THE STORY OF THE PROPHET MOSES - Enforcement of Heritage Land for Forty Years for the Children of Israel

The Children of Israel were on their way from Mount Sinai to the land of inheritance. Allah SWT has given them the Torah, containing the commands and prohibitions of Allah SWT.

When he arrived at the inheritance border, Allah SWT gave revelations to the Prophet Moses so that the Children of Israel in his generation always recalled various gifts from Allah SWT and were always grateful. The Children of Israel were also ordered by Allah to occupy the inherited land that Allah Almighty established for them through Prophet Ibrahim and Prophet Moses. The Children of Israel need not retreat because of fear of enemies in the land of inheritance, because God will always protect them.

Surah Al-Ma’idah verses 20-21:

وَإِذۡ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوۡمِهِۦ يَٰقَوۡمِ ٱذۡكُرُواْ نِعۡمَةَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيۡكُمۡ إِذۡ جَعَلَ فِيكُمۡ أَنۢبِيَآءَ وَجَعَلَكُم مُّلُوكٗا وَءَاتَىٰكُم مَّا لَمۡ يُؤۡتِ أَحَدٗا مِّنَ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ  ٢٠ يَٰقَوۡمِ ٱدۡخُلُواْ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ ٱلۡمُقَدَّسَةَ ٱلَّتِي كَتَبَ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمۡ وَلَا تَرۡتَدُّواْ عَلَىٰٓ أَدۡبَارِكُمۡ فَتَنقَلِبُواْ خَٰسِرِينَ  ٢١

20.  And [mention, O Muhammad], when Moses said to his people, "O my people, remember the favor of Allah upon you when He appointed among you prophets and made you possessors and gave you that which He had not given anyone among the worlds.

21.  O my people, enter the Holy Land which Allah has assigned to you and do not turn back [from fighting in Allah 's cause] and [thus] become losers."

But most of the Children of Israel did not want to carry out the order. They did not want to fight and seize the land because there were powerful men who had occupied it. They will not enter the land before the people leave.

Surah Al-Ma'idah verse 22:

قَالُواْ يَٰمُوسَىٰٓ إِنَّ فِيهَا قَوۡمٗا جَبَّارِينَ وَإِنَّا لَن نَّدۡخُلَهَا حَتَّىٰ يَخۡرُجُواْ مِنۡهَا فَإِن يَخۡرُجُواْ مِنۡهَا فَإِنَّا دَٰخِلُونَ  ٢٢

22.  They said, "O Moses, indeed within it is a people of tyrannical strength, and indeed, we will never enter it until they leave it; but if they leave it, then we will enter."

There were two men who were cautious of the Children of Israel, according to their history, were Yusya' bin Nuun and Kaalib bin Yufana. Both of them advised and encouraged the Children of Israel to advance and invade them through the city gate, and during their trust in Allah SWT, they would surely win and be able to occupy the land. That way they have obeyed the commands of Allah SWT.

Surah Al-Ma'idah verse 23:

قَالَ رَجُلَانِ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَخَافُونَ أَنۡعَمَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيۡهِمَا ٱدۡخُلُواْ عَلَيۡهِمُ ٱلۡبَابَ فَإِذَا دَخَلۡتُمُوهُ فَإِنَّكُمۡ غَٰلِبُونَۚ وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَتَوَكَّلُوٓاْ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤۡمِنِينَ  ٢٣

23.  Said two men from those who feared [to disobey] upon whom Allah had bestowed favor, "Enter upon them through the gate, for when you have entered it, you will be predominant. And upon Allah rely, if you should be believers."

But the Children of Israel were still reluctant to carry out the order. There is no strong determination to fight and reach victory. They instead told Prophet Moses to go forward with his Lord and fight against them. The Children of Israel just want to sit while just waiting and expect the Prophet Moses to defeat the powerful people.

Surah Al-Ma’idah verse 24:

قَالُواْ يَٰمُوسَىٰٓ إِنَّا لَن نَّدۡخُلَهَآ أَبَدٗا مَّا دَامُواْ فِيهَا فَٱذۡهَبۡ أَنتَ وَرَبُّكَ فَقَٰتِلَآ إِنَّا هَٰهُنَا قَٰعِدُونَ  ٢٤

24.  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."

The attitude of the Children of Israel who did not dare to fight the strong people showed that most of them denied the power of Allah SWT who had saved them from the cruelty of Pharaoh and his followers. This disobedience is a big insubordination. The purpose of Allah SWT liberates the Children of Israel from the evil Pharaoh in Egypt is so that those who have lived miserably and oppressed can change to a very good life in a blessed country, if they want to submit and obey Allah SWT.

Moses also prayed to Allah, which is stated in the Surah Al-Ma'idah verse 25:

قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّي لَآ أَمۡلِكُ إِلَّا نَفۡسِي وَأَخِيۖ فَٱفۡرُقۡ بَيۡنَنَا وَبَيۡنَ ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلۡفَٰسِقِينَ  ٢٥

25.  [Moses] said, "My Lord, indeed I do not possess except myself and my brother, so part us from the defiantly disobedient people."

Allah SWT answered the prayer of Prophet Moses. Allah SWT decreed that the land of inheritance was forbidden to the Children of Israel for forty years. During that time, the Children of Israel continued to wander with no definite purpose. This is the punishment for not obeying the commands of Allah SWT.

Surah Al-Ma’idah verse 26:

قَالَ فَإِنَّهَا مُحَرَّمَةٌ عَلَيۡهِمۡۛ أَرۡبَعِينَ سَنَةٗۛ يَتِيهُونَ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِۚ فَلَا تَأۡسَ عَلَى ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلۡفَٰسِقِينَ  ٢٦

26.  [Allah] 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."