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1133 We now come to some incidents in Jewish history, which have been referred to in ii. 57-60. Here they have special
reference to their bearing on the times when early Islam was preached. The Twelve Tribes and the parable drawn
from them have been explained in n. 73 to ii. 60. (7.160)
1134 Cf. ii. 57 and n. 71. (7.160)
2:60 - And remember Moses prayed for water for his people; We said: "Strike the rock with thy
staff." Then gushed forth therefrom twelve springs. Each group knew its own place for water.
So eat and drink of the sustenance provided by Allah and do no evil nor mischief on the (face
of the) earth. 73
73 Here we have a reference to the tribal organization of the Jews, which played a great part in their forty years' march
through the Arabian deserts (Num. i. and ii.) and their subsequent settlement in the land of Canaan (Josh. xxii. and
xiv.). The twelve tribes were derived from the sons of Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel (soldier of God)
after he had wrestled, says Jewish tradition, with God (Genesis xxxii. 28). Israel had twelve sons (Gen. xxxv. 22-26),
including Levi and Joseph. The descendants of these twelve sons were the "Children of Israel." Levi's family got the
priesthood and the care of the Tabernacle; they were exempted from military duties for which the census was taken
(Nu. i. 47-53), and therefore from the distribution of Land in Canaan (Josh. xiv. 3); they were distributed among all the
Tribes, and were really a privileged caste and not numbered among the Tribes; Moses and Aaron belonged to the
house of Levi. On the other hand Joseph, on account of the high position to which he rose in Egypt as the Pharoah's
minister, was the progenitor of two tribes, one in the name of each of his two sons Ephraim and Manasseh. Thus
there were twelve Tribes in all, as Levi was cut out and Joseph represented two tribes. Their having fixed stations
and watering places in camp and fixed territorial areas later in the Promised Land prevented confusion and mutual
jealousies and is pointed to as an evidence of the Providence of God acting through His prophet Moses. Cf. also vii.
160. (2.60)
TWO HIGHWAYS:
90:10 - And shown him the two highways? 6138
6138 The two highways of life are: (1) the steep and difficult path of virtue, which is further described in the verses following,
and (2) the easy path of vice, and the rejection of Allah, referred to in verses 19-20 below. Allah has given us not only
the faculties implied in the eyes, the tongue, and the lips, but has also given us the judgment by which we can choose
our way; and He has sent us Teachers and Guides, with Revelation, to show us the right and difficult way. (90.10)
Maududi Sura Introductions
Surah 90. Al-Balad
See Section
Name
The Surah has been so named after the word al balad in the first verse.
Period of Revelation
Its subject matter and style resemble those of the earliest Surahs revealed at Makkah, but it contains a pointer which
indicates that it was sent down in the period when the disbelievers of Makkah had resolved to oppose the Holy Prophet (upon
whom be Allah's peace), and made it lawful for themselves to commit tyranny and excess against him.
Theme and Subject Matter
In this Surah a vast subject has been compressed into a few brief sentences, and it is a miracle of the Quran that a complete
ideology of life which could hardly be explained in a thick volume has been abridged most effectively in brief sentences of this
short Surah. Its theme is to explain the true position of man in the world and of the world in relation to man and to tell that
God has shown to man both the highways of good and evil, has also provided for him the means to judge and see and follow
them, and now it rests upon man's own effort and judgement whether he chooses the path of virtue and reaches felicity or
adopts the path of vice and meets with doom.
U.
U M A R:
See: Introduction to Surah 20 – Ta Ha.
Maududi Sura Introductions
Surah 20. Ta-ha
Name
This Surah takes its name from its first word: "Ta Ha". This name, like the names of many other Surahs, is merely symbolic.
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