concept

The Calf

الْعِجْل

The Calf (al-ʿijl) refers to the golden idol crafted by Samiri, which the Children of Israel worshipped in the absence of Prophet Musa (Moses). This pivotal event occurred while Musa was on Mount Sinai, receiving divine revelation. Despite having witnessed numerous miracles and being freed from Pharaoh's tyranny, the people [took for worship the calf after him], straying into idolatry. The Quran recounts how their hearts [absorbed the worship of the calf because of their disbelief], illustrating a profound lapse in their faith. Upon his return, Musa was deeply distressed by this grave act of polytheism. He confronted his people, urging them to [repent to your Creator] for their immense wrongdoing. This incident serves as a powerful reminder of the human propensity to err and the constant need for vigilance against associating partners with Allah (shirk). Yet, it also beautifully illustrates Allah's boundless mercy, as [He accepted their repentance; indeed, He is the Accepting of repentance, the Merciful], offering forgiveness to those who sincerely turn back to Him. The story of the Calf remains a profound lesson on faith, obedience, and the enduring nature of divine forgiveness in Islamic tradition.

Quran 10 verses

وَإِذْ وَٰعَدْنَا مُوسَىٰٓ أَرْبَعِينَ لَيْلَةً ثُمَّ ٱتَّخَذْتُمُ ٱلْعِجْلَ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِۦ وَأَنتُمْ ظَٰلِمُونَ

Wa iz waa'adnaa Moosaaa arba'eena lailatan summattakhaztumul 'ijla mim ba'dihee wa antum zaalimoon

And [recall] when We made an appointment with Moses for forty nights. Then you took [for worship] the calf after him, while you were wrongdoers.

اور جب ہم نے موسیٰ سے چالیس رات کا وعدہ کیا تو تم نے ان کے پیچھے بچھڑے کو (معبود) مقرر کر لیا اور تم ظلم کر رہے تھے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Verse 51 refers to other incidents in the same story. When the Pharaoh had been drowned, the Israelites, according to one report, went back to Egypt, or, according to another, began to live somewhere else. Having at last found a peaceful existence, they now wished they could receive a Shari` ah, or ...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And when We appointed for wā‘adnā or wa‘adnā Moses forty nights at the end of which We shall give him the Torah for you to implement then you took to yourselves the calf the one which the Samaritan fashioned for you as a god after him that is after he departed for Our appointment and you were evildo...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Children of Israel worshipped the Calf Allah then said, "Remember My favor on you when I forgave you for worshipping the calf." This happened after Musa went to the meeting place with his Lord at the end of that period which was forty days. These forty days were mentioned in Surat Al-A`raf, when...

وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوْمِهِۦ يَٰقَوْمِ إِنَّكُمْ ظَلَمْتُمْ أَنفُسَكُم بِٱتِّخَاذِكُمُ ٱلْعِجْلَ فَتُوبُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ بَارِئِكُمْ فَٱقْتُلُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَكُمْ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ عِندَ بَارِئِكُمْ فَتَابَ عَلَيْكُمْ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلتَّوَّابُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ

Wa iz qaala Moosaa liqawmihee yaa qawmi innakum zalamtum anfusakum bittikhaa zikumul 'ijla fatoobooo ilaa Baari'ikum faqtulooo anfusakum zaalikum khairul lakum 'inda Baari'ikum fataaba 'alaikum; innahoo Huwat Tawwaabur Raheem

And [recall] when Moses said to his people, "O my people, indeed you have wronged yourselves by your taking of the calf [for worship]. So repent to your Creator and kill yourselves. That is best for [all of] you in the sight of your Creator." Then He accepted your repentance; indeed, He is the Accepting of repentance, the Merciful.

اور جب موسیٰ نے اپنی قوم کے لوگوں سے کہا کہ بھائیو، تم نے بچھڑے کو (معبود) ٹھہرانے میں (بڑا) ظلم کیا ہے، تو اپنے پیدا کرنے والے کے آگے توبہ کرو اور اپنے تئیں ہلاک کر ڈالو۔ تمہارے خالق کے نزدیک تمہارے حق میں یہی بہتر ہے۔ پھر اس نے تمہارا قصور معاف کر دیا۔ وہ بے شک معاف کرنے والا (اور) صاحبِ رحم ہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: This verse describes the special mode of offering their Taubah توبہ (repentance) which was prescribed for the Israelites in this situation, -- that is to say, those who had not indulged in the worship of the golden calf should execute those who had. Similarly, in the Islamic Shari'ah too, certain ma...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And when Moses said to his people those who worshipped the calf ‘My people you have done wrong against yourselves by your taking the golden calf for a god; now turn to your Creator away from that worship of the calf and slay one another that is let the innocent of you slay the guilty; That slaughter...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Children of Israel kill each other in Repentance This was the repentance required from the Children of Israel for worshipping the calf. Commenting on Allah's statement; وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَى لِقَوْمِهِ يَـقَوْمِ إِنَّكُمْ ظَلَمْتُمْ أَنفُسَكُمْ بِاتِّخَاذِكُمُ الْعِجْلَ (And (remember) when Musa s...

وَلَقَدْ جَآءَكُم مُّوسَىٰ بِٱلْبَيِّنَٰتِ ثُمَّ ٱتَّخَذْتُمُ ٱلْعِجْلَ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِۦ وَأَنتُمْ ظَٰلِمُونَ

Wa laqad jaaa'akum Moosa bilbaiyinaati summat takhaztunmul 'ijla mim ba'dihee wa antum zaalimoon

And Moses had certainly brought you clear proofs. Then you took the calf [in worship] after that, while you were wrongdoers.

اور موسیٰ تمہارے پاس کھلے ہوئے معجزات لے کر آئے تو تم ان کے (کوہِ طور جانے کے) بعد بچھڑے کو معبود بنا بیٹھے اور تم (اپنے ہی حق میں) ظلم کرتے تھے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: The "clear signs" mentioned in the verse refers to the miracles which- had manifested themselves even before the Torah was given to Sayyidna Musa (Moses علیہ السلام) -- for example, his staff that turned into a .snake, the palm of his hand which shone brightly, the splitting of the sea to make a pat...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And Moses came to you with clear proofs miracles such as the staff his hand and the parting of the sea; then you took to yourselves the calf as a god after him after he had gone to the appointment and you were evildoers for taking it in worship.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Although The Jews denied the Truth, They claimed to be Believers! Allah said, وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ (And when it is said to them), meaning, the Jews and the People of the Book, ءَامِنُواْ بِمَآ أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ (Believe in what Allah has sent down) to Muhammad , believe in and follow him, قَالُواْ نُؤ...

وَإِذْ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَٰقَكُمْ وَرَفَعْنَا فَوْقَكُمُ ٱلطُّورَ خُذُوا۟ مَآ ءَاتَيْنَٰكُم بِقُوَّةٍ وَٱسْمَعُوا۟ قَالُوا۟ سَمِعْنَا وَعَصَيْنَا وَأُشْرِبُوا۟ فِى قُلُوبِهِمُ ٱلْعِجْلَ بِكُفْرِهِمْ قُلْ بِئْسَمَا يَأْمُرُكُم بِهِۦٓ إِيمَٰنُكُمْ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ

Wa iz akhaznaa meesaaqakum wa rafa'naa fawqa kumut Toora khuzoo maaa aatainaakum biquwwatinw wasma'oo qaaloo sami'naa wa 'asainaa wa ushriboo fee quloobihimul 'ijla bikufrihim; qul bi'samaa yaamurukum biheee eemaanukum in kuntum m'mineen

And [recall] when We took your covenant and raised over you the mount, [saying], "Take what We have given you with determination and listen." They said [instead], "We hear and disobey." And their hearts absorbed [the worship of] the calf because of their disbelief. Say, "How wretched is that which your faith enjoins upon you, if you should be believers."

اور جب ہم نے تم (لوگوں) سے عہد واثق لیا اور کوہ طور کو تم پر اٹھا کھڑا کیا (اور حکم دیا کہ) جو (کتاب) ہم نے تم کو دی ہے، اس کو زور سے پکڑو اور جو تمہیں حکم ہوتا ہے (اس کو) سنو تو وہ (جو تمہارے بڑے تھے) کہنے لگے کہ ہم نے سن تو لیا لیکن مانتے نہیں۔ اور ان کے کفر کے سبب بچھڑا (گویا) ان کے دلوں میں رچ گیا تھا۔ (اے پیغمبر ان سے) کہہ دو کہ اگر تم مومن ہو تو تمہارا ایمان تم کو بری بات بتاتا ہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: In refuting the claim of the Jews to be authentic and true already referred to in Verse 63. When the Israelites succeeded, with the help of Allah, in escaping from Egypt and crossing the sea, they came upon a people who used to worship idols. They found this cult so attractive that they requested Sa...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And when We made a covenant with you to act according to what is in the Torah and raised over you the Mount to drop it on you when you had refused to accept it; We said ‘Take forcefully seriously and with effort what We have given you and listen’ to what you have been commanded and be prepared to ac...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Jews rebel after Allah took Their Covenant and raised the Mountain above Their Heads Allah reminded the Jews of their errors, breaking His covenant, transgression and defiance, when He raised Mount Tur above them so that they would believe and agree to the terms of the covenant. Yet, they broke ...

يَسْـَٔلُكَ أَهْلُ ٱلْكِتَٰبِ أَن تُنَزِّلَ عَلَيْهِمْ كِتَٰبًا مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ فَقَدْ سَأَلُوا۟ مُوسَىٰٓ أَكْبَرَ مِن ذَٰلِكَ فَقَالُوٓا۟ أَرِنَا ٱللَّهَ جَهْرَةً فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ ٱلصَّٰعِقَةُ بِظُلْمِهِمْ ثُمَّ ٱتَّخَذُوا۟ ٱلْعِجْلَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَتْهُمُ ٱلْبَيِّنَٰتُ فَعَفَوْنَا عَن ذَٰلِكَ وَءَاتَيْنَا مُوسَىٰ سُلْطَٰنًا مُّبِينًا

yas'aluka Ahlul Kitaabi an tunazzila 'alaihim Kitaabam minas samaaa'i faqad sa aloo Moosaa akbara min zaalika faqaaloo arinal laaha jahratan fa akhazat humus saa'iqatu bizulmihim; summat takhazul 'ijla mim ba'di maa jaa'at humul baiyinaatu fa'afawnaa 'ann zaalik; wa aatainaa Moosaa sultaanam mubeenaa

The People of the Scripture ask you to bring down to them a book from the heaven. But they had asked of Moses [even] greater than that and said, "Show us Allah outright," so the thunderbolt struck them for their wrongdoing. Then they took the calf [for worship] after clear evidences had come to them, and We pardoned that. And We gave Moses a clear authority.

(اے محمدﷺ) اہل کتاب تم سے درخواست کرتے ہیں کہ تم ان پر ایک (لکھی ہوئی) کتاب آسمان سے اتار لاؤ تو یہ موسیٰ سے اس سے بھی بڑی بڑی درخواستیں کرچکے ہیں (ان سے) کہتے تھے ہمیں خدا ظاہر (یعنی آنکھوں سے) دکھا دو سو ان کے گناہ کی وجہ سے ان کو بجلی نے آپکڑا۔ پھر کھلی نشانیاں آئے پیچھے بچھڑے کو (معبود) بنا بیٹھے تو اس سے بھی ہم نے درگزر کی۔ اور موسیٰ کو صریح غلبہ دیا

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Some previous verses censured Jews for their mistrustfulness in matters of faith. In the present verses too, there appears a long list of some of their other evil doings and, because of these ugly problems with them, mention has been made of their punishment. This strain continues in many more verse...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: The People of the Scripture the Jews will ask of you O Muhammad (s) to cause a Book to be revealed to them from the heaven all at once as was revealed to Moses merely to harass you. If you consider this shocking then know that they their forefathers asked Moses for something greater than that for th...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Stubbornness of the Jews Muhammad bin Ka`b Al-Qurazi, As-Suddi and Qatadah said that the Jews asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to cause a book to come down to them from heaven, just as the Tawrah was sent down to Musa. Ibn Jurayj said that the Jews asked the Messenger to cause books to come down t...

وَٱتَّخَذَ قَوْمُ مُوسَىٰ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِۦ مِنْ حُلِيِّهِمْ عِجْلًا جَسَدًا لَّهُۥ خُوَارٌ أَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ أَنَّهُۥ لَا يُكَلِّمُهُمْ وَلَا يَهْدِيهِمْ سَبِيلًا ٱتَّخَذُوهُ وَكَانُوا۟ ظَٰلِمِينَ

Wattakhaza qawmu Moosaa mim ba'dihee min huliyyihim 'ijlan jasadal lahoo khuwaar; alam yaraw annahoo laa yukallimuhum wa laa yahdeehim sabeelaa; ittakha zoohu wa kaanoo zaalimeen

And the people of Moses made, after [his departure], from their ornaments a calf - an image having a lowing sound. Did they not see that it could neither speak to them nor guide them to a way? They took it [for worship], and they were wrongdoers.

اور قوم موسیٰ نے موسیٰ کے بعد اپنے زیور کا ایک بچھڑا بنا لیا (وہ) ایک جسم (تھا) جس میں سے بیل کی آواز نکلتی تھی۔ ان لوگوں نے یہ نہ دیکھا کہ وہ نہ ان سے بات کرسکتا ہے اور نہ ان کو راستہ دکھا سکتا ہے۔ اس کو انہوں نے (معبود) بنالیا اور (اپنے حق میں) ظلم کیا

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: The next verses continue to narrate the remaining part of the story. When the prophet Musa (علیہ السلام) did not turn up after thirty days from the mount of Sinai where he was to be ordained by Allah after passing ten more nights on the mount, the Israelites who were a hasty and impatient people beg...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And the people of Moses after him that is after he had departed for the communion with God made of their ornaments which they had borrowed from Pharaoh’s folk on the pretext of a wedding celebration and which remained in their possession a calf which the Samaritan had fashioned for them therefrom; a...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Story of worshipping the Calf Allah describes the misguidance of those who worshipped the calf that As-Samiri made for them from the ornaments they borrowed from the Copts. He made the shape of a calf with these ornaments and threw in it a handful of dust from the trace of the horse that the Angel J...

فَأَخْرَجَ لَهُمْ عِجْلًا جَسَدًا لَّهُۥ خُوَارٌ فَقَالُوا۟ هَٰذَآ إِلَٰهُكُمْ وَإِلَٰهُ مُوسَىٰ فَنَسِىَ

Fa akhraja lahum 'ijlan jasadal lahoo khuwaarun faqaaloo haazaaa ilaahukum wa ilaahu Moosaa fanasee

And he extracted for them [the statue of] a calf which had a lowing sound, and they said, "This is your god and the god of Moses, but he forgot."

تو اس نے ان کے لئے ایک بچھڑا بنا دیا (یعنی اس کا) قالب جس کی آواز گائے کی سی تھی۔ تو لوگ کہنے لگے کہ یہی تمہارا معبود ہے اور موسیٰ کا بھی معبود ہے۔ مگر وہ بھول گئے ہیں

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: فَأَخْرَ‌جَ لَهُمْ عِجْلًا جَسَدًا لَّهُ خُوَارٌ‌ (So he brought forth for them a calf, a body with a lowing sound. - 20:88) Some Commentators maintain that it was only a body without life and that the sound was produced by a special contrivance. But the majority of commentators believe that the cal...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Then he produced for them a calf which he fashioned from the melted trinkets — a mere body of flesh and blood with a low in other words it made a sound that was audible; it was transformed into such a state because of the dust from Gabriel’s steed the effect of which is to create life in whatever th...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Musa goes to the Appointment with Allah and the Children of Israel succumb to worship the Calf Allah relates what happened when Musa traveled with the Children of Israel after Fir`awn's destruction. فَأَتَوْاْ عَلَى قَوْمٍ يَعْكُفُونَ عَلَى أَصْنَامٍ لَّهُمْ قَالُواْ يَمُوسَى اجْعَلْ لَّنَآ إِلَـهًا...

أَفَلَا يَرَوْنَ أَلَّا يَرْجِعُ إِلَيْهِمْ قَوْلًا وَلَا يَمْلِكُ لَهُمْ ضَرًّا وَلَا نَفْعًا

Afalaa yarawna allaa yarji'u ilaihim qawlanw wa laa yamliku lahum darranw wa laa naf'aa

Did they not see that it could not return to them any speech and that it did not possess for them any harm or benefit?

کیا یہ لوگ نہیں دیکھتے کہ وہ ان کی کسی بات کا جواب نہیں دیتا۔ اور نہ ان کے نقصان اور نفع کا کچھ اختیار رکھتا ہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: أَفَلَا يَرَ‌وْنَ أَلَّا يَرْ‌جِعُ إِلَيْهِمْ قَوْلًا وَلَا يَمْلِكُ لَهُمْ ضَرًّ‌ا وَلَا نَفْعًا (Do they not then see that it does not respond to them with a word, nor does it have power to harm or benefit them? - 20:89) The excuses put forward by the Bani Isra'il before Sayyidna Musa (علیہ السلام...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Did they not see that in allā an has been softened in place of the hardened form with its subject omitted in other words it should be annahu it the Calf did not reciprocate their words that is that it did not give them any response in return nor did it have any power over hurt for them that is any p...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Musa goes to the Appointment with Allah and the Children of Israel succumb to worship the Calf Allah relates what happened when Musa traveled with the Children of Israel after Fir`awn's destruction. فَأَتَوْاْ عَلَى قَوْمٍ يَعْكُفُونَ عَلَى أَصْنَامٍ لَّهُمْ قَالُواْ يَمُوسَى اجْعَلْ لَّنَآ إِلَـهًا...

قَالُوا۟ لَن نَّبْرَحَ عَلَيْهِ عَٰكِفِينَ حَتَّىٰ يَرْجِعَ إِلَيْنَا مُوسَىٰ

Qaaloo lan nabraha 'alaihi 'aakifeena hattaa yarji'a ilainaa Moosaa

They said, "We will never cease being devoted to the calf until Moses returns to us."

وہ کہنے لگے کہ جب تک موسیٰ ہمارے پاس واپس نہ آئیں ہم تو اس کی پوجا پر قائم رہیں گے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary When the Bani Isra'il were smitten with the mischief of calf-worship Sayyidna Harun (علیہ السلام) as the deputy of Sayyidna Musa (علیہ السلام) remonstrated with them but to no avail. They split into three factions. Those who remained loyal to Sayyidna Harun (علیہ السلام) and refused to be...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: They said ‘We will not cease to cling to it persisting in worship of it until Moses returns to us’.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Harun prohibits them from worship of Calf and the Persistence of the Children of Israel in doing so Allah, the Exalted, informs of Harun's attempt to prohibit them from worshipping the calf and his telling them that this was only a test for them. He told them that their Lord was the Most Beneficent,...

قَالَ فَٱذْهَبْ فَإِنَّ لَكَ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ أَن تَقُولَ لَا مِسَاسَ وَإِنَّ لَكَ مَوْعِدًا لَّن تُخْلَفَهُۥ وَٱنظُرْ إِلَىٰٓ إِلَٰهِكَ ٱلَّذِى ظَلْتَ عَلَيْهِ عَاكِفًا لَّنُحَرِّقَنَّهُۥ ثُمَّ لَنَنسِفَنَّهُۥ فِى ٱلْيَمِّ نَسْفًا

Qaala fazhab fa inna laka fil hayaati an taqoola laa misaasa wa inna laka maw'idal lan tukhlafahoo wanzur ilaaa ilaahikal lazee zalta 'alaihi 'aakifaa; lanuharriqannnahoo summa lanansifanahoo fil yammi nasfaa

[Moses] said, "Then go. And indeed, it is [decreed] for you in [this] life to say, 'No contact.' And indeed, you have an appointment [in the Hereafter] you will not fail to keep. And look at your 'god' to which you remained devoted. We will surely burn it and blow it into the sea with a blast.

(موسیٰ نے) کہا جا تجھ کو دنیا کی زندگی میں یہ (سزا) ہے کہ کہتا رہے کہ مجھ کو ہاتھ نہ لگانا اور تیرے لئے ایک اور وعدہ ہے (یعنی عذاب کا) جو تجھ سے ٹل نہ سکے گا اور جس معبود (کی پوجا) پر تو (قائم و) معتکف تھا اس کو دیکھ۔ ہم اسے جلادیں گے پھر اس (کی راکھ) کو اُڑا کر دریا میں بکھیر دیں گے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: لَكَ فِي الْحَيَاةِ أَن تَقُولَ لَا مِسَاسَ For your fate in this life is to say: 'Do not touch me'.- 20:97 The punishment proposed by Sayyidna Musa (علیہ السلام) for Samiri in this world was that everyone should sever all contacts with him and not to come near him, and he too was commanded not to t...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Said he Moses to him ‘Begone! It shall be yours as your lot throughout life that is for the duration of your life to say to whomever you may see “Do not touch me!” that is do not come near me — he used to wander about aimlessly throughout the land and whenever he touched a person or a person touched...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): How As-Samiri made the Calf Musa said to As-Samiri, "What caused you to do what you did What presented such an idea to you causing you to do this" Muhammad bin Ishaq reported from Ibn `Abbas that he said, "As-Samiri was a man from the people of Bajarma, a people who worshipped cows. He still had the...

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