Surah Al-A'raf 7:148-151 - Quran Translation Commentary

148. And Moosa’s people, after his departure (to Mount Tur) made, from their ornaments, a calf, which was merely (the image of ) a body, and which emitted a lowing sound.²²⁰ Did they not see that it could neither speak to them, nor could it guide them?²²¹ They took it as a god and they were evil-doers.

149. And when they realized their error and saw that they had strayed, they said: “If our Lord does not have mercy on us and pardon us we shall be lost.”

150. And when Moosa returned to his people, angry and grieved, he said: “How badly you deputized in my absence !²²² Did you make haste and did not await the command of your Lord?”²²³ He cast down the tablets and took hold of the head of his brother, dragging him towards himself.²²⁴ He (Haroon) said: “Son of my mother! Verily these people considered me weak and almost killed me.²²⁵ Do not let the enemies laugh at me and do not place me with the wrong-doers.”

151. He (Moosa) said: “My Lord! Forgive me and my brother,²²⁶ and admit us to Your mercy, you are the Most Merciful of all.”

Commentary

220. Living in the polythesistic environment of Egypt Bani Israil had become very weak morally and faith-wise, and were, therefore, an easy prey to any mischievous influence. Since prophet Moosa enjoyed a complete hold on them, they could not indulge into any mischief in his presence. But as soon as prophet Moosa went away to Mount Tur , Samari made an image of a calf from the golden ornaments and thus created a new mischief. Samari was a hypocrite, whose story is related in detail in Surah Taha. In making this artificial calf he had employed his expertise as a craftsman that whenever there was a slight breeze a lowing sound emanated from the calf.

221. That is; They did not realize such a glaring fact as to how could a calf have the attributes of god, then what is the sense in making it a god, when it has not even a single divine attribute? The fact is that when a man takes a wrong decision in matters of faith, he becomes blind and feels no hesitation in bowing down before brick, stone, cow, ox, fire, cobra, anything, although anyone can see with his open eyes that none of them has any divine attributes.

222. This was stated by prophet Moosa while addressing his people. ‘Badly deputized’ means that they did not remain on the same faith on which he had left them, but that in his absence they went astray and acted corruptly.

223. prophet Moosa had gone to Mount Tur for thirty days. But when this term was extended by ten days more, Samari found an opportunity to misguide the people against prophet Moosa. The people of Bani Israil instead of waiting for the command of their Lord – allowing for the possibility of god having extended Moosa’s term – fell a prey to Samari’s misguidance.

224. This outburst of fury on the part of prophet Moosa, when he cast down the tablets and dragged his brother by his hair, was the result of the utmost sincerity of his faith and his intense regard for Truth. It is not true that Prophet Moosa had hurled away the tablets and they were broken, as is mentioned in the Bible, but he had only cast down or rather put down the tablets, and as is described further on in Verse No.154, he lifted up the tablets subsequently.

225. From this statement of prophet Haroon it becomes clear that’ he had fully tried to prevent Bani Israil from worshipping the calf, but the people did not listen to him, and were even ready to kill him. Seeing this attitude of the people, prophet Haroon thought it wise to wait for the return of prophet Moosa, who had a hold on the Bani Israil. and whatever he would deem proper would be done. Accordingly the action taken by prophet Moosa against the worshippers of the calf is described in Surah Baqarah Verse No.54 (for explanation, refer to Note No.73 of Surah Baqarah). In the Bible this horrid accusation is made against prophet Haroon that he had made the calf (we are for Allah and to Him shall we return!) The jews’ do not hesitate to accuse even the prophets of Allah, but Quran has quoted the words of prophet Haroon, which prove that he is fully innocent and this accusation is absolutely false.

226. That is: Forgive me if I have committed any wrong in my fury and forgive my brother if he has failed to fulfill the responsibility of deputizing for me.