قَالَ هُمْ أُو۟لَآءِ عَلَىٰٓ أَثَرِى وَعَجِلْتُ إِلَيْكَ رَبِّ لِتَرْضَىٰ 84
Translations
He said, "They are close upon my tracks, and I hastened to You, my Lord, that You be pleased."
Transliteration
Qala hum ula'i 'ala athri wa 'ajiltu ilayka rabbi litarda
Tafsir (Explanation)
Prophet Musa (Moses) speaks to Allah after returning from Mount Sinai to find his people worshipping the golden calf. He explains that the people of Samiri are on his trail (following his path of deviation), and that he hastened to Allah to seek His pleasure and approval. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this statement reflects Musa's distress at the idolatry and his immediate recourse to Allah, prioritizing divine satisfaction over confronting the people directly. The ayah emphasizes that despite the gravity of the situation, Musa's primary concern is pleasing his Lord rather than worldly considerations.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of Surah Taha (Meccan), which recounts the story of Musa and the golden calf incident. When Musa descended from Mount Sinai where he received the Torah (the Ten Commandments on the Tablets), he discovered his people had strayed into idol worship during his absence. This ayah captures Musa's response to Allah upon discovering this betrayal, demonstrating the spiritual crisis of his community.
Related Hadiths
While no specific hadith directly quotes this verse, Sahih Bukhari contains extended narratives about the golden calf incident. Additionally, hadiths emphasizing the priority of pleasing Allah over pleasing people are thematically related, such as the hadith in Sunan Ibn Majah about seeking Allah's pleasure (rida Allah).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that when facing the failings of others, our primary focus should be on seeking Allah's pleasure and guidance rather than being consumed by anger or disappointment. It reminds us that the Prophet's urgent recourse to Allah in times of crisis is the proper response, demonstrating that closeness to Allah is the ultimate solution to spiritual trials.