Page 94 - General Knowledge from the Qur'an

92 GENERAL KNOWLEDGE FROM THE QUR'AN

perform prayer and pay the welfare tax.' But then you turned away – ex-
cept a few of you – you turned aside. And when We made a covenant
with you not to shed your blood and not to expel one another from your
homes, you agreed and were all witnesses. (Surat al-Baqara, 83-84)
Tribe of Israel! We rescued you from your enemy and made an ap-
pointment with you on the right hand side of the Mount and sent
down manna and quails for you. Eat of the good things We have pro-
vided for you but do not go to excess in it or My anger will be un-
leashed on you. Anyone who has My anger unleashed on him has
plunged to his ruin. But I am Ever-Forgiving to anyone who repents
and believes and acts rightly and then is guided. (Surah Ta Ha, 80-82)
While the Prophet Musa (as) is on the Mount,
His People Worship the Calf
And when We allotted to Musa forty nights. Then you adopted the
Calf when he had gone and you were wrongdoers. Then We pardoned
you after that so that perhaps you would show thanks. Remember
when We gave Musa the Book and discrimination so that perhaps you
would be guided. And when Musa said to his people, 'My people, You
wronged yourselves by adopting the Calf so turn towards your Maker
and kill yourselves. That is the best thing for you in your Maker's
sight.' And He turned towards you. He is the Ever-Returning, the Most
Merciful. (Surat al-Baqara, 51-54)
He said, 'We tried your people after you left and the Samaritan has
misguided them.' (Surah Ta Ha, 85)
After he left, Musa's people adopted a calf made from their orna-
ments, a form which made a lowing sound. Did they not see that it
could not speak to them or guide them to any way? They adopted it
and so they were wrongdoers. (Surat al-A'raf, 148)
The Prophet Musa's (as) Return to His People
When Musa returned to his people in anger and great sorrow, he
said, 'What an evil thing you did in my absence after I left! Did you
want to hasten your Lord's command?' He threw down the Tablets
and seized hold of his brother's head, dragging him towards him.
Harun said, 'Son of my mother, The people oppressed me and almost
killed me. Do not give my enemies cause to gloat over me. Do not in-