قَالُوا۟ يَـٰمُوسَىٰٓ إِنَّا لَن نَّدْخُلَهَآ أَبَدًا مَّا دَامُوا۟ فِيهَا ۖ فَٱذْهَبْ أَنتَ وَرَبُّكَ فَقَـٰتِلَآ إِنَّا هَـٰهُنَا قَـٰعِدُونَ 24
Translations
They said, "O Moses, indeed we will not enter it, ever, as long as they are within it; so go, you and your Lord, and fight. Indeed, we are remaining right here."
Transliteration
Qalū yā Mūsā innā lan nadkhulahā abadan mā dāmū fīhā fadhab anta wa rabbuka faqātilā innā hāhunā qā'idūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
The Children of Israel refuse to enter the land of Canaan, telling Prophet Musa (Moses) to go fight with Allah while they remain behind. Ibn Kathir explains this represents their cowardice and lack of faith in Allah's promise, despite witnessing miraculous signs. This ayah illustrates the consequences of weakness in conviction and disobedience to Allah's command through His messenger.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the historical narrative of the Israelites' journey after the Exodus from Egypt. When Musa sent twelve spies to scout the land of Canaan (as mentioned in 5:12), ten returned with discouraging reports about the strength of its inhabitants. The people's refusal to enter reflects their loss of faith in Allah's promise and their prophet's leadership, leading to their forty years of wandering in the desert as punishment.
Related Hadiths
The situation is alluded to in various hadiths about the Israelites' disobedience. Sahih Bukhari contains hadith about the trials faced by the Children of Israel and their repeated rejection of Allah's commands through His messengers, establishing a pattern of their disbelief.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that true trust (tawakkul) in Allah requires courage and obedience to divine commands, and that fear of creation, rather than faith in the Creator, leads to spiritual loss and deprivation of blessings. It reminds believers that excuses and blame-shifting cannot replace genuine commitment to following the path shown by Allah's messengers.
Related Ayahs
وَمِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا نَصَـٰرَىٰٓ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَـٰقَهُمْ فَنَسُوا۟ حَظًّا مِّمَّا ذُكِّرُوا۟ بِهِۦ فَأَغْرَيْنَا بَيْنَهُمُ ٱلْعَدَاوَةَ وَٱلْبَغْضَآءَ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ ۚ وَسَوْفَ يُنَبِّئُهُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَصْنَعُونَ
And from those who say, "We are Christians" We took their covenant; but they forgot a portion of that of which they were reminded. So We caused among them animosity and hatred until the Day of Resurrection. And Allāh is going to inform them about what they used to do.
إِنِّىٓ أُرِيدُ أَن تَبُوٓأَ بِإِثْمِى وَإِثْمِكَ فَتَكُونَ مِنْ أَصْحَـٰبِ ٱلنَّارِ ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ جَزَٰٓؤُا۟ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
Indeed, I want you to obtain [thereby] my sin and your sin so you will be among the companions of the Fire. And that is the recompense of wrongdoers."
ٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
Know that Allāh is severe in penalty and that Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.
أَفَلَا يَتُوبُونَ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَيَسْتَغْفِرُونَهُۥ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
So will they not repent to Allāh and seek His forgiveness? And Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.