SURAH AL-A RAAF (AYA 131 to 150)

فَإِذَا جَاءَتْهُمُ الْحَسَنَةُ قَالُوا لَنَا هَٰذِهِ ۖ وَإِنْ تُصِبْهُمْ سَيِّئَةٌ يَطَّيَّرُوا بِمُوسَىٰ وَمَنْ مَعَهُ ۗ أَلَا إِنَّمَا طَائِرُهُمْ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ {7:131}

[Q7:131] Fa izaa jaaa'at humul hasanatu qaaloo lanaa haazihee wa in tusibhum saiyi'atuny yattaiyaroo bi Moosaa wa mam ma'ah; alaaa innamaa taaa'iruhum 'indal laahi wa laakinna aksarahum laa ya'lamoon.
[Q7:131] But when good befell them they said: This is due to us; and when evil afflicted them, they attributed it to the ill-luck of Musa and those with him; surely their evil fortune is only from ALLAH (SWT) but most of them do not know. 

[Q7:131] Kemudian apabila datang kepada mereka kesenangan mereka berkata: Ini ialah hasil usaha kami dan jika mereka ditimpa kesusahan, mereka mengatakan nahas dan malang itu disebabkan oleh Nabi Musa dan pengikut-pengikutnya. (Tuhan berfirman): Ketahuilah, sesungguhnya nahas dan malang mereka itu hanya di tetapkan di sisi ALLAH (SwT), akan tetapi kebanyakan mereka tidak mengetahui.

(see commentary for verse 103)

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(7:131) But whenever prosperity came their way, they said: 'This is our due.' And whatever hardship befell them, they attributed it to the misfortune of Moses and those who followed him. Surely, their misfortune had been decreed by Allah - but most of them do not know that.

وَقَالُوا مَهْمَا تَأْتِنَا بِهِ مِنْ آيَةٍ لِتَسْحَرَنَا بِهَا فَمَا نَحْنُ لَكَ بِمُؤْمِنِينَ {7:132}

[Q7:132] Wa qaaloo mahmaa taatinaa bihee min Aayatil litasharanaa bihaa famaa nahnu laka bimu'mineen. 

[Q7:132] And they said: Whatever sign you may bring to us to charm us with it-- we will not believe in you.
[Q7:132] Dan mereka berkata: Walau apa sahaja (jenis-jenis) keterangan (mukjizat) yang engkau bawa kepada kami; (wahai Musa), untuk menjalankan sihirmu kepada kami, maka kami tidak sekali-kali akan beriman kepadamu.  

(see commentary for verse 103)

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(7:132) And they said to Moses: 'Whatever sign you might produce before us in order to enchant us, we are not going to believe you.' *94

*94. Pharaoh's courtiers obstinately persisted in branding Moses' signs as sorcery although they knew well that sorcery had nothing in common with the miraculous signs granted to Moses. Even a fool would not he ready to believe that the country-wide famine and the consistent decrease in agricultural output could have been caused by magic. It is for this reason that the Qur'an says:
But when Our signs, which should have opened their eyes, came to them they said: 'This is clear sorcery! And they rejected those signs out of iniquity and arrogance even though they were inwardly convinced of it' (al-Naml 27: 13-14). 

فَأَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمُ الطُّوفَانَ وَالْجَرَادَ وَالْقُمَّلَ وَالضَّفَادِعَ وَالدَّمَ آيَاتٍ مُفَصَّلَاتٍ فَاسْتَكْبَرُوا وَكَانُوا قَوْمًا مُجْرِمِينَ {7:133}

[Q7:133] Fa arsalnaa 'alaihimut toofaana waljaraada walqum mala waddafaadi'a waddama Aayaatim mufassalaatin fastakbaroo wa kaanoo qawmam mujrimee. 
[Q7:133] Therefore We sent upon them widespread death, and the locusts and the lice and the frog and the blood, clear signs; but they behaved haughtily and they were a guilty people.

[Q7:133] (ALLAH (SwT) berfirman): Kami pun menghantarkan kepada mereka taufan dan belalang, dan kutu dan katak dan darah, sebagai tanda-tanda dan bukti yang jelas nyata, maka mereka juga tetap berlaku sombong takbur dan menjadi kaum yang menderhaka.  

(see commentary for verse 103)

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(7:133) Then We afflicted them with a great flood  *95 and locusts, and the lice *96 , and the frogs, and the blood. All these were distinct signs and yet they remained haughty. They were a wicked people.

*95. This probably refers to the torrential rain accompanied by hailstorm. While we do not totally exclude the possibility of other kinds of storms, we are inclined to the view, that it probably signifies hailstorm since the Bible specifically mentions that. (See Exodus 9: 23-4 - Ed.) 
*96. The word used in the text - qummal - denotes lice, fleas, small locusts, mosquitoes, and weevil. This rather general term has been used in the Qur'an probably to suggest that while men were afflicted with lice and fleas, weevil destroyed the barns. (Cf. Exodus 7-12. See also Tafhim al-ur'an, al-Zukhruf 43, n. 43.) 

وَلَمَّا وَقَعَ عَلَيْهِمُ الرِّجْزُ قَالُوا يَا مُوسَى ادْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ بِمَا عَهِدَ عِنْدَكَ ۖ لَئِنْ كَشَفْتَ عَنَّا الرِّجْزَ لَنُؤْمِنَنَّ لَكَ وَلَنُرْسِلَنَّ مَعَكَ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ {7:134}

[Q7:134] Wa lammaa waqa'a 'alaihimur rijzu qaaloo ya Moosad-u lanaa rabbaka bimaa 'ahida 'indaka la'in kashafta 'annar rijza lanu'minanna laka wa lanursilanna ma'aka Banee Israaa'eel. 
[Q7:134] And when the plague fell upon them, they said: O Musa! Pray for us to your Lord as He has promised with you, if you remove the plague from us, we will certainly believe in you and we will certainly send away with you the children of Israel. 

[Q7:134] Dan apabila azab yang tersebut itu menimpa mereka, mereka (merayu dengan) berkata: Wahai Musa! Pohonkanlah kepada Tuhanmu untuk kami dengan (kehormatan) pangkat Nabi yang diberikanNya kepadamu (yang menjadikan permohonanmu sentiasa makbul). Sesungguhnya jika engkau hapuskan azab itu daripada kami, tentulah kami akan beriman kepadamu dan sudah tentu kami akan membebaskan kaum Bani Israil (pergi) bersamamu. 

(see commentary for verse 103)

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(7:134) Each time a scourge struck them they, said: '0 Moses! Pray for us to your Lord on the strength of the prophethood He has bestowed upon you. Surely, if you remove this scourge from us, we will truly believe in you, and will let the Children of Israel go with you.'

فَلَمَّا كَشَفْنَا عَنْهُمُ الرِّجْزَ إِلَىٰ أَجَلٍ هُمْ بَالِغُوهُ إِذَا هُمْ يَنْكُثُونَ {7:135}

[Q7:135] Falammaa kashafnaa 'anhumur rijza ilaaa ajalin hum baalighoohu izaa hum yankusoon.
[Q7:135] But when We removed the plague from them till a term which they should attain lo! They broke (the promise). 

[Q7:135] (Tuhan berfirman): Setelah Kami hapuskan azab itu daripada mereka, hingga ke suatu masa yang tertentu yang mereka sampai kepadanya, tiba-tiba mereka mencabuli janjinya 

(see commentary for verse 103)

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(7:135) But when We removed the scourge from them until a term - a term which they were bound to reach - they at once broke their promise.

فَانْتَقَمْنَا مِنْهُمْ فَأَغْرَقْنَاهُمْ فِي الْيَمِّ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا وَكَانُوا عَنْهَا غَافِلِينَ {7:136}

[Q7:136] Fantaqamnaa minhum fa aghraqnaahum kazzaboo bi Aayaatinaa wa kaanoo 'anhaa ghaafileen. 
[Q7:136] Therefore We inflicted retribution on them and drowned them in the sea because they rejected Our signs and were heedless of them.

[Q7:136] Maka Kami pun membalas mereka, lalu Kami menenggelamkan mereka di laut dengan sebab mereka mendustakan ayat-ayat Kami dan mereka sentiasa lalai daripadanya. 

(see commentary for verse 103)

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(7:136) So We inflicted Our retribution on them, and caused them to drown in the sea because they gave the lie to Our signs and were heedless of them.

وَأَوْرَثْنَا الْقَوْمَ الَّذِينَ كَانُوا يُسْتَضْعَفُونَ مَشَارِقَ الْأَرْضِ وَمَغَارِبَهَا الَّتِي بَارَكْنَا فِيهَا ۖ وَتَمَّتْ كَلِمَتُ رَبِّكَ الْحُسْنَىٰ عَلَىٰ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ بِمَا صَبَرُوا ۖ وَدَمَّرْنَا مَا كَانَ يَصْنَعُ فِرْعَوْنُ وَقَوْمُهُ وَمَا كَانُوا يَعْرِشُونَ {7:137}

[Q7:137] Wa awrasnal qawmal lazeena kaanoo yustad'afoona mashaariqal ardi wa maghaari bahal latee baaraknaa feehaa wa tammat kalimatu Rabbikal husnaa 'alaa Baneee Israaa'eela bimaa sabaroo wa dammarnaa maa kaana yasna'u Fir'awnu wa qawmuhoo wa maa kaanoo ya'rishoon. 
[Q7:137] And We made the people who were deemed weak to inherit the eastern lands and the western ones which We had blessed; and the good word of your Lord was fulfilled in the children of Israel because they bore up (sufferings) patiently; and We utterly destroyed what Firon and his people had wrought and what they built.

[Q7:137] Dan Kami wariskan kepada kaum (Bani Israil) yang telah tertindas itu akan daerah-daerah timur bumi (Palestin) dan daerah-daerah baratnya, yang Kami telah melimpahkan berkat padanya dan telah sempurnalah Kalimah ALLAH (SwT) (janjiNya) yang baik kepada kaum Bani Israil kerana kesabaran mereka (semasa mereka ditindas oleh Firaun), dan Kami telah hancurkan apa yang telah dibuat oleh Firaun dan kaumnya dan apa yang mereka telah dirikan (dari bangunan-bangunan yang tinggi)  

(see commentary for verse 103)

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(7:137) And We made those who had been persecuted inherit the eastern and western lands which We had blessed. *97 Thus your Lord's gracious promise was fulfilled to the Children of Israel, for they had endured with patience; and We destroyed all that Pharaoh and his people had wrought, and all that they had built.

*97. The Israelites were made the inheritors of Palestine. This has been interpreted by some commentators of the Qur'an to mean that the Israelites were made the rulers of Egypt as well. This view, however, is neither supported by, the Qur'an nor by any other historical and archaeological evidence. We have, therefore, serious reservations about the correctness of this opinion. (See Tafhim a]-Qur'an, al-Kahf 18, n. 57, and al-Shuara' 26, n. 45) 

وَجَاوَزْنَا بِبَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ الْبَحْرَ فَأَتَوْا عَلَىٰ قَوْمٍ يَعْكُفُونَ عَلَىٰ أَصْنَامٍ لَهُمْ ۚ قَالُوا يَا مُوسَى اجْعَلْ لَنَا إِلَٰهًا كَمَا لَهُمْ آلِهَةٌ ۚ قَالَ إِنَّكُمْ قَوْمٌ تَجْهَلُونَ {7:138}

[Q7:138] Wa jaawaznaa bi Banneee Israaa'eelal bahra fa ataw 'alaa qawminy ya'kufoona 'alaaa asnaamil lahum; qaaloo yaa Moosaj'al lanaa ilaahan kamaa lahum aalihah; qaala innakum qawmun tajhaloon.
[Q7:138] And We made the children of Israel to pass the sea; then they came upon a people who kept to the worship of their idols They said: O Musa! Make for us a god as they have (their) ALLAH (SWT)s He said: Surely you are a people acting ignorantly:

[Q7:138] Dan Kami bawakan Bani Israil ke sebarang Laut (Merah) itu lalu mereka sampai kepada suatu kaum yang sedang menyembah berhala-berhalanya. (Melihatkan yang demikian) mereka (Bani Israil) berkata: Wahai Musa buatlah untuk kami suatu tuhan (berhala) sebagaimana mereka mempunyai beberapa tuhan. Nabi Musa menjawab: Sesungguhnya kamu ini adalah kaum yang jahil. 

(see commentary for verse 103)

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(7:138) And We led the Children of Israel across the sea; and then they came upon a people who were devoted to the worship of their idols. They said: '0 Moses, make for us a god even as they have gods.' *98 Moses said: 'You are indeed an ignorant people.'

*98. The point at which the Israelites probably crossed the Red Sea lies somewhere between the present Suez and Ismailia. After that they headed towards the south of the Sinai Peninsula along the coastal route. The western and northern regions of the Sinai Peninsula were then included in the Egyptian empire. In the southern part of the peninsula, in the area lying between the present towns of Tur and Abu Zanimah, there were copper and turquoise mines. Since these were of immense value to the Egyptians, a number of garrisons had been set up to ensure their security'. One such garrison was located at a place known as Mafqah, which also housed a big temple. The ruins of this temple can still be found in the south-western part of the peninsula. In its vicinity there was an ancient temple, dedicated to the moon-god of the Semites. Passing by these places the people of Israel, who had been subservient to the Egyptians for a long time and were thus considerably Egyptianized in their outlook, felt the desire to indulge in idol-worship.
The extent to which the Israelites had become degenerated as a result of their slavery may be gauged by Joshua's last address to the Israelites delivered seventy years after their exodus from Epypt:
Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River, and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. And if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord (Joshua 24: 14-15).
This shows that even though the Israelites had been taught and trained by Moses for forty Years and by Joshua for twenty-eight years, they had still been unable to purge their minds of those influences which had warped their outlook and mentality during their period of bondage under Pharaoh. These Muslims had begun to look upon idol-worship as natural. Even after their exodus, the sight of a temple would incline them to indulge in the idolatrous practices which they had observed among their former masters.

إِنَّ هَٰؤُلَاءِ مُتَبَّرٌ مَا هُمْ فِيهِ وَبَاطِلٌ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ {7:139}

[Q7:139] Innaa haaa'ulaaa'i mutabbarum maa hum feehi wa baatilum maa kaanoo ya'maloon.
[Q7:139] (As to) these, surely that about which they are shall be brought to naught and that which they do is vain.

[Q7:139] Sesungguhnya mereka (penyembah-penyembah berhala itu), akan dihancurkan apa yang mereka berada di dalamnya (dari perbuatan syirik) dan tetaplah salahnya apa yang mereka kerjakan itu. 

(see commentary for verse 103)

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(7:139) The way these people follow is bound to lead to destruction; and all their works are vain.

قَالَ أَغَيْرَ اللَّهِ أَبْغِيكُمْ إِلَٰهًا وَهُوَ فَضَّلَكُمْ عَلَى الْعَالَمِينَ {7:140}

[Q7:140] Qaala a-ghairal laahi abgheekum ilaahanw wa Huwa faddalakum 'alal 'aalameen. 

[Q7:140] He said: What! Shall I seek for you a god other than ALLAH (SWT) while He has made you excel (all) created things?

[Q7:140] Nabi Musa berkata lagi: Patutkah aku mencari tuhan untuk kamu selain dari ALLAH (SwT), padahal Dia telah melebihkan kamu atas sekalian manusia (yang sezaman dengan kamu, dengan berbagai nikmat yang telah dikurniakanNya kepada kamu)? 

(see commentary for verse 103)

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(7:140) Moses said: 'Should I seek any god for you other than Allah although it is He who has exalted you above all?'

وَإِذْ أَنْجَيْنَاكُمْ مِنْ آلِ فِرْعَوْنَ يَسُومُونَكُمْ سُوءَ الْعَذَابِ ۖ يُقَتِّلُونَ أَبْنَاءَكُمْ وَيَسْتَحْيُونَ نِسَاءَكُمْ ۚ وَفِي ذَٰلِكُمْ بَلَاءٌ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ عَظِيمٌ {7:141}

[Q7:141] Wa iz anjainaakum min Aali Fir'awna yasoomoo nakum sooo'al 'azaab, yuqattiloona abnaaa'akum wa yastahyoona nisaaa'akum; wa fee zaalikum balaaa'um mir Rabbikum 'azeem.
[Q7:141] And when We delivered you from Firon's people who subjected you to severe torment, killing your sons and sparing your women, and in this there was a great trial from your Lord. 

[Q7:141] Dan (Tuhan berfirman): Ingatlah ketika Kami selamatkan kamu dari Firaun dan kaumnya, yang menyeksa kamu dengan azab seksa yang seberat-berat dan seburuk-buruknya; mereka membunuh anak-anak lelaki kamu dan membiarkan hidup anak-anak perempuan kamu dan (ingatlah bahawa) yang demikian itu mengandungi cubaan yang besar dari Tuhan kamu. 

(see commentary for verse 103)

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(7:141) And call to mind when We delivered you from Pharaoh's people who perpetrated on you a terrible torment, putting your males to death and sparing your females. Surely in it there was an awesome trial for you from your Lord.

SECTION 17

The Physical eyes can never see ALLAH

Moses called on the Mountain---None can by any means see ALLAH with his physical eyes---Moses given the Torah

وَوَاعَدْنَا مُوسَىٰ ثَلَاثِينَ لَيْلَةً وَأَتْمَمْنَاهَا بِعَشْرٍ فَتَمَّ مِيقَاتُ رَبِّهِ أَرْبَعِينَ لَيْلَةً ۚ وَقَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِأَخِيهِ هَارُونَ اخْلُفْنِي فِي قَوْمِي وَأَصْلِحْ وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ سَبِيلَ الْمُفْسِدِينَ {7:142}

[Q7:142] Wa waa'adnaa Moosaa salaaseena lailatanw wa at mamnaahaa bi'ashrim fatamma meeqaatu Rabbihee arba'eena lailah; wa qaala Moosaa liakheehi Haaroonakh lufnee fee qawmee wa aslih wa laa tattabi' sabeelal mufsideen. 
[Q7:142] And We appointed with Musa a time of thirty nights and completed them with ten (more), so the appointed time of his Lord was complete forty nights, and Musa said to his brother Haroun: Take my place among my people, and act well and do not follow the way of the mischief-makers.

[Q7:142] Dan kami telah janjikan masa kepada Nabi Musa (untuk memberikan Taurat) selama tiga puluh malam, serta Kami genapkan jumlahnya dengan sepuluh malam lagi, lalu sempurnalah waktu yang telah ditentukan oleh Tuhannya empat puluh malam dan berkatalah Nabi Musa kepada saudaranya Nabi Harun (semasa keluar menerima Taurat): Gantikanlah aku dalam (urusan memimpin) kaumku dan perbaikilah (keadaan mereka sepeninggalanku) dan janganlah engkau menurut jalan orang-orang yang melakukan kerosakan. 

(see commentary for verse 103)

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(7:142) And We appointed for Moses thirty nights, to which We added ten, whereby the term of forty nights set by his Lord was fulfilled. *99 And Moses said to Aaron, his brother: 'Take my place among my people, act righteously, and do not follow the path of those who create mischief.' *100

*99. After the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt which marks, on the one hand, the end of the constraints of slavery and on the other, the beginning of their life as an independent nation, Moses was summoned by God to Mount Sinai in order that he might receive the Law for Israel. HE WAS INITIALLY SUMMONED FOR A PERIOD OF FORTY DAYS SO THAT HE MIGHT SINGLE-MINDEDLY DEVOTE HIMSELF TO WORSHIPPING, FASTING, MEDITATION AND REFLECTION AND THUS DEVELOP THE ABILITY TO RECEIVE THE REVELATION WHICH WAS TO PUT A VERY HEAVY BURDEN UPON HIM.
In compliance with God's command, Moses left the Israelites at the place now known as the Wadi al-Shaykh which lies between Nabi Salih and Mount Sinai. The place where the Israelites had camped is presently called Maydan al-Rahah. At one end of the valley is a hillock where, according to local tradition, the Prophet Salih pitched his tent after his migration from the land of Thamud. A mosque built as a monument to the Prophet Salih still adorns the landscape. Mount Harun is located at the other end of the valley where, again, according to local tradition, the Prophet Harun (Aaron) stayed after his exasperation with the Israelites because of their cow-worship. The top of the towering Mount Sinai, standing 7,359 feet high, is mostly enveloped by clouds. The cave to which Moses retired for forty days to devote himself to worship and meditation is situated at the top of the mountain, and still attracts many pilgrims. Close to the cave are a mosque and a church. Moreover, a monastery built in the Justinian period stands even today at the foot of the mountain. (See Tafhim al-Qur'an, al-Naml 27: nn. 9-10.)
*100. Although Aaron was senior to Moses in age by three years, he was placed under the direction of the Prophet Moses and was required to assist him in connection with his mission, As explained elsewhere in the Qur'an, Aaron was not assigned independent prophethood; he was rather appointed a Prophet by God in response to Moses' prayer that he be appointed as his assistant. (See Ta Ha 20: 29-31 - Ed.) 

وَلَمَّا جَاءَ مُوسَىٰ لِمِيقَاتِنَا وَكَلَّمَهُ رَبُّهُ قَالَ رَبِّ أَرِنِي أَنْظُرْ إِلَيْكَ ۚ قَالَ لَنْ تَرَانِي وَلَٰكِنِ انْظُرْ إِلَى الْجَبَلِ فَإِنِ اسْتَقَرَّ مَكَانَهُ فَسَوْفَ تَرَانِي ۚ فَلَمَّا تَجَلَّىٰ رَبُّهُ لِلْجَبَلِ جَعَلَهُ دَكًّا وَخَرَّ مُوسَىٰ صَعِقًا ۚ فَلَمَّا أَفَاقَ قَالَ سُبْحَانَكَ تُبْتُ إِلَيْكَ وَأَنَا أَوَّلُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ {7:143}

[Q7:143] Wa lammaa jaaa'a Moosa limeeqaatinaa wa kallamahoo Rabbuhoo qaala Rabbi arineee anzur ilaik; qaala lan taraanee wa laakininzur ilal jabali fa inistaqarra makaanahoo faswfa taraanee; falammaa tajallaa Rabbuhoo liljabali ja'alahoo dakkanw wa kharra Moosaa sa'iqaa; falammaaa afaaqa qaala Subhaanaka tubtu ilaika wa ana awwalul mu'mineeen. 
[Q7:143] And when Musa came at Our appointed time and his Lord spoke to him, he said: My Lord! Show me (Thyself), so that I may look upon Thee. He said: You cannot (bear to) see Me but look at the mountain, if it remains firm in its place, then will you see Me; but when his Lord manifested His glory to the mountain He made it crumble and Musa fell down in a swoon; then when he recovered, he said: Glory be to Thee, I turn to Thee, and I am the first of the believers.

[Q7:143] Dan ketika Nabi Musa datang pada waktu yang Kami telah tentukan itu dan Tuhannya berkata-kata dengannya, maka Nabi Musa (merayu dengan) berkata: Wahai Tuhanku! Perlihatkanlah kepadaku (ZatMu Yang Maha Suci) supaya aku dapat melihatMu. ALLAH (SwT) berfirman: Engkau tidak sekali-kali akan sanggup melihatKu, tetapi pandanglah ke gunung itu, maka kalau dia tetap berada di tempatnya, nescaya engkau akan dapat melihatKu, Setelah Tuhannya "Tajalla" (menzahirkan kebesaranNya) kepada gunung itu, (maka) "TajalliNya" menjadikan gunung itu hancur lebur dan Nabi Musa pun jatuh pengsan. Setelah dia sedar semula, berkatalah ia: Maha Suci Engkau (wahai Tuhanku), aku bertaubat kepadaMu dan akulah orang yang awal pertama beriman (pada zamanku)  

(see commentary for verse 103)

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(7:143) And when Moses came at Our appointment, and his Lord spoke to him, he said: 'O my Lord! Reveal Yourself to me, that I may look upon You!' He replied: 'Never can you see Me. However, behold this mount; if it remains firm in its place, only then you will be able to see Me.' And as soon as his Lord unveiled His glory to the mount, He crushed it into fine dust, and Moses fell down in a swoon. And when he recovered, he said: 'Glory be to You! To You I turn in repentance, and I am the foremost among those who believe.'

قَالَ يَا مُوسَىٰ إِنِّي اصْطَفَيْتُكَ عَلَى النَّاسِ بِرِسَالَاتِي وَبِكَلَامِي فَخُذْ مَا آتَيْتُكَ وَكُنْ مِنَ الشَّاكِرِينَ {7:144}

[Q7:144] Qaala yaa Moosaaa innis tafaituka 'alan naasi bi Risaalaatee wa bi kalaamee fakhuz maaa aataituka wa kum minash shaakireen. 
[Q7:144] He said: O Musa! Surely I have chosen you above the people with My messages and with My words, therefore take hold of what I give to you and be of the grateful ones.

[Q7:144] ALLAH (SwT) berfirman: Wahai Musa! Sesungguhnya Aku memilihmu melebihi umat manusia (yang ada pada zamanmu), dengan membawa perutusanKu (Kitab Taurat) dan dengan KalamKu; oleh itu, terimalah apa yang Aku kurniakan kepadamu dan jadikanlah dirimu dari orang-orang yang bersyukur.  

(see commentary for verse 103)

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(7:144) He said: 'O Moses! I have indeed preferred you to all others by virtue of the Message I have entrusted to you and by virtue of My speaking to you. Hold fast therefore, to whatever I have granted you, and give thanks.'

وَكَتَبْنَا لَهُ فِي الْأَلْوَاحِ مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ مَوْعِظَةً وَتَفْصِيلًا لِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ فَخُذْهَا بِقُوَّةٍ وَأْمُرْ قَوْمَكَ يَأْخُذُوا بِأَحْسَنِهَا ۚ سَأُرِيكُمْ دَارَ الْفَاسِقِينَ {7:145}

[Q7:145] Wa katabnaa lahoo fil alwaahi minkulli shai'immaw 'izaanw wa tafseelal likulli shai'in fakhuzhaa biquwwatinw waamur qawmaka yaakhuzoo bi ahsanihaa; wa ooreekum daaral faasiqeeen. 
[Q7:145] And We ordained for him in the tablets admonition of every kind and clear explanation of all things; so take hold of them with firmness and enjoin your people to take hold of what is best thereof; I will show you the abode of the transgressors.

[Q7:145] Dan Kami telah menuliskan bagi Nabi Musa pada Luh-luh (Taurat) itu, dari pelbagai jenis nasihat pengajaran dan penjelasan bagi tiap-tiap sesuatu (dasar Syariat dan hukum-hukumnya). Oleh itu, terimalah dia (dan amalkanlah wahai Musa) dengan bersungguh-sungguh dan suruhlah kaummu berpegang (serta mengamalkan) yang sebaik-baiknya (iaitu suruhan-suruhannya). Aku akan perlihatkan kepada kamu akan negeri orang-orang yang fasik (derhaka).  

(see commentary for verse 103)

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(7:145) And We ordained for Moses in the Tablets all manner of admonition, and instruction concerning all things, *101 and said to him: Hold to these, with all your strength and bid your people to follow them in accord with their best understanding. *102 I shall soon show you the habitation of the wicked.  *103

*101. The Bible categorically mentions that the tablets were of stone. The act of writing on these tablets is attributed in both the Qur'an and the Bible, to God. Nonetheless, it is not possible to ascertain whether the actual act of writing was as performed by God exercising His power directly, or by God in the sense of His assignment of the task to some angel or to Moses (cf. Exodus 31: 18, 32: 15-16; and Deuteronomyi, 5: 6-22). 
*102 The Israelites were asked to hold fast to the Law to follow it in its plain meaning, a meaning which can he grasped by an ordinary man of sound heart and good intent with the help of his common sense. This stipulation was added in order to discourage the chicanery and hair-splitting to which lawyers resort in order to accommodate the crooked aims of the people. The warning was necessary to emphasize that holding fast to the Law was not to be equated with following the chicanery of the lawyers.
*103. The Israelites were told that on their way they would come across the ruins of earlier nations who had refused to turn to God and who had persisted in their evil way's. Observing those ruins would he instructive insofar as they eloquently spoke of the tragic end that meets those who indulge in such iniquity . 

سَأَصْرِفُ عَنْ آيَاتِيَ الَّذِينَ يَتَكَبَّرُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ بِغَيْرِ الْحَقِّ وَإِنْ يَرَوْا كُلَّ آيَةٍ لَا يُؤْمِنُوا بِهَا وَإِنْ يَرَوْا سَبِيلَ الرُّشْدِ لَا يَتَّخِذُوهُ سَبِيلًا وَإِنْ يَرَوْا سَبِيلَ الْغَيِّ يَتَّخِذُوهُ سَبِيلًا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا وَكَانُوا عَنْهَا غَافِلِينَ {7:146}

[Q7:146] Sa asrifu 'an Aayaatiyal lazeena yatakabbaroona fil ardi bighairil haqq; wa iny-yaraw kulla Aayatil laa yu'minoo bihaa wa iny-yaraw sabeelar rushdi laa yattakhizoohu sabeelanw wa iny-yaraw sabeelal ghaiyi yatta khizoohu sabeelaa; zaalika bi annahum kazzaboo bi Aayaatinaa wa kaanoo 'anhaa ghaafileen. 
[Q7:146] I will turn away from My communications those who are unjustly proud in the earth; and if they see every sign they will not believe in it; and if they see the way of rectitude they do not take it for a way, and if they see the way of error they take it for a way; this is because they rejected Our communications and were heedless of them.

[Q7:146] Aku akan memalingkan (hati) orang-orang yang sombong takbur di muka bumi dengan tiada alasan yang benar dari (memahami) ayat-ayatKu (yang menunjukkan kekuasaanKu); dan mereka (yang bersifat demikian) jika mereka melihat sebarang keterangan (bukti), mereka tidak beriman kepadanya dan jika mereka melihat jalan yang (membawa kepada) hidayat petunjuk, mereka tidak mengambilnya sebagai jalan yang dilalui dan sebaliknya jika mereka melihat jalan kesesatan, mereka terus mengambilnya sebagai jalan yang dilalui. Yang demikian itu, kerana mereka mendustakan ayat-ayat Kami dan mereka sentiasa lalai daripadanya. 

Refer to the commentary of An-am 6:110.

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(7:146) I shall turn away from My signs those who, without any right, behaved haughtily in the earth, *104 even if they may, witness each and every, sign, they shall not believe therein. And even if they see the right path, they shall still not follow it; but if they see the path of error. they shall choose it for their path. This is because they rejected Our signs as false and were heedless to them.

*104. IT IS GOD'S LAW THAT EVIL-DOERS DO NOT AND CANNOT TAKE ANY LESSON FROM THE OTHERWISE INSTRUCTIVE EVENTS WHICH THEY OBSERVE. The arrogance mentioned here refers to man's delusion that he is on a higher plane than God's creatures and servants. It is this which prompts him to disregard God's command and to adopt an attitude which suggests that he neither considers himself God's servant, nor God his Lord. Such egotism has no basis in fact; it is sheer vanity. For as long as man live on God's earth, what can justify his living as a servant of anyone other than the Lord of the universe? It is for this reason that the Qur'an declares this arrogance to be 'without any right'. 

وَالَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا وَلِقَاءِ الْآخِرَةِ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَالُهُمْ ۚ هَلْ يُجْزَوْنَ إِلَّا مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ {7:147}

[Q7:147] Wallazeena kazzaboo bi Aayaatinaa wa liqaaa'il Aakhirati habitat 'amaaluhum; hal yujzawna illaa maa kaanoo ya'maloon. 
[Q7:147] And (as to) those who reject Our communications and the meeting of the hereafter, their deeds are null. Shall they be rewarded except for what they have done?

[Q7:147] Dan orang-orang yang mendustakan ayat-ayat Kami dan pertemuan hari akhirat, gugurlah amal-amal mereka (yang baik). Mereka tidak diberikan balasan (pada hari akhirat) melainkan (bagi) apa yang mereka telah kerjakan (dari perbuatan kufur dan maksiat).

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(7:147) Vain are the deeds of those who reject Our signs as false and to the meeting of the Hereafter.  *105 Shall they be recompensed, except according to their deeds?'

*105. That the acts of such persons are vain and fruitless is evident from the fact that the acceptance of man's acts by God is subject to two conditions. First, one's acts should conform to the Law laid down by God. Second, man should be prompted by the desire to achieve success in the Hereafter rather than merely in this world. If these conditions are not fulfilled, a person's acts will be of no consequence. He who performs an act in defiance of God's guidance, is guilty of rebellion and is undeserving of God's reward. He who acts only to obtain worldly success, is neither entitled to nor should expect any reward from God in the Hereafter. If someone uses another person's land contrary to his wish, what else can he expect from him than punishment? The same holds true for he who deliberately uses someone's land, knowing well that he is not entitled to any produce after the restoration of that land to its owner. There is no justification for him to expect any share of the produce of that land. 

SECTION 18

The Israelites started Calf Worship

The Israelites making a calf and worshipping it---Aaron faultless.

وَاتَّخَذَ قَوْمُ مُوسَىٰ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ مِنْ حُلِيِّهِمْ عِجْلًا جَسَدًا لَهُ خُوَارٌ ۚ أَلَمْ يَرَوْا أَنَّهُ لَا يُكَلِّمُهُمْ وَلَا يَهْدِيهِمْ سَبِيلًا ۘ اتَّخَذُوهُ وَكَانُوا ظَالِمِينَ {7:148}

[Q7:148] 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 zaalimeeen.
[Q7:148] And Musa's people made of their ornaments a calf after him, a (mere) body, which gave a mooing sound. What! Could they not see that it did not speak to them nor guide them in the way? They took it (for worship) and they were unjust.

[Q7:148] Dan kaum Nabi Musa, sesudah dia (pergi ke Gunung Tursina), mereka membuat dari barang-barang emas perhiasan mereka, (patung) anak lembu yang bertubuh dan bersuara (ALLAH (SwT) berfirman): Tidakkah mereka memikirkan bahawa patung itu tidak dapat berkata-kata dengan mereka dan tidak dapat juga menunjukkan jalan kepada mereka? Mereka menjadikannya (berhala yang disembah) dan sememangnya mereka adalah orang-orang yang melakukan kezaliman. 

THE MAKING OF THE GOLDEN CALF AND ITS WORSHIP BY THE JEWS during the absence of Musa on the mountain have been discussed in the commentary of al-Baqarah 2:51. Also refer to Ta Ha 20:85 to 97, which say that Harun was, in no way, connected with the Samiri's plot to hoodwink the people, ON THE CONTRARY he warned them to beware as it was a test of their faith, BUT they did not listen to him.

The anger of Musa, in fact, was directed against the mischief-makers, BUT he brought Harun into picture so that it could be established that he had discharged his responsibility faithfully.

IT PROVES THAT IF PEOPLE ACCEPT ANY ONE AS AUTHORITY WITHOUT DIVINE OR PROPHETIC SANCTION, THEY ARE LED ASTRAY AS THE FOLLOWERS OF MUSA WERE DUPED BY SAMIRI.

ALLAH (SWT) FORGIVES THOSE WHO TURN REPENTANT UNTO HIM [1] SINCERELY and [2] AMEND, with [3] FIRM DETERMINATION NOT TO SIN AGAIN.

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(7:148) And in the absence of Moses *106 his people made the image of a calf from their ornaments, which lowed. Did they not observe that it could neither speak nor give them any guidance? And still they made it an object of worship. They were indeed wrong-doing.  *107

*106. Here reference is made to the forty days which Moses spent on Mount Sinai in compliance with God's command when his people remained in the plain at the foot of the mountain called Maydan al-Rahah. 
*107. Their cow-worship was another manifestation of the Israelites' slavish attachment to the Egyptian traditions at the time of the Exodus. It is well-known that cow-worship was widespread in Egypt and it was during their stay there that the Israelites developed this strange infatuation. The Qur'an also refers to their inclination to cow-worship: 'Their hearts were overflowing with love for the calf because of their unbelief' (al-Baqarah 2: 93). What is more surprising about their turn to idolatry is that it took place just three months after their escape from Egypt. During that time they had witnessed the parting of the sea, the drowning of Pharaoh, and their own deliverance from what otherwise seemed inescapable slavery, to the Egyptians. They knew well that all those events had taken place owing to the unmistakable and direct interference of the all-powerful God. Yet they had the audacity to demand that their Prophet should make for them a false god that they might worship. Not only that, soon after Moses left them for Mount Sinai, they themselves contrived a false god. Disgusted with such conduct on the part of the Israelites, some Prophets have likened their people to a nymphomaniac who loves all save her husband and who is unfaithful to him even on their nuptial night. 

وَلَمَّا سُقِطَ فِي أَيْدِيهِمْ وَرَأَوْا أَنَّهُمْ قَدْ ضَلُّوا قَالُوا لَئِنْ لَمْ يَرْحَمْنَا رَبُّنَا وَيَغْفِرْ لَنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ {7:149}

[Q7:149] Wa lammaa suqita feee aideehim wa ra aw annahum qad dalloo qaaloo la'il lam yarhamnaa Rabbunaa wa yaghfir lanaa lanakoonanna minal khaasireen. 

[Q7:149] And when they repented and saw that they had gone astray, they said: If our Lord show not mercy to us and forgive us we shall certainly be of the losers.
[Q7:149] Dan setelah mereka menyesal (akan apa yang mereka lakukan) dan mengetahui bahawa mereka telah sesat, berkatalah mereka: Sesungguhnya jika Tuhan kami tidak memberi rahmat kepada kami dan mengampunkan kami, nescaya menjadilah kami dari orang-orang yang rugi. 

(see commentary for verse 148)

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(7:149) And when they were afflicted with remorse and realized that they had fallen into error, they said: 'If our Lord does not have mercy on us and does not pardon us, we shall be among the losers.'

وَلَمَّا رَجَعَ مُوسَىٰ إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِ غَضْبَانَ أَسِفًا قَالَ بِئْسَمَا خَلَفْتُمُونِي مِنْ بَعْدِي ۖ أَعَجِلْتُمْ أَمْرَ رَبِّكُمْ ۖ وَأَلْقَى الْأَلْوَاحَ وَأَخَذَ بِرَأْسِ أَخِيهِ يَجُرُّهُ إِلَيْهِ ۚ قَالَ ابْنَ أُمَّ إِنَّ الْقَوْمَ اسْتَضْعَفُونِي وَكَادُوا يَقْتُلُونَنِي فَلَا تُشْمِتْ بِيَ الْأَعْدَاءَ وَلَا تَجْعَلْنِي مَعَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ {7:150}

[Q7:150] Wa lammaa raja'a Moosaaa ilaa qawmihee ghadbaana asifan qaala bi'samaa khalaftumoonee mim ba'dee a-'ajiltum amra Rabbikum wa alqal alwaaha wa akhaza biraasi akheehi yajurruhoo ilaih; qaalab na umma innal qawmas tad'afoonee wa kadoo yaqtu loonanee; falaa tushmit biyal a'daaa'a wa laa taj'alnee ma'al qawmiz zaalimeen. 
[Q7:150] And when Musa returned to his people, wrathful (and) in violent grief, he said: Evil is it that you have done after me; did you turn away from the bidding of your Lord? And he threw down the tablets and seized his brother by the head, dragging him towards him. He said: Son of my mother! Surely the people reckoned me weak and had well-nigh slain me, therefore make not the enemies to rejoice over me and count me not among the unjust people. 

[Q7:150] Dan apabila Nabi Musa kembali kepada kaumnya dengan marah dan dukacita, berkatalah ia: Amatlah buruknya apa yang telah kamu lakukan sepeninggalanku; mengapa kamu terburu-buru (tidak menunggu) perintah Tuhan kamu? Dan dia meletakkan Luh-luh (yang mengandungi tulisan Taurat) itu serta dia memegang (rambut) kepala saudaranya (Nabi Harun) sambil menariknya kepadanya. Nabi Harun berkata: Wahai anak ibuku! Sesungguhnya kaum (Bani Israil) memandangku lemah dan nyaris-nyaris mereka membunuhku (ketika aku melarang mereka); oleh itu, janganlah engkau menjadikan musuh bergembira melihat (tempelakmu) terhadapku dan janganlah engkau jadikan daku termasuk dalam golongan orang-orang yang zalim. 

(see commentary for verse 148)

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(7:150) And when Moses returned to his people, full of wrath and sorrow, he said: 'Vile is the course you have followed in my absence. Could you not patiently wait for the decree of your Lord?' And he threw down the Tablets [of the Law] and took hold of his brother's head, dragging him to himself. Aaron said: 'My mother's son, the people overpowered me and almost killed me. So let not my enemies gloat over me, and do not number me among the wrong-doing folk.' *108

*108. The above Qur'anic verse absolves Aaron of the charge levelled against him by the Jews. According to the Biblical version of the story of calf-worship, however, it was Aaron who had made the golden calf for the people of Israel. To quote:
When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered themselves together to Aaron, and said to him, 'Up, make up gods who shall go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.' And Aaron said to them, 'Take off the rings of gold which are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.' So all the people took off the rings of gold which were in their ears, and brought them to Aaron. And he received the gold at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, and made a molten calf; and they said, 'These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.' When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation and said, 'Tomorrow shall be a feast to the Lord.' And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play (Exodus 32: 1--6).
The Qur'an, however, refutes the above account at many places and points out that it was Samiri the rebel of God rather than Aaron the Prophet who committed that heinous sin. (For details see Ta Ha 20: 90 ff.)
Strange though it may appear, the Israelites maligned the characters of those very people whom they believed to be the Messengers of God. The accusations they hurled at them included such heinous sins as polytheism, sorcery, fornication, deceit and treachery. Needless to say, indulgence in any of these sins is disgraceful for even an ordinary believer and decent human being, let alone Prophets. In the light of the history of Israeli morals, however, it is quite understandable why they maligned their own Prophets. In times of religious and moral degeneration when both the clergy and laity were steeped in sin and immorality, they tried to seek justification for their misdeeds. In order to sedate their own consciences they ascribed the very sins of which they were guilty to their Prophets and then their own inability to refrain from sins on the grounds that not even the Prophets could refrain.
The same characteristic is evident in Hinduism. When the Hindus reached the lowest point in their moral degeneration, they produced a literature which presents a very perverted image of Hindu ideals. This literature portrayed their gods, hermits and monks as crass sinners. In doing so, they suggested that since such noble people could not refrain from indulging in grave sins, ordinary mortals are inevitably bound to commit them. Moreover, a person's indulgence in immoral acts should not make him remorseful for the same acts were committed earlier by their monks and hermits.