قَالَ أَغَيْرَ ٱللَّهِ أَبْغِيكُمْ إِلَـٰهًا وَهُوَ فَضَّلَكُمْ عَلَى ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ 140
Translations
He said, "Is it other than Allāh I should desire for you as a god while He has preferred you over the worlds?"
Transliteration
Qala a-ghayra Allahi abghikum ilahan wa huwa faddhalakum 'ala al-'alamin
Tafsir (Explanation)
Musa (Moses) rebukes the Children of Israel for their inclination toward idol worship after he left them to receive the Torah. He questions why they would seek any god besides Allah when He has favored them above all other nations with clear signs, miracles, and divine guidance. This ayah emphasizes the ingratitude and foolishness of turning away from the One True God despite receiving abundant blessings and proofs of His oneness.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of the Golden Calf incident (al-'ijl al-dhahab), which occurred when Musa left his people for forty nights to receive the Tablets of the Law. During his absence, the Children of Israel were misled by Samiri into crafting and worshipping a golden calf. The ayah reflects Musa's immediate response upon his return, expressing shock at their abandonment of monotheism despite Allah's clear favor upon them.
Related Hadiths
The incident of the Golden Calf is referenced in Sahih Muslim (hadith on the trials of the Ummah), where the Prophet (ﷺ) warned his community against similar acts of polytheism and idol worship. Additionally, Surah Al-A'raf 7:138-156 provides the complete narrative context found in authentic hadith collections discussing the story of Musa and his people.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that receiving divine blessings and clear proofs of God's existence carries with it a responsibility to maintain gratitude and steadfast belief. For contemporary believers, it serves as a reminder that no worldly attraction or momentary influence should lead us away from pure monotheism, especially when we have been blessed with knowledge and signs of Allah's favor.
Related Ayahs
قُلْ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنِّى رَسُولُ ٱللَّهِ إِلَيْكُمْ جَمِيعًا ٱلَّذِى لَهُۥ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ يُحْىِۦ وَيُمِيتُ ۖ فَـَٔامِنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ ٱلنَّبِىِّ ٱلْأُمِّىِّ ٱلَّذِى يُؤْمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ وَكَلِمَـٰتِهِۦ وَٱتَّبِعُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ
Say, [O Muḥammad], "O mankind, indeed I am the Messenger of Allāh to you all, [from Him] to whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. There is no deity except Him; He gives life and causes death." So believe in Allāh and His Messenger, the unlettered prophet, who believes in Allāh and His words, and follow him that you may be guided.
وَكَتَبْنَا لَهُۥ فِى ٱلْأَلْوَاحِ مِن كُلِّ شَىْءٍ مَّوْعِظَةً وَتَفْصِيلًا لِّكُلِّ شَىْءٍ فَخُذْهَا بِقُوَّةٍ وَأْمُرْ قَوْمَكَ يَأْخُذُوا۟ بِأَحْسَنِهَا ۚ سَأُو۟رِيكُمْ دَارَ ٱلْفَـٰسِقِينَ
And We wrote for him on the tablets [something] of all things - instruction and explanation for all things, [saying], "Take them with determination and order your people to take the best of it. I will show you the home of the defiantly disobedient."
وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكَ لَيَبْعَثَنَّ عَلَيْهِمْ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ مَن يَسُومُهُمْ سُوٓءَ ٱلْعَذَابِ ۗ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَسَرِيعُ ٱلْعِقَابِ ۖ وَإِنَّهُۥ لَغَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
And [mention] when your Lord declared that He would surely [continue to] send upon them until the Day of Resurrection those who would afflict them with the worst torment. Indeed, your Lord is swift in penalty; but indeed, He is Forgiving and Merciful.
وَٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا وَلِقَآءِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَـٰلُهُمْ ۚ هَلْ يُجْزَوْنَ إِلَّا مَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
Those who denied Our signs and the meeting of the Hereafter - their deeds have become worthless. Are they recompensed except for what they used to do?