Quran Verses about The Children of Israel
Allah reminds the Children of Israel of His favours: they were saved from Pharaoh, the sea was parted for them, they were shaded with clouds and given manna, quails and springs from the rock, and Moses received the Tablets of the Torah after forty nights. Yet they rebelled again and again: they worshipped the calf that the Samiri made, demanded to see Allah plainly, turned away from the covenant taken as the mountain was raised over them, quibbled when told to slaughter a cow, refused to enter the Holy Land and so wandered for forty years, changed the words they were told to say, and broke the Sabbath. Allah also foretold in the Scripture that they would spread corruption in the land twice.
Allah's favours, and rescue from Pharaoh
يَٰبَنِيٓ إِسۡرَٰٓءِيلَ ٱذۡكُرُواْ نِعۡمَتِيَ ٱلَّتِيٓ أَنۡعَمۡتُ عَلَيۡكُمۡ وَأَوۡفُواْ بِعَهۡدِيٓ أُوفِ بِعَهۡدِكُمۡ وَإِيَّٰيَ فَٱرۡهَبُونِ ٤٠
Yābanī isrāʾīladhkurū niʿmatiyal-latī anʿamtu ʿalaykum wa awfū biʿahdī ūfi biʿahdikum wa iyyāya farhabūn.
O Children of Israel, remember My favor which I have bestowed upon you and fulfill My covenant [upon you] that I will fulfill your covenant [from Me], and be afraid of [only] Me.
وَءَامِنُواْ بِمَآ أَنزَلۡتُ مُصَدِّقٗا لِّمَا مَعَكُمۡ وَلَا تَكُونُوٓاْ أَوَّلَ كَافِرِۭ بِهِۦۖ وَلَا تَشۡتَرُواْ بِـَٔايَٰتِي ثَمَنٗا قَلِيلٗا وَإِيَّٰيَ فَٱتَّقُونِ ٤١
Wa āminū bimā anzaltu muṣaddiqal limā maʿakum wa lā takūnū awwala kāfirim bih, wa lā tashtarū biʾāyātī thamanan qalīlaw wa iyyāya fattaqūn.
And believe in what I have sent down confirming that which is [already] with you, and be not the first to disbelieve in it. And do not exchange My signs for a small price, and fear [only] Me.
وَلَا تَلۡبِسُواْ ٱلۡحَقَّ بِٱلۡبَٰطِلِ وَتَكۡتُمُواْ ٱلۡحَقَّ وَأَنتُمۡ تَعۡلَمُونَ ٤٢
Wa lā talbisul-ḥaqqa bil-bāṭili wa taktumul-ḥaqqa wa antum taʿlamūn.
And do not mix the truth with falsehood or conceal the truth while you know [it].
وَأَقِيمُواْ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُواْ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَٱرۡكَعُواْ مَعَ ٱلرَّٰكِعِينَ ٤٣
Wa aqīmuṣ-ṣalāta wa ātuz-zakāta warkaʿū maʿar-rākiʿīn.
And establish prayer and give zakāh1 and bow with those who bow [in worship and obedience].
Footnotes (1)
- An annual expenditure for the benefit of the Islāmic community (see 9:60) required of those Muslims who have excess wealth. Prayer and zakāh are among the pillars of Islām.
۞ أَتَأۡمُرُونَ ٱلنَّاسَ بِٱلۡبِرِّ وَتَنسَوۡنَ أَنفُسَكُمۡ وَأَنتُمۡ تَتۡلُونَ ٱلۡكِتَٰبَۚ أَفَلَا تَعۡقِلُونَ ٤٤
Ataʾmurūnan-nāsa bil-birri wa tansawna anfusakum wa antum tatlūnal-kitāb, afalā taʿqilūn.
Do you order righteousness of the people and forget1 yourselves while you recite the Scripture? Then will you not reason?
Footnotes (1)
- Make exceptions of.
وَٱسۡتَعِينُواْ بِٱلصَّبۡرِ وَٱلصَّلَوٰةِۚ وَإِنَّهَا لَكَبِيرَةٌ إِلَّا عَلَى ٱلۡخَٰشِعِينَ ٤٥
Wastaʿīnū biṣ-ṣabri waṣ-ṣalāh, wa innahā lakabīratun illā ʿalal-khāshiʿīn.
And seek help through patience and prayer; and indeed, it is difficult except for the humbly submissive [to Allāh]
ٱلَّذِينَ يَظُنُّونَ أَنَّهُم مُّلَٰقُواْ رَبِّهِمۡ وَأَنَّهُمۡ إِلَيۡهِ رَٰجِعُونَ ٤٦
Al-ladhīna yaẓunnūna annahum mulāqū rabbihim wa annahum ilayhi rājiʿūn.
Who are certain that they will meet their Lord and that they will return to Him.
يَٰبَنِيٓ إِسۡرَٰٓءِيلَ ٱذۡكُرُواْ نِعۡمَتِيَ ٱلَّتِيٓ أَنۡعَمۡتُ عَلَيۡكُمۡ وَأَنِّي فَضَّلۡتُكُمۡ عَلَى ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ ٤٧
Yābanī isrāʾīladhkurū niʿmatiyal-latī anʿamtu ʿalaykum wa annī faḍḍaltukum ʿalal-ʿālamīn.
O Children of Israel, remember My favor that I have bestowed upon you and that I preferred you over the worlds [i.e., peoples].
وَٱتَّقُواْ يَوۡمٗا لَّا تَجۡزِي نَفۡسٌ عَن نَّفۡسٖ شَيۡـٔٗا وَلَا يُقۡبَلُ مِنۡهَا شَفَٰعَةٞ وَلَا يُؤۡخَذُ مِنۡهَا عَدۡلٞ وَلَا هُمۡ يُنصَرُونَ ٤٨
Wattaqū yawmal lā tajzī nafsun ʿan nafsin shayʾaw wa lā yuqbalu minhā shafāʿatuw wa lā yuʾkhadhu minhā ʿadluw wa lā hum yunṣarūn.
And fear a Day when no soul will suffice for another soul1 at all, nor will intercession be accepted from it, nor will compensation be taken from it, nor will they be aided.
Footnotes (1)
- i.e., fulfill what is due from it.
وَإِذۡ نَجَّيۡنَٰكُم مِّنۡ ءَالِ فِرۡعَوۡنَ يَسُومُونَكُمۡ سُوٓءَ ٱلۡعَذَابِ يُذَبِّحُونَ أَبۡنَآءَكُمۡ وَيَسۡتَحۡيُونَ نِسَآءَكُمۡۚ وَفِي ذَٰلِكُم بَلَآءٞ مِّن رَّبِّكُمۡ عَظِيمٞ ٤٩
Wa idh najjaynākum min āli firʿawna yasūmūnakum sūʾal-ʿadhābi yudhabbiḥūna abnāʾakum wa yastaḥyūna nisāʾakum, wa fī dhālikum balāʾum mir rabbikum ʿaẓīm.
And [recall] when We saved you [i.e., your forefathers] from the people of Pharaoh, who afflicted you with the worst torment, slaughtering your [newborn] sons and keeping your females alive. And in that was a great trial from your Lord.
وَإِذۡ فَرَقۡنَا بِكُمُ ٱلۡبَحۡرَ فَأَنجَيۡنَٰكُمۡ وَأَغۡرَقۡنَآ ءَالَ فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَأَنتُمۡ تَنظُرُونَ ٥٠
Wa idh faraqnā bikumul-baḥra fa anjaynākum wa aghraqnā āla firʿawna wa antum tanẓurūn.
And [recall] when We parted the sea for you and saved you and drowned the people of Pharaoh while you were looking on.
وَجَٰوَزۡنَا بِبَنِيٓ إِسۡرَٰٓءِيلَ ٱلۡبَحۡرَ فَأَتَوۡاْ عَلَىٰ قَوۡمٖ يَعۡكُفُونَ عَلَىٰٓ أَصۡنَامٖ لَّهُمۡۚ قَالُواْ يَٰمُوسَى ٱجۡعَل لَّنَآ إِلَٰهٗا كَمَا لَهُمۡ ءَالِهَةٞۚ قَالَ إِنَّكُمۡ قَوۡمٞ تَجۡهَلُونَ ١٣٨
Wa jāwaznā bibanī isrāʾīlal-baḥra fa ataw ʿalā qawmiy yaʿkufūna ʿalā aṣnāmil lahum, qālū yāmūsajʿal lanā ilāhan kamā lahum ālihah, qāla innakum qawmun tajhalūn.
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.
إِنَّ هَٰٓؤُلَآءِ مُتَبَّرٞ مَّا هُمۡ فِيهِ وَبَٰطِلٞ مَّا كَانُواْ يَعۡمَلُونَ ١٣٩
Inna hāʾulāʾi mutabbarum mā hum fīhi wa bāṭilum mā kānū yaʿmalūn.
Indeed, those [worshippers] - destroyed is that in which they are [engaged], and worthless is whatever they were doing."
قَالَ أَغَيۡرَ ٱللَّهِ أَبۡغِيكُمۡ إِلَٰهٗا وَهُوَ فَضَّلَكُمۡ عَلَى ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ ١٤٠
Qāla aghayrallāhi abghīkum ilāhaw wa huwa faḍḍalakum ʿalal-ʿālamīn.
He said, "Is it other than Allāh I should desire for you as a god1 while He has preferred you over the worlds?"
Footnotes (1)
- An object of worship.
وَإِذۡ أَنجَيۡنَٰكُم مِّنۡ ءَالِ فِرۡعَوۡنَ يَسُومُونَكُمۡ سُوٓءَ ٱلۡعَذَابِ يُقَتِّلُونَ أَبۡنَآءَكُمۡ وَيَسۡتَحۡيُونَ نِسَآءَكُمۡۚ وَفِي ذَٰلِكُم بَلَآءٞ مِّن رَّبِّكُمۡ عَظِيمٞ ١٤١
Wa idh anjaynākum min āli firʿawna yasūmūnakum sūʾal-ʿadhābi yuqattilūna abnāʾakum wa yastaḥyūna nisāʾakum, wa fī dhālikum balāʾum mir rabbikum ʿaẓīm.
And [recall, O Children of Israel], when We saved you from the people of Pharaoh, [who were] afflicting you with the worst torment - killing your sons and keeping your women alive. And in that was a great trial from your Lord.
Moses at the appointed time, and the Tablets of the Torah
۞ وَوَٰعَدۡنَا مُوسَىٰ ثَلَٰثِينَ لَيۡلَةٗ وَأَتۡمَمۡنَٰهَا بِعَشۡرٖ فَتَمَّ مِيقَٰتُ رَبِّهِۦٓ أَرۡبَعِينَ لَيۡلَةٗۚ وَقَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِأَخِيهِ هَٰرُونَ ٱخۡلُفۡنِي فِي قَوۡمِي وَأَصۡلِحۡ وَلَا تَتَّبِعۡ سَبِيلَ ٱلۡمُفۡسِدِينَ ١٤٢
Wa wāʿadnā mūsā thalāthīna laylataw wa atmamnāhā biʿashrin fatamma mīqātu rabbihī arbaʿīna laylah, wa qāla mūsā liʾakhīhi hārūnakhlufnī fī qawmī wa aṣliḥ wa lā tattabiʿ sabīlal-mufsidīn.
And We made an appointment with Moses for thirty nights and perfected them by [the addition of] ten; so the term of his Lord was completed as forty nights. And Moses said to his brother Aaron, "Take my place among my people, do right [by them],1 and do not follow the way of the corrupters."
Footnotes (1)
- i.e., keep their affairs in order.
وَلَمَّا جَآءَ مُوسَىٰ لِمِيقَٰتِنَا وَكَلَّمَهُۥ رَبُّهُۥ قَالَ رَبِّ أَرِنِيٓ أَنظُرۡ إِلَيۡكَۚ قَالَ لَن تَرَىٰنِي وَلَٰكِنِ ٱنظُرۡ إِلَى ٱلۡجَبَلِ فَإِنِ ٱسۡتَقَرَّ مَكَانَهُۥ فَسَوۡفَ تَرَىٰنِيۚ فَلَمَّا تَجَلَّىٰ رَبُّهُۥ لِلۡجَبَلِ جَعَلَهُۥ دَكّٗا وَخَرَّ مُوسَىٰ صَعِقٗاۚ فَلَمَّآ أَفَاقَ قَالَ سُبۡحَٰنَكَ تُبۡتُ إِلَيۡكَ وَأَنَا۠ أَوَّلُ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ ١٤٣
Wa lammā jāʾa mūsā limīqātinā wa kallamahū rabbuhū qāla rabbi arinī anẓur ilayk, qāla lan tarānī wa lākininẓur ilal-jabali fa inistaqarra makānahū fasawfa tarānī, falammā tajallā rabbuhū lil-jabali jaʿalahū dakkaw wa kharra mūsā ṣaʿiqā, falammā afāqa qāla subḥānaka tubtu ilayka wa ana awwalul-muʾminīn.
And when Moses arrived at Our appointed time and his Lord spoke to him, he said, "My Lord, show me [Yourself] that I may look at You." [Allāh] said, "You will not see Me,1 but look at the mountain; if it should remain in place, then you will see Me." But when his Lord appeared to the mountain, He rendered it level,2 and Moses fell unconscious. And when he awoke, he said, "Exalted are You! I have repented to You, and I am the first [among my people] of the believers."3
Footnotes (3)
- That no one can see Allāh during the life of this world.
- It crumbled to dust.
قَالَ يَٰمُوسَىٰٓ إِنِّي ٱصۡطَفَيۡتُكَ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ بِرِسَٰلَٰتِي وَبِكَلَٰمِي فَخُذۡ مَآ ءَاتَيۡتُكَ وَكُن مِّنَ ٱلشَّٰكِرِينَ ١٤٤
Qāla yāmūsā inniṣṭafaytuka ʿalan-nāsi birisālātī wabikalāmī fakhudh mā ātaytuka wa kum minash-shākirīn.
[Allāh] said, "O Moses, I have chosen you over the people with My messages and My words [to you]. So take what I have given you and be among the grateful."
وَكَتَبۡنَا لَهُۥ فِي ٱلۡأَلۡوَاحِ مِن كُلِّ شَيۡءٖ مَّوۡعِظَةٗ وَتَفۡصِيلٗا لِّكُلِّ شَيۡءٖ فَخُذۡهَا بِقُوَّةٖ وَأۡمُرۡ قَوۡمَكَ يَأۡخُذُواْ بِأَحۡسَنِهَاۚ سَأُوْرِيكُمۡ دَارَ ٱلۡفَٰسِقِينَ ١٤٥
Wa katabnā lahū fil-alwāḥi min kulli shayʾim mawʿiẓataw wa tafṣīlal likulli shayʾin fakhudhhā biquwwatiw waʾmur qawmaka yaʾkhudhū biʾaḥsanihā, saʾurīkum dāral-fāsiqīn.
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."1
Footnotes (1)
- This is a severe warning from Allāh against rebellion.
سَأَصۡرِفُ عَنۡ ءَايَٰتِيَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَتَكَبَّرُونَ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ بِغَيۡرِ ٱلۡحَقِّ وَإِن يَرَوۡاْ كُلَّ ءَايَةٖ لَّا يُؤۡمِنُواْ بِهَا وَإِن يَرَوۡاْ سَبِيلَ ٱلرُّشۡدِ لَا يَتَّخِذُوهُ سَبِيلٗا وَإِن يَرَوۡاْ سَبِيلَ ٱلۡغَيِّ يَتَّخِذُوهُ سَبِيلٗاۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمۡ كَذَّبُواْ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَا وَكَانُواْ عَنۡهَا غَٰفِلِينَ ١٤٦
Saʾaṣrifu ʿan āyātiyal-ladhīna yatakabbarūna fil-arḍi bighayril-ḥaqqi wa iy yaraw kulla āyatil lā yuʾminū bihā wa iy yaraw sabīlar-rushdi lā yattakhidhūhu sabīlaw wa iy yaraw sabīlal-ghayyi yattakhidhūhu sabīlā, dhālika biʾannahum kadhdhabū biʾāyātinā wa kānū ʿanhā ghāfilīn.
I will turn away from My signs those who are arrogant upon the earth without right; and if they should see every sign, they will not believe in it. And if they see the way of consciousness,1 they will not adopt it as a way; but if they see the way of error, they will adopt it as a way. That is because they have denied Our signs and they were heedless of them.
Footnotes (1)
- i.e., reason and integrity.
وَٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُواْ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَا وَلِقَآءِ ٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ حَبِطَتۡ أَعۡمَٰلُهُمۡۚ هَلۡ يُجۡزَوۡنَ إِلَّا مَا كَانُواْ يَعۡمَلُونَ ١٤٧
Wal-ladhīna kadhdhabū biʾāyātinā wa liqāʾil-ākhirati ḥabiṭat aʿmāluhum, hal yujzawna illā mā kānū yaʿmalūn.
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?
The worship of the calf
وَإِذۡ وَٰعَدۡنَا مُوسَىٰٓ أَرۡبَعِينَ لَيۡلَةٗ ثُمَّ ٱتَّخَذۡتُمُ ٱلۡعِجۡلَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِهِۦ وَأَنتُمۡ ظَٰلِمُونَ ٥١
Wa idh wāʿadnā mūsā arbaʿīna laylatan thummattakhadhtumul-ʿijla mim baʿdihī wa antum ẓālimūn.
And [recall] when We made an appointment with Moses for forty nights. Then you took [for worship] the calf after him [i.e., his departure], while you were wrongdoers.
ثُمَّ عَفَوۡنَا عَنكُم مِّنۢ بَعۡدِ ذَٰلِكَ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَشۡكُرُونَ ٥٢
Thumma ʿafawnā ʿankum mim baʿdi dhālika laʿallakum tashkurūn.
Then We forgave you after that so perhaps you would be grateful.
وَإِذۡ ءَاتَيۡنَا مُوسَى ٱلۡكِتَٰبَ وَٱلۡفُرۡقَانَ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَهۡتَدُونَ ٥٣
Wa idh ātaynā mūsal-kitāba wal-furqāna laʿallakum tahtadūn.
And [recall] when We gave Moses the Scripture and criterion1 that perhaps you would be guided.
Footnotes (1)
- Differentiating between truth and falsehood. "The Scripture and criterion" refers to the Torah.
وَإِذۡ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوۡمِهِۦ يَٰقَوۡمِ إِنَّكُمۡ ظَلَمۡتُمۡ أَنفُسَكُم بِٱتِّخَاذِكُمُ ٱلۡعِجۡلَ فَتُوبُوٓاْ إِلَىٰ بَارِئِكُمۡ فَٱقۡتُلُوٓاْ أَنفُسَكُمۡ ذَٰلِكُمۡ خَيۡرٞ لَّكُمۡ عِندَ بَارِئِكُمۡ فَتَابَ عَلَيۡكُمۡۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلتَّوَّابُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ ٥٤
Wa idh qāla mūsā liqawmihī yāqawmi innakum ẓalamtum anfusakum bittikhādhikumul-ʿijla fatūbū ilā bāriʾikum faqtulū anfusakum dhālikum khayrul lakum ʿinda bāriʾikum fatāba ʿalaykum, innahū huwat-tawwābur-raḥīm.
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 [i.e., the guilty among you]. 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.
وَإِذۡ قُلۡتُمۡ يَٰمُوسَىٰ لَن نُّؤۡمِنَ لَكَ حَتَّىٰ نَرَى ٱللَّهَ جَهۡرَةٗ فَأَخَذَتۡكُمُ ٱلصَّٰعِقَةُ وَأَنتُمۡ تَنظُرُونَ ٥٥
Wa idh qultum yāmūsā lan nuʾmina laka ḥattā narallāha jahratan fa akhadhatkumuṣ-ṣāʿiqatu wa antum tanẓurūn.
And [recall] when you said, "O Moses, we will never believe you until we see Allāh outright"; so the thunderbolt took you while you were looking on.
ثُمَّ بَعَثۡنَٰكُم مِّنۢ بَعۡدِ مَوۡتِكُمۡ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَشۡكُرُونَ ٥٦
Thumma baʿathnākum mim baʿdi mawtikum laʿallakum tashkurūn.
Then We revived you after your death that perhaps you would be grateful.
وَٱتَّخَذَ قَوۡمُ مُوسَىٰ مِنۢ بَعۡدِهِۦ مِنۡ حُلِيِّهِمۡ عِجۡلٗا جَسَدٗا لَّهُۥ خُوَارٌۚ أَلَمۡ يَرَوۡاْ أَنَّهُۥ لَا يُكَلِّمُهُمۡ وَلَا يَهۡدِيهِمۡ سَبِيلًاۘ ٱتَّخَذُوهُ وَكَانُواْ ظَٰلِمِينَ ١٤٨
Wattakhadha qawmu mūsā mim baʿdihī min ḥuliyyihim ʿijlan jasadal lahū khuwār, alam yaraw annahū lā yukallimuhum wa lā yahdīhim sabīlā, ittakhadhūhu wa kānū ẓālimīn.
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.
وَلَمَّا سُقِطَ فِيٓ أَيۡدِيهِمۡ وَرَأَوۡاْ أَنَّهُمۡ قَدۡ ضَلُّواْ قَالُواْ لَئِن لَّمۡ يَرۡحَمۡنَا رَبُّنَا وَيَغۡفِرۡ لَنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلۡخَٰسِرِينَ ١٤٩
Wa lammā suqiṭa fī aydīhim wa raʾaw annahum qad ḍallū qālū laʾil lam yarḥamnā rabbunā wa yaghfir lanā lanakūnanna minal-khāsirīn.
And when regret overcame them1 and they saw that they had gone astray, they said, "If our Lord does not have mercy upon us and forgive us, we will surely be among the losers."
Footnotes (1)
- Literally, "When their hands had been descended upon," i.e., bitten by them out of severe regret.
وَلَمَّا رَجَعَ مُوسَىٰٓ إِلَىٰ قَوۡمِهِۦ غَضۡبَٰنَ أَسِفٗا قَالَ بِئۡسَمَا خَلَفۡتُمُونِي مِنۢ بَعۡدِيٓۖ أَعَجِلۡتُمۡ أَمۡرَ رَبِّكُمۡۖ وَأَلۡقَى ٱلۡأَلۡوَاحَ وَأَخَذَ بِرَأۡسِ أَخِيهِ يَجُرُّهُۥٓ إِلَيۡهِۚ قَالَ ٱبۡنَ أُمَّ إِنَّ ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱسۡتَضۡعَفُونِي وَكَادُواْ يَقۡتُلُونَنِي فَلَا تُشۡمِتۡ بِيَ ٱلۡأَعۡدَآءَ وَلَا تَجۡعَلۡنِي مَعَ ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ ١٥٠
Wa lammā rajaʿa mūsā ilā qawmihī ghaḍbāna asifan qāla biʾsamā khalaftumūnī mim baʿdī, aʿajiltum amra rabbikum, wa alqal-alwāḥa wa akhadha biraʾsi akhīhi yajurruhū ilayh, qālabna umma innal-qawmastaḍʿafūnī wa kādū yaqtulūnanī falā tushmit biyal-aʿdāʾa wa lā tajʿalnī maʿal-qawmiẓ-ẓālimīn.
And when Moses returned to his people, angry and grieved, he said, "How wretched is that by which you have replaced me after [my departure]. Were you impatient over the matter of your Lord?" And he threw down the tablets and seized his brother by [the hair of] his head, pulling him toward him. [Aaron] said, "O son of my mother, indeed the people overpowered me and were about to kill me, so let not the enemies rejoice over me1 and do not place me among the wrongdoing people."
Footnotes (1)
- i.e., over your humiliation of me.
قَالَ رَبِّ ٱغۡفِرۡ لِي وَلِأَخِي وَأَدۡخِلۡنَا فِي رَحۡمَتِكَۖ وَأَنتَ أَرۡحَمُ ٱلرَّٰحِمِينَ ١٥١
Qāla rabbighfir lī waliʾakhī wa adkhilnā fī raḥmatik, wa anta arḥamur-rāḥimīn.
[Moses] said, "My Lord, forgive me and my brother and admit us into Your mercy, for You are the most merciful of the merciful."
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّخَذُواْ ٱلۡعِجۡلَ سَيَنَالُهُمۡ غَضَبٞ مِّن رَّبِّهِمۡ وَذِلَّةٞ فِي ٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡيَاۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ نَجۡزِي ٱلۡمُفۡتَرِينَ ١٥٢
Innal-ladhīnattakhadhul-ʿijla sayanāluhum ghaḍabum mir rabbihim wa dhillatun fil-ḥayātid-dunyā, wa kadhālika najzil-muftarīn.
Indeed, those who took the calf [for worship] will obtain anger from their Lord and humiliation in the life of this world, and thus do We recompense the inventors [of falsehood].
وَٱلَّذِينَ عَمِلُواْ ٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتِ ثُمَّ تَابُواْ مِنۢ بَعۡدِهَا وَءَامَنُوٓاْ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِهَا لَغَفُورٞ رَّحِيمٞ ١٥٣
Wal-ladhīna ʿamilus-sayyiʾāti thumma tābū mim baʿdihā wa āmanū inna rabbaka mim baʿdihā laghafūrur raḥīm.
But those who committed misdeeds and then repented after them and believed - indeed your Lord, thereafter, is Forgiving and Merciful.
وَلَمَّا سَكَتَ عَن مُّوسَى ٱلۡغَضَبُ أَخَذَ ٱلۡأَلۡوَاحَۖ وَفِي نُسۡخَتِهَا هُدٗى وَرَحۡمَةٞ لِّلَّذِينَ هُمۡ لِرَبِّهِمۡ يَرۡهَبُونَ ١٥٤
Wa lammā sakata ʿam mūsal-ghaḍabu akhadhal-alwāḥ, wa fī nuskhatihā hudaw wa raḥmatul lil-ladhīna hum lirabbihim yarhabūn.
And when the anger subsided in Moses, he took up the tablets; and in their inscription was guidance and mercy for those who are fearful of their Lord.
وَٱخۡتَارَ مُوسَىٰ قَوۡمَهُۥ سَبۡعِينَ رَجُلٗا لِّمِيقَٰتِنَاۖ فَلَمَّآ أَخَذَتۡهُمُ ٱلرَّجۡفَةُ قَالَ رَبِّ لَوۡ شِئۡتَ أَهۡلَكۡتَهُم مِّن قَبۡلُ وَإِيَّٰيَۖ أَتُهۡلِكُنَا بِمَا فَعَلَ ٱلسُّفَهَآءُ مِنَّآۖ إِنۡ هِيَ إِلَّا فِتۡنَتُكَ تُضِلُّ بِهَا مَن تَشَآءُ وَتَهۡدِي مَن تَشَآءُۖ أَنتَ وَلِيُّنَا فَٱغۡفِرۡ لَنَا وَٱرۡحَمۡنَاۖ وَأَنتَ خَيۡرُ ٱلۡغَٰفِرِينَ ١٥٥
Wakhtāra mūsā qawmahū sabʿīna rajulal limīqātinā, falammā akhadhathumur-rajfatu qāla rabbi law shiʾta ahlaktahum min qablu wa iyyāy, atuhlikunā bimā faʿalas-sufahāʾu minnā, in hiya illā fitnatuka tuḍillu bihā man tashāʾu wa tahdī man tashāʾ, anta waliyyunā faghfir lanā warḥamnā, wa anta khayrul-ghāfirīn.
And Moses chose from his people seventy men for Our appointment.1 And when the earthquake seized them,2 he said, "My Lord, if You had willed, You could have destroyed them before and me [as well]. Would You destroy us for what the foolish among us have done? This is not but Your trial by which You send astray whom You will and guide whom You will. You are our Protector, so forgive us and have mercy upon us; and You are the best of forgivers.
Footnotes (2)
- Whereupon they were to apologize to Allāh for having worshipped the calf.
- Upon reaching the appointed place, they said to Moses, "We will not believe until we see Allāh outright." So the mountain convulsed, killing them.
۞ وَٱكۡتُبۡ لَنَا فِي هَٰذِهِ ٱلدُّنۡيَا حَسَنَةٗ وَفِي ٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ إِنَّا هُدۡنَآ إِلَيۡكَۚ قَالَ عَذَابِيٓ أُصِيبُ بِهِۦ مَنۡ أَشَآءُۖ وَرَحۡمَتِي وَسِعَتۡ كُلَّ شَيۡءٖۚ فَسَأَكۡتُبُهَا لِلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ وَيُؤۡتُونَ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَٱلَّذِينَ هُم بِـَٔايَٰتِنَا يُؤۡمِنُونَ ١٥٦
Waktub lanā fī hādhihid-dunyā ḥasanataw wa fil-ākhirati innā hudnā ilayk, qāla ʿadhābī uṣību bihī man ashāʾ, wa raḥmatī wasiʿat kulla shayʾ, fasaʾaktubuhā lil-ladhīna yattaqūna wa yuʾtūnaz-zakāta wal-ladhīna hum biʾāyātinā yuʾminūn.
And decree for us in this world [that which is] good and [also] in the Hereafter; indeed, we have turned back to You." [Allāh] said, "My punishment - I afflict with it whom I will, but My mercy encompasses all things." So I will decree it [especially] for those who fear Me and give zakāh and those who believe in Our verses-
۞ وَمَآ أَعۡجَلَكَ عَن قَوۡمِكَ يَٰمُوسَىٰ ٨٣
Wa mā aʿjalaka ʿan qawmika yāmūsā.
[Allāh said], "And what made you hasten from your people, O Moses?"
قَالَ هُمۡ أُوْلَآءِ عَلَىٰٓ أَثَرِي وَعَجِلۡتُ إِلَيۡكَ رَبِّ لِتَرۡضَىٰ ٨٤
Qāla hum ulāʾi ʿalā atharī wa ʿajiltu ilayka rabbi litarḍā.
He said, "They are close upon my tracks, and I hastened to You, my Lord, that You be pleased."
قَالَ فَإِنَّا قَدۡ فَتَنَّا قَوۡمَكَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِكَ وَأَضَلَّهُمُ ٱلسَّامِرِيُّ ٨٥
Qāla fa innā qad fatannā qawmaka mim baʿdika wa aḍallahumus-sāmiriyy.
[Allāh] said, "But indeed, We have tried your people after you [departed], and the Sāmirī1 has led them astray."
Footnotes (1)
- Translated as "the Samaritan" (from Samaria), a hypocrite among them who led the Children of Israel into idol-worship.
فَرَجَعَ مُوسَىٰٓ إِلَىٰ قَوۡمِهِۦ غَضۡبَٰنَ أَسِفٗاۚ قَالَ يَٰقَوۡمِ أَلَمۡ يَعِدۡكُمۡ رَبُّكُمۡ وَعۡدًا حَسَنًاۚ أَفَطَالَ عَلَيۡكُمُ ٱلۡعَهۡدُ أَمۡ أَرَدتُّمۡ أَن يَحِلَّ عَلَيۡكُمۡ غَضَبٞ مِّن رَّبِّكُمۡ فَأَخۡلَفۡتُم مَّوۡعِدِي ٨٦
Farajaʿa mūsā ilā qawmihī ghaḍbāna asifā, qāla yāqawmi alam yaʿidkum rabbukum waʿdan ḥasanā, afaṭāla ʿalaykumul-ʿahdu am aradttum ay yaḥilla ʿalaykum ghaḍabum mir rabbikum fa akhlaftum mawʿidī.
So Moses returned to his people, angry and grieved.1 He said, "O my people, did your Lord not make you a good promise?2 Then, was the time [of its fulfillment] too long for you, or did you wish that wrath from your Lord descend upon you, so you broke your promise [of obedience] to me?"
Footnotes (2)
- The meaning may also be "angry and enraged."
- That He would send down the Torah, containing guidance for you.
قَالُواْ مَآ أَخۡلَفۡنَا مَوۡعِدَكَ بِمَلۡكِنَا وَلَٰكِنَّا حُمِّلۡنَآ أَوۡزَارٗا مِّن زِينَةِ ٱلۡقَوۡمِ فَقَذَفۡنَٰهَا فَكَذَٰلِكَ أَلۡقَى ٱلسَّامِرِيُّ ٨٧
Qālū mā akhlafnā mawʿidaka bimalkinā wa lākinnā ḥummilnā awzāram min zīnatil-qawmi faqadhafnāhā fakadhālika alqas-sāmiriyy.
They said, "We did not break our promise to you by our will, but we were made to carry burdens from the ornaments of the people [of Pharaoh], so we threw them [into the fire], and thus did the Sāmirī throw."
فَأَخۡرَجَ لَهُمۡ عِجۡلٗا جَسَدٗا لَّهُۥ خُوَارٞ فَقَالُواْ هَٰذَآ إِلَٰهُكُمۡ وَإِلَٰهُ مُوسَىٰ فَنَسِيَ ٨٨
Fa akhraja lahum ʿijlan jasadal lahū khuwārun faqālū hādhā ilāhukum wa ilāhu mūsā fanasiy.
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."
أَفَلَا يَرَوۡنَ أَلَّا يَرۡجِعُ إِلَيۡهِمۡ قَوۡلٗا وَلَا يَمۡلِكُ لَهُمۡ ضَرّٗا وَلَا نَفۡعٗا ٨٩
Afalā yarawna allā yarjiʿu ilayhim qawlaw wa lā yamliku lahum ḍarraw wa lā nafʿā.
Did they not see that it could not return to them any speech [i.e., response] and that it did not possess for them any harm or benefit?
وَلَقَدۡ قَالَ لَهُمۡ هَٰرُونُ مِن قَبۡلُ يَٰقَوۡمِ إِنَّمَا فُتِنتُم بِهِۦۖ وَإِنَّ رَبَّكُمُ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنُ فَٱتَّبِعُونِي وَأَطِيعُوٓاْ أَمۡرِي ٩٠
Wa laqad qāla lahum hārūnu min qablu yāqawmi innamā futintum bih, wa inna rabbakumur-raḥmānu fattabiʿūnī wa aṭīʿū amrī.
And Aaron had already told them before [the return of Moses], "O my people, you are only being tested by it, and indeed, your Lord is the Most Merciful, so follow me and obey my order."
قَالُواْ لَن نَّبۡرَحَ عَلَيۡهِ عَٰكِفِينَ حَتَّىٰ يَرۡجِعَ إِلَيۡنَا مُوسَىٰ ٩١
Qālū lan nabraḥa ʿalayhi ʿākifīna ḥattā yarjiʿa ilaynā mūsā.
They said, "We will never cease being devoted to it [i.e., the calf] until Moses returns to us."
قَالَ يَٰهَٰرُونُ مَا مَنَعَكَ إِذۡ رَأَيۡتَهُمۡ ضَلُّوٓاْ ٩٢
Qāla yāhārūnu mā manaʿaka idh raʾaytahum ḍallū.
[Moses] said, "O Aaron, what prevented you, when you saw them going astray,
أَلَّا تَتَّبِعَنِۖ أَفَعَصَيۡتَ أَمۡرِي ٩٣
Allā tattabiʿan, afaʿaṣayta amrī.
From following me? Then have you disobeyed my order?"
قَالَ يَبۡنَؤُمَّ لَا تَأۡخُذۡ بِلِحۡيَتِي وَلَا بِرَأۡسِيٓۖ إِنِّي خَشِيتُ أَن تَقُولَ فَرَّقۡتَ بَيۡنَ بَنِيٓ إِسۡرَٰٓءِيلَ وَلَمۡ تَرۡقُبۡ قَوۡلِي ٩٤
Qāla yabnaʾumma lā taʾkhudh biliḥyatī wa lā biraʾsī, innī khashītu an taqūla farraqta bayna banī isrāʾīla wa lam tarqub qawlī.
[Aaron] said, "O son of my mother, do not seize [me] by my beard or by my head. Indeed, I feared that you would say, 'You caused division among the Children of Israel, and you did not observe [or await] my word.'"
قَالَ فَمَا خَطۡبُكَ يَٰسَٰمِرِيُّ ٩٥
Qāla famā khaṭbuka yāsāmiriyy.
[Moses] said, "And what is your case, O Sāmirī?"
قَالَ بَصُرۡتُ بِمَا لَمۡ يَبۡصُرُواْ بِهِۦ فَقَبَضۡتُ قَبۡضَةٗ مِّنۡ أَثَرِ ٱلرَّسُولِ فَنَبَذۡتُهَا وَكَذَٰلِكَ سَوَّلَتۡ لِي نَفۡسِي ٩٦
Qāla baṣurtu bimā lam yabṣurū bihī faqabaḍtu qabḍatam min atharir-rasūli fanabadhtuhā wa kadhālika sawwalat lī nafsī.
He said, "I saw what they did not see, so I took a handful [of dust] from the track of the messenger1 and threw it,2 and thus did my soul entice me."
Footnotes (2)
- i.e., a hoof-print in the sand left by the angel Gabriel's horse.
- Into the fire upon the melted ornaments in order to form the calf.
قَالَ فَٱذۡهَبۡ فَإِنَّ لَكَ فِي ٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ أَن تَقُولَ لَا مِسَاسَۖ وَإِنَّ لَكَ مَوۡعِدٗا لَّن تُخۡلَفَهُۥۖ وَٱنظُرۡ إِلَىٰٓ إِلَٰهِكَ ٱلَّذِي ظَلۡتَ عَلَيۡهِ عَاكِفٗاۖ لَّنُحَرِّقَنَّهُۥ ثُمَّ لَنَنسِفَنَّهُۥ فِي ٱلۡيَمِّ نَسۡفًا ٩٧
Qāla fadhhab fa inna laka fil-ḥayāti an taqūla lā misās, wa inna laka mawʿidal lan tukhlafah, wanẓur ilā ilāhikal-ladhī ẓalta ʿalayhi ʿākifā, lanuḥarriqannahū thumma lanansifannahū fil-yammi nasfā.
[Moses] said, "Then go. And indeed, it is [decreed] for you in [this] life to say, 'No contact.'1 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 [i.e., its ashes] into the sea with a blast.
Footnotes (1)
- i.e., Do not touch me. As chastisement, he was to be completely shunned by all people.
The raised mountain and the covenant
وَإِذۡ أَخَذۡنَا مِيثَٰقَكُمۡ وَرَفَعۡنَا فَوۡقَكُمُ ٱلطُّورَ خُذُواْ مَآ ءَاتَيۡنَٰكُم بِقُوَّةٖ وَٱذۡكُرُواْ مَا فِيهِ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَتَّقُونَ ٦٣
Wa idh akhadhnā mīthāqakum wa rafaʿnā fawqakumuṭ-ṭūra khudhū mā ātaynākum biquwwatiw wadhkurū mā fīhi laʿallakum tattaqūn.
And [recall] when We took your covenant, [O Children of Israel, to abide by the Torah] and We raised over you the mount, [saying], "Take what We have given you with determination and remember what is in it that perhaps you may become righteous."
ثُمَّ تَوَلَّيۡتُم مِّنۢ بَعۡدِ ذَٰلِكَۖ فَلَوۡلَا فَضۡلُ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيۡكُمۡ وَرَحۡمَتُهُۥ لَكُنتُم مِّنَ ٱلۡخَٰسِرِينَ ٦٤
Thumma tawallaytum mim baʿdi dhālik, falawlā faḍlullāhi ʿalaykum wa raḥmatuhū lakuntum minal-khāsirīn.
Then you turned away after that. And if not for the favor of Allāh upon you and His mercy, you would have been among the losers.
وَإِذۡ أَخَذۡنَا مِيثَٰقَ بَنِيٓ إِسۡرَٰٓءِيلَ لَا تَعۡبُدُونَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ وَبِٱلۡوَٰلِدَيۡنِ إِحۡسَانٗا وَذِي ٱلۡقُرۡبَىٰ وَٱلۡيَتَٰمَىٰ وَٱلۡمَسَٰكِينِ وَقُولُواْ لِلنَّاسِ حُسۡنٗا وَأَقِيمُواْ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُواْ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ ثُمَّ تَوَلَّيۡتُمۡ إِلَّا قَلِيلٗا مِّنكُمۡ وَأَنتُم مُّعۡرِضُونَ ٨٣
Wa idh akhadhnā mīthāqa banī isrāʾīla lā taʿbudūna illallāha wabil-wālidayni iḥsānaw wa dhil-qurbā wal-yatāmā wal-masākīni wa qūlū lin-nāsi ḥusnaw wa aqīmuṣ-ṣalāta wa ātuz-zakāta thumma tawallaytum illā qalīlam minkum wa antum muʿriḍūn.
And [recall] when We took the covenant from the Children of Israel, [enjoining upon them], "Do not worship except Allāh; and to parents do good and to relatives, orphans, and the needy. And speak to people good [words] and establish prayer and give zakāh." Then you turned away, except a few of you, and you were refusing.
وَإِذۡ أَخَذۡنَا مِيثَٰقَكُمۡ لَا تَسۡفِكُونَ دِمَآءَكُمۡ وَلَا تُخۡرِجُونَ أَنفُسَكُم مِّن دِيَٰرِكُمۡ ثُمَّ أَقۡرَرۡتُمۡ وَأَنتُمۡ تَشۡهَدُونَ ٨٤
Wa idh akhadhnā mīthāqakum lā tasfikūna dimāʾakum wa lā tukhrijūna anfusakum min diyārikum thumma aqrartum wa antum tashhadūn.
And [recall] when We took your covenant, [saying], "Do not shed your [i.e., each other's] blood or evict one another from your homes." Then you acknowledged [this] while you were witnessing.
ثُمَّ أَنتُمۡ هَٰٓؤُلَآءِ تَقۡتُلُونَ أَنفُسَكُمۡ وَتُخۡرِجُونَ فَرِيقٗا مِّنكُم مِّن دِيَٰرِهِمۡ تَظَٰهَرُونَ عَلَيۡهِم بِٱلۡإِثۡمِ وَٱلۡعُدۡوَٰنِ وَإِن يَأۡتُوكُمۡ أُسَٰرَىٰ تُفَٰدُوهُمۡ وَهُوَ مُحَرَّمٌ عَلَيۡكُمۡ إِخۡرَاجُهُمۡۚ أَفَتُؤۡمِنُونَ بِبَعۡضِ ٱلۡكِتَٰبِ وَتَكۡفُرُونَ بِبَعۡضٖۚ فَمَا جَزَآءُ مَن يَفۡعَلُ ذَٰلِكَ مِنكُمۡ إِلَّا خِزۡيٞ فِي ٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡيَاۖ وَيَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِ يُرَدُّونَ إِلَىٰٓ أَشَدِّ ٱلۡعَذَابِۗ وَمَا ٱللَّهُ بِغَٰفِلٍ عَمَّا تَعۡمَلُونَ ٨٥
Thumma antum hāʾulāʾi taqtulūna anfusakum wa tukhrijūna farīqam minkum min diyārihim taẓāharūna ʿalayhim bil-ithmi wal-ʿudwāni wa iy yaʾtūkum usārā tufādūhum wa huwa muḥarramun ʿalaykum ikhrājuhum, afatuʾminūna bibaʿḍil-kitābi wa takfurūna bibaʿḍ, famā jazāʾu may yafʿalu dhālika minkum illā khizyun fil-ḥayātid-dunyā, wa yawmal-qiyāmati yuraddūna ilā ashaddil-ʿadhāb, wa mallāhu bighāfilin ʿammā taʿmalūn.
Then, you are those [same ones who are] killing one another and evicting a party of your people from their homes, cooperating against them in sin and aggression. And if they come to you as captives, you ransom them, although their eviction was forbidden to you. So do you believe in part of the Scripture and disbelieve in part? Then what is the recompense for those who do that among you except disgrace in worldly life; and on the Day of Resurrection they will be sent back to the severest of punishment. And Allāh is not unaware of what you do.
۞ وَإِذۡ نَتَقۡنَا ٱلۡجَبَلَ فَوۡقَهُمۡ كَأَنَّهُۥ ظُلَّةٞ وَظَنُّوٓاْ أَنَّهُۥ وَاقِعُۢ بِهِمۡ خُذُواْ مَآ ءَاتَيۡنَٰكُم بِقُوَّةٖ وَٱذۡكُرُواْ مَا فِيهِ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَتَّقُونَ ١٧١
Wa idh nataqnal-jabala fawqahum kaʾannahū ẓullatuw wa ẓannū annahū wāqiʿum bihim khudhū mā ātaynākum biquwwatiw wadhkurū mā fīhi laʿallakum tattaqūn.
And [mention] when We raised the mountain above them as if it was a dark cloud and they were certain that it would fall upon them,1 [and Allāh said], "Take what We have given you with determination and remember what is in it that you might fear Allāh."
Footnotes (1)
- For their rebellion and disobedience.
The command to slaughter a cow
وَإِذۡ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوۡمِهِۦٓ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَأۡمُرُكُمۡ أَن تَذۡبَحُواْ بَقَرَةٗۖ قَالُوٓاْ أَتَتَّخِذُنَا هُزُوٗاۖ قَالَ أَعُوذُ بِٱللَّهِ أَنۡ أَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلۡجَٰهِلِينَ ٦٧
Wa idh qāla mūsā liqawmihī innallāha yaʾmurukum an tadhbaḥū baqarah, qālū atattakhidhunā huzuwā, qāla aʿūdhu billāhi an akūna minal-jāhilīn.
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."
قَالُواْ ٱدۡعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُبَيِّن لَّنَا مَا هِيَۚ قَالَ إِنَّهُۥ يَقُولُ إِنَّهَا بَقَرَةٞ لَّا فَارِضٞ وَلَا بِكۡرٌ عَوَانُۢ بَيۡنَ ذَٰلِكَۖ فَٱفۡعَلُواْ مَا تُؤۡمَرُونَ ٦٨
Qāludʿu lanā rabbaka yubayyil lanā mā hiy, qāla innahū yaqūlu innahā baqaratul lā fāriḍuw wa lā bikrun ʿawānu bayna dhālik, fafʿalū mā tuʾmarūn.
They said, "Call upon your Lord to make clear to us what it is." [Moses] said, "[Allāh] says, 'It is a cow which is neither old nor virgin, but median between that,' so do what you are commanded."
قَالُواْ ٱدۡعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُبَيِّن لَّنَا مَا لَوۡنُهَاۚ قَالَ إِنَّهُۥ يَقُولُ إِنَّهَا بَقَرَةٞ صَفۡرَآءُ فَاقِعٞ لَّوۡنُهَا تَسُرُّ ٱلنَّٰظِرِينَ ٦٩
Qāludʿu lanā rabbaka yubayyil lanā mā lawnuhā, qāla innahū yaqūlu innahā baqaratun ṣafrāʾu fāqiʿul lawnuhā tasurrun-nāẓirīn.
They said, "Call upon your Lord to show us what is her color." He said, "He says, 'It is a yellow cow, bright in color - pleasing to the observers.'"
قَالُواْ ٱدۡعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُبَيِّن لَّنَا مَا هِيَ إِنَّ ٱلۡبَقَرَ تَشَٰبَهَ عَلَيۡنَا وَإِنَّآ إِن شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَمُهۡتَدُونَ ٧٠
Qāludʿu lanā rabbaka yubayyil lanā mā hiya innal-baqara tashābaha ʿalaynā wa innā in shāʾallāhu lamuhtadūn.
They said, "Call upon your Lord to make clear to us what it is. Indeed, [all] cows look alike to us. And indeed we, if Allāh wills, will be guided."
قَالَ إِنَّهُۥ يَقُولُ إِنَّهَا بَقَرَةٞ لَّا ذَلُولٞ تُثِيرُ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَلَا تَسۡقِي ٱلۡحَرۡثَ مُسَلَّمَةٞ لَّا شِيَةَ فِيهَاۚ قَالُواْ ٱلۡـَٰٔنَ جِئۡتَ بِٱلۡحَقِّۚ فَذَبَحُوهَا وَمَا كَادُواْ يَفۡعَلُونَ ٧١
Qāla innahū yaqūlu innahā baqaratul lā dhalūlun tuthīrul-arḍa wa lā tasqil-ḥartha musallamatul lā shiyata fīhā, qālul-āna jiʾta bil-ḥaqq, fadhabaḥūhā wa mā kādū yafʿalūn.
He said, "He says, 'It is a cow neither trained to plow the earth nor to irrigate the field, one free from fault with no spot upon her.'" They said, "Now you have come with the truth." So they slaughtered her, but they could hardly do it.
وَإِذۡ قَتَلۡتُمۡ نَفۡسٗا فَٱدَّٰرَٰءۡتُمۡ فِيهَاۖ وَٱللَّهُ مُخۡرِجٞ مَّا كُنتُمۡ تَكۡتُمُونَ ٧٢
Wa idh qataltum nafsan faddāraʾtum fīhā, wallāhu mukhrijum mā kuntum taktumūn.
And [recall] when you slew a man and disputed1 over it, but Allāh was to bring out that which you were concealing.
Footnotes (1)
- i.e., exchanged accusations and denials.
فَقُلۡنَا ٱضۡرِبُوهُ بِبَعۡضِهَاۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يُحۡيِ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡمَوۡتَىٰ وَيُرِيكُمۡ ءَايَٰتِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَعۡقِلُونَ ٧٣
Faqulnaḍribūhu bibaʿḍihā, kadhālika yuḥyillāhul-mawtā wa yurīkum āyātihī laʿallakum taʿqilūn.
So We said, "Strike him [i.e., the slain man] with part of it."1 Thus does Allāh bring the dead to life, and He shows you His signs that you might reason.
Footnotes (1)
- i.e., the cow. Thereupon, Allāh restored life to the man, who informed them of his murderer.
ثُمَّ قَسَتۡ قُلُوبُكُم مِّنۢ بَعۡدِ ذَٰلِكَ فَهِيَ كَٱلۡحِجَارَةِ أَوۡ أَشَدُّ قَسۡوَةٗۚ وَإِنَّ مِنَ ٱلۡحِجَارَةِ لَمَا يَتَفَجَّرُ مِنۡهُ ٱلۡأَنۡهَٰرُۚ وَإِنَّ مِنۡهَا لَمَا يَشَّقَّقُ فَيَخۡرُجُ مِنۡهُ ٱلۡمَآءُۚ وَإِنَّ مِنۡهَا لَمَا يَهۡبِطُ مِنۡ خَشۡيَةِ ٱللَّهِۗ وَمَا ٱللَّهُ بِغَٰفِلٍ عَمَّا تَعۡمَلُونَ ٧٤
Thumma qasat qulūbukum mim baʿdi dhālika fahiya kal-ḥijārati aw ashaddu qaswah, wa inna minal-ḥijārati lamā yatafajjaru minhul-anhār, wa inna minhā lamā yashshaqqaqu fayakhruju minhul-māʾ, wa inna minhā lamā yahbiṭu min khashyatillāh, wa mallāhu bighāfilin ʿammā taʿmalūn.
Then your hearts became hardened after that, being like stones or even harder. For indeed, there are stones from which rivers burst forth, and there are some of them that split open and water comes out, and there are some of them that fall down for fear of Allāh. And Allāh is not unaware of what you do.
The refusal to enter the Holy Land
وَإِذۡ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوۡمِهِۦ يَٰقَوۡمِ ٱذۡكُرُواْ نِعۡمَةَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيۡكُمۡ إِذۡ جَعَلَ فِيكُمۡ أَنۢبِيَآءَ وَجَعَلَكُم مُّلُوكٗا وَءَاتَىٰكُم مَّا لَمۡ يُؤۡتِ أَحَدٗا مِّنَ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ ٢٠
Wa idh qāla mūsā liqawmihī yāqawmidhkurū niʿmatallāhi ʿalaykum idh jaʿala fīkum anbiyāʾa wa jaʿalakum mulūkaw wa ātākum mā lam yuʾti aḥadam minal-ʿālamīn.
And [mention, O Muḥammad], when Moses said to his people, "O my people, remember the favor of Allāh upon you when He appointed among you prophets and made you possessors1 and gave you that which He had not given anyone among the worlds.
Footnotes (1)
- Of all that you need - specifically, homes, wives and servants. Or "sovereigns," i.e., those of independent authority.
يَٰقَوۡمِ ٱدۡخُلُواْ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ ٱلۡمُقَدَّسَةَ ٱلَّتِي كَتَبَ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمۡ وَلَا تَرۡتَدُّواْ عَلَىٰٓ أَدۡبَارِكُمۡ فَتَنقَلِبُواْ خَٰسِرِينَ ٢١
Yāqawmidkhulul-arḍal-muqaddasatal-latī kataballāhu lakum wa lā tartaddū ʿalā adbārikum fatanqalibū khāsirīn.
O my people, enter the blessed land [i.e., Palestine] which Allāh has assigned to you and do not turn back [from fighting in Allāh's cause] and [thus] become losers."
قَالُواْ يَٰمُوسَىٰٓ إِنَّ فِيهَا قَوۡمٗا جَبَّارِينَ وَإِنَّا لَن نَّدۡخُلَهَا حَتَّىٰ يَخۡرُجُواْ مِنۡهَا فَإِن يَخۡرُجُواْ مِنۡهَا فَإِنَّا دَٰخِلُونَ ٢٢
Qālū yāmūsā inna fīhā qawman jabbārīna wa innā lan nadkhulahā ḥattā yakhrujū minhā fa iy yakhrujū minhā fa innā dākhilūn.
They said, "O Moses, indeed within it is a people of tyrannical strength, and indeed, we will never enter it until they leave it; but if they leave it, then we will enter."
قَالَ رَجُلَانِ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَخَافُونَ أَنۡعَمَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيۡهِمَا ٱدۡخُلُواْ عَلَيۡهِمُ ٱلۡبَابَ فَإِذَا دَخَلۡتُمُوهُ فَإِنَّكُمۡ غَٰلِبُونَۚ وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَتَوَكَّلُوٓاْ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤۡمِنِينَ ٢٣
Qāla rajulāni minal-ladhīna yakhāfūna anʿamallāhu ʿalayhimadkhulū ʿalayhimul-bāba fa idhā dakhaltumūhu fa innakum ghālibūn, wa ʿalallāhi fatawakkalū in kuntum muʾminīn.
Said two men from those who feared [to disobey] upon whom Allāh had bestowed favor, "Enter upon them through the gate, for when you have entered it, you will be predominant.1 And upon Allāh rely, if you should be believers."
Footnotes (1)
- i.e., If you obey the command of Allāh trusting in Him, He will fulfill His promise to you.
قَالُواْ يَٰمُوسَىٰٓ إِنَّا لَن نَّدۡخُلَهَآ أَبَدٗا مَّا دَامُواْ فِيهَا فَٱذۡهَبۡ أَنتَ وَرَبُّكَ فَقَٰتِلَآ إِنَّا هَٰهُنَا قَٰعِدُونَ ٢٤
Qālū yāmūsā innā lan nadkhulahā abadam mā dāmū fīhā fadhhab anta wa rabbuka faqātilā innā hāhunā qāʿidūn.
They said, "O Moses, indeed we will not enter it, ever, as long as they are within it; so go, you and your Lord, and fight. Indeed, we are remaining right here."
قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّي لَآ أَمۡلِكُ إِلَّا نَفۡسِي وَأَخِيۖ فَٱفۡرُقۡ بَيۡنَنَا وَبَيۡنَ ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلۡفَٰسِقِينَ ٢٥
Qāla rabbi innī lā amliku illā nafsī wa akhī, fafruq baynanā wa baynal-qawmil-fāsiqīn.
[Moses] said, "My Lord, indeed I do not possess [i.e., control] except myself and my brother, so part us1 from the defiantly disobedient people."
Footnotes (1)
- Or "distinguish us" or "judge between us."
قَالَ فَإِنَّهَا مُحَرَّمَةٌ عَلَيۡهِمۡۛ أَرۡبَعِينَ سَنَةٗۛ يَتِيهُونَ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِۚ فَلَا تَأۡسَ عَلَى ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلۡفَٰسِقِينَ ٢٦
Qāla fa innahā muḥarramatun ʿalayhim arbaʿīna sanah, yatīhūna fil-arḍ, falā taʾsa ʿalal-qawmil-fāsiqīn.
[Allāh] said, "Then indeed, it is forbidden to them for forty years [in which] they will wander throughout the land. So do not grieve over the defiantly disobedient people."
Favours in the wandering
وَظَلَّلۡنَا عَلَيۡكُمُ ٱلۡغَمَامَ وَأَنزَلۡنَا عَلَيۡكُمُ ٱلۡمَنَّ وَٱلسَّلۡوَىٰۖ كُلُواْ مِن طَيِّبَٰتِ مَا رَزَقۡنَٰكُمۡۚ وَمَا ظَلَمُونَا وَلَٰكِن كَانُوٓاْ أَنفُسَهُمۡ يَظۡلِمُونَ ٥٧
Wa ẓallalnā ʿalaykumul-ghamāma wa anzalnā ʿalaykumul-manna was-salwā, kulū min ṭayyibāti mā razaqnākum, wa mā ẓalamūnā wa lākin kānū anfusahum yaẓlimūn.
And We shaded you with clouds and sent down to you manna and quails, [saying], "Eat from the good things with which We have provided you." And they wronged Us not - but they were [only] wronging themselves.
وَإِذۡ قُلۡنَا ٱدۡخُلُواْ هَٰذِهِ ٱلۡقَرۡيَةَ فَكُلُواْ مِنۡهَا حَيۡثُ شِئۡتُمۡ رَغَدٗا وَٱدۡخُلُواْ ٱلۡبَابَ سُجَّدٗا وَقُولُواْ حِطَّةٞ نَّغۡفِرۡ لَكُمۡ خَطَٰيَٰكُمۡۚ وَسَنَزِيدُ ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ ٥٨
Wa idh qulnadkhulū hādhihil-qaryata fakulū minhā ḥaythu shiʾtum raghadaw wadkhulul-bāba sujjadaw wa qūlū ḥiṭṭatun naghfir lakum khaṭāyākum, wa sanazīdul-muḥsinīn.
And [recall] when We said, "Enter this city [i.e., Jerusalem] and eat from it wherever you will in [ease and] abundance, and enter the gate bowing humbly1 and say, 'Relieve us of our burdens [i.e., sins].' We will [then] forgive your sins for you, and We will increase the doers of good [in goodness and reward]."
Footnotes (1)
- In gratitude to Allāh and admission of sin.
فَبَدَّلَ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ قَوۡلًا غَيۡرَ ٱلَّذِي قِيلَ لَهُمۡ فَأَنزَلۡنَا عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ رِجۡزٗا مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ بِمَا كَانُواْ يَفۡسُقُونَ ٥٩
Fabaddalal-ladhīna ẓalamū qawlan ghayral-ladhī qīla lahum fa anzalnā ʿalal-ladhīna ẓalamū rijzam minas-samāʾi bimā kānū yafsuqūn.
But those who wronged changed [those words] to a statement other than that which had been said to them, so We sent down upon those who wronged a punishment [i.e., plague] from the sky because they were defiantly disobeying.
۞ وَإِذِ ٱسۡتَسۡقَىٰ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوۡمِهِۦ فَقُلۡنَا ٱضۡرِب بِّعَصَاكَ ٱلۡحَجَرَۖ فَٱنفَجَرَتۡ مِنۡهُ ٱثۡنَتَا عَشۡرَةَ عَيۡنٗاۖ قَدۡ عَلِمَ كُلُّ أُنَاسٖ مَّشۡرَبَهُمۡۖ كُلُواْ وَٱشۡرَبُواْ مِن رِّزۡقِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا تَعۡثَوۡاْ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ مُفۡسِدِينَ ٦٠
Wa idhistasqā mūsā liqawmihī faqulnaḍrib biʿaṣākal-ḥajar, fanfajarat minhuthnatā ʿashrata ʿaynā, qad ʿalima kullu unāsim mashrabahum, kulū washrabū mir rizqillāhi wa lā taʿthaw fil-arḍi mufsidīn.
And [recall] when Moses prayed for water for his people, so We said, "Strike with your staff the stone." And there gushed forth from it twelve springs, and every people [i.e., tribe] knew its watering place. "Eat and drink from the provision of Allāh, and do not commit abuse on the earth, spreading corruption."
وَإِذۡ قُلۡتُمۡ يَٰمُوسَىٰ لَن نَّصۡبِرَ عَلَىٰ طَعَامٖ وَٰحِدٖ فَٱدۡعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُخۡرِجۡ لَنَا مِمَّا تُنۢبِتُ ٱلۡأَرۡضُ مِنۢ بَقۡلِهَا وَقِثَّآئِهَا وَفُومِهَا وَعَدَسِهَا وَبَصَلِهَاۖ قَالَ أَتَسۡتَبۡدِلُونَ ٱلَّذِي هُوَ أَدۡنَىٰ بِٱلَّذِي هُوَ خَيۡرٌۚ ٱهۡبِطُواْ مِصۡرٗا فَإِنَّ لَكُم مَّا سَأَلۡتُمۡۗ وَضُرِبَتۡ عَلَيۡهِمُ ٱلذِّلَّةُ وَٱلۡمَسۡكَنَةُ وَبَآءُو بِغَضَبٖ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمۡ كَانُواْ يَكۡفُرُونَ بِـَٔايَٰتِ ٱللَّهِ وَيَقۡتُلُونَ ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ بِغَيۡرِ ٱلۡحَقِّۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِمَا عَصَواْ وَّكَانُواْ يَعۡتَدُونَ ٦١
Wa idh qultum yāmūsā lan naṣbira ʿalā ṭaʿāmiw wāḥidin fadʿu lanā rabbaka yukhrij lanā mimmā tunbitul-arḍu mim baqlihā wa qiththāʾihā wa fūmihā wa ʿadasihā wa baṣalihā, qāla atastabdilūnal-ladhī huwa adnā bil-ladhī huwa khayr, ihbiṭū miṣran fa inna lakum mā saʾaltum, wa ḍuribat ʿalayhimudh-dhillatu wal-maskanatu wa bāʾū bighaḍabim minallāh, dhālika biʾannahum kānū yakfurūna biʾāyātillāhi wa yaqtulūnan-nabiyyīna bighayril-ḥaqq, dhālika bimā ʿaṣaw wa kānū yaʿtadūn.
And [recall] when you said, "O Moses, we can never endure one [kind of] food. So call upon your Lord to bring forth for us from the earth its green herbs and its cucumbers and its garlic and its lentils and its onions." [Moses] said, "Would you exchange what is better for what is less? Go into [any] settlement and indeed, you will have what you have asked." And they were covered with humiliation and poverty and returned with anger from Allāh [upon them]. That was because they [repeatedly] disbelieved in the signs of Allāh and killed the prophets without right. That was because they disobeyed and were [habitually] transgressing.
وَقَطَّعۡنَٰهُمُ ٱثۡنَتَيۡ عَشۡرَةَ أَسۡبَاطًا أُمَمٗاۚ وَأَوۡحَيۡنَآ إِلَىٰ مُوسَىٰٓ إِذِ ٱسۡتَسۡقَىٰهُ قَوۡمُهُۥٓ أَنِ ٱضۡرِب بِّعَصَاكَ ٱلۡحَجَرَۖ فَٱنۢبَجَسَتۡ مِنۡهُ ٱثۡنَتَا عَشۡرَةَ عَيۡنٗاۖ قَدۡ عَلِمَ كُلُّ أُنَاسٖ مَّشۡرَبَهُمۡۚ وَظَلَّلۡنَا عَلَيۡهِمُ ٱلۡغَمَٰمَ وَأَنزَلۡنَا عَلَيۡهِمُ ٱلۡمَنَّ وَٱلسَّلۡوَىٰۖ كُلُواْ مِن طَيِّبَٰتِ مَا رَزَقۡنَٰكُمۡۚ وَمَا ظَلَمُونَا وَلَٰكِن كَانُوٓاْ أَنفُسَهُمۡ يَظۡلِمُونَ ١٦٠
Wa qaṭṭaʿnāhumuthnatay ʿashrata asbāṭan umamā, wa awḥaynā ilā mūsā idhistasqāhu qawmuhū aniḍrib biʿaṣākal-ḥajar, fanbajasat minhuthnatā ʿashrata ʿaynā, qad ʿalima kullu unāsim mashrabahum, wa ẓallalnā ʿalayhimul-ghamāma wa anzalnā ʿalayhimul-manna was-salwā, kulū min ṭayyibāti mā razaqnākum, wa mā ẓalamūnā wa lākin kānū anfusahum yaẓlimūn.
And We divided them into twelve descendant tribes1 [as distinct] nations. And We inspired to Moses when his people implored him for water, "Strike with your staff the stone," and there gushed forth from it twelve springs. Every people [i.e., tribe] knew its watering place. And We shaded them with clouds and sent down upon them manna and quails, [saying], "Eat from the good things with which We have provided you." And they wronged Us not, but they were [only] wronging themselves.
Footnotes (1)
- From the twelve sons of Jacob.
وَإِذۡ قِيلَ لَهُمُ ٱسۡكُنُواْ هَٰذِهِ ٱلۡقَرۡيَةَ وَكُلُواْ مِنۡهَا حَيۡثُ شِئۡتُمۡ وَقُولُواْ حِطَّةٞ وَٱدۡخُلُواْ ٱلۡبَابَ سُجَّدٗا نَّغۡفِرۡ لَكُمۡ خَطِيٓـَٰٔتِكُمۡۚ سَنَزِيدُ ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ ١٦١
Wa idh qīla lahumuskunū hādhihil-qaryata wa kulū minhā ḥaythu shiʾtum wa qūlū ḥiṭṭatuw wadkhulul-bāba sujjadan naghfir lakum khaṭīʾātikum, sanazīdul-muḥsinīn.
And [mention, O Muḥammad], when it was said to them, "Dwell in this city [i.e., Jerusalem] and eat from it wherever you will and say, 'Relieve us of our burdens [i.e., sins],' and enter the gate bowing humbly; We will [then] forgive you your sins. We will increase the doers of good [in goodness and reward]."
فَبَدَّلَ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ مِنۡهُمۡ قَوۡلًا غَيۡرَ ٱلَّذِي قِيلَ لَهُمۡ فَأَرۡسَلۡنَا عَلَيۡهِمۡ رِجۡزٗا مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ بِمَا كَانُواْ يَظۡلِمُونَ ١٦٢
Fabaddalal-ladhīna ẓalamū minhum qawlan ghayral-ladhī qīla lahum fa arsalnā ʿalayhim rijzam minas-samāʾi bimā kānū yaẓlimūn.
But those who wronged among them changed [the words] to a statement other than that which had been said to them. So We sent upon them a punishment from the sky for the wrong that they were doing.
The Sabbath-breakers
وَلَقَدۡ عَلِمۡتُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱعۡتَدَوۡاْ مِنكُمۡ فِي ٱلسَّبۡتِ فَقُلۡنَا لَهُمۡ كُونُواْ قِرَدَةً خَٰسِـِٔينَ ٦٥
Wa laqad ʿalimtumul-ladhīnaʿtadaw minkum fis-sabti faqulnā lahum kūnū qiradatan khāsiʾīn.
And you had already known about those who transgressed among you concerning the sabbath, and We said to them, "Be apes, despised."
فَجَعَلۡنَٰهَا نَكَٰلٗا لِّمَا بَيۡنَ يَدَيۡهَا وَمَا خَلۡفَهَا وَمَوۡعِظَةٗ لِّلۡمُتَّقِينَ ٦٦
Fajaʿalnāhā nakālal limā bayna yadayhā wa mā khalfahā wa mawʿiẓatal lil-muttaqīn.
And We made it a deterrent punishment for those who were present and those who succeeded [them] and a lesson for those who fear Allāh.
وَسۡـَٔلۡهُمۡ عَنِ ٱلۡقَرۡيَةِ ٱلَّتِي كَانَتۡ حَاضِرَةَ ٱلۡبَحۡرِ إِذۡ يَعۡدُونَ فِي ٱلسَّبۡتِ إِذۡ تَأۡتِيهِمۡ حِيتَانُهُمۡ يَوۡمَ سَبۡتِهِمۡ شُرَّعٗا وَيَوۡمَ لَا يَسۡبِتُونَ لَا تَأۡتِيهِمۡۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نَبۡلُوهُم بِمَا كَانُواْ يَفۡسُقُونَ ١٦٣
Wasʾalhum ʿanil-qaryatil-latī kānat ḥāḍiratal-baḥri idh yaʿdūna fis-sabti idh taʾtīhim ḥītānuhum yawma sabtihim shurraʿaw wa yawma lā yasbitūna lā taʾtīhim, kadhālika nablūhum bimā kānū yafsuqūn.
And ask them about the town that was by the sea - when they transgressed in [the matter of] the sabbath - when their fish came to them openly on their sabbath day, and the day they had no sabbath they did not come to them. Thus did We give them trial because they were defiantly disobedient.
وَإِذۡ قَالَتۡ أُمَّةٞ مِّنۡهُمۡ لِمَ تَعِظُونَ قَوۡمًا ٱللَّهُ مُهۡلِكُهُمۡ أَوۡ مُعَذِّبُهُمۡ عَذَابٗا شَدِيدٗاۖ قَالُواْ مَعۡذِرَةً إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُمۡ وَلَعَلَّهُمۡ يَتَّقُونَ ١٦٤
Wa idh qālat ummatum minhum lima taʿiẓūna qawmanillāhu muhlikuhum aw muʿadhdhibuhum ʿadhāban shadīdā, qālū maʿdhiratan ilā rabbikum wa laʿallahum yattaqūn.
And when a community among them said, "Why do you advise [or warn] a people whom Allāh is [about] to destroy or to punish with a severe punishment?" they [the advisors] said, "To be absolved before your Lord and perhaps they may fear Him."
فَلَمَّا نَسُواْ مَا ذُكِّرُواْ بِهِۦٓ أَنجَيۡنَا ٱلَّذِينَ يَنۡهَوۡنَ عَنِ ٱلسُّوٓءِ وَأَخَذۡنَا ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ بِعَذَابِۭ بَـِٔيسِۭ بِمَا كَانُواْ يَفۡسُقُونَ ١٦٥
Falammā nasū mā dhukkirū bihī anjaynal-ladhīna yanhawna ʿanis-sūʾi wa akhadhnal-ladhīna ẓalamū biʿadhābim baʾīsim bimā kānū yafsuqūn.
And when they [i.e., those advised] forgot that by which they had been reminded, We saved those who had forbidden evil and seized those who wronged, with a wretched punishment, because they were defiantly disobeying.
فَلَمَّا عَتَوۡاْ عَن مَّا نُهُواْ عَنۡهُ قُلۡنَا لَهُمۡ كُونُواْ قِرَدَةً خَٰسِـِٔينَ ١٦٦
Falammā ʿataw ʿam mā nuhū ʿanhu qulnā lahum kūnū qiradatan khāsiʾīn.
So when they were insolent about that which they had been forbidden, We said to them, "Be apes, despised."
The two corruptions of the Children of Israel
وَقَضَيۡنَآ إِلَىٰ بَنِيٓ إِسۡرَٰٓءِيلَ فِي ٱلۡكِتَٰبِ لَتُفۡسِدُنَّ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ مَرَّتَيۡنِ وَلَتَعۡلُنَّ عُلُوّٗا كَبِيرٗا ٤
Wa qaḍaynā ilā banī isrāʾīla fil-kitābi latufsidunna fil-arḍi marratayni wa lataʿlunna ʿuluwwan kabīrā.
And We conveyed1 to the Children of Israel in the Scripture that, "You will surely cause corruption on the earth twice, and you will surely reach [a degree of] great haughtiness."
Footnotes (1)
- Foretold out of divine knowledge of what they would do.
فَإِذَا جَآءَ وَعۡدُ أُولَىٰهُمَا بَعَثۡنَا عَلَيۡكُمۡ عِبَادٗا لَّنَآ أُوْلِي بَأۡسٖ شَدِيدٖ فَجَاسُواْ خِلَٰلَ ٱلدِّيَارِۚ وَكَانَ وَعۡدٗا مَّفۡعُولٗا ٥
Fa idhā jāʾa waʿdu ūlāhumā baʿathnā ʿalaykum ʿibādal lanā ulī baʾsin shadīdin fajāsū khilālad-diyār, wa kāna waʿdam mafʿūlā.
So when the [time of] promise came for the first of them,1 We sent against you servants of Ours - those of great military might, and they probed [even] into the homes,2 and it was a promise fulfilled.
Footnotes (2)
- i.e., the promised punishment for the first of their two transgressions.
- Violating their sanctity, to kill and plunder.
ثُمَّ رَدَدۡنَا لَكُمُ ٱلۡكَرَّةَ عَلَيۡهِمۡ وَأَمۡدَدۡنَٰكُم بِأَمۡوَٰلٖ وَبَنِينَ وَجَعَلۡنَٰكُمۡ أَكۡثَرَ نَفِيرًا ٦
Thumma radadnā lakumul-karrata ʿalayhim wa amdadnākum biʾamwāliw wa banīna wa jaʿalnākum akthara nafīrā.
Then We gave back to you a return victory over them. And We reinforced you with wealth and sons and made you more numerous in manpower.
إِنۡ أَحۡسَنتُمۡ أَحۡسَنتُمۡ لِأَنفُسِكُمۡۖ وَإِنۡ أَسَأۡتُمۡ فَلَهَاۚ فَإِذَا جَآءَ وَعۡدُ ٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ لِيَسُـُٔواْ وُجُوهَكُمۡ وَلِيَدۡخُلُواْ ٱلۡمَسۡجِدَ كَمَا دَخَلُوهُ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٖ وَلِيُتَبِّرُواْ مَا عَلَوۡاْ تَتۡبِيرًا ٧
In aḥsantum aḥsantum liʾanfusikum, wa in asaʾtum falahā, fa idhā jāʾa waʿdul-ākhirati liyasuʾū wujūhakum waliyadkhulul-masjida kamā dakhalūhu awwala marratiw waliyutabbirū mā ʿalaw tatbīrā.
[And said], "If you do good, you do good for yourselves; and if you do evil, [you do it] to them [i.e., yourselves]." Then when the final [i.e., second] promise came, [We sent your enemies] to sadden your faces and to enter the masjid [i.e., the temple in Jerusalem], as they entered it the first time, and to destroy what they had taken over with [total] destruction.
عَسَىٰ رَبُّكُمۡ أَن يَرۡحَمَكُمۡۚ وَإِنۡ عُدتُّمۡ عُدۡنَاۚ وَجَعَلۡنَا جَهَنَّمَ لِلۡكَٰفِرِينَ حَصِيرًا ٨
ʿAsā rabbukum ay yarḥamakum, wa in ʿudttum ʿudnā, wa jaʿalnā jahannama lil-kāfirīna ḥaṣīrā.
[Then Allāh said], "It is expected, [if you repent], that your Lord will have mercy upon you. But if you return [to sin], We will return [to punishment]. And We have made Hell, for the disbelievers, a prison-bed."