قَالُوا۟ يَـٰمُوسَىٰٓ إِنَّ فِيهَا قَوْمًا جَبَّارِينَ وَإِنَّا لَن نَّدْخُلَهَا حَتَّىٰ يَخْرُجُوا۟ مِنْهَا فَإِن يَخْرُجُوا۟ مِنْهَا فَإِنَّا دَٰخِلُونَ 22
Translations
They said, "O Moses, indeed within it is a people of tyrannical strength, and indeed, we will never enter it until they leave it; but if they leave it, then we will enter."
Transliteration
Qalū yā Mūsā inna fīhā qawman jabbārīn wa-innā lan nadkhulahā hattā yakhrijū minhā fa-in yakhrijū minhā fa-innā dākhilūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
The Israelites express their fear and reluctance to enter the land of Canaan, citing the presence of mighty and tyrannical people (Jabbārīn) who inhabit it. They declare they will not enter until these inhabitants leave, conditional upon their departure. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this statement reflects the people's loss of faith and courage despite Allah's promise, demonstrating how fear and doubt can paralyze believers from fulfilling their divine obligations. The ayah serves as a stark illustration of the Israelites' repeated disobedience and their preference for comfort over obedience to Allah's command.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative recounting the story of the Israelites sent by Prophet Musa to scout the land of Canaan. After the scouts returned with reports of its inhabitants and fortified cities, the people became fearful and refused to enter, which led to Allah's punishment of forty years of wandering in the wilderness. This passage contextualizes the consequences of collective disbelief and rejection of divine promises.
Related Hadiths
The incident is referenced in connection with themes of faith and trust in Allah's promise. While no single hadith directly quotes this ayah, the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) warned against similar behavior in Sunan At-Tirmidhi regarding the importance of trusting in Allah's aid: 'Help yourself by not raising your hopes too much' - emphasizing reliance on Allah rather than fear of earthly obstacles.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that excessive fear of worldly obstacles and loss of faith in Allah's promises lead to spiritual stagnation and punishment, while demonstrating that trust in divine guidance requires courage to move beyond comfort and doubt. For modern readers, it serves as a reminder that conditional obedience and fear-based reasoning are forms of rejecting Allah's clear commands, and true faith demands action despite perceived difficulties.
Related Ayahs
فَأَثَـٰبَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِمَا قَالُوا۟ جَنَّـٰتٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ جَزَآءُ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
So Allāh rewarded them for what they said with gardens [in Paradise] beneath which rivers flow, wherein they abide eternally. And that is the reward of doers of good.
وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ أَقَامُوا۟ ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةَ وَٱلْإِنجِيلَ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْهِم مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ لَأَكَلُوا۟ مِن فَوْقِهِمْ وَمِن تَحْتِ أَرْجُلِهِم ۚ مِّنْهُمْ أُمَّةٌ مُّقْتَصِدَةٌ ۖ وَكَثِيرٌ مِّنْهُمْ سَآءَ مَا يَعْمَلُونَ
And if only they had upheld [the law of] the Torah, the Gospel, and what has been revealed to them from their Lord [i.e., the Qur’ān], they would have consumed [provision] from above them and from beneath their feet. Among them are a moderate [i.e., acceptable] community, but many of them - evil is that which they do.
فَبَعَثَ ٱللَّهُ غُرَابًا يَبْحَثُ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ لِيُرِيَهُۥ كَيْفَ يُوَٰرِى سَوْءَةَ أَخِيهِ ۚ قَالَ يَـٰوَيْلَتَىٰٓ أَعَجَزْتُ أَنْ أَكُونَ مِثْلَ هَـٰذَا ٱلْغُرَابِ فَأُوَٰرِىَ سَوْءَةَ أَخِى ۖ فَأَصْبَحَ مِنَ ٱلنَّـٰدِمِينَ
Then Allāh sent a crow searching [i.e., scratching] in the ground to show him how to hide the disgrace of his brother. He said, "O woe to me! Have I failed to be like this crow and hide the disgrace [i.e., body] of my brother?" And he became of the regretful.
وَٱذْكُرُوا۟ نِعْمَةَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَمِيثَـٰقَهُ ٱلَّذِى وَاثَقَكُم بِهِۦٓ إِذْ قُلْتُمْ سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا ۖ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌۢ بِذَاتِ ٱلصُّدُورِ
And remember the favor of Allāh upon you and His covenant with which He bound you when you said, "We hear and we obey"; and fear Allāh. Indeed, Allāh is Knowing of that within the breasts.