs were asked to go on an advance fact-finding mission into enemy territory. Their duty was to gather intelligence on local conditions, the battle front and about the people who control Baytul-Maqdis and against whom they have to wage the Jihad. When these chiefs reached Baytul-Maqdis, they were stopped by an Amalkite man right outside the gate of the city. He, all alone, put them under arrest and took them to his king reporting to him that these people had come to fight them. The king went into consultation with his courtiers. Their decision was that all of them should either be killed or punished in some other way. Finally, they agreed upon the proposal that they should be allowed to go free so that they could return to their people and become walking eye witnesses of the great power and grandeur of the Amalkites against which they would never dare to think of marching.

At this point in most books of Tafsir, reported there are tall tales from Isra'ilite narrations which give the name of the person who accosted these chiefs as ` Awj ibn ` Unuq. His extra-ordinary height and size and his power and strength has been described there with such exaggeration that a sensible person would find it too thick even to just pass it onwards.

Tafsir authority, Ibn Kathir has said: Tales reported in such Isra'ilite narrations can neither be accepted by reason nor do they have any justification in the Shari` ah. In fact, all this is a bundle of lies and imputations. The truth of the matter is no more than that there are the people called the Amalkites. Since they are the remnants of the people of ` Ad whose awesome height and size has been mentioned by the Holy Qur'an itself, so, their huge size and unusual strength were proverbial. One of their men proved strong enough to arrest and take away twelve men from the people of Bani Isra'il.

However, freed by the Amalkites, the twelve chiefs of Bani Isr-a'il returned to their people at Ariha. They told Sayyidna Musa (علیہ السلام) about these unusual people and how unbelievable was their power and grandeur. Whatever they said to him left his heart unmoved because Allah Ta` ala had already given him the good news of victory over them through revelation.

So, despite having heard about the power of his enemy, he stood like a rock making preparations for the Jihad initiative. But, he had realized the danger that, should the Bani Isra'il come to hear about this unusual strength of their adversary, they would cringe and back out. Therefore, he instructed those twelve chiefs not to talk about the Amalkites before their people, in fact, he asked them to keep this as a guarded secret. But, what actually happened was that everyone from among them passed on the information to their respective friends privately. There were only two of them, Yusha` ibn Nun and Kalib ibn Yu'qina, who strictly followed the instructions of Sayyidna Musa (علیہ السلام) and did not disclose the secret to anyone.

When ten out of the twelve chiefs let the secret out, it was only natural that the secret became public knowledge. Hit by the news of conditions prevailing in the enemy country, they were all upset. Wailing and protesting, they said: It would have been much better if we too had been drowned in the Nile like the people of the Pharaoh! Now those who saved us there have brought us here to be killed at the hands of those tyrants! It was under these conditions that the Bani Isra'il said the following words:

إِنَّ فِيهَا قَوْمًا جَبَّارِ‌ينَ وَإِنَّا لَن نَّدْخُلَهَا حَتَّىٰ يَخْرُ‌جُوا مِنْهَا فَإِن يَخْرُ‌جُوا مِنْهَا

They said, "0 Musa, there is a nation of tyrants over there and we shall never go in there until they get out of it. If they do get out of it, we are ready to go in."

It appears in the next verse (23) that two persons, God-fearing and blessed by Allah, hearing the remarks made by the Bani Isra'il, gave them some good counsel by saying: Why are you so scared of death much before it has come? Just take a few steps. The gate of the city of Baytul-Maqdis is not far. Take heart and make your move. Only this much of your action, we believe, will become the cause of your victory. Once you enter the gate of Baytul-Maqdis, you will overcome your enemy who would run in defeat. These two persons mentioned in this verse are, according to most commentators, the same two of the twelve chiefs who had faithfully acted upon the advice given by Sayyidna Musa (علیہ السلام) and had abstained from telling the Bani Isra'il every-thing about the Amalkites - that is, Yusha` ibn Nun and Kalib ibn Yu'gina.