THE QUR’AN
2. THE COW
This is a Medinan sura and the longest in the Qur’an, containing material revealed over several years, and named after the story of the cow which the Israelites were ordered to slaughter (verses 67 .). The sura opens with a response to the plea for guidance in Sura1, ‘The Opening’, dividing mankind into three groups in their response to this guidance—the believers, the disbelievers, and the hypocrites—and closes con rming the tenets of faith given in the opening verses (3–5). The
addressee shifts as the sura progresses: at various times the text addresses mankind in general (verses 21 .), where they are urged to serve God who has been so gracious to them (they are reminded that God created Adam and favoured him over the angels), the Children of Israel (verses 40 .), who are reminded of God’s special favours to them and urged to believe in scriptures that do indeed con rm their own, and the believers (verses 136 .), who are given instruction in many areas—prayer, fasting, pilgrimage, defence, marital law, and nancial matters.
In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy
1Alif Lam Mima
2This is the Scripture in which there is no doubt,b containing guidance for those who are mindfulc of God, 3who believe in the unseen,d keep up the prayer,a and giveb out of what We have
provided for them; 4those who believe in the revelation sent down to you [Muhammad], and in what was sent before you, those who have rm faith in the Hereafter. 5Such people are following their Lord’s guidance and it is they who will prosper. 6As for those who disbelieve, it makes no di erence whether you warn them or not:
they will not believe. 7God has sealed their hearts and their ears, and their eyes are covered. They will have great torment.c
8Some people say, ‘We believe in God and the Last Day,’ when really they do not believe. 9They seek to deceive God and the
believers but they only deceive themselves, though they do not realize it. 10There is a disease in their hearts, to which God has added more: agonizing torment awaits them for their persistent lying. 11When it is said to them, ‘Do not cause corruption in the land,’ they say, ‘We are only putting things right,’ 12but really they are causing corruption, though they do not realize it. 13When it is said to them, ‘Believe, as the others believe,’ they say, ‘Should we believe as the fools do?’ but they are the fools, though they do not know it. 14When they meet the believers, they say, ‘We believe,’ but when they are alone with their evil ones, they say, ‘We’re really with you; we were only mocking.’ 15God is mocking them, and allowing them more slack to wander blindly in their insolence.
16They have bought error in exchange for guidance, so their trade reaps no pro t, and they are not rightly guided. 17They are like people who [labour to] kindle a re: when it lights up everything around them, God takes away all their light, leaving them in utter darkness, unable to see— 18deaf, dumb, and blind: they will never return. 19Or [like people who, under] a cloudburst from the sky, with its darkness, thunder, and lightning, put their ngers into their ears to keep out the thunderclaps for fear of death—God surrounds the disbelievers. 20The lightning almost snatches away their sight:
whenever it ashes on them they walk on and when darkness falls around them they stand still. If God so willed, He could take away their hearing and sight: God has power over everything.
21People, worship your Lord, who created you and those before you, so that you may be mindful [of Him] 22who spread out the earth for you and built the sky; who sent water down from it and with that water produced things for your sustenance. Do not, knowing this, set up rivals to God. 23If you have doubts about the revelation We have sent down to Our servant, then produce a single sura like it—enlist whatever supportersa you have other than God—
if you truly [think you can]. 24If you cannot do this—and you never will—then beware of the Fire prepared for the disbelievers, whose fuel is men and stones.
25[Prophet], give those who believe and do good the news that they will have Gardens graced with owing streams. Whenever they are given sustenance from the fruits of these Gardens, they will say,
‘We have been given this before,’ because they were provided with something like it.b They will have pure spouses and there they will stay.
26God does not shy from drawing comparisons even with
something as small as a gnat, or larger:c the believers know it is the truth from their Lord, but the disbelievers say, ‘What does God mean by such a comparison?’ Through it He makes many go astray and leads many to the right path. But it is only the rebels He makes go astray: 27those who break their covenant with God after it has been con rmed, who sever the bonds that God has commanded to be joined, who spread corruption on the earth—these are the losers.
28How can you ignore God when you were lifeless and He gave you life, when He will cause you to die, then resurrect you to be
returned to Him? 29It was He who created all that is on the earth for you, then turned to the sky and made the seven heavens; it is He who has knowledge of all things.
30[Prophet], when your Lord told the angels, ‘I am putting a successora on earth,’ they said, ‘How canb You put someone there who will cause damage and bloodshed, when we celebrate Your praise and proclaim Your holiness?’ but He said, ‘I know things you do not.’ 31He taught Adam all the names [of things], then He
showed them to the angels and said, ‘Tell me the names of these if you truly [think you can].’ 32They said, ‘May You be glori ed! We have knowledge only of what You have taught us. You are the All Knowing and All Wise.’ 33Then He said, ‘Adam, tell them the names of these.’ When he told them their names, God said, ‘Did I not tell you that I know what is hidden in the heavens and the earth, and that I know what you reveal and what you conceal?’
34When We told the angels, ‘Bow down before Adam,’ they all bowed. But not Iblis, who refused and was arrogant: he was one of the disobedient. 35We said, ‘Adam, live with your wife in this
garden. Both of you eat freely there as you will, but do not go near this tree, or you will both become wrongdoers.’ 36But Satan made them slip, and removed them from the state they were in. We said,
‘Get out, all of you! You are each other’s enemy.c On earth you will have a place to stay and livelihood for a time.’ 37Then Adam
received some wordsd from his Lord and He accepted his
repentance: He is the Ever Relenting, the Most Merciful. 38We said,
‘Get out, all of you! But when guidance comes from Me, as it certainly will, there will be no fear for those who follow My guidance nor will they grieve— 39those who disbelieve and deny Our messages shall be the inhabitants of the Fire, and there they will remain.’
40Children of Israel, remember how I blessed you. Honour your pledge to Me and I will honour My pledge to you: I am the One you should fear. 41Believe in the message I have sent down con rming what you already possess. Do not be the rst to disbelieve in it, and do not sell My messages for a small price: I am the One of whom you should be mindful. 42Do not mix truth with falsehood, or hide the truth when you know it. 43Keep up the prayer, pay the
prescribed alms, and bow your heads [in worship] with those who bow theirs. 44How can you tell people to do what is right and forget to do it yourselves, even though you recite the Scripture? Have you no sense? 45Seek help with steadfastness and prayer—though this is hard indeed for anyone but the humble, 46who knowa that they will meet their Lord and that it is to Him they will return.
47Children of Israel, remember how I blessed you and favoured you over other people. 48Guard yourselves against a Day when no soul will stand in place of another, no intercession will be accepted for it, nor any ransom; nor will they be helped. 49Remember when We saved you from Pharaoh’s people, who subjected you to terrible torment, slaughtering your sons and sparing only your women—this was a great trial from your Lord— 50and when We parted the sea for you, so saving you and drowning Pharaoh’s people right before your eyes. 51We appointed forty nights for Moses [on Mount Sinai] and
then, while he was away, you took to worshipping the calf—a terrible wrong. 52Even then We forgave you, so that you might be thankful.
53Remember when We gave Moses the Scripture, and the means to distinguish [right and wrong], so that you might be guided.
54Moses said to his people, ‘My people, you have wronged
yourselves by worshipping the calf, so repent to your Maker and kill [the guilty among] you. That is the best you can do in the eyes of your Maker.’ He accepted your repentance: He is the Ever Relenting and the Most Merciful. 55Remember when you said, ‘Moses, we will not believe you until we see God face to face.’ At that, thunderbolts struck you as you looked on. 56Then We revived you after your death, so that you might be thankful. 57We made the clouds cover you with shade, and sent manna and quails down to you, saying,
‘Eat the good things We have provided for you.’ It was not Us they wronged; they wronged themselves.
58Remember when We said, ‘Enter this town and eat freely there as you will, but enter its gate humbly and say, "Relieve us!" Then We shall forgive you your sins and increase the rewards of those who do good.’ 59But the wrongdoers substituted a di erent word from the one they had been given. So, because they persistently disobeyed, We sent a plague down from the heavens upon the wrongdoers.
60Remember when Moses prayed for water for his people and We said to him, ‘Strike the rock with your sta .’ Twelve springs gushed out, and each group knew its drinking place. ‘Eat and drink the sustenance God has provided and do not cause corruption in the land.’ 61Remember when you said, ‘Moses, we cannot bear to eat only one kind of food, so pray to your Lord to bring out for us some of the earth’s produce, its herbs and cucumbers, its garlic, lentils, and onions.’ He said, ‘Would you exchange better for worse? Go to Egypt and there you will nd what you have asked for.’ They were struck with humiliation and wretchedness, and they incurred the wrath of God because they persistently rejected His messages and
killed prophets contrary to all that is right. All this was because they disobeyed and were lawbreakers.
62The [Muslim] believers, the Jews, the Christians, and the Sabiansa—all those who believe in God and the Last Day and do good—will have their rewards with their Lord. No fear for them, nor will they grieve. 63Remember when We took your pledge, and made the mountain tower high above you, and said, ‘Hold fast to what We have given you and bear its contents in mind, so that you may be conscious of God.’ 64Even after that you turned away. Had it not been for God’s favour and mercy on you, you would certainly have been lost. 65You know about those of you who broke the Sabbath, and so We said to them, ‘Be like apes!b Be outcasts!’ 23We made this an example to those people who were there at the time and to those who came after them, and a lesson to all who are mindful of God.
67Remember when Moses said to his people, ‘God commands you to sacri ce a cow.’ They said, ‘Are you making fun of us?’ He
answered, ‘God forbid that I should be so ignorant.’ 68They said,
‘Call on your Lord for us, to show us what sort of cow it should be.’
He answered, ‘God says it should be neither too old nor too young, but in between, so do as you are commanded.’ 69They said, ‘Call on your Lord for us, to show us what colour it should be.’ He answered,
‘God says it should be a bright yellow cow, pleasing to the eye.’
70They said, ‘Call on your Lord for us, to show us [exactly] what it is: all cows are more or less alike to us. With God’s will, we shall be guided.’ 71He replied, ‘It is a perfect and unblemished cow, not trained to till the earth or water the elds.’ They said, ‘Now you have brought the truth,’ and so they slaughtered it, though they almost failed to do so. 72Then, when you [Israelites] killed someone and started to blame one another—although God was to bring what you had concealed to light— 73We said, ‘Strike the [body] with a part of [the cow]’: thus God brings the dead to life and shows His signs so that you may understand. 74Even after that, your hearts became as hard as rocks, or even harder, for there are rocks from which streams spring out, and some from which water comes when
they split open, and others which fall down in awe of God: He is not unaware of what you do.
75So can you [believers] hope that such people will believe you, when some of them used to hear the words of God and then
deliberately twist them, even when they understood them? 76When they meet the believers, they say, ‘We too believe.’ But when they are alone with each other they say, ‘How could you tell them about God’s revelation [to us]? They will be able to use it to argue against you before your Lord! Have you no sense?’ 77Do they not know that God is well aware of what they conceal and what they reveal?
78Some of them are uneducated, and know the Scripture only through wishful thinking. They rely on guesswork. 79So woe to those who write something down with their own hands and then claim, ‘This is from God,’ in order to make some small gain. Woe to them for what their hands have written! Woe to them for all that they have earned! 80They say, ‘The Fire will only touch us for a few days.’ Say to them, ‘Have you received a promise from God—for God never breaks His promise—or are you saying things about Him of which you have no real knowledge?’ 81Truly those who do evil and are surrounded by their sins will be the inhabitants of the Fire, there to remain, 82while those who believe and do good deeds will be the inhabitants of the Garden, there to remain.
83Remember when We took a pledge from the Children of Israel:
‘Worship none but God; be good to your parents and kinsfolk, to orphans and the poor; speak good words to all people; keep up the prayer and pay the prescribed alms.’ Then all but a few of you turned away and paid no heed. 84We took a pledge from you, ‘Do not shed one another’s blood or drive one another from your
homelands.’ You acknowledged it at the time, and you can testify to this. 85Yet here you are, killing one another and driving some of your own people from their homes, helping one another in sin and aggression against them. If they come to you as captives, you still pay to set them free, although you had no right to drive them out.a So do you believe in some parts of the Scripture and not in others?
The punishment for those of you who do this will be nothing but disgrace in this life, and on the Day of Resurrection they will be condemned to the harshest torment: God is not unaware of what you do. 86These are the people who buy the life of this world at the price of the Hereafter: their torment will not be lightened, nor will they be helped.
87We gave Moses the Scripture and We sent messengers after him in succession. We gave Jesus, son of Mary, clear signs and
strengthened him with the Holy Spirit. So how is it that, whenever a messenger brings you something you do not like, you become
arrogant, calling some impostors and killing others? 88They say,
‘Our hearts are impenetrably wrapped [against whatever you say],’
but God has rejectedb them for their disbelief: they have little faith.
89When a Scripture came to them from God con rming what they already had, and when they had been praying for victory against the disbelievers, even when there came to them something they knew [to be true], they disbelieved in it: God rejects those who disbelieve.
90Low indeed is the price for which they have sold their souls by denying the God-sent truth, out of envy that God should send His bounty to any of His servants He pleases. The disbelievers have ended up with wrath upon wrath, and a humiliating torment awaits them. 91When it is said to them, ‘Believe in God’s revelations,’ they reply, ‘We believe in what was revealed to us,’ but they do not believe in what came afterwards, though it is the truth con rming what they already have. Say [Muhammad], ‘Why did you kill God’s prophets in the past if you were true believers? 92Moses brought you clear signs, but then, while he was away, you chose to worship the calf—you did wrong.’
93Remember when We took your pledge, making the mountain tower above you, and said, ‘Hold on rmly to what We have given you, and listen to [what We say].’ They said, ‘We hear and we disobey,’ and through their disbelief they were made to drink [the love of] the calf deep into their hearts. 94Say, ‘How evil are the things your belief commands you to do, if you really are believers!’