Surah Al-Ma'idah 5:24
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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."
Tafsir of Al-Ma'idah 5:24
Tafsir
Mafatih al-Ghayb
Verse range: 5:24
Al-Ma'idah (5:24): They said, "O Moses..."
Regarding His saying: {Go, you and your Lord...} (The verse continues: "...and fight, indeed we will stay here.")
There are several interpretations concerning this phrase:
- Anthropomorphism (Tajseem): Perhaps the people were anthropomorphists, believing that God Almighty could physically go and come.
- Figurative Speech: It might not mean literal going. It is similar to saying, "I spoke to him, and he went to answer me," meaning, "he was inclined to answer me." Thus, they might have meant: "You and your Lord are inclined/prepared to fight them."
- Ellipsis (Omission): The implied meaning is: "Go, you and your Lord, who is your helper (as you claim)." The predicate of the initial nominal sentence is omitted.
- Objection: If we assume an omitted predicate, how can the subsequent phrase, {so fight}, also be taken as the predicate?
- Answer: Having one predicate following another is not impossible.
- Reference to Aaron: The phrase {and your Lord} refers to his brother Aaron. They called him Rabb (Lord/Master) because he was older than Moses.
The exegetes state that if they said {Go, you and your Lord} with the intention of physical movement from one place to another, it is disbelief (Kufr). If they said it with the intention of rebellion against obedience, it is immorality/wickedness (Fisq). They indeed acted wickedly with this statement, evidenced by God's subsequent command in this very story: {So do not grieve over the defiantly disobedient people} (Al-Ma'idah: 26).
The purpose of this story is to illustrate the obstinacy of these Jews, the intensity of their hatred, and their extreme stubbornness in disputing with God's prophets since ancient times.