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
يَـٰٓأَهْلَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ قَدْ جَآءَكُمْ رَسُولُنَا يُبَيِّنُ لَكُمْ عَلَىٰ فَتْرَةٍ مِّنَ ٱلرُّسُلِ أَن تَقُولُوا۟ مَا جَآءَنَا مِنۢ بَشِيرٍ وَلَا نَذِيرٍ ۖ فَقَدْ جَآءَكُم بَشِيرٌ وَنَذِيرٌ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
O People of the Scripture, there has come to you Our Messenger to make clear to you [the religion] after a period [of suspension] of messengers, lest you say, "There came not to us any bringer of good tidings or a warner." But there has come to you a bringer of good tidings and a warner. And Allāh is over all things competent.
وَلْيَحْكُمْ أَهْلُ ٱلْإِنجِيلِ بِمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ فِيهِ ۚ وَمَن لَّمْ يَحْكُم بِمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْفَـٰسِقُونَ
And let the People of the Gospel judge by what Allāh has revealed therein. And whoever does not judge by what Allāh has revealed - then it is those who are the defiantly disobedient.
لَيْسَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ جُنَاحٌ فِيمَا طَعِمُوٓا۟ إِذَا مَا ٱتَّقَوا۟ وَّءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ ثُمَّ ٱتَّقَوا۟ وَّءَامَنُوا۟ ثُمَّ ٱتَّقَوا۟ وَّأَحْسَنُوا۟ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
There is not upon those who believe and do righteousness [any] blame concerning what they have eaten [in the past] if they [now] fear Allāh and believe and do righteous deeds, and then fear Allāh and believe, and then fear Allāh and do good; and Allāh loves the doers of good.
وَحَسِبُوٓا۟ أَلَّا تَكُونَ فِتْنَةٌ فَعَمُوا۟ وَصَمُّوا۟ ثُمَّ تَابَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ ثُمَّ عَمُوا۟ وَصَمُّوا۟ كَثِيرٌ مِّنْهُمْ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ بَصِيرٌۢ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ
And they thought there would be no [resulting] punishment, so they became blind and deaf. Then Allāh turned to them in forgiveness; then [again] many of them became blind and deaf. And Allāh is Seeing of what they do.