Tarikh (al-Tabari) 222
The story of Moses the one who spoke with Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)
قِصَّةُ بَقَرَةِ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى: وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَى لِقَوْمِهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَنْ تَذْبَحُوا بَقَرَةً قَالُوا أَتَتَّخِذُنَا هُزُوًا قَالَ أَعُوَذٌ بِاللَّهِ أَنْ أَكُونَ مِنَ الْجَاهِلِينَ قَالُوا ادْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُبَيِّنْ لَنَا مَا هِيَ قَالَ إِنَّهُ يَقُولُ إِنَّهَا بَقَرَةٌ لَا فَارِضٌ وَلَا بِكْرٌ عَوَانٌ بَيْنَ ذَلِكَ فَافْعَلُوا مَا تُؤْمَرُونَ قَالُوا ادْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُبَيِّنْ لَنَا مَا لَوْنُهَا قَالَ إِنَّهُ يَقُولُ إِنَّهَا بَقَرَةٌ صَفْرَاءُ فَاقِعٌ لَوْنُهَا تَسُرُّ النَّاظِرِينَ قَالُوا ادْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُبَيِّنْ لَنَا مَا هِيَ إِنَّ الْبَقَرَ تَشَابَهَ عَلَيْنَا وَإِنَّا إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ لَمُهْتَدُونَ قَالَ إِنَّهُ يَقُولُ إِنَّهَا بَقَرَةٌ لَا ذَلُولٌ تُثِيرُ الْأَرْضَ وَلَا تَسْقِي الْحَرْثَ مُسَلَّمَةٌ لَا شِيَةَ فِيهَا قَالُوا الْآنَ جِئْتَ بِالْحَقِّ فَذَبَحُوهَا وَمَا كَادُوا يَفْعَلُونَ وَإِذْ قَتَلْتُمْ نَفْسًا فَادَّارَءتُمْ فِيهَا وَاللَّهُ مُخْرِجٌ مَا كُنْتُمْ تَكْتُمُونَ فَقُلْنَا اضْرِبُوهُ بِبَعْضِهَا كَذَلِكَ يُحْيِي اللَّهُ الْمَوْتَى وَيُرِيكُمْ آيَاتِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ [ الْبَقَرَةِ: 67 - 73 ]. قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ، وَعَبِيدَةُ السَّلْمَانِيُّ، وَأَبُو الْعَالِيَةِ، وَمُجَاهِدٌ، وَالسُّدِّيُّ، وَغَيْرُ وَاحِدٍ مِنَ السَّلَفِ: كَانَ رَجُلٌ فِي بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ كَثِيرَ الْمَالِ، وَكَانَ شَيْخًا كَبِيرًا وَلَهُ بَنُو أَخٍ، وَكَانُوا يَتَمَنَّوْنَ مَوْتَهُ; لِيَرِثُوهُ، فَعَمَدَ أَحَدُهُمْ فَقَتَلَهُ فِي اللَّيْلِ، وَطَرْحَهُ فِي مَجْمَعِ الطُّرُقِ، وَيُقَالُ: عَلَى بَابِ رَجُلٍ مِنْهُمْ. فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحَ النَّاسُ اخْتَصَمُوا فِيهِ، وَجَاءَ ابْنُ أَخِيهِ، فَجَعَلَ يَصْرُخُ وَيَتَظَلَّمُ، فَقَالُوا: مَا لَكُمْ تَخْتَصِمُونَ وَلَا تَأْتُونَ نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ، فَجَاءَ ابْنُ أَخِيهِ فَشَكَى أَمْرَ عَمِّهِ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ مُوسَى، عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ، فَقَالَ مُوسَى، عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: أَنْشُدُ اللَّهَ رَجُلًا عِنْدَهُ عِلْمٌ مِنْ أَمْرِ هَذَا الْقَتِيلِ إِلَّا أَعْلَمَنَا بِهِ. فَلَمْ يَكُنْ عِنْدَ أَحَدٍ مِنْهُمْ عِلْمٌ، وَسَأَلُوهُ أَنَّ يَسْأَلَ فِي هَذِهِ الْقَضِيَّةِ رَبَّهُ، عَزَّ وَجَلَّ، فَسَأَلَ رَبَّهُ، عَزَّ وَجَلَّ، فِي ذَلِكَ فَأَمَرَهُ اللَّهُ أَنْ يَأْمُرَهُمْ بِذَبْحِ بَقَرَةٍ، فَقَالَ: إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَنْ تَذْبَحُوا بَقَرَةً قَالُوا أَتَتَّخِذُنَا هُزُوًا يَعْنُونَ; نَحْنُ نَسْأَلُكَ عَنْ أَمْرِ هَذَا الْقَتِيلِ، وَأَنْتَ تَقُولُ هَذَا. قَالَ أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ أَنْ أَكُونَ مِنَ الْجَاهِلِينَ أَيْ; أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ أَنْ أَقُولَ عَنْهُ غَيْرَ مَا أَوْحَى إِلَيَّ. وَهَذَا هُوَ الَّذِي أَجَابَنِي حِينَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَمَّا سَأَلْتُمُونِي عَنْهُ أَنْ أَسْأَلَهُ فِيهِ. قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ وَغَيْرُ وَاحِدٍ: فَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ عَمَدُوا إِلَى أَيِّ بَقَرَةٍ فَذَبَحُوهَا لَحَصَلَ الْمَقْصُودُ مِنْهَا، وَلَكِنَّهُمْ شَدَّدُوا فَشَدَّدَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ. وَقَدْ وَرَدَ فِيهِ حَدِيثٌ مَرْفُوعٌ، وَفِي إِسْنَادِهِ ضَعْفٌ، فَسَأَلُوا عَنْ صِفَتِهَا، ثُمَّ عَنْ لَوْنِهَا ثُمَّ عَنْ سِنِّهَا فَأُجِيبُوا بِمَا عَزَّ وُجُودُهُ عَلَيْهِمْ. وَالْمَقْصُودُ أَنَّهُمْ أُمِرُوا بِذَبْحِ بَقَرَةٍ عَوَانٍ; وَهِيَ الْوَسَطُ بَيْنَ النِّصْفِ الْفَارِضِ، وَهِيَ الْكَبِيرَةُ، وَالْبِكْرُ، وَهِيَ الصَّغِيرَةُ. قَالَهُ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ، وَمُجَاهِدٌ، وَأَبُو الْعَالِيَةِ، وَعِكْرِمَةُ، وَالْحَسَنُ، وَقَتَادَةُ، وَجَمَاعَةٌ. ثُمَّ شَدَّدُوا، وَضَيَّقُوا عَلَى أَنْفُسِهِمْ، فَسَأَلُوا عَنْ لَوْنِهَا، فَأُمِرُوا بِصَفْرَاءَ فَاقِعٍ لَوْنُهَا، أَيْ مُشْرَبٍ بِحُمْرَةٍ، تَسُرُّ النَّاظِرِينَ، وَهَذَا اللَّوْنُ عَزِيزٌ. ثُمَّ شَدَّدُوا أَيْضًا فَقَالُوا: ادْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُبَيِّنْ لَنَا مَا هِيَ إِنَّ الْبَقَرَ تَشَابَهَ عَلَيْنَا وَإِنَّا إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ لَمُهْتَدُونَ فَفِي الْحَدِيثِ الْمَرْفُوعِ، الَّذِي رَوَاهُ ابْنُ أَبِي حَاتِمٍ، وَابْنُ مَرْدَوَيْهِ: لَوْلَا أَنَّ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ اسْتَثْنَوْا لَمَا أُعْطُوا وَفِي صِحَّتِهِ نَظَرٌ وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ. قَالَ إِنَّهُ يَقُولُ إِنَّهَا بَقَرَةٌ لَا ذَلُولٌ تُثِيرُ الْأَرْضَ وَلَا تَسْقِي الْحَرْثَ مُسَلَّمَةٌ لَا شِيَةَ فِيهَا قَالُوا الْآنَ جِئْتَ بِالْحَقِّ فَذَبَحُوهَا وَمَا كَادُوا يَفْعَلُونَ وَهَذِهِ الصِّفَاتُ أَضْيَقُ مِمَّا تَقَدَّمَ، حَيْثُ أُمِرُوا بِذَبْحِ بَقَرَةٍ، لَيْسَتْ بِالذَّلُولِ، وَهِيَ الْمُذَلَّلَةُ بِالْحِرَاثَةِ وَسَقْيِ الْأَرْضِ بِالسَّانِيَةِ، مُسَلَّمَةٌ; وَهِيَ الصَّحِيحَةُ الَّتِي لَا عَيْبَ فِيهَا. قَالَهُ أَبُو الْعَالِيَةِ، وَقَتَادَةُ. وَقَوْلُهُ: لَا شِيَةَ فِيهَا أَيْ لَيْسَ فِيهَا لَوْنٌ يُخَالِفُ لَوْنَهَا بَلْ هِيَ مُسَلَّمَةٌ مِنَ الْعُيُوبِ وَمِنْ مُخَالَطَةِ سَائِرِ الْأَلْوَانِ غَيْرِ لَوْنِهَا، فَلَمَّا حَدَّدَهَا بِهَذِهِ الصِّفَاتِ، وَحَصَرَهَا بِهَذِهِ النُّعُوتِ وَالْأَوْصَافِ، قَالُوا الْآنَ جِئْتَ بِالْحَقِّ وَيُقَالُ: إِنَّهُمْ لَمْ يَجِدُوا هَذِهِ الْبَقَرَةَ بِهَذِهِ الصِّفَةِ إِلَّا عِنْدَ رَجُلٍ مِنْهُمْ، كَانَ بَارًّا بِأَبِيهِ، فَطَلَبُوهَا مِنْهُ، فَأَبَى عَلَيْهِمْ، فَأَرْغَبُوهُ فِي ثَمَنِهَا، حَتَّى - أَعْطَوْهُ فِيمَا ذَكَرَ السُّدِّيُّ - بِوَزْنِهَا ذَهَبًا، فَأَبَى عَلَيْهِمْ حَتَّى أَعْطَوْهُ بِوَزْنِهَا عَشْرَ مَرَّاتٍ، فَبَاعَهَا مِنْهُمْ، فَأَمَرَهُمْ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ مُوسَى بِذَبْحِهَا، فَذَبَحُوهَا وَمَا كَادُوا يَفْعَلُونَ أَيْ; وَهُمْ يَتَرَدَّدُونَ فِي أَمْرِهَا. ثُمَّ أَمَرَهُمْ عَنِ اللَّهِ أَنْ يَضْرِبُوا ذَلِكَ الْقَتِيلَ بِبَعْضِهَا، قِيلَ: بِلَحْمِ فَخِذِهَا. وَقِيلَ: بِالْعَظْمِ الَّذِي يَلِي الْغُضْرُوفَ. وَقِيلَ: بِالْبِضْعَةِ الَّتِي بَيْنَ الْكَتِفَيْنِ، فَلَمَّا ضَرَبُوهُ بِبَعْضِهَا أَحْيَاهُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى فَقَامَ وَهُوَ تَشْخَبُ أَوْدَاجُهُ، فَسَأَلَهُ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ: مَنْ قَتَلَكَ؟ قَالَ قَتَلَنِي ابْنُ أَخِي. ثُمَّ عَادَ مَيِّتًا كَمَا كَانَ، قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى: كَذَلِكَ يُحْيِي اللَّهُ الْمَوْتَى وَيُرِيكُمْ آيَاتِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ أَيْ; كَمَا شَاهَدْتُمْ إِحْيَاءَ هَذَا الْقَتِيلِ، عَنْ أَمْرِ اللَّهِ لَهُ، كَذَلِكَ أَمْرُهُ فِي سَائِرِ الْمَوْتَى، إِذَا شَاءَ إِحْيَاءَهُمْ أَحْيَاهُمْ فِي سَاعَةٍ وَاحِدَةٍ، كَمَا قَالَ: مَا خَلْقُكُمْ وَلَا بَعْثُكُمْ إِلَّا كَنَفْسٍ وَاحِدَةٍ الْآيَةَ [ لُقْمَانَ: 28 ]. رواية أخرى في قصة بقرة بني إسرائيل وفي رواية أخرى عن السُّدِّيُّ عَنْ أَشْيَاخِهِ، قَالَ: كَانَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ مُكْثِرًا مِنَ الْمَالِ، وَكَانَتْ لَهُ بِنْتٌ، وَكَانَ لَهُ ابْنُ أَخٍ مُحْتَاجٌ، فَخَاطَبَ إِلَيْهِ ابْنُ أَخِيهِ ابْنَتَهُ، فَأَبَى أَنْ يُزَوِّجَهُ، فَغَضِبَ الصَّبِيُّ، وَقَالَ: وَاللَّهِ لَأَقْتُلَنَّ عَمِّي، وَلَآخُذَنَّ مَالَهُ، وَلَأَنْكِحَنَّ ابْنَتَهُ، وَلَآكُلَنَّ دِيَتَهُ. فَأَتَاهُ الْفَتَى فَقَالَ لَهُ: يَا عَمُّ، قَدْ قَدِمَ تُجَّارٌ فِي بَعْضِ أَسْبَاطِ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ، فَانْطَلِقْ مَعِي فَخُذْ لِي مِنْ تِجَارَةِ هَؤُلَاءِ الْقَوْمِ لَعَلِّي أُصِيبُ فِيهَا فَإِنَّهُمْ إِذَا رَأَوْكَ مَعِيَ أَعْطَوْنِي. فَخَرَجَ الْعَمُّ مَعَ الْفَتَى لَيْلًا، فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ ذَلِكَ السِّبْطَ قَتَلَهُ الْفَتَى، ثُمَّ رَجَعَ إِلَى أَهْلِهِ، فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحَ جَاءَ كَأَنَّهُ يَطْلُبُ عَمَّهُ لَا يَدْرِي أَيْنَ هُوَ، وَإِذَا هُوَ بِذَلِكَ السِّبْطِ مُجْتَمِعِينَ عَلَيْهِ، فَأَخَذَهُمْ، وَقَالَ: قَتَلْتُمْ عَمِّي فَأَدُّوا إِلَيَّ دِيَتَهُ، وَجَعَلَ يَبْكِي وَيَحْثُو التُّرَابَ عَلَى رَأْسِهِ، وَيُنَادِي: وَاعَمَّاهْ. قَالَ أَبُو الْعَالِيَةِ: وَأَتَى الْقَاتِلُ إِلَى مُوسَى، فَقَالَ: إِنَّ قَرِيبِي قُتِلَ وَلَا أَجِدُ مَنْ يُبَيِّنُ لِي مَنْ قَتَلَهُ غَيْرَكَ. فَنَادَى مُوسَى فِي النَّاسِ: أَنْشُدُكُمُ اللَّهَ، مَنْ كَانَ عِنْدَهُ مِنْ هَذَا الْقَتِيلِ عِلْمٌ إِلَّا بَيَّنَهُ لَنَا، فَلَمْ يَكُنْ عِنْدَهُمْ عِلْمٌ، فَأَقْبَلَ الْقَاتِلُ عَلَى مُوسَى وَقَالَ: أَنْتَ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ فَأَسْأَلِ اللَّهَ أَنْ يُبَيِّنَ لَنَا، فَسَأَلَ رَبَّهُ فَأَمَرَهُ بِذَبْحِ الْبَقَرَةِ. وعن عَبْدُ الصَّمَدِ بْنُ مَعْقِلٍ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ وَهْبًا يَقُولُ: إِنَّ فَتًى مِنْ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ كَانَ بَرًّا بِوَالِدَتِهِ، وَكَانَ يَقُومُ ثُلُثَ اللَّيْلِ يُصَلِّي، وَيَجْلِسُ عِنْدَ رَأْسِ وَالِدَتِهِ ثُلُثَ اللَّيْلِ، فَيُذَكِّرُهَا التَّسْبِيحَ وَالتَّكْبِيرَ وَالتَّهْلِيلَ وَالتَّحْمِيدَ، وَيَقُولُ: يَا أُمَّاهْ إِنْ كُنْتِ ضَعُفْتِ عَنْ قِيَامِ اللَّيْلِ فَكَبِّرِي اللَّهَ وَسَبِّحِيهِ وَهَلِّلِيهِ، وَكَانَ ذَلِكَ عَمَلَهُمَا الدَّهْرَ كُلَّهُ، فَإِذَا أَصْبَحَ أَتَى الْجَبَلَ فَاحْتَطَبَ عَلَى ظَهْرِهِ، فَيَأْتِي بِهِ السُّوقَ فَيَبِيعُهُ بِمَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ أَنْ يَبِيعَهُ، فَيَتَصَدَّقُ بِثُلُثِهِ، وَيُبْقِي لِعِبَادَتِهِ ثُلُثًا، وَيُعْطِي الثُّلُثَ أُمَّهُ، فَكَانَتْ أُمُّهُ تَأْكُلُ النِّصْفَ وَتَتَصَدَّقُ بِالنِّصْفِ، فَكَانَ ذَلِكَ عَمَلَهُمَا الدَّهْرَ. فَلَمَّا طَالَ ذَلِكَ عَلَيْهِمَا، قَالَتْ: يَا بُنَيَّ اعْلَمْ أَنِّي وَرِثْتُ مِنْ أَبِيكَ بَقَرَةً وَخَتَمْتُ عُنُقَهَا، وَتَرَكْتُهَا فِي الْبَقَرِ عَلَى اسْمِ اللَّهِ إِلَهِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْحَاقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ، وَسَأُبَيِّنُ لَكَ مَا لَوْنُهَا وَهَيْئَتُهَا، فَادْعُهَا بِاسْمِ إِلَهِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِسْحَاقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ، وَإِنَّ عَلَامَتَهَا أَنَّهَا لَيْسَتْ بِهَرِمَةٍ وَلَا فَتِيَّةٍ غَيْرَ أَنَّهَا بَيْنَهُمَا، وَهِيَ صَفْرَاءُ فَاقِعٌ لَوْنُهَا تَسُرُّ النَّاظِرِينَ، إِذَا نَظَرْتَ إِلَى جِلْدِهَا خُيِّلَ إِلَيْكَ أَنَّ شُعَاعَ الشَّمْسِ يَخْرُجُ مَنْ جِلْدِهَا، وَلَيْسَتْ بِالذَّلُولِ، لَوْنُهَا وَاحِدٌ، فَإِذَا رَأَيْتَهَا فَخُذْ عُنُقَهَا فَأَزِلَّهَا تَتَّبِعْكَ بِإِذْنِ إِلَهِ إِسْرَائِيلَ. فَانْطَلَقَ الْفَتَى وَحَفِظَ وَصِيَّةَ وَالِدَتِهِ، وَسَارَ فِي الْبَرِّيَّةِ يَوْمَيْنِ أَوْ ثَلَاثَةً، ثُمَّ صَاحَ بِهَا، وَقَالَ: بِإِلَهِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِسْحَاقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ إِلَّا مَا أَتَيْتِينِي، فَأَقْبَلَتِ الْبَقَرَةُ إِلَيْهِ وَتَرَكَتِ الرَّعْيَ وَقَامَتْ بَيْنَ يَدَيِ الْفَتَى. فَأَخَذَ بِعُنُقِهَا، فَتَكَلَّمَتِ الْبَقَرَةُ وَقَالَتْ: يَا أَيُّهَا الْفَتَى الْبَرُّ بِوَالِدَتِهِ ارْكَبْنِي، فَقَالَ الْفَتَى: لَمْ تَأْمُرْنِي وَالِدَتِي أَنْ أَرْكَبَ عَلَيْكِ، وَلَكِنَّهَا أَمَرَتْنِي أَنْ أَسُوقَكِ، فَأُحِبُّ أَنْ أَتَّبِعَ قَوْلَهَا، قَالَتْ: وَإِلَهِ إِسْرَائِيلَ لَوْ رَكِبْتَنِي مَا كُنْتَ لِتَقْدِرَ عَلَيَّ، فَانْطَلِقْ أَيُّهَا الْفَتَى الْبَرُّ بِوَالِدَتِهِ، فَإِنَّكَ لَوْ أَمَرْتَ هَذَا الْجَبَلَ أَنْ يَنْقَلِعَ مِنْ أَصْلِهِ لَاقْتَلَعَ لِبِرِّكَ بِوَالِدَتِكَ وَطَاعَتِكَ إِلَهَكَ. فَانْطَلَقَ فَطَارَ طَائِرٌ مِنْ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ فَاخْتَلَسَ الْبَقَرَةَ، فَدَعَاهَا بِإِلَهِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ فَأَقْبَلَتْ وَقَالَتْ: إِنَّ الطَّائِرَ إِبْلِيسَ اخْتَلَسَنِي، فَلَمَّا نَادَيْتَنِي جَاءَ مَلَكٌ مِنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ فَانْتَزَعَنِي مِنْهُ فَرَدَّنِي إِلَيْكَ لِبِرِّكَ بِوَالِدَتِكَ وَطَاعَتِكَ إِلَهَكَ. فَدَخَلَ الْفَتَى إِلَى أُمِّهِ فَأَخْبَرَهَا بِالْخَبَرِ، فَقَالَتْ: يَا بُنَيَّ إِنِّي أَرَاكَ تَحْتَطِبُ عَلَى ظَهْرِكَ فَاذْهَبْ بِهَذِهِ الْبَقَرَةِ فَبِعْهَا وَخُذْ ثَمَنَهَا وَتَقَوَّ بِهِ فَقَالَ: بِكُمْ أَبِيعُهَا؟ قَالَتْ: بِثَلَاثَةِ دَنَانِيرَ عَلَى رِضًى مِنِّي. فَانْطَلَقَ إِلَى السُّوقِ فَبَعَثَ اللَّهُ مَلَكًا مِنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ فَقَالَ لِلْفَتَى: بِكُمْ تَبِيعُهَا؟ قَالَ: بِثَلَاثَةِ دَنَانِيرَ عَلَى رِضًى مِنْ وَالِدَتِي، قَالَ: لَكَ سِتَّةُ دَنَانِيرَ وَلَا تَسْتَأْمِرْ وَالِدَتِكَ، قَالَ: لَوْ أَعْطَيْتَنِي زِنَتَهَا لَنْ أَبَيِعَهَا حَتَّى أَسْتَأْمِرَهَا. فَخَرَجَ الْفَتَى فَأَخْبَرَ وَالِدَتَهُ الْخَبَرَ فَقَالَتْ: بِعْهَا بِسِتَّةِ دَنَانِيرَ عَلَى رِضًى مِنِّي. فَانْطَلَقَ، فَأَتَاهُ الْمَلَكُ وَقَالَ: مَا فَعَلْتَ؟ فَقَالَ: أَبِيعُهَا بِسِتَّةِ دَنَانِيرَ عَلَى رِضًى مِنْ وَالِدَتِي، فَقَالَ: فَخُذِ اثْنَيْ عَشَرَ دِينَارًا وَلَا تَسْتَأْمِرْهَا، قَالَ: لَا. فَانْطَلَقَ إِلَى أُمِّهِ، فَقَالَتْ: يَا بُنَيَّ إِنَّ الَّذِي يَأْتِيكَ مَلَكٌ مِنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ فِي صُورَةِ آدَمِيٍّ، فَإِذَا أَتَاكَ فَقُلْ لَهُ: إِنَّ وَالِدَتِي تَقْرَأُ عَلَيْكَ السَّلَامَ وَتَقُولُ: بِكُمْ تَأْمُرُنِي أَنْ أَبِيعَ هَذِهِ الْبَقَرَةَ؟ فَقَالَ لَهُ الْمَلَكُ: أَيُّهَا الْفَتَى يَشْتَرِي بَقَرَتَكَ هَذِهِ مُوسَى بْنُ عِمْرَانَ لِقَتِيلٍ يُقْتَلُ فِي بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ، فَاشْتَرَوْهَا مِنْهُ عَلَى أَنْ يَمْلَئُوا لَهُ جِلْدَهَا دَنَانِيرَ، فَعَمَدُوا إِلَى جَلْدِهَا فَمَلَئُوهُ دَنَانِيرَ، ثُمَّ دَفَعُوهُ إِلَى الْفَتَى. فَعَمَدَ الْفَتَى فَتَصَدَّقَ بِالثُّلُثَيْنِ عَلَى الْفُقَرَاءِ مِنْ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ، وَتَقَوَّى بِالثُّلُثِ.
Translation
✧ The story of the cow of the Children of Israel Allah, may He be exalted, said: “And [recall] when Moses said to his people, ‘Indeed, Allah commands you to slaughter a cow.’ They said, ‘Do you take us in ridicule?’ He said, ‘I seek refuge in Allah from being among the ignorant.’ They said, ‘Call upon your Lord for us to make clear to us what it is.’ He said, ‘Indeed, He says, “It is a cow neither old nor virgin, but between that,” so do what you are commanded.’ They said, ‘Call upon your Lord for us to make clear to us its color.’ He said, ‘Indeed, He says, “It is a yellow cow, bright in color, pleasing to the observers.”’ They said, ‘Call upon your Lord for us to make clear to us what it is; indeed, to us the cows resemble one another, and indeed, if Allah wills, we shall be guided.’ He said, ‘Indeed, He says, “It is a cow not trained to plow the earth nor to irrigate the crop, sound, without blemish in it.”’ They said, ‘Now you have come with the truth.’ So they slaughtered it, and they nearly did not do it. And [recall] when you killed a soul and disputed over it, but Allah was to bring out what you were concealing. So We said, ‘Strike him with part of it.’ Thus does Allah bring the dead to life, and He shows you His signs that you may understand.” [Al-Baqarah: 67–73]. Ibn ʿAbbās, ʿAbīdah al-Salmānī, Abū al-ʿĀliyah, Mujāhid, al-Suddī, and more than one of the Salaf said: There was a man among the Children of Israel of great wealth, and he was a very old man, and he had nephews, and they wished for his death so that they might inherit from him. One of them went and killed him at night and threw him at the meeting point of the roads—and it is said: at the door of a man among them. When morning came, the people disputed about him, and the nephew came and began to cry out and complain. They said: “Why do you dispute and not come to the Prophet of Allah?” So the nephew came and complained about the matter of his uncle to the Messenger of Allah Moses ﷺ. Moses ﷺ said: “I adjure by Allah any man who has knowledge of the matter of this slain man but that he inform us of it.” None of them had knowledge of it, and they asked him to ask his Lord, Mighty and Majestic, about this case. So he asked his Lord, Mighty and Majestic, about that, and Allah commanded him to command them to slaughter a cow. He said: “Indeed, Allah commands you to slaughter a cow.” They said: “Do you take us in ridicule?” meaning: we are asking you about the matter of this slain man, and you say this. He said: “I seek refuge in Allah from being among the ignorant,” meaning: I seek refuge in Allah from saying about Him other than what He revealed to me. This is what answered me when I asked Him about what you asked me to ask Him about. Ibn ʿAbbās and more than one said: If they had gone to any cow and slaughtered it, the purpose would have been achieved, but they were obstinate, so Allah was obstinate with them. A marfūʿ hadith has been reported concerning this, and in its chain is weakness. So they asked about its description, then about its color, then about its age, and they were answered with what was rare for them to find. The point is that they were commanded to slaughter a cow that was ʿawān—that is, the middle between the fāriḍ, which is the old, and the bikr, which is the young. This was said by Ibn ʿAbbās, Mujāhid, Abū al-ʿĀliyah, ʿIkrimah, al-Ḥasan, Qatādah, and a group. Then they were obstinate, and they made things difficult for themselves, so they asked about its color, and they were commanded a yellow cow, bright in color, that pleases the observers. This color is rare. Then they were obstinate again and said: “Call upon your Lord for us to make clear to us what it is; indeed, to us the cows resemble one another, and indeed, if Allah wills, we shall be guided.” In the marfūʿ hadith narrated by Ibn Abī Ḥātim and Ibn Mardawayh: “If the Children of Israel had not made an exception, they would not have been given it,” but its authenticity is open to question, and Allah knows best. He said: “Indeed, He says, ‘It is a cow not trained to plow the earth nor to irrigate the crop, sound, without blemish in it.’” They said: “Now you have come with the truth.” So they slaughtered it, and they nearly did not do it. These attributes are more restrictive than what preceded, since they were commanded to slaughter a cow that was not dh alūl—that is, not trained to plow or to irrigate the land with the waterwheel—and sound—that is, healthy, with no defect in it. This was said by Abū al-ʿĀliyah and Qatādah. And His saying: “without blemish in it” means no color in it that differs from its own color; rather, it is free of defects and of mixing with other colors besides its own. When He specified it with these attributes and confined it with these descriptions, they said: “Now you have come with the truth.” It is said that they did not find this cow with these attributes except with a man among them who was dutiful to his father. They sought it from him, and he refused them, and they offered him its price until—according to what al-Suddī mentioned—they gave him its weight in gold, but he refused them until they gave him ten times its weight, and he sold it to them. The Prophet of Allah Moses commanded them to slaughter it, so they slaughtered it, and they nearly did not do it—that is, they were hesitant about the matter. Then he commanded them from Allah to strike that slain man with part of it. It is said: with the flesh of its thigh, and it is said: with the bone next to the cartilage, and it is said: with the piece between the shoulders. When they struck him with part of it, Allah, may He be exalted, brought him to life, and he stood while his veins were gushing, and the Prophet of Allah asked him: “Who killed you?” He said: “My nephew killed me.” Then he returned to being dead as he was. Allah, may He be exalted, said: “Thus does Allah bring the dead to life, and He shows you His signs that you may understand,” meaning: just as you witnessed the bringing to life of this slain man by Allah's command to him, so is His command concerning all the dead; when He wills their revival, He revives them in a single hour, as He said: “Your creation and your resurrection are but as a single soul” [Luqmān: 28] to the end of the verse. Another narration about the story of the cow of the Children of Israel: In another narration from al-Suddī from his teachers, he said: There was a man among the Children of Israel of great wealth, and he had a daughter, and he had a needy nephew. The nephew proposed to his uncle for his daughter, but he refused to marry him to her. The young man became angry and said: “By Allah, I will kill my uncle, take his wealth, marry his daughter, and consume his blood money.” The young man came to him and said: “O uncle, merchants have arrived in one of the tribes of the Children of Israel. Come with me and get me some of the goods of these people, perhaps I may gain something from them, for if they see you with me, they will give me.” The uncle went out with the young man at night, and when he reached that tribe, the young man killed him and returned to his family. When morning came, he came as if he were looking for his uncle, not knowing where he was, and there he found that tribe gathered around him. He seized them and said: “You killed my uncle, so pay me his blood money,” and he began to weep and throw dust on his head and cry: “Alas, my uncle!” Abū al-ʿĀliyah said: The killer came to Moses and said: “My relative has been killed, and I find no one to clarify for me who killed him but you.” Moses called out among the people: “I adjure you by Allah, whoever has knowledge of this slain man but that he explain it to us.” They had no knowledge of it. The killer turned to Moses and said: “You are the Prophet of Allah, so ask Allah to clarify for us.” So he asked his Lord, and He commanded him to slaughter the cow. And from ʿAbd al-Ṣamad b. Maʿqil, that he heard Wahb say: A young man of the Children of Israel was dutiful to his mother, and he would stand a third of the night praying, and sit at his mother's head a third of the night, reminding her of glorification, magnification, declaration of oneness, and praise, and say: “O mother, if you are too weak to stand in the night, then magnify Allah, glorify him, and declare His oneness.” That was their practice for all time. When morning came, he would go to the mountain and gather firewood on his back, then bring it to the market and sell it for whatever Allah willed, then give a third in charity, keep a third for his worship, and give a third to his mother. His mother would eat half and give half in charity. That was their practice for all time. When that went on for a long time, she said: “O my son, know that I inherited a cow from your father, and I tied a rope around its neck and left it among the cattle on the name of Allah, the God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob. I will explain to you its color and appearance. Call it by the name of the God of Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob. Its sign is that it is neither old nor young, but between the two; it is yellow, bright in color, pleasing to the observers. When you look at its skin, it seems to you that the rays of the sun come out of its skin. It is not trained to plow, and its color is uniform. When you see it, take its neck and lead it, and it will follow you by the permission of the God of Israel.” The young man went and memorized his mother's instruction, and traveled in the wilderness for two or three days, then called to it and said: “By the God of Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob, come to me.” The cow came to him, left the grazing, and stood before the young man. He took it by the neck, and the cow spoke and said: “O young man dutiful to his mother, mount me.” The young man said: “My mother did not command me to mount you, but she commanded me to drive you, and I love to follow her words.” It said: “By the God of Israel, if you had mounted me, you would not have been able to control me. Go, O young man dutiful to his mother, for if you commanded this mountain to uproot itself, it would uproot itself because of your dutifulness to your mother and your obedience to your God.” He went on, and a bird flew from before him and snatched the cow away. He called it by the God of Abraham, and it came back and said: “The bird was Iblīs; he snatched me away. When you called me, an angel came and wrenched me from him and returned me to you because of your dutifulness to your mother and your obedience to your God.” The young man went to his mother and told her the news. She said: “O my son, I see you carrying firewood on your back. Go with this cow and sell it, take its price, and support yourself with it.” He said: “For how much shall I sell it?” She said: “For three dinars, with my approval.” He went to the market, and Allah sent an angel who said to the young man: “For how much will you sell it?” He said: “For three dinars, with my mother's approval.” He said: “You shall have six dinars, and do not consult your mother.” He said: “Even if you gave me its weight, I will not sell it until I consult her.” The young man went and told his mother the news, and she said: “Sell it for six dinars, with my approval.” He went, and the angel came to him and said: “What did you do?” He said: “I will sell it for six dinars, with my mother's approval.” He said: “Take twelve dinars, and do not consult her.” He said: “No.” He went to his mother, and she said: “O my son, the one who comes to you is an angel in the form of a human. When he comes to you, say to him: ‘My mother sends you greetings of peace and says: How much do you command me to sell this cow for?’” The angel said to him: “O young man, Moses b. ʿImrān will buy this cow of yours for a slain man who will be killed among the Children of Israel.” They bought it from him on condition that they fill its skin with dinars. They went to its skin and filled it with dinars, then gave it to the young man. The young man went and gave two-thirds in charity to the poor of the Children of Israel, and supported himself with the third.
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