Who was Prophet Hazrat Yusha bin Nun – story?

Allah has sent 124,000 Prophets out of which one was Hazrat Yusha bin Nun عليه السلام the great-grandson of Prophet Yusuf عليه السلام.

• Biblical name: Prophet Joshua.
• Full name: Yusha’ ibn Noon ibn Afraa’eem ibn Yousuf.

Birth of Prophet Yusha

Prophet Yusha bin Nun عليه السلام was born in 1336 BC in present-day Egypt and died in 1209 BC at the age of 127 years. It was the time when Prophet Musa عليه السلام was the Rasool.

It is said that Efraim Ibn Yusuf was the grandfather of Prophet Yusha bin Nun عليه السلام. If this is true, Prophet Yusuf عليه السلام was the great-grandfather of Prophet Yusha.

Prophet Yusha in Quran

There is no mention of Prophet Yusha bin Nun عليه السلام in the Holy Quran with his name. However, he has been referred to in the Holy Quran twice as a discipline of Prophet Musa عليه السلام.

12 tribes of Bani Israel

Allah instructed Prophet Musa عليه السلام to divide the men who can fight in Bani Israel (above 20 years) into 12 groups and appoint a leader from each of them. Here are the 12 tribes of Bani Israel;  

1. The tribe of Reuben Ibn Yaqub had 46,500 fighting men.
2. The tribe of Simeon Ibn Yaqub had 59,300 fighting men.
3. The tribe of Judah Ibn Yaqub had 74,600 fighting men.
4. The tribe of Dan Ibn Yaqub had 62,700 fighting men.
5. The tribe of Naphtali Ibn Yaqub had 53,400 fighting men.
6. The tribe of Gad Ibn Yaqub had 45,650 fighting men.
7. The tribe of Asher Ibn Yaqub had 41,500 fighting men.
8. The tribe of Issachar Ibn Yaqub had 54,400 fighting men.
9. The tribe of Yusuf Ibn Yaqub had 40,500 fighting men and its leader was Yusha bin Nun عليه السلام.
10. The tribe of Benjamin Ibn Yaqub had 35,400 fighting men. 
11. The tribe of Manasseh Ibn Yusuf had 31,200 fighting men.
12. The 12th tribe of Bani Israel was from the families of Musa and Harun with 22,000 fighting men.

Refusal to attack Jerusalem

After the exodus, Prophet Musa عليه السلام encouraged Bani Israel to perform Jihad and enter Jerusalem which was under their control during the time of Prophet Yaqub عليه السلام.

Bani Israel replied: There is an enormously powerful people there, so we will never ˹be able to˺ enter it until they leave. If they do, then we will enter!” – Al-Ma’idah 5:22

At that time Prophet Yusha Ibn Nun عليه السلام and Caleb Ibn Yufna said: Surprise them through the gate. If you do, you will certainly prevail. Put your trust in Allah if you are a true believer. – Al-Ma’idah 5:23

Upon their refusal, Allah said: Then this land is forbidden to them for 40 years, during which they will wander through the land. – Al-Ma’idah 5:26

Meeting with Prophet Khidr

Once Prophet Musa عليه السلام was asked as to who amongst the people has the best knowledge, whereupon he said: I have the best knowledge. However, Allah did not like this.

He revealed to Prophet Musa عليه السلام: A servant amongst My servants is at the junction of two rivers who has more knowledge than yours.

• Prophet Musa عليه السلام asked: How can I meet him?
• Allah said: Carry a fish in the large basket and the place where you find it missing there you will find him.

Thereupon Prophet Musa عليه السلام proceeded forth along with a young man (Prophet Yusha bin Nun عليه السلام).

They put the fish in the basket and there went along until they came to a certain rock. – Al-Kahf 18:60

Prophet Musa عليه السلام and Hazrat Yusha bin Nun عليه السلام went to sleep and the fish stirred in that basket and fell into the ocean. Prophet Yusha forgot to inform Moses about it.

Therefore, they kept on walking for the rest of the day until the night.  When it was morning, Prophet Musa عليه السلام said to Yusha: Bring for us the breakfast for we are dead tired because of this journey.

Hazrat Yusha bin Nun said: Don’t you know that when we reached the Sakhra (rock) I forgot the fish. Moses said: That was what we had been aiming at. Then both of them retraced their steps until they reached Sakhra; there they saw a man covered with a cloth (Prophet Khidr عليه السلام). – Sahih Muslim 2380a

The blame for killing Musa

Once Yusha bin Nun and Prophet Musa عليه السلام were going somewhere and a huge sandstorm erupted.

Yusha bin Nun عليه السلام thought that the last hour has established and held Prophet Musa عليه السلام shirt strongly.

Due to the pressure of the sandstorm, a part of Moses’ shirt remained in the hands of Yusha while Prophet Musa عليه السلام was lost somewhere.

When Prophet Yusha bin Nun عليه السلام came back to Bani Israel, they blamed him for killing Prophet Musa عليه السلام and decided to kill him for this crime.

Prophet Yusha bin Nun عليه السلام requested them a 3-day grace period to prove his innocence and prayed to Allah. The same night, everyone responsible for his security dreamed that Prophet Musa عليه السلام is not killed so they relieved him.

Prophethood

Bani Israel was a disobedient nation, they were given a punishment and thus were forced to wander in deserts for 40 years. As mentioned in the differences between Rasool and Nabi, when people do not listen to a Rasool, they are cursed.

After the death of Prophet Musa عليه السلام and Prophet Harun عليه السلام, which occurred during these 40 years when almost the entire population that refrained from acting upon Allah’s instructions had died, Prophet Yusha bin Nun عليه السلام started leading Bani Israel.

It was the time when the people of Bani Israel used to eat Mann O Salwa, the food from the heavens.

Conquest of Jerusalem

It is said that Hazrat Yusha had a miraculous victory over Jababirah (the inhabitants of Jerusalem) who were large and giant-like people.

The last battle was on Friday evening. The sun was about to set and Jews (the people of Prophet Yusha bin Nun عليه السلام) were about to emerge victorious.

However, according to the traditions of Jews, they do not fight on Saturdays. Therefore, Hazrat Yusha bin Nun عليه السلام requested Allah to hold the Sun still on that day.

Thus, on the orders of Allah Almighty, the sun did not set and remained where it was until Prophet Yusha bin Nun عليه السلام conquered Jerusalem.

This is what is mentioned in the Holy Bible as well as in a Hadith. It is also said that he is the only man for whom the Sun was stopped. – Mishkat al-Masabih 4033

Joshua said to the LORD in the presence of Israel: “Sun, stand still over Gibeon, and you, moon, over the Valley of Aijalon – Joshua 10:12.

Spoils of War

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: Spoils of war were not allowed to anyone before Hazrat Yusha bin Nun عليه السلام, then Allah allowed spoils as He saw the weakness and incapacity of Jews and allowed them. – Riyad as-Salihin 58

Tomb of Prophet Yusha

Prophet Yusha bin Nun عليه السلام and Bani Israel lived in the Holy land of Jerusalem peacefully. He taught the people Torah (Taurat) and preached the message of Allah. It is said that he lived for 27 years after the death of Prophet Musa عليه السلام.

Hazrat Yusha bin Nun عليه السلام died in 1209 BC at the age of 127 years in present-day Jordan where his tomb is situated today.

After his death, Caleb Ibn Yufna who was the husband of Maryam, the sister of Prophet Harun and Prophet Musa became the leader of Bani Israel. However, Caleb was not a prophet.

• Tomb of Prophet Yusha location.