Shafaqna English- Commentary on the 2nd Chapter of the Holy Quran by Mohammad Sobhanie.
وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوْمِهِ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَن تَذْبَحُوا بَقَرَةً قَالُوا أَتَتَّخِذُنَا هُزُوًا قَالَ أَعُوذُ بِاللَّـهِ أَنْ أَكُونَ مِنَ الْجَاهِلِينَ ﴿٦٧﴾ قَالُوا ادْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُبَيِّن لَّنَا مَا هِيَ قَالَ إِنَّهُ يَقُولُ إِنَّهَا بَقَرَةٌ لَّا فَارِضٌ وَلَا بِكْرٌ عَوَانٌ بَيْنَ ذَٰلِكَ فَافْعَلُوا مَا تُؤْمَرُونَ ﴿٦٨﴾ قَالُوا ادْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُبَيِّن لَّنَا مَا لَوْنُهَا قَالَ إِنَّهُ يَقُولُ إِنَّهَا بَقَرَةٌ صَفْرَاءُ فَاقِعٌ لَّوْنُهَا تَسُرُّ النَّاظِرِينَ ﴿٦٩﴾ قَالُوا ادْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُبَيِّن لَّنَا مَا هِيَ إِنَّ الْبَقَرَ تَشَابَهَ عَلَيْنَا وَإِنَّا إِن شَاءَ اللَّـهُ لَمُهْتَدُونَ ﴿٧٠﴾ قَالَ إِنَّهُ يَقُولُ إِنَّهَا بَقَرَةٌ لَّا ذَلُولٌ تُثِيرُ الْأَرْضَ وَلَا تَسْقِي الْحَرْثَ مُسَلَّمَةٌ لَّا شِيَةَ فِيهَا قَالُوا الْآنَ جِئْتَ بِالْحَقِّ فَذَبَحُوهَا وَمَا كَادُوا يَفْعَلُونَ﴿٧١﴾ وَإِذْ قَتَلْتُمْ نَفْسًا فَادَّارَأْتُمْ فِيهَا وَاللَّـهُ مُخْرِجٌ مَّا كُنتُمْ تَكْتُمُونَ﴿٧٢﴾ فَقُلْنَا اضْرِبُوهُ بِبَعْضِهَا كَذَٰلِكَ يُحْيِي اللَّـهُ الْمَوْتَىٰ وَيُرِيكُمْ آيَاتِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ ﴿٧٣﴾ ثُمَّ قَسَتْ قُلُوبُكُم مِّن بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ فَهِيَ كَالْحِجَارَةِ أَوْ أَشَدُّ قَسْوَةً وَإِنَّ مِنَ الْحِجَارَةِ لَمَا يَتَفَجَّرُ مِنْهُ الْأَنْهَارُ وَإِنَّ مِنْهَا لَمَا يَشَّقَّقُ فَيَخْرُجُ مِنْهُ الْمَاءُ وَإِنَّ مِنْهَا لَمَا يَهْبِطُ مِنْ خَشْيَةِ اللَّـهِ وَمَا اللَّـهُ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ ﴿٧٤﴾
2:67 And when Musa said to his people, ‘Allah commands you to slaughter a cow,’ they (the Children of Israel) said, ‘Are you mocking us?’ He said, ‘I seek Allah’s protection lest I should be one of the ignorant!’
2:68: They said, ‘Invoke your Lord for us that He may clarify for us what she may be.’ He (Musa) said, ‘He (Allah) says, she is a cow, neither old nor young, of middle age. Now do what you are commanded.’
2:69 They said, ‘Invoke your Lord for us that He may clarify for us what her color may be.’ He (Musa) said, ‘He (Allah) says, she is a cow that is yellow, of a bright hue, pleasing to the onlookers.’
2:70 They said, ‘Invoke your Lord for us that He may clarify for us what she may be. Indeed, all cows are much alike to us, and if Allah wishes, we will surely be guided.’
2:71 He (Musa) said, ‘He (Allah) says, she is a cow neither trained to plough the earth nor water the field, sound and without blemish.’ They said, ‘Now you have come up with the truth!’ And they slaughtered it, though they were about not to do it.
2:72 And when you killed a soul and accused one another about it—and Allah was to expose what you were concealing—
2:73 We (Allah) said, ‘Strike him with a piece of it (slaughtered cow):’ thus does Allah revive the dead, and He shows you His signs so that you may exercise your reason.
2:74 Then your hearts hardened after that; so, they are like stones, or even harder. For there are some stones from which streams gush forth, and there are some of them that split, and water comes out from them, and there are some that fall for fear of Allah. And Allah is not oblivious of what you do.
2:67 Story of Heifer of the Children of Israel
Commentary: A mysterious murder happened among the Children of Israel. According to one legend, the victim was an affluent man who enjoyed a prosperous life, and his nephew was the sole heir.
The nephew sought to inherit the uncle’s fortune, and he waited many years. But the uncle continued to enjoy a good and healthy long life. Unfortunately, the temptation of wealth lured the nephew to murder his uncle. Afterward, he cried foul and accused others of killing his uncle.
The Israelites tried to guess the murderer. In a short time, the guessing became rumors, rumors became accusations, and those accusations led to serious dispute and hostility; see verse 2:72:
وَإِذْ قَتَلْتُمْ نَفْسًا فَادَّارَأْتُمْ فِيهَا وَاللَّـهُ مُخْرِجٌ مَّا كُنتُمْ تَكْتُمُونَ ﴿٧٢﴾
2:72 And when you killed a soul, and accused one another about it—and Allah was to expose what you were concealing—
The elders came to Prophet Musa (AS) and asked for his help in resolving the murder case. Prophet Musa (AS) prayed to God and sought His help. Allah (SWT) instructed Prophet Musa (AS) to ask the Children of Israel to slaughter a cow and strike its tongue with the corpse of the murdered man. In this way, Allah (SWT) would reveal the murderer’s identity; see verse 2:67 & 2:73:
وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوْمِهِ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَن تَذْبَحُوا بَقَرَةً …﴿٦٧﴾
2:67 And when Moses said to his people, ‘Allah commands you to slaughter a cow’
فَقُلْنَا اضْرِبُوهُ بِبَعْضِهَا كَذَٰلِكَ يُحْيِي اللَّـهُ الْمَوْتَىٰ وَيُرِيكُمْ آيَاتِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ﴿٧٣﴾
2:73: We said, ‘Strike him with a piece of it:’ thus does Allah revive the dead, and He shows you His signs so that you may exercise your reason.
Upon hearing Prophet Musa’s instructions, the Children of Israel accused him of mocking them. He promptly vindicated himself from this charge and said: “I take refuge with God (from taking you in mockery); in that case, I would be one of the ignorant.” See verse 2:67:
قَالُوا أَتَتَّخِذُنَا هُزُوًا قَالَ أَعُوذُ بِاللَّـهِ أَنْ أَكُونَ مِنَ الْجَاهِلِينَ ﴿٦٧﴾
2:67 They said, ‘Are you mocking us?’ He said, ‘I seek Allah’s protection lest I should be one of the ignorant!’
Subsequently, Prophet Musa (AS) and the Israelites exchanged a series of questions and answers. The sequence of questions and answers are as follows:
First, the Children of Israel asked what type of cow should be slaughtered. Allah (SWT) replied, “A cow neither too old nor too young, but in between.” God commanded them without hesitation to slaughter the cow.
قَالُوا ادْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُبَيِّن لَّنَا مَا هِيَ قَالَ إِنَّهُ يَقُولُ إِنَّهَا بَقَرَةٌ لَّا فَارِضٌ وَلَا بِكْرٌ عَوَانٌ بَيْنَ ذَٰلِكَ فَافْعَلُوا مَا تُؤْمَرُونَ ﴿٦٨﴾
2:68 They said, ‘Invoke your Lord for us that He may clarify for us what she may be.’ He (Musa) said, ‘He (Allah) says, she is a cow, neither old nor young, of middle age. Now do what you are commanded.’
They asked a follow-up question. What color should it be? Allah (SWT) replied, “A bright yellow color, pleasing to the eyes of the beholders.”
قَالُوا ادْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُبَيِّن لَّنَا مَا لَوْنُهَا قَالَ إِنَّهُ يَقُولُ إِنَّهَا بَقَرَةٌ صَفْرَاءُ فَاقِعٌ لَّوْنُهَا تَسُرُّ النَّاظِرِينَ ﴿٦٩﴾
2:69 They said, ‘Invoke your Lord for us that He may clarify for us what her color may be.’ He (Musa) said, ‘He (Allah) says, she is a cow that is yellow, of a bright hue, pleasing to the onlookers.’
The Israelites claimed that they still were not sure what type of cow they should slaughter since all cows look alike. Allah (SWT) said: “A cow neither yoked to plow the earth, nor to irrigate the field; free from any blemish.”
قَالُوا ادْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُبَيِّن لَّنَا مَا هِيَ إِنَّ الْبَقَرَ تَشَابَهَ عَلَيْنَا وَإِنَّا إِن شَاءَ اللَّـهُ لَمُهْتَدُونَ ﴿٧٠﴾ قَالَ إِنَّهُ يَقُولُ إِنَّهَا بَقَرَةٌ لَّا ذَلُولٌ تُثِيرُ الْأَرْضَ وَلَا تَسْقِي الْحَرْثَ مُسَلَّمَةٌ لَّا شِيَةَ فِيهَا قَالُوا الْآنَ جِئْتَ بِالْحَقِّ فَذَبَحُوهَا وَمَا كَادُوا يَفْعَلُونَ ﴿٧١﴾
2:70 They said, ‘Invoke your Lord for us that He may clarify for us what she may be. Indeed, all cows are much alike to us, and if Allah wishes we will surely be guided.’
2:71 He (Musa) said, ‘He (Allah) says, she is a cow neither trained to plough the earth nor water the field, sound and without blemish.’ They said, ‘Now you have come up with the truth!’ And they slaughtered it, though they were about not to do it.
After much wavering on God’s command, the Children of Israel slew the cow at last. Afterward, they struck the tongue of the slaughtered cow with the corpse. The corpse became alive and identified its killer. In this way, Allah (SWT) revealed the identity of the murderer.
Lesson Learned: The story reveals that the Children of Israel stood firm, like a hard stone or even harder than that, and refused to yield to the divine command. Regarding this incident, the Qur’an states:
ثُمَّ قَسَتْ قُلُوبُكُم مِّن بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ فَهِيَ كَالْحِجَارَةِ أَوْ أَشَدُّ قَسْوَةً
2:74 (After God commanded the Israelites to slaughter a cow), their hearts hardened like stones, or even harder – it did not want to yield to the divine command.
وَإِنَّ مِنَ الْحِجَارَةِ لَمَا يَتَفَجَّرُ مِنْهُ الْأَنْهَارُ وَإِنَّ مِنْهَا لَمَا يَشَّقَّقُ فَيَخْرُجُ مِنْهُ الْمَاءُ وَإِنَّ مِنْهَا لَمَا يَهْبِطُ مِنْ خَشْيَةِ اللَّـهِ وَمَا اللَّـهُ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ ﴿٧٤﴾
2:74 For there are some stones from which streams gush forth, and there are some of them that split, and water comes out from them, and there are some that fall for fear of Allah. And Allah is not oblivious of what you do.
In contrast, a submissive heart yields unequivocally to divine commands. For instance, Prophet Ibrahim (AS) told his son, Ismael, “I see in dreams that I am sacrificing you. See what you think.” Ismael (AS) responded, without questioning his father[1]:
قَالَ يَا أَبَتِ افْعَلْ مَا تُؤْمَرُ سَتَجِدُنِي إِن شَاءَ اللَّـهُ مِنَ الصَّابِرِينَ ﴿١٠٢﴾
37:102 “Father! Do whatever you have been commanded. If Allah wishes, you will find me to be patient.”
This instance epitomizes complete faith and unwavering certainty in Allah (SWT). In contrast, a perverse and unyielding mind constantly questions God’s commands and wisdom out of a stubborn refusal to obey and submit.
Word-for-Word Translation:
2:67 [وَإِذْ] And when [قَالَ] said [مُوسَىٰ] Musa [لِقَوْمِهِ] to his people [إِنَّ] indeed [اللَّـهَ] Allah [يَأْمُرُكُمْ] commands you [أَن] that [تَذْبَحُوا] you slaughter [بَقَرَةً] a cow. [قَالُوا] They said [أَتَتَّخِذُنَا] Do you take us [هُزُوًا] in ridicule. [قَالَ] He said [أَعُوذُ] I seek refuge [بِاللَّـهِ] in Allah [أَنْ] that [أَكُونَ] I be [مِنَ] among [الْجَاهِلِينَ] the ignorant.
2:68 [قَالُوا] They said [ادْعُ] pray [لَنَا] for us [رَبَّكَ] to your Lord [يُبَيِّن] to make clear [لَّنَا] to us [مَا] what [هِيَ] it is. [قَالَ] He said [إِنَّهُ] Indeed [يَقُولُ] says [إِنَّهَا] indeed it [بَقَرَةٌ] is a cow [لَّا فَارِضٌ] not old [وَلَا بِكْرٌ] and not young [عَوَانٌ] middle aged [بَيْنَ] between [ذَٰلِكَ] that. [فَافْعَلُوا] So do [مَا] what [تُؤْمَرُونَ] you are commended.
2:69 [قَالُوا] They said [ادْعُ] Pray [لَنَا] for us [رَبَّكَ] to your Lord [يُبَيِّن] to make clear [لَّنَا] to us [مَا] what [لَوْنُهَا] is its color? [قَالَ] He said [إِنَّهُ] Indeed [يَقُولُ] He says [إِنَّهَا] indeed it is [بَقَرَةٌ] a cow [صَفْرَاءُ] yellow [فَاقِعٌ] bright [لَّوْنُهَا] in its color [تَسُرُّ] pleasing [النَّاظِرِينَ] to those who see it.
2:70 [قَالُوا] They said, [ادْعُ] Pray [لَنَا] for us [رَبَّكَ] to your Lord [يُبَيِّن] to make clear [لَّنَا] to us [مَا] what [هِيَ] it is? [إِنَّ] Indeed [الْبَقَرَ] the cows [تَشَابَهَ] look alike [عَلَيْنَا] to us. [وَإِنَّا] And indeed we [إِن] if [شَاءَ] wills [اللَّـهُ] Allah [لَمُهْتَدُونَ] will surely be those who are guarded.
2:71 [قَالَ] He said, [إِنَّهُ] Indeed [يَقُولُ] says [إِنَّهَا] indeed it [بَقَرَةٌ] is a cow [لَّا] not [ذَلُولٌ] trained [تُثِيرُ] to plough [الْأَرْضَ] the earth [وَلَا] and not [تَسْقِي] water [الْحَرْثَ] the field. [مُسَلَّمَةٌ] sound [لَّا] no [شِيَةَ] blemish [فِيهَا] in it. [قَالُوا] They said [الْآنَ] now [جِئْتَ] you have come [بِالْحَقِّ] with the truth. [فَذَبَحُوهَا] So they slaughtered it, [وَمَا] and not [كَادُوا] they were near [يَفْعَلُونَ] to doing it.
2:72 [وَإِذْ] And when [قَتَلْتُمْ] you killed [نَفْسًا] a man [فَادَّارَأْتُمْ] then you disputed [فِيهَا] concerning it [وَاللَّـهُ] but Allah [مُخْرِجٌ] is the one brought forth [مَّا] what [كُنتُمْ] you were [تَكْتُمُونَ] concealing.
2:73 [فَقُلْنَا] So We said [اضْرِبُوهُ] strike him [بِبَعْضِهَا] with a part of it [كَذَٰلِكَ] Like this [يُحْيِي] revives [اللَّـهُ] Allah [الْمَوْتَىٰ] the dead. [وَيُرِيكُمْ] And show you [آيَاتِهِ] His signs [لَعَلَّكُمْ] perhaps you may [تَعْقِلُونَ] use your intellect.
2:74 [ثُمَّ] Then [قَسَتْ] hardened [قُلُوبُكُم] your heart [مِّن] from [بَعْدِ] after [ذَٰلِكَ] that. [فَهِيَ] So they [كَالْحِجَارَةِ] became like the stone [أَوْ] or [أَشَدُّ] stronger [قَسْوَةً] in hardness. [وَإِنَّ] And indeed [مِنَ] from [الْحِجَارَةِ] the stones [لَمَا] certainly there are some which [يَتَفَجَّرُ] gush forth [مِنْهُ] from it [الْأَنْهَارُ] the rivers. [وَإِنَّ] And indeed [مِنْهَا] from [لَمَا] certainly there are some which [يَشَّقَّقُ] split [فَيَخْرُجُ] so comes out [مِنْهُ] from it [الْمَاءُ] the water [وَإِنَّ] And indeed [مِنْهَا] from [لَمَا] certainly (there are some) which [يَهْبِطُ] fall down [مِنْ] from [خَشْيَةِ] fear [اللَّـهِ ] of Allah [وَمَا] And not is [اللَّـهُ] Allah [بِغَافِلٍ] unaware [عَمَّا] of what [تَعْمَلُونَ] you do.
Note:
[1]. As-Saffat 37:102.
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