Al-Jawāb as-Sahīh li-man baddala dīn al-Masīh - Ibn Taimiya - (5/81)

He therefore portrayed himself as the Prophet of mercy and repentance, as the Prophet of battle, and as the smiling warrior. Such a balanced profile is more complete than that of someone characterized predominantly by harshness and might, or, conversely, by constant mildness.

For this reason it has been said that the Children of Israel had been broken in spirit by Pharaoh’s oppression and enslavement; thus, a regimen of austerity was prescribed for them so that their souls might regain strength and their humiliation be removed.

Accordingly, when they were commanded to struggle in Allah’s cause they shrank from it, and Moses said to them:

“O my people, enter the Holy Land which Allah has decreed for you, and do not turn back on your heels lest you become losers.”

They replied, “O Moses, within it is a powerful people, and we will never enter it until they leave. If they leave, then we will go in.”

Two men from among those who feared Allah—upon whom Allah had bestowed His favor—said, “Enter upon them through the gate; once you enter, you will surely prevail. Put your trust in Allah, if you are truly believers.”

They said, “O Moses, we shall never enter it so long as they remain there. Go, you and your Lord, and fight; we will sit right here.”

[al-Maʾidah 21–24]

فَوَصَفَ نَفْسَهُ بِأَنَّهُ نَبِيُّ الرَّحْمَةِ وَالتَّوْبَةِ، وَأَنَّهُ نَبِيُّ الْمَلْحَمَةِ، وَأَنَّهُ الضَّحُوكُ الْقَتَّالُ، وَهَذَا أَكْمَلُ مِمَّنْ نُعِتَ بِالشِّدَّةِ وَالْبَأْسِ غَالِبًا، أَوْ بِاللِّينِ غَالِبًا، وَقَدْ قِيلَ بِسَبَبِ ذَلِكَ: أَنَّ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ كَانَتْ نُفُوسُهُمْ قَدْ ذُلَّتْ لِقَهْرِ فِرْعَوْنَ لَهُمْ وَاسْتِعْبَادِ فِرْعَوْنَ لَهُمْ، فَشُرِعَتْ لَهُمُ الشِّدَّةُ لِتَقْوَى أَنْفُسُهُمْ وَيَزُولَ عَنْهُمْ ذَلِكَ الذُّلُّ. وَلِهَذَا لَمَّا أُمِرُوا بِالْجِهَادِ نَكَلُوا عَنْهُ وَقَالَ لَهُمْ مُوسَى: {يَاقَوْمِ ادْخُلُوا الْأَرْضَ الْمُقَدَّسَةَ الَّتِي كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ وَلَا تَرْتَدُّوا عَلَى أَدْبَارِكُمْ فَتَنْقَلِبُوا خَاسِرِينَ - قَالُوا يَامُوسَى إِنَّ فِيهَا قَوْمًا جَبَّارِينَ وَإِنَّا لَنْ نَدْخُلَهَا حَتَّى يَخْرُجُوا مِنْهَا فَإِنْ يَخْرُجُوا مِنْهَا فَإِنَّا دَاخِلُونَ - قَالَ رَجُلَانِ مِنَ الَّذِينَ يَخَافُونَ أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمَا ادْخُلُوا عَلَيْهِمُ الْبَابَ فَإِذَا دَخَلْتُمُوهُ فَإِنَّكُمْ غَالِبُونَ وَعَلَى اللَّهِ فَتَوَكَّلُوا إِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُؤْمِنِينَ - قَالُوا يَامُوسَى إِنَّا لَنْ نَدْخُلَهَا أَبَدًا مَا دَامُوا فِيهَا فَاذْهَبْ أَنْتَ وَرَبُّكَ فَقَاتِلَا إِنَّا هَاهُنَا قَاعِدُونَ} [المائدة: ٢١ - ٢٤] .