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
وَنَزَعْنَا مَا فِى صُدُورِهِم مِّنْ غِلٍّ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهِمُ ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ ۖ وَقَالُوا۟ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِى هَدَىٰنَا لِهَـٰذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لِنَهْتَدِىَ لَوْلَآ أَنْ هَدَىٰنَا ٱللَّهُ ۖ لَقَدْ جَآءَتْ رُسُلُ رَبِّنَا بِٱلْحَقِّ ۖ وَنُودُوٓا۟ أَن تِلْكُمُ ٱلْجَنَّةُ أُورِثْتُمُوهَا بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
And We will have removed whatever is within their breasts of resentment, [while] flowing beneath them are rivers. And they will say, "Praise to Allāh, who has guided us to this; and we would never have been guided if Allāh had not guided us. Certainly the messengers of our Lord had come with the truth." And they will be called, "This is Paradise, which you have been made to inherit for what you used to do."
وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ لَا نُكَلِّفُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَآ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْجَنَّةِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ
But those who believed and did righteous deeds - We charge no soul except [within] its capacity. Those are the companions of Paradise; they will abide therein eternally.
وَإِلَىٰ ثَمُودَ أَخَاهُمْ صَـٰلِحًا ۗ قَالَ يَـٰقَوْمِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَـٰهٍ غَيْرُهُۥ ۖ قَدْ جَآءَتْكُم بَيِّنَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ ۖ هَـٰذِهِۦ نَاقَةُ ٱللَّهِ لَكُمْ ءَايَةً ۖ فَذَرُوهَا تَأْكُلْ فِىٓ أَرْضِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَلَا تَمَسُّوهَا بِسُوٓءٍ فَيَأْخُذَكُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
And to the Thamūd [We sent] their brother Ṣāliḥ. He said, "O my people, worship Allāh; you have no deity other than Him. There has come to you clear evidence from your Lord. This is the she-camel of Allāh [sent] to you as a sign. So leave her to eat within Allāh's land and do not touch her with harm, lest there seize you a painful punishment.
وَلَقَدْ مَكَّنَّـٰكُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَجَعَلْنَا لَكُمْ فِيهَا مَعَـٰيِشَ ۗ قَلِيلًا مَّا تَشْكُرُونَ
And We have certainly established you upon the earth and made for you therein ways of livelihood. Little are you grateful.