Final answer:
Cyrus the Great, a Persian ruler, issued an edict allowing the exiled Jews to return to their land.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Persian ruler who issued an edict that allowed the return of Israel to their land was Cyrus the Great. He was the king of Persia from 559 to 530 BCE. Cyrus allowed the exiled Jews to return to Judah from Babylon and even helped them rebuild their temple. This act of leniency towards conquered peoples was a characteristic of Persian rule.