And recall what time Musa said unto his people: O my people! remember the favour of Allah on you when he made amongst you prophets and made you princes, and vouchsafed unto you that which he vouchsafed not to anyone in the world. 20 O my people, enter the Holy Land which Allah has assigned to you and do not turn back [from fighting in Allah's cause] and [thus] become losers. 21 They said: "O Moses, in that land live a people who are formidable; we shall never go there until they leave. We shall enter when they go away." 22 Two God-fearing men on whom God had bestowed favors told them, "Proceed through the gates and when you enter the city you will be victorious. Have trust in God if you are true believers". 23 They said, 'Moses, we will never enter it so long as they are in it. Go forth, thou and thy Lord, and do battle; we will be sitting here.' 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 Answered He: "Then, verily, this [land] shall be forbidden to them for forty years, while they wander on earth, bewildered, to and fro; and sorrow thou not over these iniquitous folk." 26