THE JEWS REFUSE TO ENTER THE HOLY LAND
ALLĀH said,
يَا قَوْمِ ادْخُلُوا الَارْضَ المُقَدَّسَةَ
(Musa Said) "O my people! Enter the Holy Land,
ALLĀH states that Musa encouraged the Children of Israel to perform Jihad and enter Jerusalem, which was under their control during the time of their father Yaqub. Yaqub 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, ALLĀH'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 ALLĀH's command.
ALLĀH said that Musa ordered them to enter the Holy Land,
الَّتِي كَتَبَ اللّهُ لَكُمْ
which ALLĀH has assigned to you
meaning, which ALLĀH has promised to you by the words of your father Israil, that it is the inheritance of those among you who believe.
وَلَا تَرْتَدُّوا عَلَى أَدْبَارِكُمْ
and turn not back
in flight from Jihad.
فَتَنقَلِبُوا خَاسِرِينَ
for then you will be returned as losers."
قَالُواْ يَٰمُوسَىٰٓ إِنَّ فِيهَا قَوۡمًا جَبَّارِينَ وَإِنَّا لَن نَّدۡخُلَهَا حَتَّىٰ يَخۡرُجُواْ مِنۡهَا فَإِن يَخۡرُجُواْ مِنۡهَا فَإِنَّا دَٰخِلُونَ
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.
قَالَ رَجُلَنِ مِنَ الَّذِينَ يَخَافُونَ أَنْعَمَ اللّهُ عَلَيْهِمَا
Two men of those who feared (ALLĀH and) on whom ALLĀH had bestowed HIS grace said...,
When the Children of Israel declined to obey ALLĀH and follow HIS Messenger Musa, two righteous men among them, on whom ALLĀH had bestowed a great bounty and who were afraid of ALLĀH 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. Ibn Abbas, Mujahid, Ikrimah, Atiyah, As-Suddi, Ar-Rabi` bin Anas and several other Salaf and latter scholars stated that;
These two men were Yuwsha', the son of Nun, and Kalib, the son of Yufna.
These two men said to their people,
ادْخُلُواْ عَلَيْهِمُ الْبَابَ فَإِذَا دَخَلْتُمُوهُ فَإِنَّكُمْ غَالِبُونَ وَعَلَى اللّهِ فَتَوَكَّلُواْ إِن كُنتُم مُّوْمِنِينَ
"Assault them through the gate, for when you are in, victory will be yours. And put your trust in ALLĀH if you are believers indeed."
Therefore, they said, if you rely on and trust in ALLĀH, follow HIS command and obey His Messenger, then ALLĀH will give you victory over your enemies and will give you triumph and dominance over them. Thus, you will conquer the city that ALLĀH has promised you.
This advice did not benefit them in the least,
قَالُواْ يَا مُوسَى إِنَّا لَن نَّدْخُلَهَا أَبَدًا مَّا دَامُواْ فِيهَا فَاذْهَبْ أَنتَ وَرَبُّكَ فَقَاتِل إِنَّا هَاهُنَا قَاعِدُونَ
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.
Tafsir Ibn Kathīr
#ibnkathir #maidah 5:21-24
