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.
Related Ayahs
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَيَبْلُوَنَّكُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِشَىْءٍ مِّنَ ٱلصَّيْدِ تَنَالُهُۥٓ أَيْدِيكُمْ وَرِمَاحُكُمْ لِيَعْلَمَ ٱللَّهُ مَن يَخَافُهُۥ بِٱلْغَيْبِ ۚ فَمَنِ ٱعْتَدَىٰ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ فَلَهُۥ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
O you who have believed, Allāh will surely test you through something of the game that your hands and spears [can] reach, that Allāh may make evident those who fear Him unseen. And whoever transgresses after that - for him is a painful punishment.
قُل لَّا يَسْتَوِى ٱلْخَبِيثُ وَٱلطَّيِّبُ وَلَوْ أَعْجَبَكَ كَثْرَةُ ٱلْخَبِيثِ ۚ فَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ يَـٰٓأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
Say, "Not equal are the evil and the good, although the abundance of evil might impress you." So fear Allāh, O you of understanding, that you may be successful.
قَدْ سَأَلَهَا قَوْمٌ مِّن قَبْلِكُمْ ثُمَّ أَصْبَحُوا۟ بِهَا كَـٰفِرِينَ
A people asked such [questions] before you; then they became thereby disbelievers.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱذْكُرُوا۟ نِعْمَتَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ هَمَّ قَوْمٌ أَن يَبْسُطُوٓا۟ إِلَيْكُمْ أَيْدِيَهُمْ فَكَفَّ أَيْدِيَهُمْ عَنكُمْ ۖ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۚ وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ
O you who have believed, remember the favor of Allāh upon you when a people determined to extend their hands [in aggression] against you, but He withheld their hands from you; and fear Allāh. And upon Allāh let the believers rely.