Surah Ash-Shu'araa (26) — Ayah 59

(Ayah 59) Make {كَذٰلِكَ وَ اَوْرَثْنٰهَا بَنِيْۤ اِسْرَآءِيْلَ: ’’ كَذٰلِكَ ‘‘} the predicate of an omitted subject, {’’أَيْ اَلْأَمْرُ كَذٰلِكَ‘‘}, or the subject of an omitted verb, {’’أَيْ وَقَعَ كَذٰلِكَ‘‘}, meaning that although this matter seems impossible, it happened exactly like this, and We made the Children of Israel the inheritors of those gardens, springs, treasures, and splendid places. Here is a question: this verse appears to indicate that after Pharaoh was drowned, the Children of Israel became the owners of the land of Egypt, whereas, as a punishment for refusing to engage in jihad, the Children of Israel wandered in the desert for forty years, and even after that, it is well known that their advance was towards Syria, and Syria itself became the center of the kingdom of Joshua son of Nun, and later David and Solomon, peace be upon them. There is no mention in history of their return to Egypt.

The solution to this question is twofold. One is the view adopted by many commentators: Allah made the Children of Israel the inheritors of many gardens, springs, treasures, and fine places, but not in Egypt, rather in Syria. Other nations became the inheritors of the gardens, springs, etc., of Egypt. According to these commentators, the meaning of what is mentioned in Surah ad-Dukhan (28): «{ كَذٰلِكَ وَ اَوْرَثْنٰهَا قَوْمًا اٰخَرِيْنَ }» (Thus it happened, and We made other people inherit them) is that We made other people, besides the Children of Israel, the inheritors of the land of Egypt. This is the opinion of Ibn Ashur, Biqa'i, and many other commentators.

The second solution is that Allah ultimately made the Children of Israel the owners of the gardens, springs, and treasures of Egypt, but not those who migrated with Moses, peace be upon him, and left there, rather, this blessing was granted to another generation of the Children of Israel, and this is the meaning of this verse: «{ كَذٰلِكَ وَ اَوْرَثْنٰهَا قَوْمًا اٰخَرِيْنَ }» [ الدخان : ۲۸ ] I am satisfied with this opinion. As for the fact that there is no mention in history of the Children of Israel returning to Egypt, the reality is that it is difficult to fully trust pre-Christian history, and the absence of mention does not mean that the event did not occur. Solomon, peace be upon him, who, upon learning of the kingdom of the Queen of Sheba, did not rest until he brought her under his dominion, and according to the Qur'an, was granted such a kingdom as was never befitting anyone after him, for him to include Egypt in his realm was not difficult. Therefore, after removing Pharaoh's people from their gardens and springs, the words "and We made the Children of Israel their inheritors" should be left upon their apparent meaning. Yes, it is correct that those were other Children of Israel who became inheritors, not the Children of Israel who wandered in the wilderness of at-Tih for forty years. (And Allah knows best) See also Surah al-A'raf (136).

59-1 That is, the power and sovereignty that Pharaoh possessed was taken from him and granted to the Children of Israel. Some say that this means that a dominion and worldly grandeur like that of Egypt was also granted to the Children of Israel. Because the Children of Israel, after leaving Egypt, did not return to Egypt. Also, in Surah Dukhan it is stated that 'We made another people its inheritors' (Aysar al-Tafasir). The first-mentioned scholars say that although the word "people" in "another people" is general, here in Surah Shu'ara, since it is explicitly stated that the Children of Israel were made the inheritors, it will also mean the Children of Israel here. However, according to the explicit statement of the Quran, after leaving Egypt, the Children of Israel were commanded to enter the Holy Land, and upon their refusal, this entry was postponed for forty years and they wandered in the wilderness of Tih, then they entered the Holy Land. Thus, according to the hadith of Isra, the grave of Musa (علیہ السلام) is near Bayt al-Maqdis. Therefore, the correct meaning is that the blessings that the people of Pharaoh enjoyed in Egypt were granted to the Children of Israel in the same way, but not in Egypt, rather in Palestine. And Allah knows best.

59. And thus We made the Children of Israel their inheritors [41].

[41] From this verse, it is understood that some of the Children of Israel remained in Egypt and not all of them departed with Prophet Musa ؑ. When Pharaoh and all his courtiers were drowned and destroyed, the rule of Pharaoh's family also ended, and those Israelites who had stayed behind took possession of their palaces and gardens. It is also possible that the Israelites took control of a part of Egypt. And it is also possible that this verse refers to the era when the kingdom of Prophet Sulaiman ؑ extended to Egypt, and the Israelites took possession of the palaces and gardens of the Pharaohs. ﴿والله اعلم بالصواب﴾