Verses 83 to 85 and 150 of Surah Al-Arf in the Holy Qur'an narrate a profound account of the deviation of the Children of Israel during the absence of Prophet Moses (peace be upon him) and their inclination towards calf worship. These verses, through the exposition of the deception by the Samiri and the invalidity of his sorcery, provide profound lessons regarding monotheism, rationality, patience, and abstention from polytheism. The present text, relying on the content of the lecture and exegetical analyses, examines these verses within a coherent framework and in a refined, scholarly language. The objective is to elucidate the monotheistic and philosophical meanings of these verses and to offer a deep understanding of their divine messages, which serve as a guiding light for humanity on the path of guidance and deliverance from misguidance.
The Holy Qur'an, in verse 83 of Surah Al-Arf, refers to a critical moment in the history of the Children of Israel, when in the absence of Prophet Moses (peace be upon him), due to haste and weakness of faith, they turned towards polytheism. The phrase
وَاتَّخَذَ قَوْمُ مُوسَىٰ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ
indicates the time when Moses ascended to the Divine appointment at Mount Tur and his people, instead of waiting patiently and steadfastly upholding monotheism, succumbed to the temptation of the Samiri. This absence was like ashes over the latent fire of the people's faith, igniting the flames of ignorance and impatience.
The Children of Israel, instead of clinging to the guidance of Aaron, fixated on their ornaments and fashioned from them an idol that was not only devoid of divine spirit but also a symbol of deviation and estrangement from the truth. This deviation was indicative of a fundamental weakness in faith and a haste which, like a rebellious wind, drove the people towards the precipice of polytheism.
وَاتَّخَذَ قَوْمُ مُوسَىٰ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ مِنْ حُلِيِّهِمْ عِجْلًا جَسَدًا لَهُ خُوَارٌ أَلَمْ يَرَوْا أَنَّهُ لَا يُكَلِّمُهُمْ وَلَا يَهْدِيهِمْ سَبِيلًا اتَّخَذُوهُ وَكَانُوا ظَالِمِينَ
And the people of Moses, after him, took (for themselves) from their ornaments a calf a body with a lowing (sound). Did they not see that it neither spoke to them nor guided them to a way? They took it for worship, and they were unjust.
The Samiri, by utilising the ornaments of the people earrings, rings, and other decorative objects fashioned a calf that had a physical body (jassadan) and a lowing sound (khuwr). The term ijl, meaning calf, not only refers to the animal but is metaphorically indicative of the haste and precipitance of the people in their inclination towards polytheism. This calf was like a mirror reflecting the ignorance of the people; a lifeless idol that neither spoke nor showed the path of guidance.
Through demonic sorcery, the Samiri adorned this calf in such a manner that he deceived the people. The lowing sound of the calf, possibly resulting from technical or magical tricks, led the people to believe that this lifeless body possessed divine power. However, this deception was like a bubble on water, unstable and soon exposed as falsehood.
The Holy Qur'an, continuing in verse 83, challenges the ignorance of the people with a thought-provoking question:
أَلَمْ يَرَوْا أَنَّهُ لَا يُكَلِّمُهُمْ وَلَا يَهْدِيهِمْ سَبِيلًا
Did they not see that it neither spoke to them nor guided them to a way? This question strikes like a blade upon the veil of the people's ignorance, revealing the incapacity of the lifeless idol. The calf, unlike the Almighty God and the divine prophets, lacked any ability for guidance or response.
This ignorance stemmed from a detachment from reason and faith. Instead of contemplating the truth of monotheism, the people clung to a superficial sound and a lifeless body. This inclination was like sinking into a swamp of ignorance that led the people to injustice and polytheism.
The phrase
وَكَانُوا ظَالِمِينَ
in verse 83 calls the people unjust due to their worship of the calf. This injustice was not limited to associating partners with God but extended to disobedience to Moses, disregard for the guidance of Aaron, and oppression of themselves and society. By this act, the people were like farmers who sowed the seeds of their faith on the barren land of polytheism and reaped nothing but loss and misguidance.
وَلَمَّا سُقِطَ فِي أَيْدِيهِمْ وَرَأَوْا أَنَّهُمْ قَدْ ضَلُّوا قَالُوا لَئِنْ لَمْ يَرْحَمْنَا رَبُّنَا وَيَغْفِرْ لَنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ
And when it fell into their hands and they saw that indeed they had gone astray, they said: If our Lord does not h
