in its entirety. Ka'b said: “I found in the revealed Book of Allah that Greater Syria is Allah’s treasure in His earth, and that most (1) of His servants are there.”

His words, exalted is He: “which Allah has assigned to you” mean: He has written in the Preserved Tablet that it is to be your dwelling-place. Ibn Ishaq said: Allah has bestowed it upon you. It was also said: He has made it yours. Al-Suddi said: Allah commanded you to enter it. Qatadah said (2): They were commanded to enter it just as they were commanded to perform the prayer; that is, He made it obligatory upon you. “And do not turn back on your heels,” turning away in defiance of Allah’s command, “lest you become losers.”

Al-Kalbi said: Abraham, peace be upon him, ascended Mount Lebanon, and it was said to him: “Look: whatever your sight reaches is consecrated land and an inheritance for your descendants.”

“They said, ‘O Moses, there is indeed a tyrannical people in it.’” This was because, when the leaders who had gone out to gather intelligence returned to Moses and informed him of what they had witnessed, Moses said to them: “Conceal their matter, and do not tell anyone in the camp about it, lest they lose heart.” Yet every one of them told his relative and cousin, except for two men who fulfilled what Moses had instructed them. One was Joshua son of Nun, son of Ephraim, son of Joseph, Moses’s attendant; the other was Caleb son of Jephunneh, Moses’s brother-in-law through his sister Maryam, daughter of Imran. He was from the tribe of Judah. Both were among the leaders.

A group among the Children of Israel then learned of this, raised their voices in weeping, and said: “If only we had remained in the land of Egypt! If only we had died in this wilderness (3), and Allah had not brought us into their land, so that our women, children, and baggage would become spoils for them!” One man began saying to another: “Come, let us appoint a leader over ourselves and return to Egypt.” This is what Allah, exalted is He, relates of them: “They said, ‘O Moses, there is indeed a tyrannical people in it, and we shall never enter it until they leave it. If they leave it, then we shall enter.’”

The basic meaning of a tyrant is one who exalts himself and resists being subdued. Thus, a date palm is called tyrannical when it is so tall that hands cannot reach it. Those people were called tyrannical because of their great height and physical strength. They were from the Amalekites and the remaining descendants of the people of Ad. When the Children of Israel said what they said and intended to return to Egypt, Moses and Aaron fell down in prostration, while Joshua and Caleb tore their garments. They are the two concerning whom Allah, exalted is He, says: “Two men from among those who feared Allah said.”

“Two men whom Allah had blessed, from among those who feared Him, said: ‘Go in against them through the gate. Once you have entered it, you will surely be victorious. Put your trust in Allah, if you are believers.’ (23)”

“Two men from among those who feared”—that is, who feared Allah, exalted is He. Sa'id ibn Jubayr recited it as yukhafuna,