وَإِذْ وَٰعَدْنَا مُوسَىٰٓ أَرْبَعِينَ لَيْلَةً ثُمَّ ٱتَّخَذْتُمُ ٱلْعِجْلَ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِۦ وَأَنتُمْ ظَـٰلِمُونَ 51
Translations
And [recall] when We made an appointment with Moses for forty nights. Then you took [for worship] the calf after him [i.e., his departure], while you were wrongdoers.
Transliteration
Wa-idh wa'adna Musa arba'ina laylatan thumma ittakhazutum al-'ijla min ba'dihi wa-antum zalimun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to when Allah promised Musa (Moses) forty nights to receive the Torah, but during his absence, the Children of Israel committed a grave sin by worshipping the golden calf under the influence of Samiri. Ibn Kathir explains that despite witnessing countless miracles—the parting of the sea, manna and quail—they abandoned tawhid (monotheism) in haste and transgression. Al-Tabari emphasizes that their immediate resort to idolatry after Musa's departure demonstrates the weakness of faith when leadership is absent and the nafs (ego) is not kept in check.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of a series in Surah Al-Baqarah that recounts the trials and transgressions of Bani Israel during their desert journey after leaving Egypt. It falls within the context of reminding the Muslims of Madinah about the historical lessons from the Children of Israel, emphasizing divine mercy despite repeated disobedience, and the consequences of abandoning monotheism.
Related Hadiths
The incident of the golden calf is referenced in Sahih Bukhari where the Prophet (SAW) mentioned that the calf was fashioned from ornaments and would low (make a sound) on the Day of Judgment. Additionally, in various hadith collections, scholars discuss how this event exemplifies the danger of following desires over divine guidance.
Themes
Key Lesson
Even those who witness clear miracles can falter when tested, especially in the absence of firm leadership and spiritual guidance; believers must continuously strengthen their iman and not allow temporary circumstances to shake their commitment to monotheism and obedience to Allah.
Related Ayahs
وَكَذَٰلِكَ جَعَلْنَـٰكُمْ أُمَّةً وَسَطًا لِّتَكُونُوا۟ شُهَدَآءَ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ وَيَكُونَ ٱلرَّسُولُ عَلَيْكُمْ شَهِيدًا ۗ وَمَا جَعَلْنَا ٱلْقِبْلَةَ ٱلَّتِى كُنتَ عَلَيْهَآ إِلَّا لِنَعْلَمَ مَن يَتَّبِعُ ٱلرَّسُولَ مِمَّن يَنقَلِبُ عَلَىٰ عَقِبَيْهِ ۚ وَإِن كَانَتْ لَكَبِيرَةً إِلَّا عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ هَدَى ٱللَّهُ ۗ وَمَا كَانَ ٱللَّهُ لِيُضِيعَ إِيمَـٰنَكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِٱلنَّاسِ لَرَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ
And thus We have made you a median [i.e., just] community that you will be witnesses over the people and the Messenger will be a witness over you. And We did not make the qiblah which you used to face except that We might make evident who would follow the Messenger from who would turn back on his heels. And indeed, it is difficult except for those whom Allāh has guided. And never would Allāh have caused you to lose your faith [i.e., your previous prayers]. Indeed Allāh is, to the people, Kind and Merciful.
إِذْ قَالَ لَهُۥ رَبُّهُۥٓ أَسْلِمْ ۖ قَالَ أَسْلَمْتُ لِرَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
When his Lord said to him, "Submit," he said, "I have submitted [in Islām] to the Lord of the worlds."
وَإِذَا لَقُوا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ قَالُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا وَإِذَا خَلَوْا۟ إِلَىٰ شَيَـٰطِينِهِمْ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا مَعَكُمْ إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ مُسْتَهْزِءُونَ
And when they meet those who believe, they say, "We believe"; but when they are alone with their evil ones, they say, "Indeed, we are with you; we were only mockers."
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُلُوا۟ مِن طَيِّبَـٰتِ مَا رَزَقْنَـٰكُمْ وَٱشْكُرُوا۟ لِلَّهِ إِن كُنتُمْ إِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُونَ
O you who have believed, eat from the good [i.e., lawful] things which We have provided for you and be grateful to Allāh if it is [indeed] Him that you worship.