وَجَـٰوَزْنَا بِبَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ ٱلْبَحْرَ فَأَتَوْا۟ عَلَىٰ قَوْمٍ يَعْكُفُونَ عَلَىٰٓ أَصْنَامٍ لَّهُمْ ۚ قَالُوا۟ يَـٰمُوسَى ٱجْعَل لَّنَآ إِلَـٰهًا كَمَا لَهُمْ ءَالِهَةٌ ۚ قَالَ إِنَّكُمْ قَوْمٌ تَجْهَلُونَ 138
Translations
And We took the Children of Israel across the sea; then they came upon a people intent in devotion to [some] idols of theirs. They [the Children of Israel] said, "O Moses, make for us a god just as they have gods." He said, "Indeed, you are a people behaving ignorantly.
Transliteration
Wa jawāzná bi banī Isrāʾīl al-baḥra fa-ataw ʿalá qawmin yaʿkufūn ʿalá aṣnāmin lahum, qālū yá mūsá ijʿal lanā ilāhan kamá lahum ālihatun, qāla innakum qawmun tajhalūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how after crossing the sea, the Israelites encountered a people engaged in idol worship and immediately requested that Prophet Musa create idols for them as well. Musa's response—calling them ignorant—underscores the swift ingratitude and spiritual weakness of the Israelites despite witnessing divine miracles. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note this demonstrates how proximity to miraculous signs does not guarantee faith if the heart remains heedless, and how easily people can be influenced by the cultural practices of others.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the broader Meccan narrative recounting the history of Bani Israil, revealed to strengthen the hearts of early Muslims facing rejection in Mecca. The context follows the dramatic crossing of the Red Sea and precedes the story of the golden calf, illustrating the recurring pattern of Israelite disobedience despite divine favors.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Bukhari (3156) describes how the Israelites would follow the practices of nations before them, illustrating the principle mentioned in this ayah. Additionally, Sunan Ibn Majah contains traditions about following the ways of previous nations as a warning to the Muslim ummah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah warns believers against allowing cultural influences or peer pressure to weaken their monotheistic conviction, and reminds us that witnessing miracles is insufficient without genuine spiritual commitment and reflection. It serves as a timeless reminder that external validation and conformity to societal norms should never compromise our core faith principles.
Related Ayahs
وَإِن كَانَ طَآئِفَةٌ مِّنكُمْ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِٱلَّذِىٓ أُرْسِلْتُ بِهِۦ وَطَآئِفَةٌ لَّمْ يُؤْمِنُوا۟ فَٱصْبِرُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ يَحْكُمَ ٱللَّهُ بَيْنَنَا ۚ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ ٱلْحَـٰكِمِينَ
And if there should be a group among you who has believed in that with which I have been sent and a group that has not believed, then be patient until Allāh judges between us. And He is the best of judges."
وَإِن تَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَى ٱلْهُدَىٰ لَا يَتَّبِعُوكُمْ ۚ سَوَآءٌ عَلَيْكُمْ أَدَعَوْتُمُوهُمْ أَمْ أَنتُمْ صَـٰمِتُونَ
And if you [believers] invite them to guidance, they will not follow you. It is all the same for you whether you invite them or you are silent.
قُلْ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنِّى رَسُولُ ٱللَّهِ إِلَيْكُمْ جَمِيعًا ٱلَّذِى لَهُۥ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ يُحْىِۦ وَيُمِيتُ ۖ فَـَٔامِنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ ٱلنَّبِىِّ ٱلْأُمِّىِّ ٱلَّذِى يُؤْمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ وَكَلِمَـٰتِهِۦ وَٱتَّبِعُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ
Say, [O Muḥammad], "O mankind, indeed I am the Messenger of Allāh to you all, [from Him] to whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. There is no deity except Him; He gives life and causes death." So believe in Allāh and His Messenger, the unlettered prophet, who believes in Allāh and His words, and follow him that you may be guided.
وَجَآءَ ٱلسَّحَرَةُ فِرْعَوْنَ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّ لَنَا لَأَجْرًا إِن كُنَّا نَحْنُ ٱلْغَـٰلِبِينَ
And the magicians came to Pharaoh. They said, "Indeed for us is a reward if we are the predominant."