Spying out the Holy Land

Remember when Moses said to his people, “O my people! Recall Allah’s favour upon you, He raised prophets among you, made you rulers, and granted you blessings unlike any other nation.”

5:20And (remember) when Moses said unto his people: O my people! Remember Allah's favour unto you, how He placed among you prophets, and He made you kings, and gave you that (which) He gave not to any (other) of (His) creatures.

“O my people! Enter the sacred land that Allah has destined for you. Do not turn back in fear, or you will be lost.”

2:58And when We said: Go into this township and eat freely of that which is therein, and enter the gate prostrate, and say: "Repentance." We will forgive you your sins and will increase (reward) for the right-doers.

5:21O my people! Go into the holy land which Allah hath ordained for you. Turn not in flight, for surely ye turn back as losers:

And recall when We said, 'Enter this town and eat freely from its abundance, but enter humbly and say, "Grant us forgiveness," so We may pardon your sins and increase the reward of the righteous.'

2:58And when We said: Go into this township and eat freely of that which is therein, and enter the gate prostrate, and say: "Repentance." We will forgive you your sins and will increase (reward) for the right-doers.

Yet the wrongdoers changed the words given to them, so We sent down a punishment from the heavens for their defiance.

2:59But those who did wrong changed the word which had been told them for another saying, and We sent down upon the evil-doers wrath from heaven for their evil-doing.

They replied, “O Moses! A mighty people dwell there, and we will not enter until they leave. If they depart, then we will go in.”

5:22They said: O Moses! Lo! a giant people (dwell) therein and lo! we go not in till they go forth from thence. When they go forth from thence, then we will enter (not till then).

So, We sent down a punishment from the heavens for their defiance.

2:59But those who did wrong changed the word which had been told them for another saying, and We sent down upon the evil-doers wrath from heaven for their evil-doing.

Two men, who feared Allah and whom He had blessed, said, “Enter through the gate! Once you do, victory will be yours. Trust in Allah, if you are truly believers.”

5:23Then out spake two of those who feared (their Lord, men) unto whom Allah had been gracious: Enter in upon them by the gate, for if ye enter by it, lo! ye will be victorious. So put your trust (in Allah) if ye are indeed believers.

But they said, “O Moses! We will never enter as long as they remain. Go, you and your Lord, and fight. We will stay here.”

5:24They said: O Moses! We will never enter (the land) while they are in it. So go thou and thy Lord and fight! We will sit here.

Moses pleaded, “My Lord! I have power only over myself and my brother, so separate us from the rebellious people.”

5:25He said: My Lord! I have control of none but myself and my brother, so distinguish between us and the wrong-doing folk.

Allah declared, “Then the land is forbidden to them for forty years. They will wander the earth in confusion. Do not grieve over the defiant.”

5:26(Their Lord) said: For this the land will surely be forbidden them for forty years that they will wander in the earth, bewildered. So grieve not over the wrongdoing folk.