قَالُوا۟ ٱدْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُبَيِّن لَّنَا مَا هِىَ إِنَّ ٱلْبَقَرَ تَشَـٰبَهَ عَلَيْنَا وَإِنَّآ إِن شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَمُهْتَدُونَ 70
Translations
They said, "Call upon your Lord to make clear to us what it is. Indeed, [all] cows look alike to us. And indeed we, if Allāh wills, will be guided."
Transliteration
Qālū id'u lanā rabbaka yubayyinm lanā mā hiya inna al-baqara tashabaha alainā wa-innā in shāa Allāhu lamuhtadūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
The Children of Israel, faced with Allah's command to slaughter a cow as expiation for a murder, ask Prophet Musa (Moses) to pray to Allah for clarification since many cows resembled one another and they were uncertain which specific cow to sacrifice. Their statement 'indeed the cows look alike to us' reflects their difficulty in distinguishing between the cows, and they add the pious qualifier 'if Allah wills, we will be guided' to show their reliance on Divine guidance. Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari note that this verse illustrates how the Children of Israel's excessive questioning and hesitation prolonged their trial, as each clarification led to further conditions making the cow's description increasingly specific (wealthy, not barren, etc.).
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the famous story of the Cow (Qissat al-Baqarah) in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:67-71), which is contextually grounded in the narrative of the Israelites after the Torah was revealed. The broader context involves a murder in the Children of Israel's community, and Allah commanded them to slaughter a specific cow to determine the murderer. This ayah reflects a pivotal moment in the narrative where their repeated questioning demonstrates their resistance to obedience.
Related Hadiths
The story of the cow is referenced in various tafsir collections but is primarily derived from the Quranic narrative itself. A related principle is found in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet ﷺ discouraged excessive questioning about matters not yet obligatory: 'The worst of people in the sight of Allah on the Day of Judgment will be those who engage in much questioning' (Muslim 2359), illustrating why the Israelites' repeated questions prolonged their trial.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that while seeking clarification is permissible, excessive questioning and prolonged hesitation in obeying Allah's commands reflects spiritual weakness and lack of trust in Divine wisdom. We should approach Allah's orders with earnest obedience and faith that He guides those who sincerely seek His guidance.
Related Ayahs
فَإِنْ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِمِثْلِ مَآ ءَامَنتُم بِهِۦ فَقَدِ ٱهْتَدَوا۟ ۖ وَّإِن تَوَلَّوْا۟ فَإِنَّمَا هُمْ فِى شِقَاقٍ ۖ فَسَيَكْفِيكَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ
So if they believe in the same as you believe in, then they have been [rightly] guided; but if they turn away, they are only in dissension, and Allāh will be sufficient for you against them. And He is the Hearing, the Knowing.
ٱلَّذِينَ إِذَآ أَصَـٰبَتْهُم مُّصِيبَةٌ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّآ إِلَيْهِ رَٰجِعُونَ
Who, when disaster strikes them, say, "Indeed we belong to Allāh, and indeed to Him we will return."
وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِى عَنِّى فَإِنِّى قَرِيبٌ ۖ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ ٱلدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ ۖ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُوا۟ لِى وَلْيُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِى لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُونَ
And when My servants ask you, [O Muḥammad], concerning Me - indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me [by obedience] and believe in Me that they may be [rightly] guided.
فَإِن زَلَلْتُم مِّنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَتْكُمُ ٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتُ فَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ
But if you slip [i.e., deviate] after clear proofs have come to you, then know that Allāh is Exalted in Might and Wise.