Sūrat al-Isrāʾ
Section 5 of 16 · Surah Studies · Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
The Two Corruptions
That speaks of the significance of prayer. To go on, then, to the chief matters of this sūrah, which may be quickly gone through. The first great discussion — part of the verses read out — concerns the Banū Isrāʾīl.
وَءَاتَيْنَا مُوسَى ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَجَعَلْنَـٰهُ هُدًى لِّبَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ أَلَّا تَتَّخِذُوا۟ مِن دُونِى وَكِيلًا ذُرِّيَّةَ مَنْ حَمَلْنَا مَعَ نُوحٍ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ عَبْدًا شَكُورًا
“And We gave Mūsā the Book and made it guidance for the children of Isrā’īl (bearing the command) “Do not take anyone other than Me as guardian, O you, the progeny of those whom We put on board with NūH. Surely, He was a very grateful servant.”” (17:2–3)
This one treats of their history, and not merely of what they were doing at that time, of the three Jewish tribes living in Madīnah Munawwarah. It is not only about the difficulties with them, but begins from a great history, going far back. In their history — and the Bible has this long discussion of it as well — there is a great deal of corruption which they caused in various places. And on account of that Allah (swt) says:
وَقَضَيْنَآ إِلَىٰ بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ فِى ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ لَتُفْسِدُنَّ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مَرَّتَيْنِ وَلَتَعْلُنَّ عُلُوًّا كَبِيرًا
“And We declared to the children of Isrā’īl in the Book: “You will surely spread mischief on the earth twice, and you will surely show utmost haughtiness.” (17:4)
La-tufsidunna fī al-arḍi marratayn — they have done it more often than that. It is said that there are two occasions upon which you will cause great corruption in the land, and then will act with great haughtiness and arrogance and tyranny.
فَإِذَا جَآءَ وَعْدُ أُولَىٰهُمَا بَعَثْنَا عَلَيْكُمْ عِبَادًا لَّنَآ أُو۟لِى بَأْسٍ شَدِيدٍ فَجَاسُوا۟ خِلَـٰلَ ٱلدِّيَارِ ۚ وَكَانَ وَعْدًا مَّفْعُولًا
“So, when came the time appointed for the first of the two, We dispatched against you some servants belonging to us having strong aggressive power, who combed through the houses; and it was a promise, bound to be fulfilled.” (17:5)
And when that happens, Allah (swt) says in verse 5, when the first instance of it came, the first major instance — for Allah always forgives and forgives, tolerates and tolerates, forbears and forbears, for so long a time until it goes altogether over the top, and that is when Allah (swt) comes in to seize people.
And it is important to know this. There was once a student in our class who was always messing about. One day, while he was messing about, Mufti Sahib, the teacher, came in, and he was caught. And he said: it was my first time. And Mufti Sahib said: even Allah does not catch someone for the first time. Allah lets people go so many times, until at last He catches them. SubḥānAllāh.
ثُمَّ رَدَدْنَا لَكُمُ ٱلْكَرَّةَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَأَمْدَدْنَـٰكُم بِأَمْوَٰلٍ وَبَنِينَ وَجَعَلْنَـٰكُمْ أَكْثَرَ نَفِيرًا
“Then We gave you your turn to overpower them, and increased your strength with wealth and sons, and made you greater in number,” (17:6)
So Allah (swt) speaks of this. There are several instances in the history: that twice you will cause corruption, and then you will be punished for it. You will be wiped out; you will be truly and severely punished. Totally eradicated; Jerusalem was destroyed.