قَالَ رَجُلَانِ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَخَافُونَ أَنْعَمَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمَا ٱدْخُلُوا۟ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْبَابَ فَإِذَا دَخَلْتُمُوهُ فَإِنَّكُمْ غَـٰلِبُونَ ۚ وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَتَوَكَّلُوٓا۟ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ 23
Translations
Said two men from those who feared [to disobey] upon whom Allāh had bestowed favor, "Enter upon them through the gate, for when you have entered it, you will be predominant. And upon Allāh rely, if you should be believers."
Transliteration
Qala rajulani mina alladhina yakhafuna an'ama allahu alayhima udkhulu alayhimu al-bab fa-idha dakhaltumuh fa-innakum ghalibun wa 'ala allahi fatawakkalu in kuntum mu'minin
Tafsir (Explanation)
Two God-fearing men from among those whom Allah had blessed encourage the Israelites to enter the gate of the city (Jericho) with confidence, assuring them that if they do so, they will be victorious. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, these two men represent faithful believers whose trust in Allah and courage inspire others to act decisively; their exhortation emphasizes that victory comes through obedience to Allah's command and reliance upon Him. The ayah underscores the spiritual principle that material preparation combined with sincere faith and tawakkul (trust in Allah) leads to success.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of the Children of Israel's command to enter the Holy Land (Canaan), specifically the city of Jericho. The broader context (5:20-26) recounts how Musa (Moses) reminded his people of Allah's favors and commanded them to enter the land, but the majority refused due to fear. These two righteous men exemplify the minority who maintained faith and encouraged others to obey Allah's command despite the fear of the enemy.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The strong believer is better and more beloved to Allah than the weak believer, and in each is good' (Sahih Muslim 2664), which relates to the courage and strength of these two faithful men. Additionally, 'Whoever relies upon Allah, He will suffice him' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2347) aligns with the ayah's emphasis on tawakkul.
Themes
Key Lesson
True victory in life comes not from material strength alone, but from combining righteous action with unwavering faith and trust in Allah; believers should cultivate the courage to encourage others toward good even when fear or doubt prevails, knowing that reliance upon Allah is the greatest source of strength and success.