وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوْمِهِۦٓ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَن تَذْبَحُوا۟ بَقَرَةً ۖ قَالُوٓا۟ أَتَتَّخِذُنَا هُزُوًا ۖ قَالَ أَعُوذُ بِٱللَّهِ أَنْ أَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْجَـٰهِلِينَ 67
Translations
And [recall] when Moses said to his people, "Indeed, Allāh commands you to slaughter a cow." They said, "Do you take us in ridicule?" He said, "I seek refuge in Allāh from being among the ignorant."
Transliteration
Wa-idh qala Musa li-qawmihi inna Allaha ya'murukum an thabaḥu baqarah. Qalu ata-ttakhiduna huzuw. Qala a'udhu bi-Allahi an akun min al-jahilin.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah begins the famous story of the cow (al-baqarah) that gives Surah Al-Baqarah its name. Prophet Musa commanded his people to slaughter a cow as per Allah's command, but they responded with mockery and disbelief. When Musa denied being among the ignorant (jahilin), he was defending the divine command and his prophetic mission. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this incident occurred during the Israelites' wilderness journey and tested their obedience; the subsequent verses reveal how their questioning and hesitation complicated what should have been a straightforward act of worship.
Revelation Context
This passage is revealed in the Medinan period and is part of a longer narrative (2:67-73) that serves as a lesson to the Muslims of Medina regarding obedience to Allah's commands and the stubbornness of the Children of Israel. The story illustrates how the Bani Isra'il's reluctance to follow clear divine orders resulted in unnecessary complications and delayed their acceptance of the command.
Related Hadiths
The story of the cow is referenced in various hadith collections where scholars discuss obedience to prophetic commands. While no single hadith directly narrates this event, Sahih Bukhari and Muslim contain numerous hadiths about the importance of prompt obedience to divine and prophetic commands without question or delay.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches Muslims that divine commands, though they may seem unclear or challenging, must be received with respect and implemented promptly without mockery or excessive questioning. It reminds us that a believer's role is to obey Allah and His messenger with certainty and good faith, trusting in divine wisdom even when the purpose is not immediately apparent.