قَالَ فَإِنَّهَا مُحَرَّمَةٌ عَلَيْهِمْ ۛ أَرْبَعِينَ سَنَةً ۛ يَتِيهُونَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ فَلَا تَأْسَ عَلَى ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْفَـٰسِقِينَ 26
Translations
[Allāh] said, "Then indeed, it is forbidden to them for forty years [in which] they will wander throughout the land. So do not grieve over the defiantly disobedient people."
Transliteration
Qāla fa-innahā muharramatun 'alayhim arba'īna sanatan yatīhūna fī al-ardi falā ta'as 'alā al-qawm al-fāsiqīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah's statement that the Promised Land was forbidden to the Israelites for forty years as punishment for their rebellion and refusal to enter it despite Moses' command. During this period, they wandered in the desert, and an entire generation died before their descendants could inherit the land. The ayah concludes with consolation to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) not to grieve over the disbelievers, as their rejection mirrors the historical pattern of human rebellion against divine guidance. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize this as a consequence of kufr (disbelief) and 'isyān (disobedience).
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative recounting the story of the Israelites' exodus from Egypt and their refusal to enter the land of Canaan (Surah Al-Ma'idah, verses 20-26). It directly follows the account of the ten spies who were sent to scout the land and returned with a fearful report, which caused the people to lose faith. The context addresses the punishment for their rejection of Allah's command and serves as a historical lesson for the Muslim community.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim contain hadiths regarding the Children of Israel's forty years of wandering (Tih in the desert). Additionally, hadiths in these collections discuss the Israelites' disobedience and the consequent punishment, reinforcing the Quranic narrative.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that persistent rejection of Allah's guidance leads to prolonged separation from blessings, and that the consequences of communal disobedience affect entire generations. For believers, it serves as a reminder to obey Allah's commands promptly and to recognize that witnessing others' rejection of truth should strengthen rather than weaken one's own faith.