Yusha' (a)

Priority: c, Quality: b
From wikishia
(Redirected from Joshua (a))
Yusha' (a)
Yusha's tomb at Kifl Haris
Yusha's tomb at Kifl Haris
Name in
the Qur'an:
Dhu l-Kifl
Name in
the Bible:
Joshua
Burial place:Different places mentioned in history
Before:Prophet
After:Moses (a)
Book:The book of Joshua in Old Testament
Miracle(s):Returning the Sun
Contemporary
Prophet:
Moses (a)
Religion:Monotheism
Important
Events:
Conquest of Jerusalem and accommodating Israelites there


Yūshaʿ b. Nūn (a) or Joshua (Arabic: یوشع بن نون) was among the prophets of Israeilites and the successor of Prophet Moses (a). He was a descendant of Josef (a). Yusha' (a) is considered among the most loyal companions of Moses (a). He was also one of the leaders of the twelve tribes of Israel.

The name of Yusha' (a) is not mentioned in the Qur'an, but exegetes have considered some verses of Qur'an 5 and Qur'an 18 about him. Some consider him Dhu l-Kifl. According to sources, in the story of Khidr (a) and Moses (a), Yusha' (a) accompanied Moses (a). In some Shi'a books of supplication, there is a supplication attributed to Yusha' (a).

Yusha' (a) conquered Jerusalem and accomplished God's promise for accommodating Israelites there. He was among the prophets for whom the miracle of returning of the Sun took place. According to hadiths, he will return after the coming of Imam al-Mahdi (a).

Introduction

Yusha's tomb in Jordan

Yusha' (a) (Joshua) b. Nun was among the prophets of Israeilites and the successor of Moses (a).[1] He was among descendants of Josef (a) and Zulaykha.[2] His birth is mentioned in Egypt.[3] In some sources, his lineage up to Prophet Abraham (a) is given as: Joshua b. Nun b. Ephraim b. Josef b. Jacob b. Isaac b. Abraham.[4] Some considered him Dhu l-Kifl, a nephew of Moses (a) and his disciple.[5] The title Dhu l-Kifl is mentioned twice in the Qur'an. His age is mentioned 110 to 126 years in different sources.[6]

There are different views about his burial place. Al-Tabari mentioned his grave on mount Ephraim in Palestine.[7] Al-Hirawi and some other historians mentioned his grave in Kifl Haris,[8] south west of Nablus, Palestine.[9] Other sources have mentioned his grave in Takht-i Fulad cemetery of Isfahan, Iran.[10] In some historical and hadith sources, Yusha's (a) demise is mentioned on 21st of Ramadan, on the same day as the martyrdom of Imam Ali (a).[11] There is also a place attributed to Yusha' (a) in Sulta near Amman, Jordan, today. Also, in Tripoli, north of Lebanon, there is a place attributed to him.[12]

Based on Qur'an 5:23, exegetes have introduced him a God-wary person.[13] In exegetical sources, Yusha' (a) is considered loyal to Moses (a)[14] because he did not join disobedient people when Moses (a) gave order to fight with oppressors. His name is not mentioned in the Qur'an, but exegetes have considered some verses of Qur'an 5 and Qur'an 18 about him.[15] In some books of supplication, there is a supplication attributed to Yusha' (a).[16]

In the holy book of Jews, his name is mentioned as Yehoshuʿa. According to the Old Testament, his name was first Hosea, meaning "he saves", but he was later called Yehoshuʿa, meaning "Yahweh is salvation".[17]

Company of Moses (a)

Historical sources described Yusha' (a) loyal to Moses (a) and a companion of him.[18] The Torah has mentioned him a commander of Moses (a) in one of the battles.[19] According to the Torah, when Moses (a) had gone up mount Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments, Yusha' (a) was with him.[20] In the event of the disobedience of Israeilites from the order of Moses (a) for going to war, only Yusha' (a) and some others were not included in God's wrath. Therefore, God gave them the good news of their presence in the Promised Land.[21]

Company of Moses (a) in Meeting with Khidr (a)

According to historical and exegetical sources, Yusha' (a) was the young man who accompanied Moses (a) in his meeting with Khidr (a).[22] In the Qur'an, companionship of a young man with Moses (a) in his meetings with Khidr (a) is mentioned.[23]

Prophethood

His prophethood is mentioned in different sources.[24] After the demise of his brother Aaron (a), Moses (a) appointed Yusha' (a) as his successor.[25] Some days before his demise, Moses (a) trusted Yusha' (a) with the tablets, on which the rules of God were written together with his armor. Yusha' (a) became Moses' (a) successor at the age of ninety. The period of Yusha's (a) prophethood is mentioned between twenty seven[26] to thirty years.[27]

Conquering Jerusalem

According to historians, Yusha' (a) attacked Palestine and the Levant and accomplished God's promise for accommodating Israeilites in the Promised Land.[28] God gave him order to attack those lands by the help of Israeilites. According to historical texts, tyrant rulers ruled over these places at that time.[29] In this battle, he conquered Palestine and Jerusalem.[30] One of the regions conquered before Jerusalem was Ariha (Jericho) in the Levant.[31] Before attacking Jericho, Israeilites wandered in the desert for forty years due to their disobedience during the prophethood of Moses (a).[32]

Miracle of Returning the Sun

The same as Prophet David (a), Solomon (a) and Prophet Muhammad (s), Yusha' (a) represented the miracle of returning the sun. It took place during the conquest of Jerusalem. The conquest of Jerusalem took place in the evening of a Friday, toward the night.

According to some sources, Yusha' (a) worried about prolonging of the battle to the eve of Saturday. These sources mentioned his lack of permission for fighting on Saturday as the reason of his worry.[33] He asked God to delay the sunset so that they could accomplish the conquest of Jerusalem. By the will of God, the sunset was delayed.[34] This event was called Radd al-Shams (returning the sun). According to historical sources, the miracle of Radd al-Shams took place only during the prophethood of some prophets including Prophet Muhammad (s).[35] In some reports, the reason Yusha' (a) asked for delay of the sunset was that due to darkness, there was a chance of Yusha's (a) defeat from remaining soldiers of the enemy.[36] Some sources considered this story about conquering Bulqa.[37]

Al-Tabari mentioned Ariha the city Moses (a) conquered.[38] After the conquest of Palestine and Assyria, Yusha' (a) divided these regions among the tribes of Israeilites.[39]

Book of Yusha' (a)

A part of the Old Testament is named Joshua. In that part known as the Book of Joshua, his life and the events during his prophethood are explained. This book is after the book of Deuteronomy and before the book of Judges. The conquest of Assyria, Palestine and how Israeilites returned to their land are among the events mentioned in the book of Joshua.[40]

One of the Twelve Tribes of Israel

In the commentary of the verse about the twelve tribes in Qur'an 5,[41] exegetes have mentioned Yusha' (a) the leader of one of the tribes.[42] Also, based on the view of some exegetes, the two God-wary men who were given blessings by God were Joshua b. Nun and Caleb b. Jephunneh, two leaders of the twelve tribes.[43]

His Return after Coming of Imam al-Mahdi (a)

According to some Islamic hadiths, Yusha' (a) will return after the Reappearance of Imam al-Mahdi (a) and will be with him together with Jesus (a).[44]

Notes

  1. Ibn Kathīr al-Dimashqī, al-Bidāya wa l-nihāya, vol. 6, p. 281.
  2. Ibn Ḥazm, Jamharat ansāb al-ʿarab, p. 508; Maqdisī, Āfarīnish wa tārīkh, vol. 1, p. 451; Ibn Kathīr al-Dimashqī, al-Bidāya wa l-nihāya, vol. 6, p. 281.
  3. Uqfahsī, Akhbār Nīl Miṣr, p. 50.
  4. Ibn Kathīr al-Dimashqī, al-Bidāya wa l-nihāya, vol. 6, p. 281.
  5. Maqdisī, Āfarīnish wa tārīkh, vol. 1, p. 468.
  6. Majlisī, Biḥār al-anwār, vol. 43, p. 359; Masʿūdī, al-Tanbīh wa al-ishrāf, p. 181.
  7. Ṭabarī, Tārīkh al-umam wa l-mulūk, vol. 1, p. 442.
  8. Hirawī, al-Ishārāt ilā maʿrifat al-zīyārāt, p. 18, 31.
  9. Abū l-Yaman ʿAlīmī, al-Uns al-jalīl bi tārīkh al-quds wa al-khalīl, vol. 1, p. 202.
  10. Bīāzār-i Shīrāzī, Bāstanshināsī wa jughrāphīyā-yi tārīkhī-yi qiṣaṣ-i Qur'ān, p. 427.
  11. Majlisī, Biḥār al-anwār, vol. 43, p. 359; Ṭabarī, Tārīkh al-umam wa l-mulūk, vol. 1, p. 442.
  12. IRNA News Agency.
  13. Ḥāshimī Rafsanjānī, Farhang-i Qurʾān, vol. 13, p. 177.
  14. Ṭabrisī, Majmaʿ al-bayān, vol. 3, p. 279.
  15. Ṭūsī, al-Tibyān, vol. 3, p. 486; vol. 7, p. 65-66; Ṭabarī, Tafsīr Ṭabarī, vol. 5, p. 294; vol. 6, p. 112; vol. 10, p. 176; vol. 15, p. 176, 177; Ṭabāṭabāʾī, al-Mīzān, vol. 13, p. 338-341.
  16. Ibn Ṭāwūs, Muhaj al-daʿawāt, p. 309.
  17. Exodus 17:8-17.
  18. Bīāzār-i Shīrāzī, Bāstanshināsī wa jughrāphīyā-yi tārīkhī-yi qiṣaṣ-i Qur'ān, p. 427.
  19. Deuteronomy 1:35-38.
  20. Exodus 23:13.
  21. Deuteronomy 1:35-38.
  22. Makārim Shīrāzī, Tafsīr-i nimūna, vol. 4, p. 340; vol. 12, p. 380; Qummī, Tafsīr al-Qummī, vol. 2, p. 37; Ṭabrisī, Majmaʿ al-bayān, vol. 6, p. 741.
  23. Qur'an 18:60.
  24. Maqdisī, Āfarīnish wa tārīkh, vol. 1, p. 415.
  25. Maqdisī, Āfarīnish wa tārīkh, vol. 1, p. 466, 468.
  26. Ṭabarī, Tārīkh al-umam wa l-mulūk, 1375, vol. 1, p. 365.
  27. Shabistarī, Aʿlām al-Qurʾān, p. 1082.
  28. Ibn Khaldūn, Dīwan al-mubtadaʾ wa l-khabar, vol. 2, p. 101.
  29. Masʿūdī, Murūj al-dhahab, vol. 1, p. 43; Shabistarī, Aʿlām al-Qurʾān, p. 1082.
  30. Balʿamī, Tārīkhnāma Ṭabarī, vol. 1, p. 371; Mujmal al-tawārīkh wa al-qaṣaṣ, p. 204; Shabistarī, Aʿlām al-Qurʾān, p. 1082.
  31. Masʿūdī, Murūj al-dhahab, vol. 1, p. 43.
  32. Balʿamī, Tārīkhnāma Ṭabarī, vol. 1, p. 371; Mujmal al-tawārīkh wa al-qaṣaṣ, p. 204.
  33. Maqrizī, Imtāʿ al-asmāʾ, vol. 5, p. 31.
  34. Ibn Kathīr, al-Bidāya wa l-nihāya, vol. 6, p. 281; Bayhaqī, Dalāʾil al-nubuwwa, vol. 2, p. 404.
  35. Muzaffarī Rād, Barrasī ḥadīth radd al-shams, rasekhoon.net.
  36. Ṭabarī, Tārīkh al-umam wa l-mulūk, 1375, vol. 1, p. 351.
  37. Maqdisī, Āfarīnish wa tārīkh, vol. 1, p. 468.
  38. Ṭabarī, Tārīkh al-umam wa l-mulūk, 1375, vol. 1, p. 347.
  39. Shabistarī, Aʿlām al-Qurʾān, p. 1082.
  40. Book of Joshua, chapter 1-24.
  41. Qur'an 5:12.
  42. Dānishnāma-yi Qurʾān wa Qurʾān pazhūhī, vol. 2, p. 2380.
  43. Makārim Shīrāzī, Tafsīr-i nimūna, vol. 4, p. 340.
  44. ʿAyyāshī, Tafsīr al-ʿAyyāshī, vol. 2, p. 32.

References

  • Abū l-Yaman ʿAlīmī, ʿAbd al-Raḥmān b. Muḥammad. Al-Uns al-jalīl bi tārīkh al-quds wa al-khalīl. Edited by ʿAdnān Yunus ʿAbd al-Majīd Abū Tabānna/Maḥmūd ʿAwda Kaʿābana. 1st edition. Jordan: Amman: Maktabat Denīs, 1420 AH.
  • ʿAyyāshī, Muḥammad b. Masʿūd al-. Tafsīr al-ʿAyyāshī. Edited by Rasūlī Maḥallātī. 1st edition. Tehran: al-Maktaba al-ʿIlmiyya al-Islāmiyya, 1380 Sh.
  • Balʿamī, Muḥammad b. Muḥammad. Tārīkhnāma Ṭabarī. Edited by Muḥammad b. Rawshan. 2nd edition. volume 1. Tehran: Surūsh, 1378 Sh.
  • Bīāzār-i Shīrāzī, ʿAbd al-Karīm. Bāstanshināsī wa jughrāphīyā-yi tārīkhī-yi qiṣaṣ-i Qur'ān. 3rd edition. Tehran: Daftar-i Nashr-i Farhang, 1380 AH.
  • Bayhaqī, Aḥmad b. al-Ḥusayn al-. Dalāʾil al-nubuwwa wa maʿrifat aḥwāl ṣāḥib al-sharīʿa. Edited by ʿAbd al-Muʿṭī al-Qalʿajī. 1st edition. Beirut: Dār al-Kutub al-ʿIlmīyya, 1405 AH.
  • Ḥāshimī Rafsanjānī, Akbar. Farhang-i Qurʾān. 2nd edition. Qom: Būstān-i Kitāb, 1383 Sh.
  • Hirawī, ʿAlī b. Abūbakr. Al-Ishārāt ilā maʿrifat al-zīyārāt. Edited by ʿAlī ʿUmar. 1st edition. Cairo: Maktabat al-Thaqāfa al-Dīnīyya, 1423 AH.
  • Ibn Ḥazm al-Andulīsī, ʿAlī b. Aḥmad b. Saʿīd. Jamharat ansāb al-ʿarab. Edited by A committee of scholars. Beirut: Dār al-Kutub al-ʿIlmīyya, 1403 AH.
  • Ibn Khaldūn, ʿAbd al-Raḥmān b. Muḥammad. Dīwan al-mubtadaʾ wa l-khabar fi tārīkh al-ʿarab wa al-barbar wa man ʿātharahum min dhawi al-shaʾn al-ʾakbar. Edited by Khalīl al-Shaḥāda. 2nd edition. Beirut: Dār al-Fikr, 1408 AH.
  • Ibn Kathīr al-Dimashqī, Ismāʿīl b. ʿUmar. Al-Bidāya wa l-nihāya. Beirut: Dār al-Fikr, 1407 AH-1986.
  • Ibn Ṭāwūs, ʿAlī b. Mūsā. Muhaj al-daʿawāt wa manhaj al-ʿibādāt. Edited by Muḥammad Ḥasan Abū Ṭālib Kirmānī. 1st edition. Qom: Dār al-Dhakhāʾir, 1411 AH.
  • Majlisī, Muḥammad Bāqir al-. Biḥār al-anwār. 2nd edition. Beirut: Dār Iḥyāʾ al-Turāth al-ʿArabī, 1403 AH.
  • Mujmal al-tawārīkh wa al-qaṣaṣ. Unknown Author. Edited by Malik al-Shuʿarā Bahār. Tehran: Kalāla Khāwar, [n.d].
  • Masʿūdī, ʿAlī b. al-Ḥusayn al-. Al-Tanbīh wa al-ishrāf. Translated to Farsi by Abū l-Qāsim Pāyanda. 2nd edition. Tehran: Intishārāt-i ʿIlmī wa Farhangī, 1365 Sh.
  • Masʿūdī, ʿAlī b. al-Ḥusayn al-. Murūj al-dhahab wa maʿadin al-jawhar. Translated to Farsi by Abū l-Qāsim Pāyanda. 5th edition. Tehran: Intishārāt-i ʿIlmī wa Farhangī, 1374 Sh.
  • Maqdisī, Muṭahhar b. Ṭāhir. Āfarīnish wa tārīkh. Translated to Farsi by Muḥammad Riḍā Shafīʿī Kadkanī. 1st edition. Tehran: Āgah, 1374 Sh.
  • Maqrizī, Aḥmad b. ʿAlī. Imtāʿ al-asmāʾ bimā li-Nabī min al-aḥwāl wa al-amwāl wa al-ḥafda wa al-matāʾ. 1st edition. Edited by Muḥammad ʿAbd al-Ḥamīd al-Namīsī. Beirut: Dār al-Kutub al-ʿIlmiyya, 1420 AH.
  • Makārim Shīrāzī, Nāṣir. Tafsīr-i nimūna. 10th edition. Tehran: Dār al-Kutub al-ʿIlmīyya, 1371 Sh.
  • Qummī, ʿAlī b. Ibrāhīm al-. Tafsīr al-Qummī. Edited by Ṭayyib Mūsawī Jazāʾrī. 3rd edition. Qom: Dār al-Kitāb, 1363 Sh.
  • Shabistarī, ʿAbd al-Ḥusayn. Aʿlām al-Qurʾān. 1st edition. Qom: Daftar-i Tablīghāt-i Islāmī-yi Ḥawza-yi Ilmīya-yi Qom, 1379 Sh.
  • Ṭabāṭabāʾī, Sayyid Muḥammad Ḥusayn al-. Al-Mīzān fī tafsīr al-Qurʾān. 2nd edition. Beirut: Muʾassisat al-Aʿlamī li-l-Maṭbūʿāt, 1390 AH.
  • Ṭabrisī, Faḍl b. al-Ḥasan al-. Majmaʿ al-bayān fī tafsīr al-Qurʾān. Edited by Hāshim Rasūlī and Faḍl Allāh Yazdī Ṭabāṭabā'ī. 3rd edition. Tehran: Intishārāt-i Nāṣir Khusru, 1372 Sh.
  • Ṭabarī, Muḥammad b. Jarīr al-.Tārīkh al-umam wa l-mulūk. Edited by Muḥammad Abu l-faḍl Ibrāhīm. 2nd edition. Beirut: Dar al-Turāth, 1387 AH.
  • Ṭabarī, Muḥammad b. Jarīr al-. Tārīkh al-umam wa l-mulūk. Translated to Farsi by Abū l-Qāsim Pāyanda. 5th edition. Tehran: Asatir, 1375 Sh
  • Ṭūsī, Muḥammad b. al-Ḥasan al-. Al-Tibyān fī tafsīr al-Qurʾān. Edited by Aḥmad Qaṣīr al-ʿĀmilī. Beirut: Dār Iḥyāʾ al-Turāth al-ʿArabī, [n.d].
  • Uqfahsī, Aḥmad b. ʿImād al-Dīn. Akhbār Nīl Miṣr. Edited by Labība Ibrāhīm Muṣṭafā/ʿAbbās Naʿmāt Muḥammad. Cairo: Dār al-Kutub wa al-Wathāʾiq al-Qawmīyya, 1427 AH.