Verses 68 to 71 of Surah Al-Baqarah, like a radiant jewel within the Divine Word, narrate the dialogue between the Children of Israel and Prophet Moses (peace be upon him) regarding the characteristics of the cow chosen for adjudicating the identification of a murderer. These verses transcend a mere historical event and present profound lessons in social psychology, religious sociology, and leadership principles. The inquiries of the people, posed in three stages concerning the cows age, colour, and health, not only reflect meticulousness in executing the Divine command but also delineate criteria for selecting competent leaders in human societies. This exegesis, adopting a scholarly and elevated approach, analyses these verses and, through literary metaphors and logical reasoning, provides a systematic framework for understanding the deep Quranic meanings and their application in contemporary issues.
قَالُوا ادْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُبَيِّنْ لَنَا مَا هِيَ قَالَ إِنَّهُ يَقُولُ إِنَّهَا بَقَرَةٌ لَا فَارِضٌ وَلَا بِكْرٌ عَوَانٌ بَيْنَ ذَلِكَ فَافْعَلُوا مَا تُؤْمَرُونَ ٦٨
Translation: They said: "Invoke your Lord to clarify for us what it is." He said: "He says, 'It is a cow neither old nor virgin, but middle-aged between the two; so do what you are commanded."
قَالُوا ادْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُبَيِّنْ لَنَا مَا لَوْنُهَا قَالَ إِنَّهُ يَقُولُ إِنَّهَا بَقَرَةٌ صَفْرَاءُ فَاقِعٌ لَوْنُهَا تَسُرُّ النَّاظِرِينَ ٦٩
Translation: They said: "Invoke your Lord to clarify for us its colour." He said: "He says, 'It is a bright yellow cow, its colour pleases the onlookers."
قَالُوا ادْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُبَيِّنْ لَنَا مَا هِيَ إِنَّ الْبَقَرَةَ تَشَابَهَ عَلَيْنَا وَإِنَّا إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ لَمُهْتَدُونَ ٧٠
Translation: They said: "Invoke your Lord to clarify for us what it is, for indeed the cow appears similar to us, and indeed, if Allah wills, we will be guided."
قَالَ إِنَّهُ يَقُولُ إِنَّهَا بَقَرَةٌ لَا ذَلُولٌ تُثِيرُ الْأَرْضَ وَلَا تَسْقِي الْحَرْثَ مُسَلَّمَةٌ لَا شِيَةَ فِيهَا قَالُوا الْآنَ جِئْتَ بِالْحَقِّ فَذَبَحُوهَا وَمَا كَادُوا يَفْعَلُونَ ٧١
Translation: He said: "He says, 'It is a cow not domesticated to till the earth or water the fields, sound and without blemish.'" They said: "Now you have brought the truth." So they slaughtered it, although they were almost unwilling to do so.
The verses portray a structured dialogue between the Children of Israel and God through Prophet Moses (peace be upon him), conducted in three stages:
This structure, akin to a ladder with each rung ascending toward a higher truth, reflects the meticulousness of the people in understanding the Divine command and their effort to execute it properly.
Key Point: The three-stage inquiry (age, colour, health) indicates the systematic nature of the dialogue and attention to detail in fulfilling the Divine command.
In analysing the behaviour of the Children of Israel, two hypotheses arise: whether their repeated inquiries stemmed from a desire for precision in finding a suitable cow or from pretext to delay executing the Divine command. Contrary to some traditional interpretations that regard these inquiries as excuses and obstruction, Quranic evidence indicates that the people sought a wise precision to select a cow worthy of adjudicating in identifying the murderer.
This judgement, designed to resolve internal dispute and reveal the truth of the killing, held great importance. The people, like seekers of a rare gem, through their questions aimed to find a cow embodying complete, mature, and appropriate characteristics for this grave duty. The pretext hypothesis, such as costliness or reluctance to act, does not align with the text of the verses, which reflect the peoples final respect and acceptance ("Now you have brought the truth").
Key Point: Contrary to traditional interpretations, the people's inquiries were motivated by precision and wisdom for correct implementation of the Divine command, not by procrastination or excuses.
The inquiries demonstrate the intellect and analytical ability of the people in religious matters. In verse 70, they modestly state: "Indeed the cow appears similar to us, and if Allah wills, we will be guided," expressing humble admission of their need for Divine clarification, indicating their high capacity for receiving guidance and accepting truth.
This intellect, compared to contemporary societies, places the Children of Israel in an eminent position. The miracles of Prophet Moses (peace be upon him), revealed to this people, further attest to their ability to comprehend Divine messages.
The verses elucidate the cows characteristics across three axes:
These features, like a mirror reflecting perfection, render the cow a fitting instrument for Divine judgement. The name "Al-Baqarah" (the cow, literally "that cleaves") corresponds semantically to its role in uncovering the truth of the murder.
Key Point: The cows characteristics (middle-aged, beautiful, healthy) make it a suitable tool for Divine judgement, congruent with its role in uncovering truth.
The cows characteristics, beyond a particular event, provide criteria for selecting leaders in human societies. These criteria include:
These principles act as sturdy foundational pillars ensuring leader competency. In modern societies, age, health, and physical appeal are also considered in political leadership, such as presidential elections, reflecting a convergence of Quranic criteria with global standards.
Key Point: The cows characteristics serve as universal leadership criteria, offering a model for selecting competent leaders worldwide.
In certain religious systems, electing elderly leaders who are physically and mentally incapacitated has weakened societal governance. Such individuals, like trees with bowed branches due to age, lack the capability for dynamic leadership. Inability to recall simple matters such as poetry or jurisprudence, and physical weakness, like incapacity to bear a heavy turban, exemplify these limitations.
This critique underscores the need to revisit leadership criteria within religious sciences. A leader incapable of managing public funds or responding to communal needs cannot legitimately claim religious guidance.
Some individuals have pretended to be elderly to attain leadership, adopting an appearance of authority that masks the truth. This act is improper and unbecoming, resembling a mask that conceals reality.
The administration of Khums, as part of public funds, requires competent distributive ability. A leader lacking power to allocate resources justly has no right to collect Khums, as such mismanagement leads to poverty and corruption. This situation is akin to water lost in a pit instead of nourishing plants, resulting in wasted religious resources.
Moreover, ninety percent of seminary students face debts due to financial mismanagement, highlighting the critical need for leaders capable of equitable resource distribution.
Key Point: Managing public funds, especially Khums, demands capable, middle-aged leadership able to allocate resources equitably and prevent societal poverty.
A religious leader must be physically and visually healthy, as a pleasing appearance engenders public trust. The hadith "You have in the Messenger of Allah an excellent example" emphasises the importance of health and beauty in leadership. Unsuitable appearance, such as undue obesity or extreme thinness, or physical defects (except in cases of sacrifice), diminish leadership qualification.
Cleanliness, decorum, and elegance in dress and appearance serve as adornment for religion and enhance the scholars status within society. The scholar must be the adornment of religion, not a cause for peoples disapproval.
Key Point: Physical and visual health, accompanied by cleanliness and decorum, transform the scholar into an adornment for religion, attracting public confidence.
Islam, as a comprehensive religion, values piety and faith but does not neglect health and beauty. Hygiene and cleanliness are Islamic commandments, and scholars must manifest these in their conduct and appearance.
Gods responses to the peoples inquiries resemble a pure springwise and precise. The repeated phrase "He says, indeed it is" in the verses indicates Divine meticulousness in detailing the cows characteristics and separating Gods speech from intermediaries. This structure, like a bag maintaining distance between two persons, guarantees clarity and coherence of the Divine Word.
The hypothesis of the cows conditions being trivial is refuted by the Divine wisdom in the responses. God, as the wise responder, answers the people's needs with accuracy and clarity.
Key Point: Gods wise responses to the peoples inquiries demonstrate precision and coherence in Divine guidance for humanity.
The slaughter of the cow aimed to judge and identify the murderer, preventing internal conflict. This role, like a torch dispelling the darkness of discord, established peace and justice among the Children of Israel.
Verses 68 to 71 of Surah Al-Baqarah, like a precise map of Divine wisdom, offer profound lessons in social psychology, religious sociology, and leadership principles. The inquiries of the Children of Israel, conducted with care and wisdom to select a suitable cow for judgement, reveal their intellect and capacity to receive Divine guidance. The cows characteristics (middle-aged, beautiful, healthy), as leadership criteria, provide a universal model
