Surah 2:53

"And (remember) when We gave Moses the Book and the Deliverance, so that you might be (rightly) guided."

Christian Footnotes (2)Islamic Commentaries (1)Manuscripts (36)

The Children of Israel worshipped the Calf Verses 2:51-53

Show Full Scripture Context (2:51-53) — 3 Verses

Verse 51

وَإِذۡ وَٰعَدۡنَا مُوسَىٰٓ أَرۡبَعِينَ لَيۡلَةٗ ثُمَّ ٱتَّخَذۡتُمُ ٱلۡعِجۡلَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِهِۦ وَأَنتُمۡ ظَٰلِمُونَ

(Remember) when We appointed for Moses forty nights. Then you took the calf after he (was gone), and you were evildoers.

Verse 52

ثُمَّ عَفَوۡنَا عَنكُم مِّنۢ بَعۡدِ ذَٰلِكَ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَشۡكُرُونَ

Then We pardoned you after that, so that you might be thankful.

Verse 53

وَإِذۡ ءَاتَيۡنَا مُوسَى ٱلۡكِتَٰبَ وَٱلۡفُرۡقَانَ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَهۡتَدُونَ

And (remember) when We gave Moses the Book and the Deliverance, so that you might be (rightly) guided.

Quoted Scripture

"51. And (remember) when We appointed for Musa (Moses) forty nights, and (in his absence) you took the calf (for worship), and you were Zalimun (polytheists and wrongdoers).} {52. Then after that We forgave you so that you might be grateful.} {53. And (remember) when We gave Musa the Scripture (the Tawrah) and the criterion (of right and wrong) so that you may be guided aright."

Allah then said, “Remember My favor on you when I forgave you for worshipping the calf.” This happened after Musa went to the meeting place with his Lord at the end of that period which was forty days. These forty days were mentioned in Surat Al-A'raf when Allah said, {And We appointed for Musa thirty nights and added (to the period) ten (more)} (7:142). It was said that these days were during the month of Dhul-Qa'dah plus the first ten days in Dhul-Hijjah, after the Children of Israel were delivered from Fir'awn and they safely crossed the sea. Allah's statement, {And (remember) when We gave Musa the Scripture} means, the Tawrah, {And the criterion} that is that which differentiates between truth and falsehood, guidance and deviation. {So that you may be guided aright}, after escaping the sea, as another Ayah in Surat Al-A'raf clearly stated, {And indeed We gave Musa - after We had destroyed the generations of old - the Scripture (the Tawrah) as an enlightenment for mankind, and a guidance and a mercy, that they might remember (or receive admonition)} (28:43).

— from Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Vol. 1, Pages 227-228)

About this Source & Scholarly Authority (Tafsir Ibn Kathir)

Universal Sunni Consensus: Tafsir al-Qur'an al-Azim by Hafiz Ibn Kathir (701–774 AH / 1301–1373 AD) is universally regarded across all major schools of Sunni Islam (traditional, Salafi, Ash'ari) as the most authoritative classical exegesis. It is prized because it relies on Tafsir bil-Ma'thur—interpreting the Quran using the Quran itself, authentic Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad, and recorded statements of the early Companions (Sahabah).

Standard English Edition: This text is from the standard 10-volume English abridgment published by Dar-us-Salam Publications (supervised by Shaykh Safiur-Rahman Al-Mubarakpuri), which is the official, most widely distributed English Quranic commentary in mosques and Islamic libraries worldwide today.

Navigation