The folk of Moses chose a calf for worship

Lesson # 924 from the Noble Quran

The folk of Moses chose a calf for worship

Surah ‘A’-RAAF (The Heights) – Chapter – 7)

 Stage – 2, Verses – 148 & 149 of 206, Section – 18 of 24 (Part - 9)

                                                                           

                              

BisMIllaahir-Rahmaanir-Rahiim    

In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful

148.  And the folk of Moses, after (he left them), chose a calf (for worship), (made) out of their ornaments – lifeless image which gave a lowing sound. Saw they not that it spake not unto them nor guided them to any way? They chose it, and became wrongdoers. 149.  And when they feared the consequences thereof and saw that they had gone astray, they said: Unless our Lord have mercy on us and forgive us, we verily are of the lost.

148.  Watta  khaza  qawmu  Muusaa  mim-  ba’-dihii  min  hu-liyyihim  ‘ijlan  jasadal-lahuu  khuwaar.  ‘Alam  yaraw  ‘annahuu  laa  yukalli-muhum  wa  laa  yah-diihim  Sabiilaa.  ‘Itta-khazuuhu  wa  kaanuu zaalimiin. 149. Wa  lammaa  suqita  fiii  ‘aydiihim  wa  ra-‘aw  ‘annahum  qad  zalluu  qaaluu  la-‘illam  yarhamnaa  Rabbunaa  wa  yag-fir  lanaa  lanakuunanna  minal-khaasi-riin.

           

Lesson

                                                       

Hu-liyyihim – (out of their ornaments), hu-liyyun is plural of hil-yun. Hil-yun means “Ornaments” that is to say; those people collected entire ornaments of their houses and made from it, an idol of calf.

Suqita  fiii  ‘aydiihim – (feared the consequence thereof), it is a proverb of Arabic language which is used on such occasion when common repentance spread due to any big error.

It is commanded that after departure of Prophet Moses (peace be upon Him), the people of His nation collected their ornaments and their goldsmith named Samri, made for them a calf of the gold and kept it empty from its inner side, and fitted pipes into it in such arrangement that whenever, the air used to pass though them with pressure or caused to pass from them, a sound like a calf used to come out from it.

They did not think that neither that calf could speak with them and nor it could guide them of any sort. Then how this voice was useful? They began to fall prostrate before that self-made calf. Those foolish people put an end to oppression because they opened the way of polytheism.

When Prophet Moses (peace be upon Him) returned unto them and rebuked them due to their such evil deed, then they repented and thought: Really it was like choosing the way of error leaving the way of righteousness. They said: We have committed very big mistake. If our Lord have no mercy on us and our error is not forgiven, then there is no doubt in our destruction and ruin.

Transliterated Holy Qur’an in Roman Script & Translated from Arabic to English by Marmaduke Pickthall, Published by Paak Company, 17-Urdu Bazaar, Lahore, Lesson collected from Dars e Qur’aan published By Idara Islaah wa Tableegh, Lahore (translated Urdu to English by Muhammad Sharif)