7. Surah Al-A'raaf

الأعرافThe Heights · 206 ayahsتفہیم القرآن انگلش

Read Surah Al-A'raaf in the Quran reader
Ayah 7:105

حَقِیْقٌ عَلٰۤى اَنْ لَّاۤ اَقُوْلَ عَلَى اللّٰهِ اِلَّا الْحَقَّ١ؕ قَدْ جِئْتُكُمْ بِبَیِّنَةٍ مِّنْ رَّبِّكُمْ فَاَرْسِلْ مَعِیَ بَنِیْۤ اِسْرَآءِیْلَؕ Open ayah 7:105 in the Quran reader

And it behoves me to say nothing about Allah except what is true. I have come to you with a clear sign of having been sent from your Lord. So let the Children of Israel go with me.' 86

86. Moses was sent to Pharaoh to invite him to two things; first, to surrender himself to God (i.e. Islam); and second, to release the Israelites - who were already Muslims - from his oppressive bondage. The Qur'an refers occasionally to both these objectives, and occasionally confines itself to mentioning either of the two.
Ayahs 7:106–108

قَالَ اِنْ كُنْتَ جِئْتَ بِاٰیَةٍ فَاْتِ بِهَاۤ اِنْ كُنْتَ مِنَ الصّٰدِقِیْنَ Open ayah 7:106 in the Quran reader

Pharaoh said: if you have brought a sign, then bring it forth if you are truthful.'

فَاَلْقٰى عَصَاهُ فَاِذَا هِیَ ثُعْبَانٌ مُّبِیْنٌۚۖ Open ayah 7:107 in the Quran reader

Thereupon Moses threw his rod, and suddenly it was a veritable serpent.

وَّ نَزَعَ یَدَهٗ فَاِذَا هِیَ بَیْضَآءُ لِلنّٰظِرِیْنَ۠ Open ayah 7:108 in the Quran reader

Then he drew out his hand, and it appeared luminous to all beholders. 87

87. Moses was granted these two miraculous signs in order to provide testimony to his being a Messenger of God, the creator and sovereign of the universe. As we have mentioned earlier, whenever the Prophets introduced themselves as God's Message-bearers, people asked them to produce some miraculous sign, to perform something supernatural. In response to those demands the Prophets produced what the Qur'an terms as 'signs', and which are called 'miracles' by theologians. Those who tend to play down the supernatural character of such signs or miracles, and who try to explain them in terms of natural laws of causation, in fact attempt to build a mid-way house between believing and disbelieving in the statements of the Qur'an. Such an approach can hardly be considered reasonable. What it does demonstrate, however, is how such people can be pulled in two opposite directions. On the one hand, they are not inclined to believe in a Book which abounds in narrations of a supernatural kind. On the other hand, being born followers of their ancestral religion, they are not inclined to reject the Book which carries supernatural narrations. With regard to miracles, there are two basic questions that people should ask themselves. Did God, after creating the universe and establishing a system of natural causations therein, suspend Himself such that it is no longer possible for Him to interfere in the workings of the universe? Or does He still hold the reins to His realm in His owns Hands so that His command is enforced every moment, and He does retain the power to alter the shape of things and the normal course of events - either partially or fully, - as and when He wills? It is impossible for those who respond in the affirmative to the first question to accept the idea of miracles. For clearly miracles do not fit in with their concept of God and the universe. Honesty demands that instead of indulging in far-fetched explanations of Qur'anic statements on miracles, such people should clearly declare that they do not believe in the Qur'an. For quite obviously the Qur'an is explicit, even quite emphatic in affirming the former concept of God. As for those who, being convinced by Qur'anic arguments, respond in the affirmative to the second question regarding God and the universe, for them there is no difficulty in accepting miracles. Let us take the instance mentioned in verse 107, namely, that the rod of Moses turned into a serpent. Now, there are those who believe that serpents can come into being only through one process - the known biological process. Such people are bound to reject the statement that Moses' rod changed into a serpent and later reverted to its original shape. On the contrary, if you are fully convinced that it is God's command alone which causes life to arise from lifeless matter, and that God has full power to confer whichever kind of life He wills, the transformation of the rod into a serpent and its subsequent reversion to its original state is no stranger than the transformation of any other lifeless matter into a living entity. The fact that the latter happens virtually every day whereas the former took place only a few times in history is not enough to declare the first as incredibly, strange and the second as 'natural'.
Ayahs 7:109–110

قَالَ الْمَلَاُ مِنْ قَوْمِ فِرْعَوْنَ اِنَّ هٰذَا لَسٰحِرٌ عَلِیْمٌۙ Open ayah 7:109 in the Quran reader

The elders of Pharaoh's people said: 'Surely this man is a skilful magician

یُّرِیْدُ اَنْ یُّخْرِجَكُمْ مِّنْ اَرْضِكُمْ١ۚ فَمَا ذَا تَاْمُرُوْنَ Open ayah 7:110 in the Quran reader

who seeks to drive you out from your land. 88 What would you have us do?'

88. The above account raises the question as to how a destitute member of the slave Israeli nation could pose such a serious threat to an emperor as mighty as Pharaoh. This is especially so when one considers that Pharaoh was not only an absolute ruler over territory which stretched in one direction from Syria to Libya and in the other from the Mediterranean coast to Ethiopia, but was even considered a deity deserving of worship, One might also wonder how the transformation of Moses' rod into a serpent could he considered an event of such magnitude as to give rise to the fear that Moses would overthrow the entrenched empire and unseat the royal family as well as the entire ruling class. It might further seem strange that the mere declaration of prophethood and the demand to liberate the people of Israel caused such a furore even though no other political question had been touched upon. The answer here lies in the fact that Moses' claim to prophethood implied the call to total change, obviously, including political change. For if a person lays claim to be God's Messenger, it implies that people obey him unreservedly. For God's Messengers are not sent to the world to obey other human beings and live in subordination to them; they rather ask others to accept them as their leaders and rulers. It is this which explains why Pharaoh and his coteric felt threatened by an all-out revolution -political, economic and social - when Moses came forth with his call. There remains the question as to why the claim to prophethood was considered such a potential threat when Moses enjoyed the support of none except his brother, Aaron, and his claim was reinforced by only two miracles - those of the shining hand and the rod which turned into a serpent. This can be explained by two things. First, that Pharaoh and his courtiers knew very well about Moses. All were aware of his extraordinary abilities and his inherent calibre as a leader of men. Also, according to the traditions of the Talmud and Josephus - provided they are authentic -Moses had also learnt the martial arts and other skills which were available only exclusively to royalty and which were required in connection with their political and military leadership. Moreover, he had proved his mettle as a good general during the expedition to Ethiopia. Furthermore, during the course of his eight years of life in Midian - rigorous years in the desert working as a shepherd - he had purged himself of all his weaknesses because of his association with the Pharaonic svstern. Hence. when the Pharaonic court was confronted by a mature, serene and pious man who came forth with the claim of prophethood, it was obviously impossible for them to give short shrift to his claim. Second, the miracles of the rod and the shining hand overawed Pharaoh and his courtiers to such an extent they were almost convinced that Moses did indeed enjoy the support of some supernatural power. That they were unnerved by the very first proof of his prophethood is borne out by the contradictions in their charges against Moses. On the one hand they dubbed Moses a sorcerer, and on the other hand they accused him of plotting to banish them from their own land. It is clear that had they taken Moses for a mere sorcerer, they would not have expressed fears of political upheaval. For sorcery has never brought about any political change in the world.
Ayahs 7:111–112

قَالُوْۤا اَرْجِهْ وَ اَخَاهُ وَ اَرْسِلْ فِی الْمَدَآئِنِ حٰشِرِیْنَۙ Open ayah 7:111 in the Quran reader

Then they advised Pharaoh: 'Put off Moses and his brother for a while, and send forth heralds to your cities

یَاْتُوْكَ بِكُلِّ سٰحِرٍ عَلِیْمٍ Open ayah 7:112 in the Quran reader

to summon every skilful magician to your presence.' 89

89. The plan of Pharaoh's courtiers clearly suggests that they knew the difference between mere sorcery and a miracle. They were well aware that miracles are effective and have the capacity to bring about actual transformation whereas sorcery results merely in optic illusion. Hence, they dubbed Moses a sorcerer so as to refute his claim to prophethood. They claimed instead that the transformation of the rod into a serpent was not a miracle; that it was rather a magical performance which could be undertaken by any sorcerer. Therefore, they asked all the sorcerers of the land to come together and display how rods could be magically transformed into serpents. They believed that such a magical show would remove the awesome effect created by Moses' miracles on the people, or at least sow doubts in their minds about those miracles.
Ayahs 7:113–117

وَ جَآءَ السَّحَرَةُ فِرْعَوْنَ قَالُوْۤا اِنَّ لَنَا لَاَجْرًا اِنْ كُنَّا نَحْنُ الْغٰلِبِیْنَ Open ayah 7:113 in the Quran reader

And the magicians came to Pharaoh and said: 'Shall we have a reward if we win?'

قَالَ نَعَمْ وَ اِنَّكُمْ لَمِنَ الْمُقَرَّبِیْنَ Open ayah 7:114 in the Quran reader

Pharaoh replied: 'Certainly, and you shall be among those who are near to me.'

قَالُوْا یٰمُوْسٰۤى اِمَّاۤ اَنْ تُلْقِیَ وَ اِمَّاۤ اَنْ نَّكُوْنَ نَحْنُ الْمُلْقِیْنَ Open ayah 7:115 in the Quran reader

Then they said: '0 Moses, will you [first] throw your rod, or shall we throw?'

قَالَ اَلْقُوْا١ۚ فَلَمَّاۤ اَلْقَوْا سَحَرُوْۤا اَعْیُنَ النَّاسِ وَ اسْتَرْهَبُوْهُمْ وَ جَآءُوْ بِسِحْرٍ عَظِیْمٍ Open ayah 7:116 in the Quran reader

Moses said: 'You throw.' So when they threw [their rods], they enchanted the eyes of the people, and struck them with awe, and produced a mighty sorcery.

وَ اَوْحَیْنَاۤ اِلٰى مُوْسٰۤى اَنْ اَلْقِ عَصَاكَ١ۚ فَاِذَا هِیَ تَلْقَفُ مَا یَاْفِكُوْنَۚ Open ayah 7:117 in the Quran reader

Then We directed Moses: 'Now you throw your rod.' And lo! it swallowed up all their false devices. 90

90. It would be a mistake to believe that the rod of Moses swallowed up the rods and ropes cast by the other sorcerers and which had looked like serpents. The Qur'anic statement means that the rod of Moses swallowed up the falsehood faked by them. This clearly shows that wherever Moses' rod moved, it destroyed the magical effect which had caused the transformation of their ropes and rods. One blow of Moses' rod caused every other rod to revert to a rod, and every rope to revert to a rope. (For further elaboration see Tafhim al-Qur'an, Ta Ha 20, n. 42)
Ayahs 7:118–122

فَوَقَعَ الْحَقُّ وَ بَطَلَ مَا كَانُوْا یَعْمَلُوْنَۚ Open ayah 7:118 in the Quran reader

Thus was the truth established, and their doings proved in vain.

فَغُلِبُوْا هُنَالِكَ وَ انْقَلَبُوْا صٰغِرِیْنَۚ Open ayah 7:119 in the Quran reader

Pharaoh and his men were defeated and put to shame,

وَ اُلْقِیَ السَّحَرَةُ سٰجِدِیْنَۚۖ Open ayah 7:120 in the Quran reader

and the magicians flung themselves prostrate,

قَالُوْۤا اٰمَنَّا بِرَبِّ الْعٰلَمِیْنَۙ Open ayah 7:121 in the Quran reader

saying: 'We believe in the Lord of the universe,

رَبِّ مُوْسٰى وَ هٰرُوْنَ Open ayah 7:122 in the Quran reader

the Lord of Moses and Aaron.' 91

91. Thus God turned the tables on Pharaoh and his courtiers they arranged the magic show in the hope that it would convince the people that Moses was just a sorcerer, and thus make them sceptical about his claim to prophethood. But the actual outcome was quite the opposite. The sorcerers who had been assembled were defeated. Not only that, it was also unanimously acknowledged that the signs displayed by Moses in support of his claim were not feats of magic. Rather, his signs rather manifested the might of God, the Lord of the universe, and hence could not be overcome by magic.
Ayahs 7:123–126

قَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ اٰمَنْتُمْ بِهٖ قَبْلَ اَنْ اٰذَنَ لَكُمْ١ۚ اِنَّ هٰذَا لَمَكْرٌ مَّكَرْتُمُوْهُ فِی الْمَدِیْنَةِ لِتُخْرِجُوْا مِنْهَاۤ اَهْلَهَا١ۚ فَسَوْفَ تَعْلَمُوْنَ Open ayah 7:123 in the Quran reader

Pharaoh said: 'What! Do you believe before you have my permission? Surely this is a plot you have contrived to drive out the rulers from the capital. So you shall see,

لَاُقَطِّعَنَّ اَیْدِیَكُمْ وَ اَرْجُلَكُمْ مِّنْ خِلَافٍ ثُمَّ لَاُصَلِّبَنَّكُمْ اَجْمَعِیْنَ Open ayah 7:124 in the Quran reader

I shall cut off your hands and feet on the opposite sides, and then crucify you all.'

قَالُوْۤا اِنَّاۤ اِلٰى رَبِّنَا مُنْقَلِبُوْنَۚ Open ayah 7:125 in the Quran reader

They replied: 'We shall surely return to our Lord.

وَ مَا تَنْقِمُ مِنَّاۤ اِلَّاۤ اَنْ اٰمَنَّا بِاٰیٰتِ رَبِّنَا لَمَّا جَآءَتْنَا١ؕ رَبَّنَاۤ اَفْرِغْ عَلَیْنَا صَبْرًا وَّ تَوَفَّنَا مُسْلِمِیْنَ۠ Open ayah 7:126 in the Quran reader

Will you punish us just because we believed in the signs of our Lord when they came to us? Our Lord! Shower us with perseverance and cause us to die as those who have submitted [to You].' 92

92. Faced with utter failure Pharaoh finally resorted to branding the whole magic tournament as a conspiracy concocted by Moses and his accomplice sorcerers. Under threat of death and physical torture he asked the sorcerers to confess that they had acted in collusion with Moses. This last move by Pharaoh was ineffectual. For the sorcerers readily agreed to endure every torture, clearly proving thereby that their decision to accept Moses' message reflected their sincere conviction and that no conspiracy was involved. Pharaoh was hardly left with any choice. He, therefore, gave up all pretence to follow truth and justice, and brazenly resorted to persecution instead. The tremendous and instantaneous change which took place in the characters of the sorcerers is also of significance. The sorcerers had come all the way from their homes with the purpose of vindicating their ancestral faith and receiving pecuniary reward from Pharaoh for overcoming Moses. However, the moment true faith illumined their hearts, they displayed such resoluteness of will and love for the truth that they contemptuously turned down Pharaoh's offer, and demonstrated their full readiness to endure even the worst punishments for the sake of the truth that had dawned upon them.
Ayah 7:127

وَ قَالَ الْمَلَاُ مِنْ قَوْمِ فِرْعَوْنَ اَتَذَرُ مُوْسٰى وَ قَوْمَهٗ لِیُفْسِدُوْا فِی الْاَرْضِ وَ یَذَرَكَ وَ اٰلِهَتَكَ١ؕ قَالَ سَنُقَتِّلُ اَبْنَآءَهُمْ وَ نَسْتَحْیٖ نِسَآءَهُمْ١ۚ وَ اِنَّا فَوْقَهُمْ قٰهِرُوْنَ Open ayah 7:127 in the Quran reader

The elders of Pharaoh's people said: 'Will you leave alone Moses and his people to spread mischief in the land, and forsake you and your gods?' Pharaoh replied: 'We will kill their male children and spare their female ones. 93For indeed we hold irresistible sway over them.

93. There were two periods of persecution. The first was during the reign of Rameses 11 and took place before Moses' birth, whereas the second period of persecution started after Moses' assumption to the office of prophethood. Common to both periods is the killing of the male issue of Israelites while the female was spared. It was a calculated design to rob the Israelites of their identity and to bring about their forcible assimilation. An inscription discovered during the archaeological excavations of 1896 probably belongs to this period. According to this inscription, Pharaoh Minpetah rounds off the narration of his achievements and victories in these words: 'The Israel have been exterminated, and no seed of them is left.' (For further explanation see al-Mu'min 40: 25)
Ayahs 7:128–132

قَالَ مُوْسٰى لِقَوْمِهِ اسْتَعِیْنُوْا بِاللّٰهِ وَ اصْبِرُوْا١ۚ اِنَّ الْاَرْضَ لِلّٰهِ١ۙ۫ یُوْرِثُهَا مَنْ یَّشَآءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهٖ١ؕ وَ الْعَاقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِیْنَ Open ayah 7:128 in the Quran reader

Moses said to his people: 'Seek help from Allah and be steadfast. The earth is Allah's, He bestows it on those of His servants He chooses. The end of things belongs to the God-fearing.'

قَالُوْۤا اُوْذِیْنَا مِنْ قَبْلِ اَنْ تَاْتِیَنَا وَ مِنْۢ بَعْدِ مَا جِئْتَنَا١ؕ قَالَ عَسٰى رَبُّكُمْ اَنْ یُّهْلِكَ عَدُوَّكُمْ وَ یَسْتَخْلِفَكُمْ فِی الْاَرْضِ فَیَنْظُرَ كَیْفَ تَعْمَلُوْنَ۠ Open ayah 7:129 in the Quran reader

The people of Moses replied: 'We were oppressed before your coming to us and after it.' Moses said: 'Your Lord will soon destroy your enemy and make you rulers in the land. Then He will see how you act.'

وَ لَقَدْ اَخَذْنَاۤ اٰلَ فِرْعَوْنَ بِالسِّنِیْنَ وَ نَقْصٍ مِّنَ الثَّمَرٰتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ یَذَّكَّرُوْنَ Open ayah 7:130 in the Quran reader

We afflicted the people of Pharaoh with hard times and with poor harvest that they may heed.

فَاِذَا جَآءَتْهُمُ الْحَسَنَةُ قَالُوْا لَنَا هٰذِهٖ١ۚ وَ اِنْ تُصِبْهُمْ سَیِّئَةٌ یَّطَّیَّرُوْا بِمُوْسٰى وَ مَنْ مَّعَهٗ١ؕ اَلَاۤ اِنَّمَا طٰٓئِرُهُمْ عِنْدَ اللّٰهِ وَ لٰكِنَّ اَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا یَعْلَمُوْنَ Open ayah 7:131 in the Quran reader

But whenever prosperity came their way, they said: 'This is our due.' And whatever hardship befell them, they attributed it to the misfortune of Moses and those who followed him. Surely, their misfortune had been decreed by Allah - but most of them do not know that.

وَ قَالُوْا مَهْمَا تَاْتِنَا بِهٖ مِنْ اٰیَةٍ لِّتَسْحَرَنَا بِهَا١ۙ فَمَا نَحْنُ لَكَ بِمُؤْمِنِیْنَ Open ayah 7:132 in the Quran reader

And they said to Moses: 'Whatever sign you might produce before us in order to enchant us, we are not going to believe you.' 94 4

94. Pharaoh's courtiers obstinately persisted in branding Moses' signs as sorcery although they knew well that sorcery had nothing in common with the miraculous signs granted to Moses. Even a fool would not he ready to believe that the country-wide famine and the consistent decrease in agricultural output could have been caused by magic. It is for this reason that the Qur'an says: But when Our signs, which should have opened their eyes, came to them they said: 'This is clear sorcery! And they rejected those signs out of iniquity and arrogance even though they were inwardly convinced of it' (al-Naml 27: 13-14).
Ayah 7:133

فَاَرْسَلْنَا عَلَیْهِمُ الطُّوْفَانَ وَ الْجَرَادَ وَ الْقُمَّلَ وَ الضَّفَادِعَ وَ الدَّمَ اٰیٰتٍ مُّفَصَّلٰتٍ١۫ فَاسْتَكْبَرُوْا وَ كَانُوْا قَوْمًا مُّجْرِمِیْنَ Open ayah 7:133 in the Quran reader

Then We afflicted them with a great flood 95 and locusts, and the lice 96 , and the frogs, and the blood. All these were distinct signs and yet they remained haughty. They were a wicked people.

95. This probably refers to the torrential rain accompanied by hailstorm. While we do not totally exclude the possibility of other kinds of storms, we are inclined to the view, that it probably signifies hailstorm since the Bible specifically mentions that. (See Exodus 9: 23-4 - Ed.) 96. The word used in the text - qummal - denotes lice, fleas, small locusts, mosquitoes, and weevil. This rather general term has been used in the Qur'an probably to suggest that while men were afflicted with lice and fleas, weevil destroyed the barns. (Cf. Exodus 7-12. See also Tafhim al-ur'an, (al-Zukhruf 43, n. 43.)
Ayahs 7:134–137

وَ لَمَّا وَقَعَ عَلَیْهِمُ الرِّجْزُ قَالُوْا یٰمُوْسَى ادْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ بِمَا عَهِدَ عِنْدَكَ١ۚ لَئِنْ كَشَفْتَ عَنَّا الرِّجْزَ لَنُؤْمِنَنَّ لَكَ وَ لَنُرْسِلَنَّ مَعَكَ بَنِیْۤ اِسْرَآءِیْلَۚ Open ayah 7:134 in the Quran reader

Each time a scourge struck them they, said: '0 Moses! Pray for us to your Lord on the strength of the prophethood He has bestowed upon you. Surely, if you remove this scourge from us, we will truly believe in you, and will let the Children of Israel go with you.'

فَلَمَّا كَشَفْنَا عَنْهُمُ الرِّجْزَ اِلٰۤى اَجَلٍ هُمْ بٰلِغُوْهُ اِذَا هُمْ یَنْكُثُوْنَ Open ayah 7:135 in the Quran reader

But when We removed the scourge from them until a term - a term which they were bound to reach - they at once broke their promise.

فَانْتَقَمْنَا مِنْهُمْ فَاَغْرَقْنٰهُمْ فِی الْیَمِّ بِاَنَّهُمْ كَذَّبُوْا بِاٰیٰتِنَا وَ كَانُوْا عَنْهَا غٰفِلِیْنَ Open ayah 7:136 in the Quran reader

So We inflicted Our retribution on them, and caused them to drown in the sea because they gave the lie to Our signs and were heedless of them.

وَ اَوْرَثْنَا الْقَوْمَ الَّذِیْنَ كَانُوْا یُسْتَضْعَفُوْنَ مَشَارِقَ الْاَرْضِ وَ مَغَارِبَهَا الَّتِیْ بٰرَكْنَا فِیْهَا١ؕ وَ تَمَّتْ كَلِمَتُ رَبِّكَ الْحُسْنٰى عَلٰى بَنِیْۤ اِسْرَآءِیْلَ١ۙ۬ بِمَا صَبَرُوْا١ؕ وَ دَمَّرْنَا مَا كَانَ یَصْنَعُ فِرْعَوْنُ وَ قَوْمُهٗ وَ مَا كَانُوْا یَعْرِشُوْنَ Open ayah 7:137 in the Quran reader

And We made those who had been persecuted inherit the eastern and western lands which We had blessed. 97 Thus your Lord's gracious promise was fulfilled to the Children of Israel, for they had endured with patience; and We destroyed all that Pharaoh and his people had wrought, and all that they had built.

97. The Israelites were made the inheritors of Palestine. This has been interpreted by some commentators of the Qur'an to mean that the Israelites were made the rulers of Egypt as well. This view, however, is neither supported by, the Qur'an nor by any other historical and archaeological evidence. We have, therefore, serious reservations about the correctness of this opinion. (See Tafhim a]-Qur'an, (al-Kahf 18, n. 57), and (al-Shuara' 26, n. 45)
Ayah 7:138

وَ جٰوَزْنَا بِبَنِیْۤ اِسْرَآءِیْلَ الْبَحْرَ فَاَتَوْا عَلٰى قَوْمٍ یَّعْكُفُوْنَ عَلٰۤى اَصْنَامٍ لَّهُمْ١ۚ قَالُوْا یٰمُوْسَى اجْعَلْ لَّنَاۤ اِلٰهًا كَمَا لَهُمْ اٰلِهَةٌ١ؕ قَالَ اِنَّكُمْ قَوْمٌ تَجْهَلُوْنَ Open ayah 7:138 in the Quran reader

And We led the Children of Israel across the sea; and then they came upon a people who were devoted to the worship of their idols. They said: '0 Moses, make for us a god even as they have gods.' 98 Moses said: 'You are indeed an ignorant people.'

98. The point at which the Israelites probably crossed the Red Sea lies somewhere between the present Suez and Ismailia. After that they headed towards the south of the Sinai peninsula along the coastal route. The western and northern regions of the Sinai peninsula were then included in the Egyptian empire. In the southern part of the peninsula, in the area lying between the present towns of Tur and Abu Zanimah, there were copper and turquoise mines. Since these were of immense value to the Egyptians, a number of garrisons had been set up to ensure their security'. One such garrison was located at a place known as Mafqah, which also housed a big temple. The ruins of this temple can still be found in the south-western part of the peninsula. In its vicinity there was an ancient temple, dedicated to the moon-god of the Semites. Passing by these places the people of Israel, who had been subservient to the Egyptians for a long time and were thus considerably Egyptianized in their outlook, felt the desire to indulge in idol-worship. The extent to which the Israelites had become degenerated as a result of their slavery may be gauged by Joshua's last address to the Israelites delivered seventy years after their exodus from Epypt: Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River, and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. And if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord (Joshua 24: 14-15). This shows that even though the Israelites had been taught and trained by Moses for forty Years and by Joshua for twenty-eight years, they had still been unable to purge their minds of those influences which had warped their outlook and mentality during their period of bondage under Pharaoh. These Muslims had begun to look upon idol-worship as natural. Even after their exodus, the sight of a temple would incline them to indulge in the idolatrous practices which they had observed among their former masters.
Ayahs 7:139–142

اِنَّ هٰۤؤُلَآءِ مُتَبَّرٌ مَّا هُمْ فِیْهِ وَ بٰطِلٌ مَّا كَانُوْا یَعْمَلُوْنَ Open ayah 7:139 in the Quran reader

The way these people follow is bound to lead to destruction; and all their works are vain.

قَالَ اَغَیْرَ اللّٰهِ اَبْغِیْكُمْ اِلٰهًا وَّ هُوَ فَضَّلَكُمْ عَلَى الْعٰلَمِیْنَ Open ayah 7:140 in the Quran reader

Moses said: 'Should I seek any god for you other than Allah although it is He who has exalted you above all?'

وَ اِذْ اَنْجَیْنٰكُمْ مِّنْ اٰلِ فِرْعَوْنَ یَسُوْمُوْنَكُمْ سُوْٓءَ الْعَذَابِ١ۚ یُقَتِّلُوْنَ اَبْنَآءَكُمْ وَ یَسْتَحْیُوْنَ نِسَآءَكُمْ١ؕ وَ فِیْ ذٰلِكُمْ بَلَآءٌ مِّنْ رَّبِّكُمْ عَظِیْمٌ۠ Open ayah 7:141 in the Quran reader

And call to mind when We delivered you from Pharaoh's people who perpetrated on you a terrible torment, putting your males to death and sparing your females. Surely in it there was an awesome trial for you from your Lord.

وَ وٰعَدْنَا مُوْسٰى ثَلٰثِیْنَ لَیْلَةً وَّ اَتْمَمْنٰهَا بِعَشْرٍ فَتَمَّ مِیْقَاتُ رَبِّهٖۤ اَرْبَعِیْنَ لَیْلَةً١ۚ وَ قَالَ مُوْسٰى لِاَخِیْهِ هٰرُوْنَ اخْلُفْنِیْ فِیْ قَوْمِیْ وَ اَصْلِحْ وَ لَا تَتَّبِعْ سَبِیْلَ الْمُفْسِدِیْنَ Open ayah 7:142 in the Quran reader

And We appointed for Moses thirty nights, to which We added ten, whereby the term of forty nights set by his Lord was fulfilled. 99 And Moses said to Aaron, his brother: 'Take my place among my people, act righteously, and do not follow the path of those who create mischief.' 100

99. After the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt which marks, on the one hand, the end of the constraints of slavery and on the other, the beginning of their life as an independent nation, Moses was summoned by God to Mount Sinai in order that he might receive the Law for Israel. He was initially summoned for a period of forty days so that he might single-mindedly devote himself to worshipping, fasting, meditation and reflection and thus develop the ability to receive the revelation which was to put a very heavy burden upon him. In compliance with God's command, Moses left the Israelites at the place now known as the Wadi al-Shaykh which lies between Nabi Salih and Mount Sinai. The place where the Israelites had camped is presently called Maydan al-Rahah. At one end of the valley is a hillock where, according to local tradition, the Prophet Salih pitched his tent after his migration from the land of Thamud. A mosque built as a monument to the Prophet Salih still adorns the landscape. Mount Harun is located at the other end of the valley where, again, according to local tradition, the Prophet Harun (Aaron) stayed after his exasperation with the Israelites because of their cow-worship. The top of the towering Mount Sinai, standing 7,359 feet high, is mostly enveloped by clouds. The cave to which Moses retired for forty days to devote himself to worship and meditation is situated at the top of the mountain, and still attracts many pilgrims. Close to the cave are a mosque and a church. Moreover, a monastery built in the Justinian period stands even today at the foot of the mountain. (See Tafhim al-Qur'an, al-Naml 27: nn. 9-10.) 100. Although Aaron was senior to Moses in age by three years, he was placed under the direction of the Prophet Moses and was required to assist him in connection with his mission, As explained elsewhere in the Qur'an, Aaron was not assigned independent prophethood; he was rather appointed a Prophet by God in response to Moses' prayer that he be appointed as his assistant. (See Ta Ha 20: 29-31 - Ed.)