In the ancient land of Egypt, the Children of Israel lived as slaves under the tyrannical Pharaoh, suffering immense hardship. But Allah, in His boundless mercy, sent Prophet Musa (Moses) to them, equipped with mighty miracles and clear proofs of His oneness. Musa's staff transformed into a serpent, his hand shone with dazzling light, and the Red Sea parted to deliver his people from Pharaoh's clutches. After these incredible signs, Musa led the Children of Israel into the wilderness, where Allah provided them with water from a rock and sustenance in the form of manna and quails. Yet, despite witnessing these awe-inspiring miracles, the Children of Israel often showed ingratitude and disobedience.
A Mysterious Murder
One day, a terrible crime shattered the peace among the Children of Israel. A man was found murdered, his life cruelly taken. No one knew who the killer was, and soon, whispers turned into shouts, accusations flying from one tribe to another. Tension mounted, threatening to erupt into open conflict. The elders, desperate to prevent further bloodshed, approached Prophet Musa.
"O Musa!" they pleaded, "A man has been murdered among us, and we cannot find his killer! Ask your Lord to reveal the truth to us."
Musa turned to Allah in prayer, and Allah revealed a command, simple yet unexpected. Musa then addressed his people, "Indeed, Allah commands you to slaughter a cow" when moses said to his people, "indeed, allah c...](2:67).
A murmur rippled through the crowd. "Do you take us in ridicule?" when moses said to his people, "indeed, allah c...](2:67) they scoffed, thinking Musa was making a joke of their serious problem.
Musa replied, "I seek refuge in Allah from being among the ignorant" when moses said to his people, "indeed, allah c...](2:67). He assured them that this was a divine command, not a jest. He sought refuge in Allah from being among those who mock or treat serious matters lightly.
The Endless Questions
Instead of simply obeying, the Children of Israel began to question, their stubbornness making the task much harder for themselves. "Call upon your Lord to make clear to us what it is," they demanded.
Musa conveyed Allah’s instruction: "Allah says, 'It is a cow which is neither old nor virgin, but median between that,' so do what you are commanded" . It was to be a cow in the prime of its life, not too old to be useful nor too young to be immature.
Still, they were not satisfied. "Call upon your Lord to show us what is her color," they pressed.
Musa replied, "He says, 'It is a yellow cow, bright in color - pleasing to the observers.' " . Imagine a cow so vibrantly yellow, its color so striking and beautiful that anyone who saw it would feel joy.
But even this precise description wasn't enough. "Indeed, all cows look alike to us," they complained, pretending that the command was still unclear. "And indeed we, if Allah wills, will be guided" . Some scholars say that if they hadn't added "if Allah wills," they might never have found the right cow, as their endless questions made the task more and more difficult.
The Cow of Many Qualities
Musa, patiently, relayed Allah's further instructions: "He says, 'It is a cow neither trained to plow the earth nor to irrigate the field, one free from fault with no spot upon her.' " . This was a very specific cow indeed – one that had never been used for labor, untouched by the yoke of a plow or the burden of drawing water. It was to be perfect, without any blemishes or marks on its body.
Finally, having exhausted their questions, they exclaimed, "Now you have come with the truth!" . They had pushed for such detail that the search for this specific cow would be incredibly challenging and costly. According to Ibn Kathir, the Jews eventually found this cow with a man who was deeply dutiful to his mother. He refused to sell it for anything less than its weight in gold, a price the Children of Israel were forced to pay due to their earlier stubbornness.
"So they slaughtered her, but they could hardly do it" . They grumbled and hesitated, but eventually, they completed the sacrifice.
The Truth Revealed
Once the cow was sacrificed, Allah commanded Musa: "Strike the slain man with part of it" . The Children of Israel watched, holding their breath, as Musa took a piece of the cow—some say its tongue, some its tail—and touched the lifeless body of the murdered man.
Suddenly, a miracle unfolded before their very eyes! The dead man came back to life! His eyes opened, and a voice, clear and strong, announced, "My nephew killed me!" He pointed to his own nephew, who had committed the crime out of greed for his inheritance. After revealing the truth, the man returned to his rest.
"Thus does Allah bring the dead to life, and He shows you His signs that you might reason" . This extraordinary event was a powerful demonstration of Allah's limitless power, proving that He can resurrect the dead, just as He will on the Day of Judgment. It was a sign to make them reflect, to understand that the One who could revive a single soul could also revive all of humanity. Yet, despite such a clear sign, the hearts of many among them remained hardened, like stones, or even harder 2:74.
Reflection
This story from the time of Prophet Musa teaches us many lessons. It shows us the importance of immediate obedience to Allah's commands, for delaying or questioning only makes tasks more difficult. It highlights the dangers of stubbornness and unnecessary inquiry, which can turn a simple instruction into a complex burden. Most importantly, it reminds us of Allah’s immense power to bring life from death and to reveal hidden truths, urging us to reflect on His signs and never doubt His wisdom or ability.