وَإِذْ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَـٰقَكُمْ وَرَفَعْنَا فَوْقَكُمُ ٱلطُّورَ خُذُوا۟ مَآ ءَاتَيْنَـٰكُم بِقُوَّةٍ وَٱسْمَعُوا۟ ۖ قَالُوا۟ سَمِعْنَا وَعَصَيْنَا وَأُشْرِبُوا۟ فِى قُلُوبِهِمُ ٱلْعِجْلَ بِكُفْرِهِمْ ۚ قُلْ بِئْسَمَا يَأْمُرُكُم بِهِۦٓ إِيمَـٰنُكُمْ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ 93
Translations
And [recall] when We took your covenant and raised over you the mount, [saying], "Take what We have given you with determination and listen." They said [instead], "We hear and disobey." And their hearts absorbed [the worship of] the calf because of their disbelief. Say, "How wretched is that which your faith enjoins upon you, if you should be believers."
Transliteration
Wa-idh akhdhna mithaqakum wa-rafa'na fawqakumu al-tura khudhu ma ataynakum bi-quwwah wa-isma'u qalu sama'na wa-'asayna wa-ushribū fi qulūbihimu al-'ijlu bi-kufrihim qul bi'sa ma ya'murukum bihi imanukum in kuntum mu'minin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah recalls the covenant (mithaq) taken from the Children of Israel at Mount Tur when Allah lifted the mountain above them, commanding them to hold firmly to the Torah and listen obediently. However, they responded 'We heard and disobeyed' (sami'na wa-'asayna), revealing their hypocrisy, and their hearts were filled with love of the calf due to their disbelief. The final clause critiques how their faith (if they truly possessed it) would command them against such rebellion. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that the phrase 'ushribū fi qulūbihimu al-'ijlu' (the calf was instilled in their hearts) signifies deep-rooted attachment to idolatry despite witnessing divine signs.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Baqarah's section addressing the People of the Book (Ahl al-Kitab), particularly the Jews. It references the historical covenant with the Israelites after the Torah was given at Mount Sinai and their subsequent worship of the golden calf, illustrating patterns of their covenant-breaking that persisted into the time of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The surah uses these historical examples to demonstrate the consequences of breaking divine covenants and turning away from revealed guidance.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said regarding covenant-breaking: 'Whoever takes an oath and says in his oath 'By al-Lat and al-Uzza,' let him say 'There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah'' (Sahih Bukhari 6647). Additionally, Surah Al-Baqarah 2:83-86 connects to hadith traditions about the Jews' violation of their covenants with Allah, which the Prophet emphasized in his final sermon.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that merely hearing or intellectually accepting divine guidance without sincere commitment and obedience is worthless; true faith must manifest in dedicated action and adherence to Allah's commands. For contemporary believers, it serves as a powerful warning against the hypocrisy of claiming faith while our hearts remain attached to forbidden desires, and reminds us that Allah knows the true state of our hearts regardless of our outward declarations.
Related Ayahs
يَكَادُ ٱلْبَرْقُ يَخْطَفُ أَبْصَـٰرَهُمْ ۖ كُلَّمَآ أَضَآءَ لَهُم مَّشَوْا۟ فِيهِ وَإِذَآ أَظْلَمَ عَلَيْهِمْ قَامُوا۟ ۚ وَلَوْ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَذَهَبَ بِسَمْعِهِمْ وَأَبْصَـٰرِهِمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
The lightning almost snatches away their sight. Every time it lights [the way] for them, they walk therein; but when darkness comes over them, they stand [still]. And if Allāh had willed, He could have taken away their hearing and their sight. Indeed, Allāh is over all things competent.
وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّن مَّنَعَ مَسَـٰجِدَ ٱللَّهِ أَن يُذْكَرَ فِيهَا ٱسْمُهُۥ وَسَعَىٰ فِى خَرَابِهَآ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ مَا كَانَ لَهُمْ أَن يَدْخُلُوهَآ إِلَّا خَآئِفِينَ ۚ لَهُمْ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا خِزْىٌ وَلَهُمْ فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ
And who are more unjust than those who prevent the name of Allāh from being mentioned [i.e., praised] in His mosques and strive toward their destruction. It is not for them to enter them except in fear. For them in this world is disgrace, and they will have in the Hereafter a great punishment.
ٱلَّذِينَ يَظُنُّونَ أَنَّهُم مُّلَـٰقُوا۟ رَبِّهِمْ وَأَنَّهُمْ إِلَيْهِ رَٰجِعُونَ
Who are certain that they will meet their Lord and that they will return to Him.
بَلَىٰ مَن كَسَبَ سَيِّئَةً وَأَحَـٰطَتْ بِهِۦ خَطِيٓـَٔتُهُۥ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ
Yes, [on the contrary], whoever earns evil and his sin has encompassed him - those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally.