النص المفهرس

TRANSLATION: We made an appointment with Moosa v for thirty nights (at Mount Toor),
then ended it with (another) ten (nights) to complete his Rabb's term of forty nights (during
which time Allaah spoke to Moosa v and gave him the Torah). Moosa v said to his brother Haroon
v (as he left for Mount Toor), "Take my place as leader of my people. Keep the (affairs of the
people in) order and do not (ever) follow the path of those who cause corruption." When
Moosa v arrived for Our appointment and His Rabb had spoken to him (directly), he said, "O
my Rabb, show me (Yourself so) that I may see You." Allaah replied, "You can never see Me
(in this world), but look at the mountain. If it remains in its place (after a tiny fraction of My
illumination reaches it) then you may (have the ability to) see me." (However,) When his Rabb
manifested His illumination to the mountain, he made it crash to pieces, and (seeing the
marvellous spectacle) Moosa v fell unconscious. When he recovered he said, "I declare Your
purity (You are too Pure to be seen by the eyes of this world) ! I repent (for asking for something
that I had not been commanded to ask) and I am the first of the Mu'mineen (of my time)."
Revelation of the Torah
It was after this conversation with Allaah that Hadhrat Moosa v received the
tablets upon which the Torah was written. Allaah told him that the scripture
contained guidance for success in both worlds and that he was to practise upon
it assiduously and ensure that the people do the same. There is a difference of
opinion about what the tablets contained. While Muslim scholars agree that it
was the Torah, Christian scholars are of the opinion that it was the Ten
Commandments. In his book Iz'haarul Haqq, Sheikh Rahmatullaah Kiranwi al das )
has proven from the Qur'aan as well as from ancient manuscripts of the Torah
that it was indeed the Torah that was inscribed on the tablets.
Verse 145 of Surah A'raaf states speaks about a promise that Allaah made to
Hadhrat Moosa v when He said, "I shall soon show you the abode of the disobedient
ones". This refers to one of the following:
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1. The ruins of the Aad and Thamud, so that lessons can be learnt from them
2. The land of Egypt, so that the Bani Israa'eel may enter it once more, but this
time in honour
3. The blessed land of Shaam, which the Bani Israa'eel were to occupy, but
were then occupied by the tyrannical Amaaliqa tribe
However, Hadhrat Moosa u did not see the Bani Israa'eel enter this land
because he passed away in the Valley of Teeh. The older people amongst the
Bani Israa'eel did not see this as well because Allaah forbade their entry into this
land on account of their unwillingness to obey Allaah's command to enter the
city. The promise therefore applied to only a group amongst the Bani Israa'eel
who were loyal to Hadhrat Moosa v, such as Hadhrat Yusha bin Noon, Kaalib bin
Yuqanna and others. These men saw and entered the land when Hadhrat Moosa
u sent them as a reconnaissance group. On account of their disobedience, the
rest were deprived of seeing it at all. Their sighting and subsequent description
to the others is as if they all saw it. Details of the disobedience of the Bani
Israa'eel at this juncture have passed earlier. And Allaah knows best.
This (third) opinion seems most appropriate and correct. The opinion stating that
the promise was to be shown the land of Egypt seems inaccurate because the
Bani Israa'eel never re-entered Egypt in large numbers as a nation. The opinion
stating that the reference was to the ruins of the Aad and Thamud is also flawed
because the Bani Israa'eel were located many months journey away from these
sites, which lay in the western part of Arabia. It therefore seems pointless for the
Bani Israa'eel to have to undertake such a long journey. There is also an opinion
staying that 'the abode of the disobedient ones' refers to Jahannam.
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Hadhrat Moosa v was also told that when guidance comes to a nation together
with undeniable proofs and they still choose to follow the errant ways of their
forefathers, then they will be left to wallow in their errant ways. This is because
their rebelliousness and arrogance had obliterated their innate ability to follow
the truth when it makes itself manifest before them.
In the Words of the Qur' aan
The above episode has been discussed in the Qur'aan in the following verses:
Verses 144-147 of Surah A'raaf state:
قَالَ يُمُوْسَى إِنِّى اصْطَفَيْتُكَ عَلَى النَّاسِ بِرِسُلْتِى وَ بِكَلَامِى ◌ٌّ فَخُذْ مَا أَتَيْتُكَ وَكُنْ مِّنَ الشَّكِرِيْنَ (١٢٣)
وَكَتَبْنَا لَهَّ فِى الْأَلْوَاحِ مِنْ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ مَّوْعِظَةَّ وَّ تَفْصِيْلًا لَّكُلِّ شَىْءٍ فَخُذْبَا بِقُوَّةٍ وَأمُرْ قَوْمَكَ يَأْخُذُوْا
بِأَحْسَنِهَا - سَأُورِكُمْ دَارَ الْفُسِقِيْنَ (١٣٥) سَأَصْرِفُ عَنْ أَيْتِىَ الَّذِيْنَ يَتَكَبَّرُوْنَ فِى الْأَرْضِ بِغَيْرِ الْحَقِّ * وَ إِنْ
يَّرَوْا كُلَّ أَيَةٍ لَّا يُؤْمِنُوْا بِهَاءٌ وَ إِنْ يَّرَوْا سَبِيْلَ الرُّشْدِ لَا يَتَّخِذُوْهُ سَبِيْلًا وَ إِنْ يَّرَوْا سَبِيْلَ الْغَىِّ يَتَّخِذُوْهُ سَبِثْلًا "
ذُلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَذَّبُوْا بِأَيْتِنَا وَكَانُوْا عَنْهَا غُفِيْنَ (١٣٢) وَالَّذِيْنَ كَذَّبُوْا بِأَيْتِنَا وَ لِقَاءِ الْآَخِرَةِ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَالُهُمْ + بَلْ
يُجْزَوْنَ إِلَّا مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُوْنَ (١٢٧)٪
TRANSLATION: He (Allaah) said, "O Moosa! Indeed I have selected you from the people (of
your time) for My message (to be My messenger) and for My speech (to be the fortunate one
with whom I speak directly). So take what (favours) I have given you and be of the grateful
ones (who are thankful for Allaah's blessings)." We wrote for him (Moosa v) on the tablets (of
the Torah) every type of advice and details of everything (that man needs to know). (We told
him) "Hold fast to it (to the teachings of the Torah) and command your people to hold on to
the excellent commandments it contains. I shall soon show you the abode of the
disobedient ones (the territories once occupied by Kuffaar nations that you will soon occupy)." I
shall soon turn those people away from My Aayaat who are unjustly proud on earth. (As a
result of this,) If they see every (type of) Aayah, they will not believe it. If they see the path
of guidance, they will not adopt it as their path, but if they see the path of misguidance
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they will adopt it as their path. This is because they reject Our Aayaat and disregard
them. Those who reject Our Aayaat and the meeting of (Allaah in) the Aakhirah, their
actions are wasted (in the Aakhirah they will have no rewards for their good actions). (However, no
injustice will be shown to them because) They will be punished only for the (sinful) actions that
they carried out (and not more). (The Kuffaar will receive the rewards for their good actions in this
world only.)
Verses 51-53 of Surah Baqarah state:
وَ إِذْ وَعَدْنَا مُؤْسَى أَرْبَعِيْنَ لَيْلَّ ثُمَّ اتَّخَذْتُمُ الْعِجْلَ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ وَآَنْتُمْ ظُلِمُوْنَ (٥١) ثُمَّ عَفَوْنَا عَنْكُمْ مَّنَّ بَعْدِ ذَلِكَ
لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُوْنَ (٥٢) وَ إِذْ أَتَيْنَا مُؤْسَى الْكِتُبَ وَالْفُرْقَانَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَبْتَدُوْنَ (٥٣)
TRANSLATION: (Remember also the time) When We fixed forty nights for Moosa v (after
which We gave him the Torah), then you (the Bani Israa'eel) started worshipping the calf (which
Saamiri crafted for you) after he (Moosa v) had departed, (thereby) acting most unjustly (by
worshipping something besides Allaah). Thereafter We forgave you (accepted your repentance) so
that you may be thankful (for Our kindness). (Remember also the time) When We gave Moosa
v the Book (the Torah) which was the Furqaan (Decider between right and wrong) so that you
(the Bani Israa'eel) may be rightly guided.
Verse 43 of Surah Qasas states:
وَلَقَدْ أَتَيْنَا مُؤْسَى الْكِتُبَ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا أَبْلَكْنَا الْقُرُوْنَ الْأُوْلَى بَصَائِرَ لِلنَّاسِ وَ بُدَّى وَّ رَحْمَةً لَّعَلَّهُمْ يَتَذَكَّرُوْنَ
(٣٣)
TRANSLATION: Verily, after We had destroyed the former generations (of Kuffaar such as
the Aad, Thamud and others), We granted Moosa v the book (the Torah) as an eye-opener
(insight) for people and as a (means of) guidance and mercy so that they may take heed.
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The False God
The twisted psyche of the Bani Israa'eel is evident from the previous incidents. In
addition to all of this, what they did next was even more astonishing. When
Hadhrat Moosa v was away at Mount Toor, the Bani Israa'eel started to follow a
man named Saamiri, who made for them a calf to worship.
The incident started when Hadhrat Moosa v appointed Hadhrat Haaroon v as
his deputy to take charge of the Bani Israa'eel while he left for thirty days.
When the period was extended for a further ten days and the Bani Israa'eel
started to worry, a person from amongst them by the name of Saamiri took
advantage of their uneasiness. He asked them to hand over to him all the gold
and jewels they had borrowed from the Egyptians, which they were unable to
return because of their hasty flight from Egypt.
Though he pretended to be a Mu'min, Saamiri was really a Kaafir at heart. He
melted all the gold and shaped it into a calf. Thereafter, he placed a handful of
sand into it, which caused it to display signs of life and make the lowing sounds
of a real calf. He then told the Bani Israa'eel that Hadhrat Moosa u had forgotten
that his Rabb was really this calf and had gone off to Mount Toor by mistake.
Previous incidents have made it clear that the decades the Bani Israa'eel spent
with the idol-worshipping Egyptians had instilled the love for idol-worship within
their hearts. In fact, the Egyptians revered the calf and even had an idol they
held in high esteem called Howras, which had the face of a cow. They believed
that the world was suspended upon the head of a cow. Therefore, when
Saamiri presented the calf to them as a god, they readily accepted.
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Despite the best efforts of Hadhrat Haaroon v to stop them, the people refused
to listen to him and said that they will not forsake the calf until Hadhrat Moosa u
returned to them. It was then that Allaah informed Hadhrat Moosa u about what
was happening. Allaah asked Hadhrat Moosa v why he had hurried to come to
the mountain, to which he replied that he was eager to receive something for
the guidance of the people. Allaah then told him that the same nation whose
guidance he eagerly sought had started idol worship. This news threw Hadhrat
Moosa v into a towering rage and swiftly returned to the Bani Israa'eel.
He confronted the people and asked them why they had resorted to this. He was
so angry and trembling with emotional at this stage that the tablets of the
Torah fell from his hand. The people absolved themselves of blame and pinned
the blame squarely on the shoulders of Saamiri, saying that they only gave him
the jewellery and he had proceeded to make the idol.
The idol worship was an unforgiveable crime and was a direct challenge to the
apostleship of Hadhrat Moosa v. Furthermore, Hadhrat Moosa v was known to
be stern in enforcing the commands of Allaah and this act of sheer Shirk
infuriated him. In his anger, he grabbed at the beard and head of Hadhrat
Haaroon v, but his brother made it clear to him that there was no need to
behave in this manner since he since he was not at fault. He had done his best to
stop the people, but they would not listen until he returned. In fact, they even
threatened to kill him for trying to stop them. He explained further that when
matters reached this point, he thought it best to leave it to rest before a fight
breaks out between the transgressors and the true Mu'mineen. In this way, he
could not be accused of causing division between the Bani Israa'eel. He pleaded
to Hadhrat Moosa v not to grab his head and beard in that manner because this
would lead to others laugh at him.
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Hadhrat Moosa v cooled off when he heard his brother's explanation. He then
turned to Saamiri and asked for an explanation. Saamiri said that he had seen
something that none other had seen. When he saw Hadhrat Jibra'eel v after the
destruction of Fir'oun, he noticed that wherever the horse of Hadhrat Jibra'eel
v stepped, the earth would spring to life and plants would grow, even if the
ground was dry. He therefore took a handful of the sand upon which the horse
stepped and placed it inside the calf. This gave the calf signs of life, causing it to
low like cows do.
Had Hadhrat Moosa v not been already composed by that time, who knows
what would have happened to Saamiri? Hadhrat Moosa v then rebuked him
sternly and informed him that his punishment in this world will be that he will
wander around like a madman. Whenever any person approached him, he
would repeatedly call out, "Do not touch me!" because the mere touch of any
person would cause him intolerable pain. As for the Aakhirah, his punishment
there shall be the same as the others who transgressed. Hadhrat Moosa v also
told him that the calf would be burnt as a lesson to all people that such idols are
worthless and helpless.
The people from the Bani Israa'eel who worshipped the calf were executed by
their next of kin during the darkness of the night as atonement from their crime.
It is reported that seventy thousand of them were executed in this manner. A
narration of the Torah states that three thousand were executed. Eventually,
Hadhrat Moosa v prayed to Allaah to forgive them and the execution order was
lifted.
In the Words of the Qur' aan
The Qur'aan describes this episode in the following words:
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Verse 54 of Surah Baqarah states:
وَ إِذْ قَالَ مُؤْسى لِقَوْمِمٍ يُقَوْمِ إِنَّكُمْ ظَلَمْتُمْ أَنْفُسَكُمْ بِاتَّخَاذِكُمُ الْعِجْلَ فَتُوْبُوْا إِلَى بَارِئِكُمْ فَاقْتُلُوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ + ذُلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ
لَّكُمْ عِنْدَ بَارِئِكُمْ ﴿ فَتَابَ عَلَيْكُمْ ﴿ إِنَّهَ بُوَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ (٥٣)
TRANSLATION: When Moosa v told (those of) his people (who worshipped the calf), "O my
people! You have certainly oppressed (wronged) your souls by worshiping the calf, so turn
to your Creator for forgiveness and kill yourselves (let the innocent among you execute the
guilty ones). This (execution) is best for you in the sight of your Creator." Then Allaah
accepted your repentance. Indeed, He is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.
Verses 92-93 of Surah Baqarah state:
وَلَقَدْ جَاءَكُمْ مُؤْسِى بِالْبَيِّنْتِ ثُمَّ اتَّخَذْتُمُ الْعِجْلَ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ وَ أَنْتُمْ ظُلِمُوْنَ (٩٢) وَ إِذْ آَخَذْنَا مِيْنَاقَكُمْ وَرَفَعْنَا فَوْقَكُمُ
الطُّوْرَ - خُذُوْا مَا أَتَيْتُكُمْ بِقُوَّةٍ وَاسْمَعُوْا - قَالُوا سَمِعْنَا وَعَصَيْنَا * وَأُشْرِبُوْا فِىْ قُلُوْبِهِمُ الْعِجْلَ بِكُفْرِمْ ﴿ قُلْ بِئْسَمَا
يَآمُرُكُمْ بِمَ اِيْمَانُكُمْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُّؤْمِنِيْنَ (٩٣)
TRANSLATION: Verily, Moosa v came to you with clear signs (miracles such as his staff which
became a snake, his shining hand and splitting of the sea), but then you started worshipping the
calf after him (after his departure to the mountain) and you were oppressors (transgressors).
(Remember) When We took a promise from you (that you will obey the commands in the Torah)
and (after you refused to carry out the promise, We) raised Mount Toor above you (saying)
"Hold fast to what We have given you and listen (to the commands otherwise the mountain will
be dropped on you)." They said, "We hear and we disobey (Your command)." Because of their
kufr, the (love of the) calf was absorbed (soaked) into their hearts. Tell them, "Evil indeed is
that (worship of the calf and rejection of Muhammad &) which your belief (in the Torah) orders
you to do, if you really are people who believe (as you claim)." (The verse makes it clear that
the Jews cannot have belief in their Torah as they say they have because they do not obey the
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commands of the Torah which clearly told them to worship only Allaah and to believe in Muhammad &
on his arrival.)
Verses 148-154 of Surah A'raaf state:
وَ اتَّخَذَ قَوْمُ مُؤْسَى مِنْ بَعْدِهِ مِنْ حُلِيِّهِمْ عِجْلًا جَسَدًّا لَّمَ خُوَارٌ ﴿ أَلَّمْ يَرَوْا أَنَّمَ لَا يُكَلِّمُهُمْ وَلَا يَهْدِيْهِمْ سَبِيْلًا"
◌ِتَّخَذُوْهُ وَكَانُوْا ظْلِمِيْنَ (١٣٨) وَلَمَّا سُقِطَ فِىْ آَيْدِيْهِمْ وَرَأَوْا أَنَّهُمْ قَدْ ضَلُّوْا " قَالُوْا لَئِنْ لَّمْ يَرْحَمْنَا رَبُّنَا وَيَغْفِرْ لَنَا
لَنَّكُوْنَنَّ مِنَ الْخُسِرِيْنَ (١٢٩) وَلَمَّا رَجَعَ مُؤْسَى إِلَى قَوْمِهٍ غَضْبَانَ اسِفًّا" قَالَ بِنْسَمَا خَلَفْتُمُوْنِى مِنَّ بَعْدِىّ
اَعَجِلْتُمْ أَمْرَ رَبِّكُمْ وَأَلْقَى الْأَلْوَاحَ وَآَخَذَ بِرَأْسِ آَخِيْهِ يَجُرُّةً إِلَيْهِ * قَالَ ابْنَ أُمَّ إِنَّ الْقَوْمَ اسْتَضْعَفُوْنِى وَكَادُوْا
يَقْتُلُوْنَنِىْ: فَلَا تُشْمِتْ بِىَ الْأَعْدَاءَ وَلَا تَجْعَلْنِىْ مَعَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّلِمِيْنَ (١٥٠) قَالَ رَبِّ اغْفِرْلِىْ وَ لِأَخِئْ وَأَدْخِلْنَا
فِيْ رَحْمَتِكَ ﴿ وَأَنْتَ أَرْحَمُ الرَّحِمِيْنَ (١٥١)٪ إِنَّ الَّذِيْنَ اتَّخَذُوا الْعِجْلَ سَيَنَالُهُمْ غَضَبٌ مِّنْ رَّبِّهِمْ وَ ذِلَّةٌّ فِى
الْحَيْوةِ الدُّنْيَا * وَكَذُلِكَ نَجْزِى الْمُفْتَرِيْنَ (١٥٢) وَالَّذِيْنَ عَمِلُوا السَّيَّاتِ ثُمَّ تَابُوا مِنَّ بَعْدِبَا وَ أُمَنُواْ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ
مِنْ بَعْدِبَا لَغَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ (١٥٣) وَلَمَّا سَكَتَ عَنْ مُؤْسَى الْغَضَبُ آَخَذَ الْأَلْوَاحَ { وَفِى نُسْخَتِهَا بُدَّى وَّ رَحْمَةٌ
لَلَّذِيْنَ بُمْ لِرَبِّهِمْ يَرْبَبُوْنَ (١٥٣)
TRANSLATION: After him (after his departure to Mount Toor) the people of Moosa v made
from their jewellery a calf (crafted by Saamiri) that was (merely) a body (a torso) which made
(meaningless mooing) sounds (because Saamiri put in it some sand taken from the footprint of
Jibra'eel v). Could they not see that it could not speak to them, nor guide them aright?
They took it (the calf) to be their Ilaah and did (themselves) a great wrong. When they
regretted (worshipping the calf) and realised that they were (really) astray, they said, "If our
Rabb does not show mercy to us and forgive us, we will certainly be of the losers
(destroyed in both worlds)." When Moosa v returned to his people in anger and grief (because
of what they had done in his absence), he said, "Evil indeed is the way in which you people
followed me after my departure! Do you seek to hurry the order of your Rabb (to punish
you) ?" (In his anger,) He (Moosa v) threw down the tablets (of the Torah) and seized his
brother's (Haaroon v's) head (hair and beard), pulling him towards him. Haroon v said, "O my
mother's son (a term used to arouse love and kindness) ! Verily the people regarded me to be
weak (overpowered me) and nearly killed me. So let not the enemies laugh at me (by treating
me in this manner) and do not count me among the wrongdoers (because I did not worship the
calf with them)." He (Moosa v) said, "O my Rabb! Forgive me and my brother and enter us in
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Your mercy. Surely You are the Most Merciful of those who show mercy." Verily those who
took the calf (for their Ilaah) will surely be struck by the wrath (punishment) of their Rabb
and humiliation in the worldly life (those who worshipped the calf were thereafter executed). In
this manner do We punish those who invent lies (by regarding others as Allaah's equals). As
for those who sin and then (sincerely) repent afterwards (after committing the sin) and accept
Imaan, surely your Rabb is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful (He will forgive them). When the
anger of Moosa v subsided, he took hold of the tablets (of the Torah that he had thrown down
in anger). Written in its script was guidance and mercy for those who fear (the punishment
of) their Rabb.
Verses 83-98 of Surah TaaHaa state:
وَ مَا أَعْجَلَكَ عَنْ قَوْمِكَ يُمُؤْسى (٨٣) قَالَ بُمْ أُولَاءٍ عَلَى أَثَرِى وَعَجِلْتُ إِلَيْكَ رَبِّ لِتَرْضى (٨٣) قَالَ
فَإِنَّا قَدْ فَتَنَّا قَوْمَكَ مِنْ بَعْدِكَ وَ أَضَلَّهُمُ السَّامِرِىُّ (٨٥) فَرَجَعَ مُؤْسَى إِلَى قَوْمِمٍ غَضْبَانَ أَسِفًّا نَّ قَالَ يُقَوْمِ
آَلَمْ يَعِدْكُمْ رَبُّكُمْ وَعْدًا حَسَنًا ون* أَفَطَالَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْعَبْدُ أَمْ آَرَدْتُّمْ أَنْ يَّحِلَّ عَلَيْكُمْ غَضَبٌ مِّنْ رَّبِّكُمْ فَأَخْلَفْتُمْ مَّوْ عِدِى
(٨٢) قَالُوا مَا اخْلَفْنَا مَوْعِدَكَ بِمَلْكِنَا وَ لَكِنَّا حُمَّلْنَا أَوْزَارًا مِّنْ زِيْنَةِ الْقَوْمِ فَقَذَفْتُهَا فَكَذُلِكَ الْقَى السَّامِرِىُّ
(٨٧) فَأَخْرَجَ لَهُمْ عِجْلًا جَسَدًا لَّهَ خُوَارٌ فَقَالُوا بَذَا اِلْهُكُمْ وَ إِلَهُ مُؤْسَى نْ فَنَسِىَ (+٨٨) آَفَلَا يَرَوْنَ اَلَّ يَرْجِعُ
إِلَيْهِمْ قَوْلًا ٥هٌ وَلَا يَمْلِكُ لَهُمْ ضَرًّا وَّ لَا نَفْعًا (٨٩) وَلَقَدْ قَالَ لَهُمْ بُرُوْنُ مِنْ قَبْلُ يُقَوْمِ إِنَّمَا فُتِنْتُمْ بِم ◌َ وَ إِنَّ
رَبَّكُمُ الرَّحْمُنُ فَاتَّبِعُوْنِىْ وَ أَطِيْعُوْا أَمْرِى (٩٠) قَالُوْا لَنْ تَّبْرَحَ عَلَيْهِ عُكِفِيْنَ حَتَّى يَرْجِعَ إِلَيْنَا مُؤْسَى (٩١)
قَالَ يُهْرُوْنُ مَا مَنَعَكَ إِذْ رَآَيْنَهُمْ ضَلُّوْا (٩٢) الَّ تَتَّبِعَنِ ٥* أَفَعَصَيْتَ أَمْرِىٌ (٩٣) قَالَ يَبْنَؤُمَّ لَا تَأْخُذْ بِلِحْيَتِىْ
وَلَا بِرَأْسِيْ نَّ إِنِّيْ خَشِيْتُ أَنْ تَقُوْلَ فَرَّقْتَ بَيْنَ بَنِى إِسْرَآءِيْلَ وَ لَمْ تَرْقُبْ قَوْلِى (٩٣) قَالَ فَمَا خَطْبُكَ
يُسَامِرِىُّ (٩٥) قَالَ بَصُرْتُ بِمَا لَمْ يَبْصُرُوْا بِهِ فَقَبَضْتُ قَبْضَةَّ مِّنْ أَثَرِ الرَّسُوْلِ فَنَبَذْتُهَا وَكَذْلِكَ سَوَّلَتْ لِى
نَفْسِى (٩٢) قَالَ فَاذْبَبْ فَإِنَّ لَكَ فِى الْحَيَوةِ أَنْ تَقُوْلَ لَا مِسَاسَ ﴾ وَ إِنَّ لَكَ مَوْعِدًا لَّنْ تُخْلَفَرَ نَّ وَانْظُرْ إِلى
الهَكَ الَّذِى ظَلْتَ عَلَيْهِ عَاكِفًا لَنُحَرِّقَنَّهُ ثُمَّ لَنَنْسِفَنَّمْ فِى الْيَمِّ نَسْفًا (٩٧) إِنَّمَا الْهُكُمُ اللهُ الَّذِى لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّ بُوَ
٥* وَسِعَ كُلَّ شَىْءٍ عِلْمًا (٩٨)
TRANSLATION: (Allaah asked) "What has made you hasten ahead of your people, O
Moosa?" He replied, "They are on my track (following behind me). I have hastened to You, O
my Rabb, so that You may be pleased (with my promptness and eagerness)." He (Allaah) said,
"Indeed, We have tested your people after you (had left) and Saamiri has led them astray
(by making the golden calf and encouraging them to worship it)." So (upon hearing this news,)
Moosa v returned to his people in anger and remorse. He said, "O my people! Has your
Rabb not made you a fair promise (that He will send you a Book containing the injunctions of
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your Deen) ? Has too much time elapsed for you (causing you to think that you will never receive
the Book and that you may as well worship something else) or did you wish that the anger of
your Rabb should descend on you, because of which you broke the promise (you) made
with me (the promise not to do anything against the Shari'ah while I am away and to obey Haaroon
v) ?" They (the Bani Israa'eel) said, "We have not broken the promise (we) made with you of
our own accord, but we were laden with the burdens of a nation (we were carrying jewellery
belonging to the people of Fir'oun, which they lent to us) and we cast it off (threw it to smelt in a
fire). In this way (with all the gold jewellery smelted,) Saamiri cast (the mould of the calf and then
threw the sand from footprints of Jibra'eel v's horse into it, causing the calf to make sounds)." So he
(Saamiri) made for them a calf that was a body which made the sounds of a cow. They
(those who worshipped the calf) said (to the others), "This is your Rabb and the Rabb of Moosa,
but he (Moosa v) has forgotten (that his Rabb is here and has gone to the mountain to look for
it)." Could they (those who worshipped the calf) not see that it (the calf) could not reply to
them nor did it possess the ability to benefit or harm them? (How could it therefore be their
god?) Haaroon v definitely told them before (the arrival of Moosa v), "O my people! You are
merely being tested with this (golden calf). Without doubt, your Rabb is Ar Rahmaan (and
not this calf), so follow me and obey me." (Obstinate as they were,) They replied, "We shall
certainly remain devoted to it until Moosa v returns to us (to advise us further)." Moosa v
said, "O Haaroon! When you saw them going astray, what prevented you from following
me (to the mountain, thereby disassociating from them so that they realise that you truly detest their
actions)? Did you disobey my instruction?" Haaroon v said, "O son of my mother! Do not
grab my beard or my head. (I did not disassociate from them because) I feared that you would
say, 'You divided the Bani Israa'eel and did not wait for my word (my instructions)."" He
(Moosa v) said, "What have you to say, O Saamiri?" He (Saamiri) replied, "I saw what they
did not see (Jibra'eel v). So I took a handful (of sand) from the tracks (hoof-prints) of the
(horse of the) messenger (Jibra'eel v) and cast it (into the calf). Thus did my soul entice me."
(When Saamiri saw Jibra'eel v, he noticed that greenery sprouted from every portion of land on which
Jibra'eel v's horse stepped. This made him realise that its footsteps must contain some wonderful
powers, which he could use in the calf.) He (Moosa v) said, "Go (away from here) ! Your
punishment in this world shall be that you wander around saying, 'Do not touch!' (Allaah
made it such that whenever someone touched Saamiri, or he touched anyone, both persons would be
immediately affected by severe fever. Therefore, people stayed far from him and he vehemently
avoided them.) You certainly have an appointment (with death) that you cannot miss. Look
at your Ilaah (the calf) to which you remained so devoted. We will surely burn it and then
scatter it (its remains) well in the ocean (until no trace of it is left)." Your Ilaah is only Allaah,
besides Whom there is no other Ilaah. His knowledge encompasses everything.
Betrayal and Subsequent Destruction
After the Bani Israa'eel repented, those who were executed were given the
status of martyrs, while those spared were forgiven. Hadhrat Moosa v then
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conveyed to them the message from Allaah that they were hold fast to the
commands of the Torah and uphold them because their success and eternal
salvation lay in it. However, being the obstinate nation they always were, the
Bani Israa'eel questioned the fact that the Torah was indeed from Allaah, saying
that all they had was the word of Hadhrat Moosa v. They therefore made
another insubordinate request. Their request was that they be allowed to see
Allaah and hear Him say that the Torah was from Him. Only then would they
believe in it.
Hadhrat Moosa v explained to them that no one could see Allaah and making
such a request was sheer insolence. However, they were insistent as always, so
Hadhrat Moosa v prayed to Allaah forgive them and to guide them towards
upholding the commands of Allaah. Allaah accepted his du'aa and instructed him
to select seventy people from the Bani Israa'eel to accompany him to Mount
Toor, where they would receive confirmation.
Hadhrat Moosa v therefore selected seventy leaders from the twelve tribes
and took oaths from them that they would testify when they returned. As they
reached the mountain, Hadhrat Moosa v was enveloped by a white cloud and
Allaah spoke to him in a manner that was audible to all present. When it was
over, the Bani Israa'eel refused to believe it and said that although they heard
the voice, they could not be certain that it was Allaah speaking. They said that
they therefore could not testify before the people that they had heard Allaah.
They then insisted that they still needed to see Allaah. In response to this
insubordination, they were struck by the wrath of Allaah when a bolt of lightning
struck, followed by an earthquake. They were all immediately killed. Hadhrat
Moosa v then pleaded with Allaah to revive them and Allaah did.
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In the Words of the Qur'aan
This episode is related in the following verses of the Qur'aan:
Verse 155-157 of Surah A'raaf state:
وَ اخْتَارَ مُؤْسِى قَوْمَهْ سَبْعِيْنَ رَجُلًا لَّمِيْقَاتِنَا فَلَمَّا آَخَذَتْهُمُ الرَّحْفَةُ قَالَ رَبِّ لَوْ شِئْتَ أَبْلَكْتَهُمْ مِّنْ قَبْلُ وَ إِيَّىَ ﴾
آَتُّبْلِكُنَا بِمَا فَعَلَ السُّفَهَآءُ مِنَّاء إِنْ بِىَ إِلَّا فِتْنَتُكَ * تُضِلُّ بِهَا مَنْ تَشَاءُ وَتَبْدِيْ مَنْ تَشَآءُ - أَنْتَ وَ لِيُّنَا فَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَ
ارْحَمْنَا وَ أَنْتَ خَيْرُ الْغُفِرِيْنَ (١٥٥) وَاكْتُبْ لَنَا فِىْ بُذِهِ الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةَّ وَّ فِى الْآخِرَةِ إِنَّا بُدْنَا إِلَيْكَ - قَالَ عَذَابِى
أُصِيْبُ بِم مَنْ أَشَاءُ وَ رَحْمَتِىْ وَسِعَتْ كُلَّ شَىْءٍ ﴿ فَسَأَكْتُبُهَا لِلَّذِيْنَ يَتَّقُوْنَ وَ يُؤْتُوْنَ الزَّكُوةَ وَ الَّذِيْنَ بُمْ بِأَيْتِنَا
يُؤْمِنُونَ (١٥٢) الَّذِيْنَ يَتَّبِعُوْنَ الرَّسُوْلَ النَّبِىَّ الْأُمِّىَّ الَّذِى يَجِدُوْنَهُ مَكْتُوْبًا عِنْدَبُمْ فِى الَّوْرَةِ وَالْإِنْجِيْلِ يَأْمُرُبُمْ
بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهُهُمْ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَيُحِلُّ لَهُمُ الطَّيِّيْتِ وَيُحَرِّمُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْخَبْئِثَ وَيَضَعُ عَنْهُمْ إِصْرَبُمْ وَالْآَغْلَ الَّتِىِ
كَانَتْ عَلَّيْهِمْ ، فَالَّذِينَ أَمَنُوْا بِمٍ وَعَزَّرُؤْهُ وَنَصَرُؤْهُ وَاتَّبَعُوا النُّوْرَ الَّذِى أَنْزِلَ مَعَهَّ ◌ٌ أُولَئِكَ بُمُ الْمُفْلِحُوْنَ
(١۵٧)٪
TRANSLATION: Moosa v chose from his people seventy persons for Our appointment (He
took these people to Mount Toor with him when the Bani Israa'eel doubted that the Torah was really
from Allaah and wanted to hear Allaah command them directly. However, when Allaah spoke to them,
they again doubted and asked to see Allaah. Allaah then killed them all when an earthquake shook the
mountain). When the earthquake struck them, he (Moosa v) said, "My Rabb! If You wished
You could have destroyed them and myself from before (if You wanted to destroy them, You
could have killed them before we came here. However, I am certain that You wish only to teach them
a lesson. So do revive them, so that the Bani Israa'eel do not accuse me of killing them). Will You
(You will surely not) destroy us (me) because of what the foolish ones among us do (because
the Bani Israa'eel will certainly kill me for this) ? (I am sure that) This is but a test from You by
means of which You send astray whoever You please and guide whoever You please. You
are our Protecting Friend so forgive us and have mercy on us. Undoubtedly You are the
best of forgivers. (Allaah then revived the seventy men) Write (destine) good for us in this
world and in the Aakhirah. We have certainly turned to You (in repentance)." Allaah said,
"With My punishment I afflict whoever I please whereas My mercy encompasses
(surrounds) everything. I shall soon (in the Aakhirah) ordain it (My mercy) for those who adopt
Taqwa, who pay zakaah, who believe in My Aayaat and who follow the Rasool (who is also)
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the untutored Nabi (Muhammad &, about) whom they find (his name and description) written in
the Torah and the Injeel (both of which they have) with them. He (Muhammad &) instructs
them to do good, prevents (forbids) them from evil, permits pure things for them (which was
forbidden in the previous religions), forbids them from impure things (such as carrion, blood, etc)
and removes from them the burden and shackles (the stern laws) that were (binding) upon
them (such as cutting off the portion of a garment that is impure). So the successful ones are
certainly those who believe in him, honour him, assist him and follow the light (the
Qur'aan) revealed with him."
Verses 55-56 of Surah Baqarah state:
وَ إِذْ قُلْتُمْ يُمُؤْسِى لَنْ نُؤْمِنَ لَكَ حَتَّى نَرَى اللهَ جَهْرَةً فَآَخَذَتْكُمُ الصُّعِقَةُ وَأَنْتُمْ تَنْظُرُوْنَ (٥٥) ثُمَّ بَعَتْنُكُمْ مِّنَّ بَعْدِ
مَوْتِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ (٥٢)
TRANSLATION: (Remember the time) When (after hearing Allaah speak) you said, "O Moosa!
We shall never believe you until we see Allaah clearly (with out own eyes)." So a
thunderbolt struck (seventy of) you (dead) while you were witnesses (to your fate). Then We
brought you back to life after your deaths so that you could be thankful.
Raising Mount Toor over the People's Heads
When the seventy men returned from the mountain and testified before the
people that Hadhrat Moosa u had been truthful to them, the people still refused
to believe. This time when Hadhrat Moosa u made du'aa to Allaah, Allaah told
him that he would not make such a thing happen, which would force them to
accept the Torah and act upon it. It then happened that an earthquake took
place, after which the entire Mount Toor was lifted from its base and suspended
over the heads of the Bani Israa'eel. They were then given the ultimatum;
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undertake to uphold the commands of the torah, or be crushed beneath this
mountain.
They all then declared that the Torah was indeed from Allaah and they took an
oath to fulfil all its commands. The mountain was then replaced in its position.
The Bani Israa'eel then fulfilled their pledge for while, but it was not long after
the fear had left their hearts that they again returned to their old ways.
In the Words of the Qur' aan
This episode is discussed in verses 63-64 of Surah Baqarah, which states:
وَ إِذْ آَخَذْنَا مِيْنَاقَكُمْ وَرَفَعْنَا فَوْقَكُمُ الطُّوْرَ + خُذُوْامَا أَتَّيْتُكُمْ بِقُوَّةٍ وَاذْكُرُوا مَا فِيْهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُوْنَ (٢٣) ثُمَّ تَوَلَيْتُمْ مِّنَّ
بَعْدِ ذُلِكَ ◌ٌ فَلَوْ لَا فَضْلُ اللهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُمْ لَكُنْتُمْ مِّنَ الْخُسِرِيْنَ (٢٣)
TRANSLATION: (O Bani Israa'eel, do not forget the time) When We took your promise (that you
would practise the injunctions of the Torah) and raised Mount Toor above you (when you refused
to fulfil your promise) saying, "Hold firmly to what We have given you and heed what is in it
(by practising all its commands) so that you may fear (sinning and Jahannam)." Then (after
making the promise) you turned away (from it). If it were not for Allaah's grace upon you and
His mercy, you would have certainly become of the losers (you would be doomed if Allaah had
not inspired you to ask Him for forgiveness. As a result of Allaah's forgiveness, your punishment was
turned away and you were not destroyed).
Verse 171 of Surah A'raaf states:
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وَ إِذْ نَتَقْنَا الْجَبَلَ فَوْقَهُمْ كَنَّمَ ظُلَّةٌ وَظَنُّوْا أَنَّمْ وَاقِعُّ بِهِمّْ خُذُوْا مَا أَتَيْنُكُمْ بِقُوَّةٍ وَ اذْكُرُوْا مَا فِيْهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُوْنَ
(١٧١)٪
TRANSLATION: (Remember the time) When We uprooted the mountain (Mount Toor and
suspended it) above them (the Bani Israa'eel) as if it were a canopy and they thought that it
would fall on them. (When the Jews broke their promise to fulfil the commands contained in the
Torah, Allaah suspended the Mount Toor above their heads and threatened to drop it on them if they
did not obey the commands of the Torah.) (We said to them) "Hold fast on to what We have
given you (the Torah) and remember what is in it so that you may adopt Taqwa."
The Blessed Land
The Sinai desert where the Bani Israa'eel were wandering lost was close to
Palestine, which was land of their forefathers Hadhrat Ibraheem v, Hadhrat
Is'haaq v and Hadhrat Ya'qoob v. Allaah had promised these illustrious men that
He would return their as masters of this land after a while. It is reported that the
Amaaliqa tribe, who were descendants of the Aad had seized control over Shaam
and Baytul Muqaddas. Like their forebears, the Amaaliga were powerful, large
and tyrannical people.
After being saved from Fir'oun and then receiving the Torah and a Shari'ah,
Allaah instructed Hadhrat Moosa v to lead the Bani Israa'eel towards Baytul
Muqaddas, where they were to wage Jihaad against the Amaaliqah to restore
peace and justice to the land. Allaah also promised victory to the Bani Israa'eel.
Hadhrat Moosa v therefore led the Bani Israa'eel across the Jordan River and
into Jericho, which was then a picturesque place. After resting here for a while,
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Hadhrat Moosa u sent the twelve leaders of the tribes on a reconnaissance
mission into Baytul Muqaddas to ascertain the strength of the enemy. When the
twelve men approached the city, they were apprehended by one of the
Amaaliqa, who was so powerful that he single-handedly managed to capture all
of them. He then brought them before his king, accusing them of spying with the
intention of waging war.
While some suggested that they be killed, others were of the opinion that they
be jailed. However, the king decided to demonstrate to them the might of the
Amaaliga and then free them to disclose this information to their people. In this
way, none would dare wage war against them. They did this and when the
twelve men returned to Hadhrat Moosa v and the Bani Israa'eel in Jericho, they
informed him of the great might and strength of the Amaaliqa. Although Hadhrat
Moosa v was confident of victory because of the promise of Allaah, he feared
that the Bani Israa'eel would be hesitant. He therefore instructed the twelve
men to keep the matter a secret from the masses. However, ten of them
disclosed the information to the people. The only ones who did not were
Hadhrat Yusha bin Noon and Kaalib bin Yuqanna. When the news spread
amongst them, the people started to weep and sat down, saying, "It would have
been better for us to drown in the Red Sea or remain as slaves under Fir'oun.
Here we are faced with certain death."
There were only two men from amongst them whom Allaah had blessed with
guidance and courage. These two encouraged the others to march forward only
up to the gates of the city, after which Allaah would do the rest and the people
there would flee the city. However, when the Bani Israa'eel were not prepared
to obey their Nabi, they were unlikely to obey anyone else. They therefore
insolently told Hadhrat Moosa v that he should proceed with his Rabb to fight
since they would have nothing to do with it.
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Hadhrat Moosa v was distraught when he heard this and made du'aa to Allaah
to separate him from the people since he had no control over any of them apart
from himself and his brother Hadhrat Haaroon v. Allaah absolved him of all
blame and told him that the punishment for the Bani Israa'eel shall be that they
will wander lost in the desert for forty years since Allaah had forbidden their
entry into the land of their forefathers. As a result, they remained trapped in the
Valley of Teeh for forty years, without the need to be chained or jailed because
they were unable to find their way out. Although they set out every morning to
travel back to Egypt, they ended up in the same place they started by the
evening. When Hadhrat Moosa v and Hadhrat Haaroon v passed away during
this period, they continued to wander lost until Allaah sent another Nabi for
them.
Hadhrat Muqaatil al wo, stated that the area between Egypt and Baytul
Muqaddas where the Bani Israa'eel remained trapped all these years measured
only 90 miles in length and 27 miles in width. Another narration states that it
measured only 30 miles by 18 miles. It was in this small area that six hundred
thousand people remained prisoners without the need for iron bars or prison
wardens.
Reliable narrations state that Hadhrat Haaroon v passed away first, followed
by Hadhrat Moosa v six months later. Allaah then appointed Hadhrat Yusha
bin Noon v as the Nabi of the Bani Israa'eel and it was him who led the new
generation of the Bani Israa'eel to conquer Baytul Muqaddas. The land and
treasures of Baytul Muqaddas therefore fell into the hands of the Bani Israa'eel,
as promised by Allaah.
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Mufassireen have stated that Allaah punishes people in a manner akin to their
sin. Therefore, when the Bani Israa'eel said to Hadhrat Moosa u that he should
proceed to fight with his Rabb, they added, "We shall remain sitting here". As
punishment for this impertinence, Allaah punished them by causing them to do
exactly that and they remained "sitting" there for the next forty years.
In the Words of the Qur'aan
The Qur'aan relates the above episode in the following words:
Verses 20-26 of Surah Maa'idah state:
وَ إِذْ قَالَ مُؤْسِى لِقَوْمِ يُقَوْمِ اذْكُرُوا نِعْمَةَ اللهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ جَعَلَ فِيْكُمْ أَنْبِيَاءَ وَجَعَلَكُمْ مُلُوْكًا * وَّ أَتُكُمْ مَّا لَمْ يُؤْتِ
أَحَدًا مِّنَ الْعُلَمِيْنَ (٢٠) يُقَوْمِ ادْخُلُوا الْأَرْضَ الْمُقَدَّسَةَ الَّتِى كَتَبَ اللهُ لَّكُمْ وَلَا تَرْتَدُّوْا عَلَى أَدْبَارِكُمْ فَتَنْقَلِبُوْا
خُسِرِيْنَ (٢١) قَالُوْا يُمُؤْسَى إِنَّ فِيْهَا قَوْمًا جَبَّارِيْنَ *وَ إِنَّا لَنْ نَّدْخُلَهَا حَتَّى يَخْرُجُوْا مِنْهَا نَّ فَإِنْ يَّخْرُجُوْا مِنْهَا
فَإِنَّا دُخِلُونَ (٢٢) قَالَ رَجُلُنِ مِنَ الَّذِيْنَ يَخَافُوْنَ أَنْعَمَ اللهُ عَلَّيْهِمَا ادْخُلُوْا عَلَّيْهِمُ الْبَابَ ◌َّ فَإِذَا دَخَلْتُمُوْهُ فَأَنَّكُمْ
غُلِبُوْنَ هَ وَعَلَى اللهِ فَتَوَكَّلُوا إِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُؤْمِنِيْنَ (٢٣) قَالُوْا يُمُوْسَى إِنَّا لَنْ نَّدْخُلَهَا أَبَدًا مَّا دَامُوْا فِيْهَا فَاذْبَبْ أَنْتَ
وَرَبُّكَ فَقَاتِلَا إِنَّا بُهْنَا قُعِدُوْنَ (٢٣) قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّيْ لَا أَمْلِكُ إِلَّا نَفْسِىْ وَآَخِئْ فَافْرُقْ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَ الْقَوْمِ الْفُسِقِيْنَ
(٢٥) قَالَ فَإِنَّهَا مُحَرَّمَةٌ عَلَّيْهِمْ أَرْبَعِيْنَ سَنَةَّ ى يَبِنْهُوْنَ فِى الْأَرْضِ ٥* فَلَا تَأْسَ عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْفُسِقِيْنَ (٪٢۶)
TRANSLATION: (Remember the time) When Moosa v told his people, "O my people,
remember Allaah's bounty on you when He raised Ambiyaa among you and made (some of)
you kings. He gave you what He did not give to anyone in the entire universe (things like
manna and salwa and a host of other favours). O my people, enter the holy land (your homeland)
that Allaah has decreed for you (that He has commanded you to enter) and do not turn back
on your heels (by refusing to wage Jihaad on the people living there because of your cowardice),
for then you will become losers." (Too cowardly to advance) They (the Jews) said, "O Moosa!
Honestly, an extremely powerful nation live there. We shall certainly never enter it (the
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city) until they leave. If they leave the land, only then shall we enter." Two men from
those who had fear (of Allaah in their hearts) and whom Allaah had favoured, said (to the
other Jews), " (All you need to do is to) Enter upon them by the gate (of the city). When you
enter by it then verily you shall be victorious (because Allaah's help will be with you) ! Trust
only in Allaah if you are (true) Mu'mineen!" They (the others) said, "O Moosa, we shall never
enter it (the city) as long as they are present there. So you and your Rabb both go ahead
and fight. We shall remain sitting here." He (Moosa v) prayed, "O my Rabb! Indeed I have
control only of myself and my brother (Haaroon v, I cannot force the others to obey), so
separate us from the sinful (disobedient) people." (Allaah then declared) "Undoubtedly it (this
holy land) is forbidden to them for forty years. (In the meantime,) They will wander (lost and
bewildered) on earth (in the Valley of Teeh). So do not grieve over the disobedient nation."
(Consequently, they wandered in circles for forty years before their descendants were able to enter
the holy land.)
Slaughtering the Cow
The incident of the cow that the Bani Israa'eel were required to slaughter is well
documented and stated explicitly in the Qur'aan. This incident happened before
the revelation of the Torah. Because the Bani Israa'eel had been profoundly
influenced by the Egyptians and their manners of worship and customs, Allaah
instructed them to slaughter a cow in this incident because the cow was
worshipped and revered at the time. Slaughtering the cow was an acid test for
Imaan of the Bani Israa'eel to ascertain whether they would revere the cow
more than the command of Allaah. Those with the disease of Shirk within their
hearts would find it very hard, if not impossible, to slaughter the cow, which
represented a god. This test would separate the Mu'mineen from the Kuffaar
amongst them.
Mulla Ali Qaari ail das, had written in his commentary of Mishkaat that a man from
the Bani Israa'eel had proposed to marry a woman, but his proposal was turned
down. He then secretly murdered the woman's father in retaliation and went
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