And [mention, O Muhammad], when Moses said to his people, "O my people, remember the favor of Allah upon you when He appointed among you prophets and made you possessors and gave you that which He had not given anyone among the worlds. 20 Enter the sacred promised land which God has designated for you. Do not return to disbelief lest you become lost". 21 They said: O Musa! surely there is a strong race in it, and we will on no account enter it until they go out from it, so if they go out from it, then surely we will enter. 22 [Whereupon] two men from among those who feared [God, and] whom God had blessed, said: "Enter upon them through the gate - for as soon as you enter it, behold, you shall be victorious! And in God you must place your trust if you are [truly] believers!" 23 They said, "(Moses), as long as they are in the land, we shall never go there. Go with your Lord to fight them but we shall stay where we are". 24 Thereupon Moses said: 'My Lord! I have control over none but my own self and my brother; so distinguish between us and the transgressing people.' 25 Said He: verily then it is forbidden unto them for forty years, while they shall wander about in the earth, so mourn not thou over this transgressing people. 26