وَجَـٰوَزْنَا بِبَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ ٱلْبَحْرَ فَأَتَوْا۟ عَلَىٰ قَوْمٍ يَعْكُفُونَ عَلَىٰٓ أَصْنَامٍ لَّهُمْ ۚ قَالُوا۟ يَـٰمُوسَى ٱجْعَل لَّنَآ إِلَـٰهًا كَمَا لَهُمْ ءَالِهَةٌ ۚ قَالَ إِنَّكُمْ قَوْمٌ تَجْهَلُونَ 138
Translations
And We took the Children of Israel across the sea; then they came upon a people intent in devotion to [some] idols of theirs. They [the Children of Israel] said, "O Moses, make for us a god just as they have gods." He said, "Indeed, you are a people behaving ignorantly.
Transliteration
Wa jawāzná bi banī Isrāʾīl al-baḥra fa-ataw ʿalá qawmin yaʿkufūn ʿalá aṣnāmin lahum, qālū yá mūsá ijʿal lanā ilāhan kamá lahum ālihatun, qāla innakum qawmun tajhalūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how after crossing the sea, the Israelites encountered a people engaged in idol worship and immediately requested that Prophet Musa create idols for them as well. Musa's response—calling them ignorant—underscores the swift ingratitude and spiritual weakness of the Israelites despite witnessing divine miracles. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note this demonstrates how proximity to miraculous signs does not guarantee faith if the heart remains heedless, and how easily people can be influenced by the cultural practices of others.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the broader Meccan narrative recounting the history of Bani Israil, revealed to strengthen the hearts of early Muslims facing rejection in Mecca. The context follows the dramatic crossing of the Red Sea and precedes the story of the golden calf, illustrating the recurring pattern of Israelite disobedience despite divine favors.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Bukhari (3156) describes how the Israelites would follow the practices of nations before them, illustrating the principle mentioned in this ayah. Additionally, Sunan Ibn Majah contains traditions about following the ways of previous nations as a warning to the Muslim ummah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah warns believers against allowing cultural influences or peer pressure to weaken their monotheistic conviction, and reminds us that witnessing miracles is insufficient without genuine spiritual commitment and reflection. It serves as a timeless reminder that external validation and conformity to societal norms should never compromise our core faith principles.