قَالَ فَمَا خَطْبُكَ يَـٰسَـٰمِرِىُّ 95
Translations
[Moses] said, "And what is your case, O Sāmirī?"
Transliteration
Qāla famā khạtbuka yā Sāmirī
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah's Messenger Musa (Moses) asks As-Samiri, 'What is your case?' or 'What is your excuse?' after discovering the golden calf idol that Samiri had craftily created during Musa's absence. This question is posed with divine authority, giving Samiri the opportunity to respond before his punishment is decreed. According to classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir, this rhetorical question emphasizes the gravity of Samiri's transgression and his betrayal of the covenant, while also demonstrating Musa's measured approach in demanding an explanation before judgment.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Surah Taha (verses 83-98), which describes the incident of the golden calf created while Prophet Musa was receiving the Torah on Mount Sinai for forty nights. The Qur'an presents this as a test of faith for the Children of Israel, and Samiri's deception represents a severe breach of monotheistic commitment. The context reveals how even among those who witnessed miracles, some fell into idolatry.
Related Hadiths
While no specific hadith directly quotes this verse, the incident is referenced in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim in various ahadith discussing the golden calf. A relevant hadith from Sahih Muslim describes how the calf was made from the ornaments of the Israelites and could produce a lowing sound, emphasizing the miraculous nature of Samiri's creation.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that our actions are never hidden from Allah, and we must be prepared to answer for our choices; it also reminds us that even those granted miracles and divine guidance can fall into grave sin through deception and abandonment of monotheism, serving as a cautionary tale against spiritual arrogance and heedlessness.
Related Ayahs
لَّقَدْ سَمِعَ ٱللَّهُ قَوْلَ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ فَقِيرٌ وَنَحْنُ أَغْنِيَآءُ ۘ سَنَكْتُبُ مَا قَالُوا۟ وَقَتْلَهُمُ ٱلْأَنۢبِيَآءَ بِغَيْرِ حَقٍّ وَنَقُولُ ذُوقُوا۟ عَذَابَ ٱلْحَرِيقِ
Allāh has certainly heard the statement of those [Jews] who said, "Indeed, Allāh is poor, while we are rich." We will record what they said and their killing of the prophets without right and will say, "Taste the punishment of the Burning Fire.
وَلَا تُجَـٰدِلْ عَنِ ٱلَّذِينَ يَخْتَانُونَ أَنفُسَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ مَن كَانَ خَوَّانًا أَثِيمًا
And do not argue on behalf of those who deceive themselves. Indeed, Allāh loves not one who is a habitually sinful deceiver.
وَقِيلَ ٱدْعُوا۟ شُرَكَآءَكُمْ فَدَعَوْهُمْ فَلَمْ يَسْتَجِيبُوا۟ لَهُمْ وَرَأَوُا۟ ٱلْعَذَابَ ۚ لَوْ أَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ يَهْتَدُونَ
And it will be said, "Invoke your 'partners,'" and they will invoke them; but they will not respond to them, and they will see the punishment. If only they had followed guidance!
۞ وَقَيَّضْنَا لَهُمْ قُرَنَآءَ فَزَيَّنُوا۟ لَهُم مَّا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ وَحَقَّ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْقَوْلُ فِىٓ أُمَمٍ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِهِم مِّنَ ٱلْجِنِّ وَٱلْإِنسِ ۖ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ خَـٰسِرِينَ
And We appointed for them companions who made attractive to them what was before them and what was behind them [of sin], and the word [i.e., decree] has come into effect upon them among nations which had passed on before them of jinn and men. Indeed, they [all] were losers.