Page 108 - The Prophet Moses (pbuh)

THE PROPHET MOSES (PBUH)

with the heavy loads of the people's jewellery and we threw them
in, for that is what the Samaritan did."
Then he produced a calf for them, a physical form which made a
lowing sound. So they said, "This is your god—and Moses' god as
well, but he forgot." (Surah Ta-Ha: 86-88)
This story provides clear details about how the members of a commu-
nity, who are diseased in their hearts, can be lured away from the remem-
brance of Allah by a hypocrite. To create conflicts and disorder, hypocrites
always seek certain opportune situations. During the Prophet Moses'
(pbuh) absence, conditions were ripe for the hypocrites to lead astray peo-
ple. Samaritan appeared at just such a time; he was aware of these people's
weakness, of their proneness to idolatry. In any case, he knew that they had
previously asked the Prophet Moses (pbuh) to make them an idol. In order
to defend this perverse act with his own foolish mind, he acted so im-
morally to claim that the statue was also the Prophet Moses' (pbuh) deity

but that he forgot him. (Allah is beyond that.)
In fact, the Prophet Aaron (pbuh) had warned his tribe and explained
to them that they were swerving from the right path. Nevertheless, the peo-
ple did not heed his admonition:
Aaron had earlier said to them, "My people! It is just a trial for you.
Your Lord is the All-Merciful, so follow me and obey my command!"
They said, "We will not stop devoting ourselves to it until Moses re-
turns to us." (Surah Ta-Ha: 90-91)
He (Moses) said, "What prevented you following me, Aaron, when
you saw that they had gone astray? Did you too, then, disobey my
command?"
He said, "Son of my mother! Do not seize me by the beard or by the
hair. I was afraid that you would say, 'You have caused division in
the tribe of Israel and taken no notice to anything I said.'" (Surah
Ta-Ha: 92-94)
Aaron said, "Son of my mother, The people oppressed me and al-
most killed me. Do not give my enemies cause to gloat over me. Do

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