Allah states that His servant, Messenger, to whom He spoke directly, Musa, the son
of `Imran, reminded his people that among the favors Allah granted them, is that
He will give them all of the good of this life and the Hereafter, if they remain
on the righteous and straight path. Allah said,
﴿وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَى لِقَوْمِهِ يَـقَوْمِ
اذْكُرُواْ نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ جَعَلَ فِيكُمْ أَنْبِيَآءَ﴾
(And (remember) when Musa said to his people: "O my people! Remember the favor of
Allah to you, when He made Prophets among you,) for whenever a Prophet died, another
rose among them, from the time of their father Ibrahim and thereafter. There were
many Prophets among the Children of Israel calling to Allah and warning against
His torment, until `Isa was sent as the final Prophet from the Children of Israel.
Allah then sent down the revelation to the Final Prophet and Messenger, Muhammad,
the son of `Abdullah, from the offspring of Isma`il, the son of Ibrahim, peace be
upon them. Muhammad is the most honorable Prophet of all times. Allah said next,
﴿وَجَعَلَكُمْ مُّلُوكاً﴾
(made you kings) `Abdur-Razzaq recorded that Ibn `Abbas commented: "Having a servant,
a wife and a house.'' In his Mustadrak, Al-Hakim recorded that Ibn `Abbas said,
"A wife and a servant, and, a
﴿وَءَاتَـكُمْ مَّا لَمْ يُؤْتِ أَحَداً
مِّن الْعَـلَمِينَ﴾
(and gave you what He had not given to any other among the nations (`Alamin).) means,
during their time.'' Al-Hakim said, "Sahih according to the criteria of the Two
Sahihs, but they did not collect it.'' Qatadah said, "They were the first people
to take servants.'' A Hadith states,
«مَنْ أَصْبَحَ مِنْكُمْ مُعَافًى
فِي جَسَدِهِ، آمِنًا فِي سِرْبِهِ، عِنْدَهُ قُوتُ يَوْمِهِ، فَكَأَنَّمَا حِيزَتْ
لَهُ الدُّنْيَا بِحَذَافِيرِهَا»
(He among you who wakes up while healthy in body, safe in his family and having
the provision for that very day, is as if the world and all that was in it were
collected for him.) Allah's statement,
﴿وَءَاتَـكُمْ مَّا لَمْ يُؤْتِ أَحَداً
مِّن الْعَـلَمِينَ﴾
(and gave you what He had not given to any other among the nations (Al-`Alamin).)
means, during your time, as we stated. The Children of Israel were the most honorable
among the people of their time, compared to the Greek, Copts and the rest of mankind.
Allah said in another Ayah,
﴿وَلَقَدْ ءَاتَيْنَا بَنِى إِسْرَءِيلَ
الْكِتَـبَ وَالْحُكْمَ وَالنُّبُوَّةَ وَرَزَقْنَـهُمْ مِّنَ الطَّيِّبَـتِ وَفَضَّلْنَـهُمْ
عَلَى الْعَـلَمينَ ﴾
(And indeed We gave the Children of Israel the Scripture, and the understanding
of the Scripture and its laws, and the Prophethood; and provided them with good
things, and preferred them above the nations (Al-`Alamin).) Allah said,
﴿لَّهُمْ قَالُواْ يَمُوسَى اجْعَلْ
لَّنَآ إِلَـهًا كَمَا لَهُمْ ءَالِهَةٌ قَالَ إِنَّكُمْ قَوْمٌ تَجْهَلُونَ﴾
﴿إِنَّ هَـؤُلاءِ مُتَبَّرٌ مَّا هُمْ
فِيهِ وَبَـطِلٌ مَّا كَانُواْ يَعْمَلُونَ - قَالَ أَغَيْرَ اللَّهِ أَبْغِيكُمْ إِلَـهًا
وَهُوَ فَضَّلَكُمْ عَلَى الْعَـلَمِينَ ﴾
(They said: "O Musa! Make for us a god as they have gods.'' He said: "Verily, you
are an ignorant people.'' ﴿Musa added:﴾ "Verily, these people will be destroyed
for that which they are engaged in (idol worship).'' And all that they are doing
is in vain. He said: "Shall I seek for you a god other than Allah, while He has
given you superiority over the nations.'') Therefore, they were the best among the
people of their time. The Muslim Ummah is more respected and honored before Allah,
and has a more perfect legislative code and system of life, it has the most honorable
Prophet, the larger kingdom, more provisions, wealth and children, a larger domain
and more lasting glory than the Children of Israel. Allah said,
﴿وَكَذَلِكَ جَعَلْنَـكُمْ أُمَّةً
وَسَطًا لِّتَكُونُواْ شُهَدَآءَ عَلَى النَّاسِ﴾
(Thus We have made you, a just (the best) nation, that you be witnesses over mankind.)
We mentioned the Mutawatir Hadiths about the honor of this Ummah and its status
and honor with Allah, when we explained Allah's statement in Surah Al-`Imran (3),
﴿كُنتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ
لِلنَّاسِ﴾
(You are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind...) Allah states next that
Musa encouraged the Children of Israel to perform Jihad and enter Jerusalem, which
was under their control during the time of their father Ya`qub. Ya`qub and his children
later moved with his children and household to Egypt during the time of Prophet
Yusuf. His offspring remained in Egypt until their exodus with Musa. They found
a mighty, strong people in Jerusalem who had previously taken it over. Musa, Allah's
Messenger, ordered the Children of Israel to enter Jerusalem and fight their enemy,
and he promised them victory and triumph over the mighty people if they did so.
They declined, rebelled and defied his order and were punished for forty years by
being lost, wandering in the land uncertain of where they should go. This was their
punishment for defying Allah's command. Allah said that Musa ordered them to enter
the Holy Land,
﴿الَّتِى كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ﴾
(which Allah has assigned to you) meaning, which Allah has promised to you by the
words of your father Isra'il, that it is the inheritance of those among you who
believe.
﴿وَلاَ تَرْتَدُّوا عَلَى أَدْبَـرِكُمْ﴾
(and turn not back) in flight from Jihad.
﴿فَتَنقَلِبُواْ خَـسِرِينَقَالُوا
يَامُوسَى إِنَّ فِيهَا قَوْماً جَبَّارِينَ وَإِنَّا لَن نَّدْخُلَهَا حَتَّى يَخْرُجُواْ
مِنْهَا فَإِن يَخْرُجُواْ مِنْهَا فَإِنَّا دَخِلُونَ ﴾
(". ..for then you will be returned as losers.'' They said, "O Musa! In it are a
people of great strength, and we shall never enter it, till they leave it; when
they leave, then we will enter.") Their excuse was this, in this very town you commanded
us to enter and fight its people, there is a mighty, strong, vicious people who
have tremendous physique and physical ability. We are unable to stand against these
people or fight them. Therefore, they said, we are incapable of entering this city
as long as they are still in it, but if they leave it, we will enter it. Otherwise,
we cannot stand against them.
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