Surah Al-Ma'idah (The Table Spread): Verse 20

Connection to Previous Verses

The conjunction "And" (و) in the phrase "And when Moses said to his people" (وإذ قال موسى لقومه) is a conjunction of continuation, connecting to the preceding verse, "And certainly did Allah take the covenant from the Children of Israel" (Al-Ma'idah: 12).

It is as if the meaning is: Allah took the covenant from them, and Moses reminded them of Allah's favors and commanded them to fight the tyrants. However, they contradicted the covenant, and they also contradicted the command to fight the tyrants.

In this verse, there are several important issues:

Issue 1: The Three Favors Mentioned

Allah reminds them of three great favors bestowed upon them:

First Favor: "When He appointed among you prophets" (إذ جعل فيكم أنبياء). No other nation received as many prophets as the Children of Israel. Among them were the seventy men Moses chose from his people who went with him to the Mount. Furthermore, they were descendants of Jacob (Israel), son of Isaac, son of Abraham—all of whom are considered the greatest of prophets by consensus. Most scholars hold that Jacob's descendants were also prophets. Allah informed Moses that prophets would only be sent from the lineage of Jacob and the lineage of Ishmael after that time. This honor encompasses the prophets who had passed, those present with Moses, and those Allah informed Moses would be sent later. This is undoubtedly a tremendous honor.

Second Favor: "And He made you kings" (وجعلكم ملوكا). There are several interpretations for this:

1. Al-Suddi said: It means He made you free men, masters of yourselves, after you were under the control of the Copts, similar to the status of Ahl al-Dhimma (protected people) among us, where no one could overpower you concerning your own persons.
2. Every messenger and prophet was a king because he commanded his nation and had authority over them, executing judgments among them. This is supported by the verse: "Or have they envied mankind for that which Allah of His bounty hath given to them? For We have already given to the family of Abraham the Scripture and Wisdom, and We have given them a great kingdom" (An-Nisa: 54).
3. There were kings and great leaders among their ancestors and descendants. One might metaphorically refer to a people who produced kings as "kings."
4. Anyone who is independent in managing his own affairs and livelihood, not needing others for his needs, is a king. Al-Zajjaj said: A king is one whom no one enters upon except by his permission. Al-Dahhak said: Their dwellings were spacious with running water, and they possessed much wealth and servants to attend to their needs; whoever possessed such things was considered a king.

Third Favor: The reminder of the blessings when Moses said to his people: "O my people, remember the favor of Allah upon you..." (وإذ قال موسى لقومه ياقوم اذكروا نعمة). Allah specifically honored them with various great honors:

1. He split the sea for them.
2. He destroyed their enemy and made them heirs to their wealth.
3. He sent down the Manna (المن) and the Quail (السلوى).
4. He brought forth fresh water for them from the rock.
5. He shaded them with clouds.
6. The combination of kingship and prophethood was not gathered for any people as it was for them.
7. In those days, they were the knowers of Allah, the beloved of Allah, and the supporters of His religion.

Command to Fight the Enemy

After Moses reminded them of these favors and explained them, he then commanded them to strive against the enemy, saying: