4. CHAPTER REGARDING THE EVENTS SURROUNDING THE CHILDREN OF ISRA’EEL AFTER THE DESTRUCTION OF FIR‘AWN
Allah, Most High, says, So We took retribution from them. We drowned them in the sea, because they belied Our Ayat and were heedless about them. And We made the people who were considered weak to inherit the eastern parts of the land and the western parts thereof which We have blessed. And the fair Word of your Lord was fulfilled for the Children of Isra’eel, because of their endurance. And We destroyed completely all the great works and buildings which Fir’awn and his people had erected. And We brought the Children of Isra’eel (with safety) across the sea, and they came upon a people devoted to some of their idols (in worship). They said, “O, Moosa! Make for us an ilah (a god) as they have alihah (gods).” He said, “Verily, you are a people who know not (the Majesty and Greatness of Allah and what is obligatory upon you, i.e. to worship none but Allah Alone, the One and the Only God of all that exists).” (Moosa added,) “Verily, these people will be destroyed for that in which they are engaged (idol worship). And all that they are doing is in vain.” He said, “Shall I seek for you an ilah (a god) other than Allah, while He has given you superiority over Al-‘Alameen?” And (remember) when We rescued you from Fir‘awn’s people, who were subjecting you to the worst kind of torment, killing your sons and letting your daughters live? And in that was a great trial from your Lord. (Soorah Al-A’raf 7:136-141). Allah, Most High, mentions what happened to Fir‘awn and his army, how they were drowned and how He took away their power, their wealth and their lives and caused the Children of Isra’eel to inherit all of their wealth and property, as He, Most High, says, Thus (We turned them [Fir‘awn’s people] out) and We caused the Children of Isra’eel to inherit them. (Soorah Ash-Shu’ara’ 26:59). And He, Most High says, And We wished to do a favor to those who were weak (and oppressed) in the land, and to make them rulers and to make them the inheritors. (Soorah Al-Qasas 28:5). And (in Soorah Al-A‘raf) He, Most High, says, And We made the people who were considered weak to inherit the eastern parts of the land and the western parts thereof which We have blessed. And the fair Word of your Lord was fulfilled for the Children of Isra’eel, because of their endurance. And We destroyed completely all the great works and buildings which Fir‘awn and his people had erected. (Soorah Al-A‘raf 7:137). He demolished all of that and took from them their great and vast power in the world and destroyed the king, his followers, his governors and his troops and none remained in Egypt except the common folk. Ibn ‘Abdul-Hakam reported in his Tareekh Misr (History of Egypt) that from that time onward, the women of Egypt enjoyed dominance over men, due to the fact that the wives of the governors and the aristocracy married men of lesser social status from among the general populace and so they had power over them; and this has continued to be the custom of women in Egypt to this day.
And they (the scholars) mentioned that when they (the Children of Isra’eel) crossed the sea and headed toward Ash-Sham (Syria), they remained for three days without finding any water. Some of them began to talk due to this and they found some salty water which they were unable to drink, but Allah commanded Moosa (Peace be upon him) to place a piece of wood in it and he did so; and it became sweet and drinkable. And there the Lord taught him the religious obligations and supererogatory practices and taught him a number of Commandments. He, Most High, says in His Noble Book, And We brought the Children of Isra’eel (with safety) across the sea, and they came upon a people devoted to some of their idols (in worship). They said, “O, Moosa! Make for us an ilah (a god) as they have alihah (gods).” He said, “Verily, you are a people who know not (the Majesty and Greatness of Allah and what is obligatory upon you, i.e. to worship none but Allah Alone, the One and the Only God of all that exists).” (Moosa 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.” (Soorah Al-A‘raf 7:138,139)
They spoke these words of ignorance and misguidance after they had already witnessed Allah’s Ayat and His Ability to do all things, which demonstrated to them the truth of what Allah’s Messenger (Peace be upon him) brought to them from the Owner of Majesty and Honor. This occurred when they passed by a people who were worshipping idols – it was said that they were in the form of cows – and it appears as if they asked them why they were worshipping them and they replied that they had the ability to benefit them and harm them, and they said that they sought sustenance through them in times of need. It appears as if some of the ignorant ones among them believed these claims of theirs and so they asked their Prophet, Al-Kaleem, the noble, the great, to make for them deities, like the deities of these people. And he said to them, in order to make clear to them that they had no sense and were not rightly guided, “Verily, these people will be destroyed for that which they are engaged in (idol worship). And all that they are doing is in vain.” (Soorah Al-A‘raf 7:139). Then he reminded them of the blessings that Allah had bestowed on them and of how He had favored them over all of the peoples of their time with knowledge, the Law, the Messenger in their midst, His Kindness toward them and the Graces that He bestowed on them, such as their deliverance from the grasp of Fir‘awn, the obstinate tyrant and his subsequent destruction, which they witnessed. He also reminded them of how He had made them to inherit the wealth and prosperity that Fir‘awn and his chiefs had gathered and the buildings that they had erected. And he made clear to them that no worship Allah is of benefit except that of Allah, Alone, without ascribing partners to Him, because He is the Creator, the Sustainer and the Subduer. Not all of the Children of Isra’eel asked this question; rather, the name “Children of Isra’eel” is used in Allah’s Words: And We brought the Children of Isra’eel (with safety) across the sea, and they came upon a people devoted to some of their idols (in worship). They said, “O, Moosa! Make for us an ilah (a god) as they have alihah (gods).” (Soorah Al-A‘raf 7:138) to refer to those who asked the question, without indicating that all of them are included, i.e. some of them said it, as in His Saying: And we shall gather them all together so as to leave not one of them behind. And they will be set before your Lord in (lines as) rows, (and Allah will say), “Now indeed, you have come to Us as We created you the first time. Nay, but you thought that We had appointed no meeting for you (with Us).” (Soorah Al-Kahf 18:47,48)
Imam Ahmad narrated on the authority of Abu Waqid Al-Laithi (May Allah be pleased with him) that he said, “We set out with the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) for Hunain and we passed by a lote tree and we said, “O, Messenger of Allah! Make for us a Dhat Anwat, like that of the disbelievers.” The pagans had a lote tree on which they used to hang their weapons and they used to stay around it. On hearing this, the Prophet of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Allahu Akbar! This is similar to what the Children of Isra’eel said to Moosa (Peace be upon him): “Make for us an ilah (a god) as they have alihah (gods).” (Soorah Al-A‘raf 7:138)! Verily, you are following the ways of those who went before you!”
What is meant is that when Moosa (Peace be upon him) departed from Egypt and headed for Bait Al-Maqdis (the Holy Land), he found there arrogant people from among the Hittites, the Cananites, the Perizzites and others and Moosa (Peace be upon him) commanded the Children of Isra’eel to make war on them and drive them out of Jerusalem, because Allah had ordained that for them and promised it for them through Revelation given to Ibraheem, Al-Khaleel (Peace be upon him) and Moosa, Al-Kaleem (Peace be upon him). But they refused and recoiled from jihad and so Allah caused fear to overpower them and cast them into the desert, where they wandered here and there, back and forth for forty long years, as He, Most High, says, And (remember) when Moosa said to his people, “O, my people! Remember the Favor of Allah to you, when He made Prophets among you, made you kings, and gave you what He had not given to any other among the Al-‘Alameen. O, my people! Enter the Holy Land (Palestine) which Allah has assigned to you, and turn not back for then you will be returned as losers.” They said, “O, Moosa! In it (this Holy Land) are a people of great strength, and we shall never enter it, till they leave it; when they leave, then we will enter.” Two men of those who feared and on whom Allah had bestowed His Grace (they were Yeshua [Joshua] and Kalab [Caleb]) said, “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.” They said, “O Moosa! 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.” He (Moosa) said, “O, my Lord! I have power only over myself and my brother, so separate us from the people who are the fasiqoon (rebellious and disobedient to Allah)!” (Allah) said, “Therefore it (this Holy Land) is forbidden to them for forty years; in distraction they will wander through the land. So be not sorrowful over the people who are the fasiqoon.” (Soorah Al-Ma’idah 5:20-26)
The Prophet of Allah (Peace be upon him) reminded them of the Blessings that Allah had bestowed on them and the Kindness He had shown them by granting them worldly and religious favors and he ordered them to make jihad in Allah’s Cause and to fight His enemies; he said, “O, my people! Enter the holy land (Palestine) which Allah has assigned to you, and turn not back”, (Soorah Al-Ma’idah 5:21) means do not turn on your heels and refuse to fight your enemies “for then you will be returned as losers.” (Soorah Al-Ma’idah 5:21). It means that you will lose after your previous gains and you will be diminished after having been complete. They said, “O, Moosa! In it (this Holy Land) are a people of great strength.” (Soorah Al-Ma’idah 5:22) That is, they are fierce and arrogant disbelievers. “and we shall never enter it, till they leave it; when they leave, then we will enter.” (Soorah Al-Ma’idah 5:22). They feared these strong, aggressive people, even though they had witnessed the destruction of Fir‘awn, who was more tyrannical than they, sterner in punishment, commanding more people and with a stronger force at his disposal. This proves that they were rebuked due to saying these words and censured because of them. This was due to their cowardice in the face of the enemy’s aggression and their refusal to fight them.
Regarding the Saying of Allah, Most High: Two men of those who feared said (Soorah Al-Ma’idah 5:23) means, feared Allah, though some recited it as “who were feared”. On whom Allah had bestowed His Grace (Soorah Al-Ma’idah 5:23) means with Islam, faith, obedience and courage. …said, “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 5:24). That is, if you have put your trust in Allah, sought help from Him and protection from Him, He will help you against your enemy, help you against them and make you victorious over them. They said, “O Moosa! 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.” (Soorah Al-Ma’idah 5:24). Their elders were determined to refrain from engaging in jihad in Allah’s Cause and a serious situation developed. It was said that when Yoosha‘ and Kalab heard these words, they tore their garments and Moosa (Peace be upon him) and Haroon (Peace be upon him) sat down in shock at these words and they became angry for Allah’s sake and they also felt compassion for them, because of the awful consequences for them of their words: He (Moosa) said, “O, my Lord! I have power only over myself and my brother, so separate us from the people who are the fasiqoon!” (Soorah Al-Ma’idah 5:25). ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “Judge between me and them.” (Allah) said, “Therefore it (this Holy Land) is forbidden to them for forty years; in distraction they will wander through the land. So be not sorrowful over the people who are the fasiqoon (rebellious and disobedient to Allah).” (Soorah Al-Ma’idah 5:26) They were punished for their refusal to do jihad by being made to wander aimlessly night and day, morning and evening in the desert.
Imam Ahmad narrated on the authority of Al-Miqdad that he said to the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) on the day of the Battle of Badr, “O, Messenger of Allah! We will not say to you, as the Children of Isra’eel said to Moosa (Peace be upon him), “So go you and your Lord and fight you two, we are sitting right here.” (Soorah Al-Ma’idah 5:24).’ But (we will say), “Go you and your Lord and fight; we are with you fighting.” This chain of narrators is good from this source and it is narrated from other sources. ‘Abdullah Ibn Mas’ood said that Al-Miqdad went to the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) and found him invoking Allah against the pagans and he said, “By Allah, O, Messenger of Allah, we will not say to you as the Children of Isra’eel said to Moosa, “So go you and your Lord and fight you two, we are sitting right here.” (Soorah Al-Ma’idah 5:24). Rather, we will fight on your right, on your left, in front of you and behind you,” and I saw the Messenger of Allah’s face beaming when he heard this and he was extremely happy.”
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.