17. MENTION OF A NUMBER OF PROPHETS FROM BANU ISRA’EEL AFTER MOOSA
Ibn Jareer At-Tabari said in his Tareekh, “There is no disagreement among the scholars of the history of the people of the past and their affairs from among our nation and others, that the one who took over the affairs of Banu Isra’eel after Yoosha‘ (Peace be upon him) (Joshua)was Caleb (Kalab), son of Yuafanna, i.e. one of the companions of Moosa (Peace be upon him) and his brother-in-law. He was one of the two men from among those who feared Allah – Joshua and Caleb – and it was they who said to the Children of Isra’eel, when they refused to fight in Allah’s Cause, “Assault them through the gate, for when you are in, victory will be yours, and put your trust in Allah if you are indeed Believers.” (Soorah Al-Ma’idah 5:23)
Ibn Jareer At-Tabari said, “Then after him, the one who undertook responsibility for the affairs of Banu Isra’eel was (Hizqeel) Ezekiel (Peace be upon him), son of Boozi, and it was he who invoked Allah and He revived …those who went forth from their homes in thousands, fearing death. (Soorah Al-Baqarah 2:243)
The Story of Hizqeel (Ezekiel ) – Peace be upon him
Allah, Most High, says, Did you (O Muhammad,) not think of those who went forth from their homes in thousands, fearing death? Allah said to them, “Die”. And then He restored them to life. Truly, Allah is full of Bounty to mankind, but most men thank not. (Soorah Al-Baqarah 2:243)
And Muhammad Ibn Ishaq reported on the authority of Wahb Ibn Munabbih that he said, “When Allah took Kalab, the son of Yoofanna to Him after Yoosha‘, he appointed as his successor to lead the Children of Isra’eel, Hizqeel, son of Boozi, who was the son of Al-‘Ajooz and it was he who supplicated for the people whom Allah mentioned in His Book, according to what has been conveyed to us: those who went forth from their homes in thousands, fearing death… (Soorah Al-Baqarah 2:243) Ibn Ishaq said, “They fled from the plague and they camped on a raised area of land; and Allah said to them, “Die,” and they all died.”
And it was reported on the authority of As-Suddi, who in turn reported on the authority of ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him) and ‘Abdullah Ibn Mas‘ood and on the authority of other Companions that they said regarding Allah’s Words: Did you (O Muhammad,) not think of those who went forth from their homes in thousands, fearing death? Allah said to them, “Die”. And then He restored them to life. (Soorah Al-Baqarah 2:243) that they were the people of a town known as Dawardan, in the direction of Wasit, where the plague broke out. As a result of that, the majority of the population fled and camped in an area near to it. And (most of) those who remained in the town were destroyed, while others were saved and not many of them died. When the plague ended, they returned safely and (those who still lived from) those who had remained alive said, “These companions of ours were more prudent than we; had we done as they did, we would (all) have survived. And if the plague returns, we shall certainly leave with them.” So when the plague returned, they fled and they numbered more than thirty thousand and they camped in a place which was a wide valley. There, an angel called them from the floor of the valley and another from the top of it, saying, “Die!” And they died. Then, when they were dead and their bodies remained lying there (decomposed), a Prophet named Hizqeel (Peace be upon him) passed by them and when he saw them, he stopped and began to think about them, twisting the corners of his mouth and his fingers. Then Allah revealed to him, “Do you wish Me to show you how I will return them to life?” He said, “Yes,” thinking only of his amazement at Allah’s Power over them. It was said to him, “Call!” So he called, “O, you bones! Allah commands you to unite!” upon which, the bones flew together until they became skeletal bodies. Then Allah revealed to him that he should call, “O, you bones! Allah commands you to be clothed in flesh!” upon which, they became covered with flesh and blood and (even) the garments in which they had died. Then it was said to him, “Call.” So he called, “O, you bodies! Allah commands you to stand up!” upon which, they stood up. Some said that Mansoor claimed, on the authority of Mujahid, that when they were brought back to life, they said, “Glorified be You, O Allah, and all praise and thanks be to You. None has the right to be worshipped except You.” Then they returned to their people alive, and their people knew that they had been dead, for they had the pallor of death on their faces and they were wearing rotted garments. Then they lived on until the time written for them. Imam Ahmad and the compilers of the Saheehain (Al-Bukhari and Muslim) narrated on the authority of ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him) that ‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattab (May Allah be pleased with him) set out for Ash-Sham (Syria) and when he reached Sargh, the Commanders of the (Muslim) army, Abu ‘Ubaidah Ibn Al-Jarrah (May Allah be pleased with him) and his Companions met him and told him that an epidemic had broken out in Ash-Sham. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “Call for me the early emigrants.” So ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) called them, consulted them and informed them that an epidemic had broken out in Ash-Sham. Those people differed in their opinions. Some of them said, “We have come out for a purpose and we do not think that it is proper to give it up,” while others said (to ‘Umar), “You have along with you other people and the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him), so do not advise that we take them to this epidemic.” ‘Umar said to them, “Leave me now.” Then he said, “Call the Ansar for me.” I called them and he consulted them and they followed the way of the emigrants and differed as they did. He then said to them, “Leave me now,” and added, “Call for me the old people of Quraish who emigrated in the year of the Conquest of Makkah.” I called them and they gave a unanimous opinion saying, “We advise that you should return with the people and do not take them to that (place) of epidemic.” So ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) made an announcement, “I will ride back to Madinah in the morning, so you should do the same.” Abu ‘Ubaidah Ibn Al-Jarrah said (to ‘Umar), “Are you running away from what Allah has ordained?” ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “Would that someone else had said such a thing, O Abu ‘Ubaidah! Yes, we are running from what Allah has ordained to what Allah has ordained. Don’t you agree that if you had camels that went down a valley having two places, one green and the other dry, you would graze them on the green one only if Allah had ordained that, and you would graze them on the dry one only if Allah had ordained that?” At that time ‘Abdur-Rahman Ibn ‘Awf, who had been absent because of some job, came and said, “I have some knowledge about this. I have heard the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) say, ‘If you hear about it (an outbreak of plague) in a land, do not go to it; but if plague breaks out in a country where you are staying, do not run away from it.’ ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) thanked Allah and returned to Madinah.”
I say: We have already related the story of Ilyas (Peace be upon him) (Elias) following on from the story of Al-Khidr (Peace be upon him), because they are frequently mentioned together and because their story is after the story of Moosa (Peace be upon him) in Soorah As-Saffat and so we have advanced his story because of this. And Allah knows better. It has been reported that Muhammad Ibn Ishaq narrated on the authority of Wahb Ibn Munabbih that he said, “Then Ilyas’ successor, Al-Yasa‘ (Elisha) (Peace be upon him) was raised to Prophethood after him and this is his story:
The Story of Al-Yasa‘a (Elisha) – Peace be upon him
Allah has mentioned him among the Prophets in Soorah Al-An‘am in His Saying: And Isma‘eel (Ishmael) and Al-Yasa‘a (Elisha), and Yoonus (Jonah) and Loot (Lot), and each one of them We preferred above Al-‘Alameen (of their times). (Soorah Al-An‘am 6:86) And He, Most High says in Soorah Sad, And remember Isma‘eel, Al-Yasa‘a, and Zul-Kifl (Isaiah), all are among the best. (Soorah Sad 38:48). Ishaq Ibn Bishr Abu Huzaifah said, “Sa‘eed informed us on the authority of Qatadah, who reported on the authority of Al-Hasan that he said, “After Ilyas (Peace be upon him) was Al-Yasa‘a (Peace be upon him) and he remained for as long as Allah willed, calling them to Allah and holding fast to the teachings of Ilyas (Peace be upon him) and the law given to him until Allah, the Almighty, the All-Powerful took him. After that, changes and corruption spread among them, innovations and sins became widespread, tyrants became numerous and they killed the Prophets. Among them was a willful, obstinate and despotic king.
Al-Hafiz Abul-Qasim Ibn ‘Asakir said in “the letter Ya’” in his Tareekh, “Al-Yasa‘a – and he was Al-Asbat, son of ‘Adiyy, son of Shootlam, son of Afratheem, son of Yoosuf, son of Ya‘qoob, son of Ishaq, son of Ibraheem, Al-Khaleel (peace be upon them all). It was also said that he was the paternal cousin of Ilyas (Peace be upon him). And it was said that he hid with him on the mountain known as Qasiyoon, from the king of Ba‘labak, that then he went with him to that land and that when Ilyas (Peace be upon him) was raised up, Al-Yasa‘a (Peace be upon him) succeeded him as leader of his people and Allah appointed him as a Prophet after him.
The Story of Shamweel (Samuel) – Peace be upon him
And Therein Begins the Case of Dawood (David)
He was Shamweel (Samuel), son of Bali, son of ‘Al-Qamah, son of Yarkham, son of Aleehoo, son of Tahoo, son of Zoof, son of ‘Al-Qamah, son of Mahath, son of Amusa, son of Ezria. Muqatil said that he was descended from Haroon (Peace be upon him), while Mujahid said that he was Asamweel, son of Halfaqa, but he did not give details of his lineage more than this. And Allah knows better.
Allah, Most High, says in His Noble Book, Have you not thought about the group of the Children of Isra’eel after (the time of) Moosa? When they said to a Prophet of theirs, “Appoint for us a king and we will fight in Allah’s Cause.” He said, “Would you then refrain from fighting, if fighting was prescribed for you?” They said, “Why should we not fight in Allah’s Cause, while we have been driven out of our homes and our children (families have been taken as captives)?” But when fighting was ordered for them, they turned away, all except a few of them. And Allah is Aware of the Zalimoon. And their Prophet (Samuel) said to them, “Indeed Allah has appointed Taloot (Saul) as a king over you.” They said, “How can he be a king over us when we are better fitted than he for the kingdom, and he has not been given enough wealth?” He said, “Verily, Allah has chosen him above you and has increased him abundantly in knowledge and body. And Allah grants His Kingdom to whom He wills. And Allah is Sufficient for His creature’ needs, All-Knowing.” And their Prophet (Samuel) said to them, “Verily! The sign of His Kingdom is that there shall come to you At-Taboot (a wooden box), wherein is Sakeenah (peace and reassurance) from your Lord and a remnant of that which Moosa and Haroon left behind, carried by the angels. Verily, in this is a sign for you if you are indeed Believers.” Then, when Taloot set out with the army, he said, “Verily! Allah will try you by a river. So whoever drinks thereof, he is not of me, and whoever tastes it not, he is of me, except him who takes (thereof) in the hollow of his hand.” Yet they drank thereof, all except a few of them. So when he had crossed it (the river), he and those who believed with him, said, “We have no power this day against Jaloot (Goliath) and his hosts.” But those who knew with certainty that they were to meet their Lord, said, “How often a small group overcame a mighty host by Allah’s Leave?” And Allah is with As-Sabireen (the patient, persevering ones). And when they advanced to meet Jaloot (Goliath) and his forces, they invoked (Allah, saying), “Our Lord! Pour forth on us patience and make us victorious over the disbelieving people.” So they routed them by Allah’s Leave and Dawood (David) killed Jaloot, and Allah gave him (Dawood) the kingdom (after the death of Taloot and Samuel) and Al-Hikmah (Prophethood) and taught him of that which He willed. And if Allah did not check one set of people by means of another, the Earth would indeed be full of mischief. But Allah is full of Bounty to Al-‘Alameen. (Soorah Al-Baqarah 2:246-251)
Most of the scholars of tafseer said that the Prophet of the people mentioned in this story is Shamweel (Peace be upon him). It was also said that it is Sham‘oon and it was said they are one and the same person. And it was also said that it is Yoosha‘ (Peace be upon him), but this is very improbable, according to what Imam Abu Ja‘afar Ibn Jareer At-Tabari has narrated in his Tafseer, which states that between the death of Yoosha‘ (Peace be upon him) and the sending of Shamweel (Peace be upon him) was a period of four hundred and sixty years. And Allah knows better.
What is meant by this is that when these people had become exhausted by wars and they had been vanquished by enemies, they asked the Prophet of Allah (Peace be upon him) at that time to appoint for them a king to whom they would pledge their obedience and alongside whom they would fight their enemies. He said to them, “Would you then refrain from fighting, if fighting was prescribed for you? They said,”Why should we not fight in Allah’s way”. (Soorah Al-Baqarah 2:246) That is, what prevents you from fighting? “…while we have been driven out of our homes and our children (families have been taken as captives)?” (Soorah Al-Baqarah 2:246) They said, “We have been fought against and wronged and so it is only fitting that we should fight in defense of our children who have been taken by force and the weak among them and those who have taken away by them. He, Most High, says, But when fighting was ordered for them, they turned away, all except a few of them. And Allah is Aware of the Zalimoon. (Soorah Al-Baqarah 2:246). As Allah says at the end of the story, none crossed the river with the king except a few, while the rest returned and refused to fight.
And their Prophet (Samuel) said to them, “Indeed Allah has appointed Taloot as a king over you.” (Soorah Al-Baqarah 2:247) ‘Ikrimah and As-Suddi said that he was a water carrier. Wahb Ibn Munabbih said that he was a tanner. Others mentioned other occupations. And Allah knows better. This is why they said, “How can he be a king over us when we are better fitted than he for the kingdom, and he has not been given enough wealth?” (Soorah Al-Baqarah 2:24) He said, “Verily, Allah has chosen him above you and has increased him abundantly in knowledge…” (Soorah Al-Baqarah 2:247) It was said that the knowledge was in matters pertaining to warfare; and it was said that rather, it was in all matters. “…and body.” (Soorah Al-Baqarah 2:247) It was said that it means in height and also that it means in handsomeness. But it would appear from the context that he was the most handsome of them and the most knowledgeable of them after their Prophet (Peace be upon him). “And Allah grants His Kingdom to whom He wills.” (Soorah Al-Baqarah 2:247) Judgment is for Him, as is the creation and all matters. “And Allah is Sufficient for His creature needs, All-Knowing.” And their Prophet (Samuel) said to them, “Verily! The sign of His Kingdom is that there shall come to you at-taboot (the wooden box), wherein is Sakeenah (peace and reassurance) from your Lord and a remnant of that which Moosa and Haroon left behind, carried by the angels. Verily, in this is a sign for you if you are indeed Believers.” (Soorah Al-Baqarah 2:247,248) This is also from the blessing of the appointment of this righteous man over them and good fortune bestowed on them, that Allah returned to them the Taboot, which had been forcibly taken from them by their enemies. And aforetimes, they had been aided in achieving victory over their enemies because of it. “…wherein is Sakeenah from your Lord and a remnant of that which Moosa and Haroon (Aaron) left behind.” (Soorah Al-Baqarah 2:248) It was said that in it were pieces of the Tablets (on which the Ten Commandments were written) and some of the manna that had descended on them when they were in the wilderness. “…carried by the angels” (Soorah Al-Baqarah 2:248) means the angels will come to you bearing it and you will witness that with your own eyes, so that it will be a proof from Allah against you and a clear evidence of the truth of what I say to you and of the correctness of the appointment of this righteous king over you. This is why he said, “Verily, in this is a sign for you if you are indeed Believers.” (Soorah Al-Baqarah 2:248) It was said that the Amalekites had seized this box, which contained the things we have mentioned, such as the Sakeenah and the blessed remnants.
And it was said that it also contained the Towrah and while it was in their possession, they placed it under an idol belonging to them in their land and in the morning they found it on the head of the idol, so they placed it under it again, but on the following day, they found the box on top of the idol. When this was repeated, they realized that it was the Work of Allah, Most High, and so they sent it out of their city, to one of their villages. But a disease afflicted their necks. When this situation had persisted for some time, they put it in a cart and tied two cows to it and sent them forth. It was said that the angels gave them water until they came to the leaders of the Children of Isra’eel, who were waiting for it, in according with the information given to them by their Prophet regarding it.
And He, Most High, says, Then, when Taloot set out with the army, he said, “Verily! Allah will try you by a river. So whoever drinks thereof, he is not of me, and whoever tastes it not, he is of me, except him who takes (thereof) in the hollow of his hand.” (Soorah Al-Baqarah 2:249) ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him) and several scholars of tafseer said that it was the River Jordan, which was known as Ash-Sharee‘ah. One of the commands given by Taloot to his army at the edge of the river – which was conveyed to him by the Prophet of Allah (Peace be upon him) as a test and a trial – was that if any of them drank from the river, he could not accompany Taloot into battle, except those who only took a handful of water.
Allah, Most High, says, Yet, they drank thereof, all except a few of them. (Soorah Al-Baqarah 2:249) As-Suddi said, “The army consisted of eighty thousand men and seventy-six thousand of them drank from it, leaving only four thousand men remaining with Taloot.” And Al-Bukhari narrated in his Saheeh, on the authority of Al-Bara’ Ibn ‘Azib (May Allah be pleased with him) that he said, “We, the Companions of Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him), used to say that the number of the warriors of Badr was the same as the number of Taloot’s companions who crossed the river (of Jordan) with him, and none crossed the river with him but a Believer, and they were over three hundred and more than ten Believers.”
As-Suddi’s claim that the number of soldiers was eighty thousand is questionable, because it is not likely that an army of warriors reaching eighty thousand could have assembled in the land of Bait Al-Maqdis. And Allah knows better. Allah, Most High, says, So when he had crossed it (the river), he and those who believed with him, they said, “We have no power this day against Jaloot and his hosts.” (Soorah Al-Baqarah 2:249). That is, they deemed themselves too few in numbers and too weak to stand against their enemies, when they compared their own small force with the huge numbers of their enemies. But those who knew with certainty that they were to meet their Lord, said, “How often has a small group overcome a mighty host by Allah’s Leave!” And Allah is with As-Sabiroon (the patient ones, etc.).” (Soorah Al-Baqarah 2:249. Meaning the cavalry among them; and the cavalry were those who possessed faith and certainty and they were patient in the face of argument and abuse. And when they advanced to meet Jaloot (Goliath) and his forces, they invoked, “Our Lord! Pour forth on us patience and make us victorious over the disbelieving people.” (Soorah Al-Baqarah 2:250) They asked Allah to pour on them patience, i.e. to immerse them in it from above, so that their hearts would remain steadfast and they would not fear, make their feet firm on the battlefield and strengthen the brave ones in the turmoil of battle. So they asked Allah to grant them steadfastness, both open and hidden, that He grant them victory against their enemies and His enemies among the disbelievers and the rejecters of His Signs and His Blessings and He, the Almighty, the Omnipotent, the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing, the Most Wise, the All-Knowing granted their request and caused them to achieve their objectives. This is why He says, So they routed them by Allah’s Leave. (Soorah Al-Baqarah 2:251) That is, by Allah’s Power, not by their own power and by Allah’s Strength and Help, not by their own strength and their numbers; and they won this victory in spite of the great numbers of the enemy, as Allah, Most High, says, And Allah has already made you victorious at Badr, when you were a weak little force. So, fear Allah much (abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which He has forbidden and love Allah much, perform all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained) that you may be grateful. (Soorah Aal ‘Imran 3:123) And in the Words of Him, Most High: …and Dawood killed Jaloot, and Allah gave him (Dawood) the kingdom (after the death of Taloot and Samuel) and Al-Hikmah (Prophethood), and taught him of that which He willed. (Soorah Al-Baqarah 2:251) There is evidence of the bravery of Dawood (Peace be upon him) and that he killed Jaloot and humiliated thereby his army and broke it; and there is no greater battle than the one in which a king kills his enemy and due to that, he captures (as booty) a huge amount of wealth, their champions are taken as captives, the word of faith is elevated over the idols, Allah’s Awliya’ are given ascendancy over His enemies and the Religion of Truth is made victorious over falsehood and its adherents.
By Ibn Katheer
Comments
John Doe
23/3/2019Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
John Doe
23/3/2019Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
John Doe
23/3/2019Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.