7. Ramzan Quiz

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاتة   

بِسْمِ ٱللَّٰهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِٱلرَّحِيمِ    

7. Who wondered around forty years as a curse from Allah?

Answer: The Children of Israel during the time of Musa (AS).

Allah favoured the Children of Israel above the Alamin:

Compared to the Greek, Copts and the rest of mankind of that time, the Children of Israel were the most honorable people. Allah favoured the Children of Israel with the following.

■ drowned their tyrant king and his people in the sea in their front

■ blessed with Taurath,

■ gave the Kings and Prophets

■ shaded them with clouds

■ the manna and quails sent down

■ brought forth twelve water springs from solid rock.

■ Laws were established

This is evidenced with the following verse of Quran:

[5:20] And (remember) when Musa (AS) said to his people: “O my people! Remember the Favour of Allah to you, when He made Prophets among you, made you kings, and gave you what He had not given to any other among the ‘Alamin".

They were asked to perform jihad:

The Children of Israel were asked to perform Jihad to enter the holy Jerusalem. But  they came to know that people of Jerusalem were mighty, strong, vicious people with tremendous physique and physical ability.They were weak and could not bear the thought of fighting their enemy, being patient and enduring.

Allah informs this in Quran with the following verses:

[5:21] “O my people! Enter the holy land (Palestine) which Allah has assigned to you, and turn not back (in flight) for then you will be returned as losers.”

[5:22] They said: “O Musa (AS)! In it (this holy land) are a people of great strength, and we shall never enter it, till they leave it; when they leave, then we will enter.”

They declined, rebelled and defied:

When the Children of Israel declined to obey Allah and follow His Messenger Musa (AS). The two righteous, God fearing and blessed men (Yuwsha, the son of Nun and Kalib, the son of Yufna) encoura ged them to fight. With the trust in Allah, if they fight their victory was promised. The advice of these two did not benefit them in the least.

Quran refers to this as:

[5:23] Two men of those who feared (Allah and) on whom Allah had bestowed His Grace [they were Yusha’ (Joshua) and Kalab (Caleb)] said: “Assault them through the gate, for when you are in, victory will be yours, and put your trust in Allah if you are believers indeed.”

[5:24] They said: “O Musa (AS)! We shall never enter it as long as they are there. So go you and your Lord and fight you two, we are sitting right here.”

Musa became very angry with them and supplicated to Allah against them:

[5:25]. He [Musa (AS)] said: “O my Lord! I have power only over myself and my brother, so separate us from the people who are the Fasiqun (rebellious and disobedient to Allah)!”

So Allahuthala punished them:

They were punished for forty years by being lost, wandering in the land of At-Tih, uncertain of where they should go. They were also blinded by their ignorance and transgression. Thus, they became hated by Allah, and they became His enemies

[5:26] (Allah) said: “Therefore it (this holy land) is forbidden to them for forty years; in distraction they will wander through the land."

Allah comforts Musa (AS):

Allah said: "So be not sorrowful over the people who are the Fasiqun (rebellious and disobedient to Allah).” Do not feel sad over My judgment against them, for they deserve such judgment.

Even after the punishment they disobeyed and sinned:

They wandered in the land for forty years, during which Musa (AS) and Harun (AS) died, as well as everyone above forty years of age. When the forty years ended, the second generation, laid siege to Jerusalem. Yuwsha` son of Nun assumed their leadership and later conquered Jerusalem. When Yuwsha` was reminded that the day was Friday and the sun was about to set, but conquered Jerusalem before sabbath by Allah's Mercy and found wealth unseen before.

Next, Allah commanded Yuwsha` to order the Children of Israel to enter Jerusalem from its gate while bowing and saying Hittathun, meaning, `remove our sins.' Yet, they changed what they were commanded and entered it while dragging themselves on their behinds and saying, Habbah (a seed) in Sharah (a hair)."

الحمدلله