وَٱتَّخَذَ قَوْمُ مُوسَىٰ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِۦ مِنْ حُلِيِّهِمْ عِجْلًا جَسَدًا لَّهُۥ خُوَارٌ ۚ أَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ أَنَّهُۥ لَا يُكَلِّمُهُمْ وَلَا يَهْدِيهِمْ سَبِيلًا ۘ ٱتَّخَذُوهُ وَكَانُوا۟ ظَـٰلِمِينَ 148
Translations
And the people of Moses made, after [his departure], from their ornaments a calf - an image having a lowing sound. Did they not see that it could neither speak to them nor guide them to a way? They took it [for worship], and they were wrongdoers.
Transliteration
Wa-ttakhaza qawmu Musa min ba'dihi min huliyyihim 'ijlan jasadan lahu khuar. Alam yaraw annahu la yukallimuhum wa la yahdihim sabila. Ittakhazuhu wa kanu zalimin.
Tafsir (Explanation)
After Moses departed to receive the Torah, his people fashioned a golden calf from their ornaments as an object of worship, and it produced a lowing sound. The ayah sarcastically challenges them: did they not see that this calf could neither speak to them nor guide them to any path? Ibn Kathir explains that this act was a grave transgression—they knowingly chose idolatry despite witnessing Allah's miracles, demonstrating the weakness of human resolve when separated from divine guidance.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative recounting the incident of the golden calf (al-'ijl al-dhahab), which occurred during Prophet Musa's absence of forty days on Mount Sinai. This Meccan surah presents this story to warn the Quraysh against similar idolatry and to illustrate the consequences of abandoning monotheism. The broader context emphasizes that despite witnessing Allah's signs, people can still fall into shirk if they lack sincere faith.
Related Hadiths
The incident of the golden calf is extensively referenced in Sahih Bukhari (Hadith 3397) where the Prophet Muhammad discusses how Samiri deceived the Israelites. Additionally, in Sahih Muslim, there are hadiths about the punishment the Israelites faced for this transgression, reinforcing the severity of idolatry.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that intellectual recognition of truth is insufficient without steadfast adherence to it; when believers are tested by the absence of visible leadership or divine signs, they must hold firm to their principles rather than succumb to desires and peer pressure. For modern readers, it serves as a cautionary reminder that material prosperity and borrowed practices can easily lead communities astray from monotheism and truth.
Related Ayahs
قَالُوٓا۟ أَرْجِهْ وَأَخَاهُ وَأَرْسِلْ فِى ٱلْمَدَآئِنِ حَـٰشِرِينَ
They said, "Postpone [the matter of] him and his brother and send among the cities gatherers
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.
أَلَهُمْ أَرْجُلٌ يَمْشُونَ بِهَآ ۖ أَمْ لَهُمْ أَيْدٍ يَبْطِشُونَ بِهَآ ۖ أَمْ لَهُمْ أَعْيُنٌ يُبْصِرُونَ بِهَآ ۖ أَمْ لَهُمْ ءَاذَانٌ يَسْمَعُونَ بِهَا ۗ قُلِ ٱدْعُوا۟ شُرَكَآءَكُمْ ثُمَّ كِيدُونِ فَلَا تُنظِرُونِ
Do they have feet by which they walk? Or do they have hands by which they strike? Or do they have eyes by which they see? Or do they have ears by which they hear? Say, [O Muḥammad], "Call your 'partners' and then conspire against me and give me no respite.
وَٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا وَلِقَآءِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَـٰلُهُمْ ۚ هَلْ يُجْزَوْنَ إِلَّا مَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
Those who denied Our signs and the meeting of the Hereafter - their deeds have become worthless. Are they recompensed except for what they used to do?