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wa-qaḍaynā ʾilā banī ʾisrāʾīla fī l-kitābi la-tufsidunna fī l-ʾarḍi marratayni wa-la-taʿlunna ʿuluwwan kabīran
We revealed to the Children of Israel in the Book: ‘Twice you will cause corruption on the earth, and you will perpetrate great tyranny.’
— Ali Quli Qarai
Surah Isra’ – Verse 4
4. “And We declared unto the Children of Israel in the Book (the Torah, saying): “Certainly you will make mischief on the earth twice, and certainly you will seek self-superiority with great arrogance’.”
Alluding to parts of the adventurous history of the Children of Israel in this verse, He says:
“And We declared unto the Children of Israel in the Book (the Torah, saying): “Certainly you will make mischief on the earth twice, and certainly you will seek self-superiority with great arrogance’.”
The Qur’anic word, /’al ’ard/ (the land), symmetrical to the subsequent verse, is meant the Holy land of Palestine where Masjid-ul-’Aqsa is located. The issue of ‘making mischief on the earth twice’ might probably be related to the two occasions of the Children of Israel: Once to the martyrdom of Sho’aia and the opposition of Armia, and the second occasion is concerned with the murder of Zakaryya and Yahya. There are, of cause, other possibilities also mentioned in connection with the subject which will be referred to in the discussions following the ensuing verses.
Paradise will belong to those who abstain from arrogance, and distance themselves from every kind of insolence; it does not pertain to the ones who regard themselves as superior to others. Surah Al-Qasas, No. 28, verse 83 says:
“That is the abode of the Hereafter…”