Moses 14

(7:148-152) (2:54) (20-83-98)

       Moses was very anxious for the development of his nation; God had promised him that he would be given guidance in the coming forty nights.  Without receiving an invitation from God he went to the mountain Sinai to get directions from Him.  He was absent from his nation for a long period; a man known as Samiri, not a member of their tribe, was with them.  Some non-Israelites had believed in Moses’ message and followed him when he left Egypt.  Samiri was one of them.

       He was a ruthless opportunist, so he exploited the vacuum created by the absence of Moses.   The Israeli women were very fond of wearing heavy ornaments because it was Egyptian fashion; in the desert these bulky ornaments were an obstacle for free movement.  Samiri took these ornaments of gold and silver, melted them, and formed a golden calf.  He, being well aware of the tricks which were used in temples to deceive ignorant common folks, fixed a device in the calf, as he had seen priests doing in many temples.  This device made the golden calf capable of producing a voice; he told the Israelites that it was their God.  The Israelites did not notice that though the calf could make a lowing sound, he was unable to answer any question.  Moreover, he had no capacity to do any harm or good for them.  Samiri and the Israelites both forgot that Moses might come and they would not be able to answer him for this act.

Aaron, whom Moses had left behind to look after the affairs of the Israelites, tried to stop the nation from the worship of the calf; he told them that Samiri was not a trustworthy person and they should not blindly follow him, otherwise they would face serious difficulties.  All the heartfelt advice of Aaron failed to achieve any result.  The nation of the Israelites was adamant and paid no heed to it.  They openly declared that they were going to worship the golden calf until Moses came and decided the matter for them.  One trick of Samiri made the Israelites forget all that two prophets had been teaching them in the desert. 

When Moses reached the mountain, God asked him about the cause of his early arrival and leaving his nation.  Moses replied that his nation was faithfully following in his footsteps; he thought it to be the right time to get guidance and act upon it.  Moses was informed that he did not gauge the attitude of his nation accurately; his nation had not followed in his footsteps.  On the contrary, in his absence they had been misguided by Samiri.

Disillusioned and indignant, Moses returned to his nation. “Why have you adopted the worship of the golden calf?  Had God not promised a fair future for you?  Did the appointed time appear too long for you, or did you want to invite the disapproval of God by breaking the promise with me?” Moses asked his nation. 

“We have not broken our promise with you.  We were tired of the heavy ornaments and we threw them away,” replied his nation.  Moses turned toward his brother Aaron and asked him, “Why did you not strictly stop the Israelites from worshiping the calf? Or did you want to disobey me in my absence?”  Aaron was hurt by this question and he said, “Son of my mother, do not scold me so harshly.  I was quiet because I feared that you would ask me why I had caused division among the Israelites without waiting for your words.”

Moses asked Samiri, “What you have to say in this matter?” Samiri replied, “I have not adopted you message wholeheartedly.  I only believed in a part of your message, and I left that part also when I saw an opportunity.  Your nation could not imagine what the underlying motive for my actions was.  My ambition and desires made this act very beautiful in my sight.”

Moses said, “Leave our company at once.  Your punishment is that you will live your future life like an untouchable person.  In the life to come you will face the unavoidable consequences of your action.  The golden calf, your god you have forged, will be burnt into ashes. Even its ashes will be scattered over the sea.” After this decision, Moses turned toward the Israelites and declared that there is only one God.  Allah is the final authority whose knowledge is covering the whole universe.