Juz 15: Al-Isrāʾ to Al-Kahf 74
Section 3 of 18 · Tafsir of the Qur’an · Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
Bani Israel's History and Corruption
After mentioning the miraculous night journey in the opening verse, Allah (swt) transitions to addressing the history of Bani Israel (the Children of Israel), using their cyclical story of rebellion and punishment as a lesson for the believers. The term "Bani Israel" refers to the descendants of Prophet Yaqub (peace be upon him), also known as Israel, to distinguish them from other tribes descended from Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him).
Allah (swt) reveals their historical pattern of corruption in the land:
وَقَضَيْنَآ إِلَىٰ بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ فِى ٱلْكِتَٰبِ لَتُفْسِدُنَّ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مَرَّتَيْنِ وَلَتَعْلُنَّ عُلُوًّا كَبِيرًا
“And We declared to the children of Israel in the Book: 'You will surely spread mischief on the earth twice, and you will surely show arrogant superiority.”
This verse establishes a profound historical narrative where Allah (swt) forewarned Bani Israel that they would cause corruption in the land on two significant occasions, characterized by not only moral deterioration but also arrogant tyranny. The consequences of such corruption are then detailed:
فَإِذَا جَآءَ وَعْدُ أُولَىٰهُمَا بَعَثْنَا عَلَيْكُمْ عِبَادًا لَّنَآ أُو۟لِى بَأْسٍ شَدِيدٍ فَجَاسُوا۟ خِلَٰلَ ٱلدِّيَارِ ۚ وَكَانَ وَعْدًا مَّفْعُولًا
“So when the time of the first of the two came, We sent upon you some servants of Ours having strong military power, so they entered the homes, and it was a promise fulfilled.”
The phrase "servants of Ours" (عِبَادًا لَّنَآ) carries significant meaning. Allah (swt) does not describe these punishing forces as "Our servants" (عِبَادُنَا) as He might when referring to believing servants. Rather, they are described more distantly as "servants belonging to Us" – acknowledging their subservience to divine will without conferring the honor of close servitude that believers enjoy.
Historical accounts suggest these two major corruptions and subsequent punishments correspond to significant events in Jewish history. The first may refer to the Babylonian invasion under Nebuchadnezzar in 587 BCE during the time of Prophet Jeremiah (peace be upon him), when Jerusalem was destroyed and many Israelites were taken captive to Babylon. After this punishment, Allah (swt) allowed them to recover:
ثُمَّ رَدَدْنَا لَكُمُ ٱلْكَرَّةَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَأَمْدَدْنَٰكُم بِأَمْوَٰلٍ وَبَنِينَ وَجَعَلْنَٰكُمْ أَكْثَرَ نَفِيرًا
“Then We gave you your turn to overpower them, and increased your wealth and children, and made you larger in number.”
Despite this mercy, Allah (swt) warned that the cycle would repeat if they returned to corruption:
إِنْ أَحْسَنتُمْ أَحْسَنتُمْ لِأَنفُسِكُمْ ۖ وَإِنْ أَسَأْتُمْ فَلَهَا ۚ فَإِذَا جَآءَ وَعْدُ ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ لِيَسُـُٔوا۟ وُجُوهَكُمْ وَلِيَدْخُلُوا۟ ٱلْمَسْجِدَ كَمَا دَخَلُوهُ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ وَلِيُتَبِّرُوا۟ مَا عَلَوْا۟ تَتْبِيرًا
“If you do good, you do good for yourselves, and if you do evil, it is for yourselves. Then once the second time comes, (We sent others) to make your faces gloomy, and to enter the Mosque as they entered it the first time, and to destroy what they had taken over, with utter destruction.”
The second major corruption and punishment likely refers to the Roman destruction of Jerusalem by Emperor Titus in 70 CE, approximately 40 years after Prophet Isa (peace be upon him), when the Temple was destroyed and immense treasures were taken to Rome, commemorated in the Arch of Titus.
Most significantly, Allah (swt) leaves the door of mercy open even after these two major punishments:
عَسَىٰ رَبُّكُمْ أَن يَرْحَمَكُمْ ۚ وَإِنْ عُدتُّمْ عُدْنَا ۘ وَجَعَلْنَا جَهَنَّمَ لِلْكَٰفِرِينَ حَصِيرًا
“It is likely that your Lord may have mercy on you. But if you repeat (your misdeeds), We shall repeat (Our punishment). And We have made Jahannam (Hell) a prison for the disbelievers.”
This historical account serves as a powerful reminder that no community is immune from divine accountability, and that patterns of corruption and arrogance will inevitably face divine intervention. The emphasis on "if you return, We return" establishes a universal principle applicable to all nations throughout history.