52- THEN WE PARDONED YOU AFTER THAT, SO THAT YOU MIGHT GIVE THANKS.

53- AND AS WE GAVE MUSA THE BOOK AND THE CRITERION, SO THAT YOU MIGHT BE GUIDED.

54- AND AS MUSA SAID TO HIS PEOPLE: “O MY PEOPLE, YOU HAVE WRONGED YOUR OWN SOULS BY TAKING THE CALF (TO WORSHIP), REPENT TO YOUR LORD AND KILL YOURSELVES (THE GUILTY), THIS IS BETTER FOR YOU BEFORE YOUR CREATOR”.  THEN HE (ALLAH) FORGAVE YOU, FOR HE IS THE MOST FORGIVING, THE MOST MERCIFUL.

Here, Allah the Highest, reminds the Jews of their great sin in worshipping the calf, as well as, of Allah’s forgiving of them, and providing them with guidance.

First; Allah the Highest, appointed 40 days to see Moses, peace upon him.  When Moses went to his appointment, a man called The Samri persuaded the Children of Israel to collect their gold and jewelry and melt it into a golden calf which they took to worship as an Idle. “AND MOSES’S PEOPLE MADE FROM THEIR JEWELERY THE SHAPE OF A CALF TO WORSHIP”. (S: 7 A: 148)

 It is during that time, that Allah the Highest gave Moses the Torah written on stone plates, as their book and guidance.  Allah the Highest, said about the Torah “AND WE SENT DOWN THE TORAH WITH GUIDANCE AND LIGHT THEREIN”.  (S: 5 A: 44)

They must have started collecting their jewelry and making the calf the minute Moses turned his back on them. It was a feat to make it in less than forty days, as when Moses returned, they were already worshipping it.  They were also in the desert in Sinai, without the best of facilities.  I doubt if we could do such a thing in that record time.  They must have had great enthusiasm.

This was terrible, particularly as Allah the Highest, had just saved them from Pharaoh’s army by splitting the red sea for them.  They also had Allah’s messenger Moses, peace upon him, alive and living amongst them.

Many of the Children of Israel did not worship the golden calf, including Moses brother Haroon (Aaron), peace upon him; but he could not stop the others from doing so.  Moses was very angry with Aaron and with every one else.  He destroyed the calf and threw its pieces in the sea.

Moses told them that the only way for Allah the Highest to forgive them was for them to kill all who worshipped the calf.  They started, and it was difficult, for it meant the killing of family and friends.  They did however realize the gravity of the sin.  When Allah the Highest forgave them, the killing stopped, which was a great mercy.

Idolatry is the worst sin ever, and this is the sin they committed.  Allah the Highest said: “ALLAH DOES NOT FORGIVE FOR PARTNERS TO BE WORSHIPED WITH (OR INSTEAD OF) HIM, AND FORGIVES WHATEVER ELSE FOR WHOM HE WILLS”. (S: 4 A: 48)

It is the greatest of the great sins, as Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, said in a number of Hadith, he said: “Shall I tell you about the greatest sins; to worship partners besides Allah, to be bad to your parents, and to give false testimony (he was reclining then sat up and said it three times)”.  (M: Eman; 143)

However, one should never despair of Allah’s Mercy and Forgiveness for those who repent, for Allah the Highest said: “O MY SLAVES WHO TRANSGRESSED AGAINST THEIR OWN SOULS, DO NOT DESPAIR OF THE MERCY OF ALLAH, FOR ALLAH FORGIVES ALL SINS, FOR HE IS THE MOST FORGIVING, THE MOST COMPASSIONATE”.  (S: 39 A: 53)

B: Bukhari        M: Muslim        Mal: Malek        A: Ahmed        D: Abu Dawood       Da: Daremy       Ma: Ibn Magah                            N: Nesae          T: Termezi