Juz 6: An-Nisāʾ 148 to Al-Māʾidah 81
Section 13 of 16 · Tafsir of the Qur’an · Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
14. The Story of Moses and His People | Verses: Al-Ma'idah 5:20-26
The narrative of Prophet Musa (Moses) (peace be upon him) and his people contains profound lessons about divine favor, human ingratitude, and the consequences of disobedience. In these verses from Surah Al-Ma'idah, Allah (swt) recounts a critical episode when the Children of Israel refused to enter the Holy Land despite clear divine commands.
The passage begins by reminding the Children of Israel about the extraordinary favors Allah (swt) had bestowed upon them:
وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوْمِهِ يَا قَوْمِ اذْكُرُوا نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ جَعَلَ فِيكُمْ أَنبِيَاءَ وَجَعَلَكُم مُّلُوكًا وَآتَاكُم مَّا لَمْ يُؤْتِ أَحَدًا مِّنَ الْعَالَمِينَ
“And (remember) when Musa said to his people, 'O my people, remember Allah's favor upon you when He made prophets from among you, and made you kings, and gave you what He did not give to anyone in the worlds.'”
Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) reminds his people of three specific favors: Allah (swt) had raised numerous prophets from among them, made them sovereigns (after generations of slavery in Egypt), and granted them blessings unparalleled in their time. This reminder was meant to inspire gratitude and obedience, particularly regarding the divine command that follows:
يَا قَوْمِ ادْخُلُوا الْأَرْضَ الْمُقَدَّسَةَ الَّتِي كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ وَلَا تَرْتَدُّوا عَلَىٰ أَدْبَارِكُمْ فَتَنقَلِبُوا خَاسِرِينَ
“O my people, enter the Holy Land which Allah has destined for you, and do not turn back, for then you will turn losers.”
This was a direct command from Allah (swt): the Children of Israel were to enter the promised land that Allah (swt) had designated for them. The warning was clear – turning back would result in loss and failure. However, their response revealed profound cowardice and lack of faith:
قَالُوا يَا مُوسَىٰ إِنَّ فِيهَا قَوْمًا جَبَّارِينَ وَإِنَّا لَن نَّدْخُلَهَا حَتَّىٰ يَخْرُجُوا مِنْهَا فَإِن يَخْرُجُوا مِنْهَا فَإِنَّا دَاخِلُونَ
“They said, 'O Musa, there is a nation of tyrants over there, and we shall never enter it until they get out of it. If they do get out, we are ready to go in.'”
Despite all the miracles they had witnessed – the plagues upon Pharaoh, the parting of the sea, the cloud that shaded them, the manna and quails that fed them – they refused to trust in Allah's promise of victory. They were afraid of the Amalekites, described here as "tyrants" or "giants," who inhabited the land.
Even when two God-fearing men encouraged them to trust Allah and move forward, the majority refused:
قَالَ رَجُلَانِ مِنَ الَّذِينَ يَخَافُ.
“Said two men from among the God-fearing, on whom Allah had bestowed His favour, “Enter the gate (charging) upon them. Once you have entered it, you will be the ones who will prevail. In Allah you must place your trust, if you are believers.”” (5:23)