The Holy Quran 7:138 — Surah Al-A'raf

Arabic text

وَجَـٰوَزْنَا بِبَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ ٱلْبَحْرَ فَأَتَوْا۟ عَلَىٰ قَوْمٍ يَعْكُفُونَ عَلَىٰٓ أَصْنَامٍ لَّهُمْ ۚ قَالُوا۟ يَـٰمُوسَى ٱجْعَل لَّنَآ إِلَـٰهًا كَمَا لَهُمْ ءَالِهَةٌ ۚ قَالَ إِنَّكُمْ قَوْمٌ تَجْهَلُونَ

Translation

We took Bani Israa'eel across the sea and they came across a nation who were devoted to their idols. They (the Bani Israa'eel) said, "O Moosa! Make for us a god like how they have gods." He (Moosa عليه الصلاة والسلام) replied (in amazement), "You are truly an ignorant nation (by choosing to worship useless idols when Allaah has saved you from your enemy)!"

Tafsir (excerpt) — Tafsir Usmani

The ignorant demand of the Children of Israel: some have said that these were people of the tribe of Lakhm, and others have held the Canaanite Amalekites to be meant. It is said that their idols were in the shape of a cow. And Allah knows best.

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