As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters.
Summary
Today’s selection is from Surah Al-Baqarah or the Cow, verses 60-71. These verses recount several stories of Prophet Moses (pbuh) and the Children of Israel. Included are when Prophet Moses (pbuh) found water by striking a rock, the Israelites’ covenants with Allah, punishment for violating the Sabbath, and their attitude toward sacrificing a cow in the name of God.
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Verses
Bis-millahi ar-rahman, ar-raheem.
In the name of Allah, most gracious, most merciful.Remember, when Moses (Musa) prayed for water for his people; We said: “Strike the rock with your staff.” Thereupon, twelve springs came out of it. Each tribe was assigned its own drinking-place. Then they were commanded: “Eat and drink of what Allah has provided and do not create mischief in the land.”[60] 2:[60]
Remember, when you said: “O Moses ! We cannot endure one kind of food; call on your Lord to give us a variety of food which the earth produces, such as green-herbs, cucumbers, garlic, lentils, and onions.” ‘What?’ He asked. ‘Would you exchange the better for the worse? If that’s what you want, get down to a city; there you will find what you have asked for. Gradually, they became so degraded that shame and misery were brought upon them and they drew upon themselves the wrath of Allah; this was because they went on rejecting the commandments of Allah and killed His prophets unjustly, furthermore, it was the consequence of their disobedience and transgression.[61] 2:[61]
Surely, those who believed and those who were Jews, Christians or Sabians (before the advent of Prophet Muhammad) – those among them who believed in Allah and the Last Day and performed good deeds – will be rewarded by their Lord; they will have nothing to fear or to grieve.[62] 2:[62]
Remember, O Children of Israel when We took a covenant from you and when We lifted Mount (Toor) over your heads saying: “Hold firmly to what We have given you (Torah) and follow the commandments therein, so that you may become pious.”[63] But even after that you backed out; if there would not have been the Grace and Mercy of Allah upon you, you surely would have been among the losers.[64] 2:[63-64]
And well you know those among you who transgressed in the matter of the Sabbath; We said to them: “Be you apes, despised and rejected!” [65] Thus, We made them an example to their own people and to succeeding generations, and a lesson to those who are God-conscious.[66] 2:[65-66]
Remember, when Moses said to his people: “Allah commands you to sacrifice a cow,” they replied, “do you ridicule us?”
Moses answered, “I seek the protection of Allah from being one of the ignorant.”[67]
“Request your Lord,” they said, “to give us some details of that cow.”
Moses replied: “Allah says, the cow should neither be too old nor too young but of middle age;” do, therefore, what you are commanded![68]
“Request your Lord again” they said, “to clarify for us her color.”
Moses replied: “Allah says, the said cow should be of a rich and deep yellow color pleasing to the eyes.”[69]
Again they said: “Request your Lord to clarify for us the exact type of cow she should be, because to us all cows look alike; if Allah wills, we shall be rightly guided.”[70]
Moses replied: “Allah says, the said cow should have neither been used to till the soil nor water the fields; a healthy one, free from blemish with no spot on her.”
“Now you have brought us the accurate description,” they said. Then they slaughtered her, after they had almost declined.[71] 2:[67-71]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.