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
أَوَأَمِنَ أَهْلُ ٱلْقُرَىٰٓ أَن يَأْتِيَهُم بَأْسُنَا ضُحًى وَهُمْ يَلْعَبُونَ
Or did the people of the cities feel secure from Our punishment coming to them in the morning while they were at play?
بِأَىِّ ذَنۢبٍ قُتِلَتْ
For what sin she was killed
أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ نُهُوا۟ عَنِ ٱلنَّجْوَىٰ ثُمَّ يَعُودُونَ لِمَا نُهُوا۟ عَنْهُ وَيَتَنَـٰجَوْنَ بِٱلْإِثْمِ وَٱلْعُدْوَٰنِ وَمَعْصِيَتِ ٱلرَّسُولِ وَإِذَا جَآءُوكَ حَيَّوْكَ بِمَا لَمْ يُحَيِّكَ بِهِ ٱللَّهُ وَيَقُولُونَ فِىٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ لَوْلَا يُعَذِّبُنَا ٱللَّهُ بِمَا نَقُولُ ۚ حَسْبُهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ يَصْلَوْنَهَا ۖ فَبِئْسَ ٱلْمَصِيرُ
Have you not considered those who were forbidden from private conversation [i.e., ridicule and conspiracy] and then return to that which they were forbidden and converse among themselves about sin and aggression and disobedience to the Messenger? And when they come to you, they greet you with that [word] by which Allāh does not greet you and say among themselves, "Why does Allāh not punish us for what we say?" Sufficient for them is Hell, which they will [enter to] burn, and wretched is the destination.
وَذَرُوا۟ ظَـٰهِرَ ٱلْإِثْمِ وَبَاطِنَهُۥٓ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَكْسِبُونَ ٱلْإِثْمَ سَيُجْزَوْنَ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَقْتَرِفُونَ
And leave [i.e., desist from] what is apparent of sin and what is concealed thereof. Indeed, those who earn [blame for] sin will be recompensed for that which they used to commit.