As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters.
Summary
Today’s selection is from Surah 7, Al-A‘rãf or the Heights, verses 142-151. These verses detail Prophet Moses’ communication with God at the top of Mount Tür where he was given the tablets of the Torah. Meanwhile, his people, the Israelites started worshiping the calf in his absence.
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Verses
Bis-millahi ar-rahman, ar-raheem.
In the name of Allah, most gracious, most merciful.We summoned Moses to Mount Tür for thirty nights and added ten more to complete the term of forty nights for communion with his Lord. (Before leaving) Moses asked his brother Haroon (Aaron): “You will be in my place among my people, set a good example and do not follow the way of mischief-makers.”[142] When Moses came to Our appointed place and his Lord spoke to him, he asked: “O my Lord! Give me power of sight to see You.” He answered: “You cannot see Me. Look at the mountain; if it remains firm in its place then soon you might be able to see Me”. When his Lord manifested His glory on the mountain, it turned into small pieces of fine dust and Moses fell down unconscious. When Moses recovered he said: “Glory be to You! Accept my repentance and I am the first of the believers.”[143] Allah said: “O Moses! I have chosen you from among mankind to deliver My message and to have conversation with Me: so take what I give you and be thankful.”[144] 7:[142-144]
We inscribed for him upon tablets all kind of instructions and details of every thing, concerning all branches of life, and said: “Observe these with firmness and enjoin your people to follow them according to the best of their abilities. Soon I shall show you the homes of the transgressors.[145] I will turn away from My signs the eyes of those who are unjustly arrogant in the land, so that even if they see each and every sign they will not believe in it. If they see the Right Way before them they will not follow it; but if they see a crooked way they will follow it; this is because they denied Our revelations and were heedless of them.[146] Those who deny Our signs and the meeting of the Hereafter, their deeds are null. Should they be rewarded except for what they have done?”[147] 7:[145-147]
In his absence the nation of Moses made an image of a calf for worship from their jewelry which produced a mooing sound. Did they not see that it could neither speak to them nor give them the guidance? Yet they took it for worship and became wrongdoers.[148] When they felt ashamed about what they had done and realized that they had gone astray, they said: “If our Lord does not have mercy on us and pardon us, we shall become losers.”[149] When Moses came back to his people, he was extremely angry and sorrowful, and he said: “What an evil thing you have done in my place in my absence! Have you tried to hasten the retribution of your Lord?” He put down the Holy Tablets and seized his brother by the hair of his head and dragged him closer. Aaron cried: “O son of my mother! The people overpowered me and almost killed me; do not make my enemies happy over me and do not count me among the wrongdoers.”[150] At this Moses said: “O Lord! Forgive me and my brother! And admit us to Your mercy, for You are the Most Merciful of all.”[151] 7:[148-151]
Ameen.
This concludes today’s episode of the 17 Verses Podcast. I hope that this selection has helped increase your understanding of the holy Qur’an just a little bit.
Thank you and be well.