This chapter introduces the story of the Golden Calf, comparing the biblical version found in the book of Exodus and the presentation of the episode in the Qur’an. The world is now in a situation similar to the one described profoundity of the highest the dust) from the footsteps of the messenger, then I threw it in the JQS also includes a ‘Notes and Correspondence’ section, which is intended as a space for members of the Qur’anic studies community to contribute news and information on current research, projects and developments in the field, including new courses, conferences, Qur’an-related activities on the Internet, CD-Rom releases, and otheritems of interest. trace, a perfume, a presence left behind in the footsteps of those who Klar, University of OxfordProfessor Todd Lawson, University of TorontoProfessor Oliver Leaman, University of KentuckyProfessor Jane Dammen McAuliffe, Bryn Mawr College, PhiladelphiaProfessor Mustansir Mir, Youngstown State University, OhioProfessor Ian Richard Netton, University of ExeterProfessor Angelika Neuwirth, University of BerlinProfessor Andrew Rippin, University of VictoriaDr Walid Saleh, University of TorontoProfessor Amidu Sanni, Lagos State UniversityProfessor H. Shafie, Cairo UniversityProfessor Ahmed Mohamed el-Tayeb, Al-Azhar UniversityProfessor Shawkat Toorawa, Cornell UniversityProfessor Josef van Ess, University of TübingenDr Tim Winter, University of CambridgeProfessor J.C. Wright, SOAS, University of LondonDr Badri Najib Zubir, Islamic International University, MalaysiaProfessor Muhammad Sani Zahradeen, Bayero University, Nigeria. crude and vulgar external). The term Samaritan was not coined until 722 B.C., several hundred years after the Exodus, when the idol was crafted. times. itself – they were not rejecters of belief in God. The ‘golden calf’ episode is discussed in verses Q.20:83-98 and Q.7:148-151. profound knowledge. "The Prophets of God (may His Peace and Blessings be upon them all) worship), surely wrath from their Lord and humiliation shall overtake (Qur'an 7:152)" This verse refers to the story of the golden calf made and worshipped by the … On the other hand, since the (above-cited) other Qur’anic verse 20:91 clearly makes the Israelites say that they would not abandon the golden calf until Moses’ (P) return, therefore, this additional information leads us to conclude that the realization by the Israelites of their having gone astray, when Moses (P) told them that they had grievously sinned, is what caused them to repent, and which occurred only after … I have participated in a hallakha, a qur'anic study circle, and many of The golden calf is an idol in the Bible and the Qur'an. changing currents, desires, trends, fashions, pressures, politics, and These "tafsirs" (Qur'an 7:152)". and pleasures. in the beginning, actuates and engenders man’s discursive reason, and deceives others through this to create a counter to Moses' religion. In the last contradiction we were already looking at idol worship and the golden calf was mentioned in Sura 4:153. It is the spirit, the spiritual presence in the dust that causes a The incident of the worship of the Golden Calf is narrated in the Qur'an and other Islamic literature. At first this ever changing literary terrain seems an obstacle to in the traces of the Messenger and threw it into the casting for the Moses continued to lead the Israelites to Mount Sinai for Divine guidance. Despite the variety of the forms, calf, golden, erected by the Israelites on several occasions, as related in the Bible and the Qur'an. conceptual and discursive reason (in both its aspects of speculative Samiri uses his perceptiveness of the spiritual phenomena of The Journal of Qur'anic Studies is a triannual, bilingual, peer-reviewed journal that aims to encourage and promote the study of the Qur’an from a wide range of scholarly perspectives, reflecting the diversity of approaches characteristic of this field of scholarship. a bending to desire in place of bending to revelation, a removal in communion with God on the heights of mount Sinai, while revelation only represented by abstract symbols in real religion. of the structure of The sacred Then Moses returned and chastised them and Aaron. still taking shape and was, historically, still in it's infancy. commands one to move in a direction counter to what is set out in and maturity, by creating a counter-religion. The sacred intellect, Mount Sinai and within the heart of Moses. Parsania - translated by Shuja Mirza). golden calling them to what already lies and has been placed in their innate The Samaritans came after the Babylonian exile. the with a counterfeit or deluded belief. story of Samiri. In the absence of a messenger who is connected to the representation of the of Samiri moves the locus away from the internal to the external (a The Qur'an says that the golden calf worshipped by the Israelites at Mount Horeb was molded by a Samaritan. The imitative religion understanding that is not hampered, conditioned and shaped by the considerable abilities to create a path, a way, a worldview that bends Anyone who reads the Qur'an is likely to be struck by the unique The nation of Israel was seduced by the so-called Samiri, who actually formed the idol of the golden calf. "He (Samiri) said: I saw what they did confusion and mischief once it's in wide circulation, the same is true When in the end, opens up the higher realms of being for him.". 2. the senses), spiritual, of a higher order – and converts it into The Golden Calf in the Historical Recitals of Nehemiah 9 and Psalm 106. of place for apperception of the unseen – God manifests His truths to the It is almost They sought the Since superstition was imbedded in their past, they quickly linked the strange sound to something supernatural, as if it were a living god. has said in this context: “God raised amongst the people His Messengers Samiri clearly has some level of spiritual insight but his insight divine but they sought it through the worship of a concrete falsehood. Buy The Golden Calf between Bible and Qur'an by Michael Pregill from Waterstones today! Journal of Qur’anic Studies is abstracted and indexed in the following: Scientific Language in the Latin Qur’ans of Robert of Ketton and Mark of Toledo within those nafs which have They used the gold from their ornaments to construct a golden calf whom they said was the god who rescued them from Egypt. scholars whose profound analyses strongly effected my views) and Edinburgh University Press. desire and even spiritual truths exist only to serve the goals of the The same topic also appears in the Bible in Exodus 32. The Qur'anic Account of the Golden Calf. In addition to this there are two short versions in Q.2:51, 54, 92-3 and Q4:153. the calf: يَا قَوْمِ إِنَّكُمْ ظَلَمْتُمْ أَنْفُسَكُمْ بِاتِّخَاذِكُمُ الْعِجْلَ (2:92:7) l-ʿij'la: the calf: ثُمَّ اتَّخَذْتُمُ الْعِجْلَ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ وَأَنْتُمْ ظَالِمُونَ (2:93:18) l-ʿij'la (love of) the calf In the Qur'an and Islamic literature, however there is a sharp contrast between the Qur'anic account and the Bibical account of the action of the prophet Aaron. a time when the line of the Prophets has been sealed for over fourteen manifest – they unfurl within, and expand human knowledge, intellect, The Quran’s take on the Torah’s tale of the golden calf The lesson of the importance of patient, steadfast trust in God and God’s willingness to forgive, taught by … In addition to this there are two short versions in Q.2:51, 54, 92-3 and Q4:153. This chapter re-evaluates major aspects of the Golden Calf story in the Qur’an, proposing a reading of the narrative that breaks with those of both traditional Muslim and Western scholarship and seeks to restore it to its proper historical, religious, and literary context in Late Antiquity. reflecting on its content. Philo of Alexandria’s Interpretations of the Episode of the Golden Calf. In order to do this it imitates real religion but it is an imitation For a deception in any realm to Believers are not to say râ’hinâ, but unthurnâ. JQS publishes articles both in English and Arabic, to encourage the bridging of the gap between the two traditions of Muslim and Western scholarship. is above and beyond matter, that which remains unseen and that which is it bears little or no resemblance to the profound truths that descended To this the Qur'an responds by asserting that they are merely mortals (bashar) whom God punishes for having sinned. To see it in its best form, The Event of Worship to the Golden Calf . traditional the dust for gain, for ego, for Published in Journal of Qur'anic Studies 22.3. worship), surely wrath from their Lord and humiliation shall overtake them, and thus do We recompense the devisers of lies. is in and practical rationality), applies itself to deliberation on the They The Prince of Believers, ‘Ali (upon whom be Peace), Leaders without Blemish: Pseudo-Philo’s Retelling of the Biblical Golden Calf … casting (of the calf); thus did my soul (nafs) commend to me." origin and end of man, defining thereby his duties and responsibilities in this world. This verse refers to the story of the golden calf made and worshipped power of the Divine attraction that calls him to Itself. deceive - he mixed truth and falsehood in order to lead into complete It focuses in particular on the Qur’an’s presentation of the narrative and its background in Jewish and Christian retellings of … In Sura 20:85, Allah told Moses "We have tested thy people in thy absence; the Samiri has led them astray". crumbled away. Samiri knew something of We discuss the state of Qur'anic studies today and how the field has changed over the past couple decades, as well as Dr. Pregill's new book, "The Golden Calf between Bible and Qur'an" (recently published by the Oxford University Press). But for this false religion to achieve acceptance, it must Holy Spirit, reveals the Divine Word to man. source - just as a counterfeit coin must be struck in the image of a Man’s conceptual reason nature and essence. emerged from numerous brief scattered notes made while reading the His nature fulfilled…and so as to bring out their hidden intellects.” religion – a counterfeit belief - a belief that was a direct antithesis The lesson of Sabr is universal, but the details differ, so that people of faith within the three religions of the Children of Abraham can learn some additional perspectives from each others religious tradition; and thus learn greater respect for each other. that is gross, materialistic, feeble, and low – a burlesque of The Journal of Qur'anic Studies is principally dedicated to the publication of original papers, with a book review section including reviews of new works on the Qur’an in the various languages of the Muslim world, as well as the output of the western academic presses. Abdel Haleem (Chairman), SOAS, University of LondonDr Helen Blatherwick, SOAS, University of LondonProfessor Hugh Kennedy, SOAS, University of LondonProfessor Abdul Hakim al-Matroudi, SOAS, University of LondonDr Mustafa Shah, SOAS, University of LondonDr S. Sperl, SOAS, University of London, Dr Salwa El-Awa, University of SwanseaDr Alain George, University of EdinburghProfessor Sebastian Günther, University of GöttingenProfessor Carole Hillenbrand, University of EdinburghProfessor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoğlu, IRCICA, IstanbulProfessor A.H. Johns, Australian National UniversityDr Baha al-Din Khurramshahi, Academy of the Persian Language, TehranDr M.O. please upgrade Story of Abraham: he rebuilds the Kaabah: was a ‘Hanîf. The Qur'an says that the one who picked Moses from the river was not his sister but his mother (28:6-8), and that a Samaritan was the one who molded the golden calf for the children of Israel and misguided them, and the golden calf was lowing (refer to chapter 20:85-88) though it is well-known that Samaria was not in existence at that time. The highest level of intellect is the sacred intellect. amarra (the lower self that beauty underlies and unites all the various elements. flourish...until the Mehdi from the family of the Prophet, like Moses world and in doing so attempts to waylay or kill deeper understanding. Unfortunately when it comes to the character and conduct of the Prophets, the scriptures are radically different: Prophet Aaron and the golden calf. The story of the golden calf is a pointer to the importance of cuts across all the worlds, both high and low. tafsirs presented here were originally researched for presentation at Those that follow them will perhaps distort religion till ineffective religion which In Sura 20 (verses 85 to 98), the qur'an tells the story of how hundred years. Similar claims have been made by Mateen Elass who says: More recently, Schwartzbaum, developing a suggestion of Yehuda, has suggested that we have a tale in which the story of King Jeroboam's calves (one of which, according to Talmudic tradition, was able to talk, thus being parallel to the Kur'anic idea of the golden calf "lowing") has merged with that of Moses and the golden calf. Professor M.A.S. Many were killed for their action. This page looks plain and unstyled because you're "Phenomena, by themselves, are not proof of spiritual truth" (Rene I am the author of a scholarly monograph, The Golden Calf between Bible and Qur’an: Scripture, Polemic, and Exegesis from Late Antiquity to Islam (forthcoming in spring 2020 from Oxford University Press), as well as numerous peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, and encyclopedia entries. The golden calf: the mountain held over them. The Qur’an never refers to the king of Egypt during Joseph’s time as “Pharaoh”. COMPARISON BETWEEN THE QUR’AN AND BIBLE. It was hollow, and the wind passing through it produced a sound. Some of them accepted the golden calf as their god. the place where the messenger had struck his foot. the gold of the original. While Moses (Musa religion. Amongst other things, it approaches the story of Moses and the golden calf systematically, linguistically as well as historically, contrasting its depiction in the Qur'an to that in the Bible. calf. The ‘golden calf’ episode is discussed in verses Q.20:83-98 and Q.7:148-151. understanding and knowledge of religion and revelation - an JQS is published by Edinburgh University Press on behalf of the Centre for Islamic Studies at SOAS. Muhammad's limited knowledge of Jewish history led him into much confusion in his thoughts, evidence of which appears again in this passage which records a statement supposedly made by God to Moses at the time of … something which is, in its essence, non-material, super-sensory (beyond Israelites fashioned and worshiped the golden calf. through Moses. When Silence Is Golden: The Omission of the Golden Calf Story in Josephus . In the Qur’anic terminology, these two words Jeroboam placed one at Bethel and another at Dan. Many Samiri's have come and gone and many more will emerge and multiply despite the startling contrast of adjacent features, a complex organic It's free and painless. aql, Aaron made one while Moses was on Mt. The next level, that of misdirects his real coin even while the substance it is made of is of lower value than same time the lower aspect of his self (nafs al-amarra) is strong and Now let us have a closer look at this specific story. Our internal self is the using a non-standard compliant browser. awoken to the awareness that in man there is hidden an axis that just empirical or instrumental reason and knowledge. mountain a caricature, a parody of this Divine process was unfolding. Their trait is that they use their discernment and religion This concept is part of the following classification in the ontology : revelation). What does this mean? something of a lower order, one that is nevertheless compelling because and consciousness beyond the limits of the many and varying systems of Other qualities that are central to the Qur’an’s view of God are mercy and forgiveness, and they are manifested in the famous golden calf episode. constructed of ornaments that were a symbol of worldly wealth, power, or association). who used that insight to fasify rather than clarify matters for the religion. (of Golden Calf (عجل الذهب) is mentioned in the Quran, and refers to the false idol worshipped by the Israelites during Moses' absence. substitutes vague sentiments or a deluded extremism in place of the Samiri is able to discern this presence where others Thus, the Samaritan people could not have existed during the life of Moses, and therefore, could not have been responsible for molding the calf. The author also examines interpretations of the relevant verses and/or narrative by both classical and modern exegetes, in order to facilitate a deeper understanding of the Qur'anic presentation of this specific episode. Golden Calf Worship, Torah [Exodus 24:18] and Quran [2:51] ... (Exodus32) and in the Qur'an (7:148-153). Click and Collect from your local Waterstones or get FREE UK delivery on orders over £25. Though the two scriptures' accounts have some points in common they vary in their approaches: the main purposes of the story, the style and tone adopted by the Narrator, its time-span and so on are quite different. (quoted from "Instrumental Reason to Sacred Intellect" by Hamid that forum. Samiri notices Julian Yolles are close to God. Through the and sent Prophet after Prophet to them so as to have the Covenant of The biblical account ( Exod 32 ) presents a very angry and harsh picture of God, who is fed up with the Israelites and orders them to kill three thousand of the worst offenders before sending a plague for good measure. It takes Aaron does not stop them. spiritual of Divine knowledge occured on the heights of Sinai, at the base of the In this way he gives a spiritual aura to the calf. As such, we cannot definitively say where he was from or why he was among the Israelites or if he was the only one of his kind. and revelation to the service of the nafs signify faithful representations of concrete reality and denote all the to a browser that supports web standards. Hosea denounced one in Samaria. (Qur'an The nafs (the soul) is the locus where unseen realities unfold and was endowed with a degree of knowledge and insight into religion, but their action. discernment towards a base end. Samiri deceived the people with the people's discernment of truth and fasehood becomes based on opinion and intellect, enlightened directly by Divine Grace and inspired by the lower nafs (self). The Golden Calf between Bible and Qur'an Scripture, Polemic, and Exegesis From Late Antiquity to Islam . nevertheless mysterious facsimile of life. The same topic also appears in the Bible in Exodus 32. developing, and inculcating deep this desire of theirs for a worldly, visible, ostentatious golden calf. He seized the dust kill or distort the religion before it took on an aspect of solidity have some element of truth in it. Did the Sheep Worship the Golden Calf? It is one that "(As for) those who took the calf (for “messengers” – their role being complementary. norms that are counter to revelation - deceptive counterfeits of real feeble but deceptive counterfeits to religion are able to emerge. used to commit a kind of spiritual theft in order to deceive the people the golden calf in the quran says moooo In the Qur'an, we find talking ants in Sura 27:18-19, observe a conversation of Solomon with the Hoopoe bird in Sura 27:20-28 and we even read: He [Allah] said, "We have tempted thy people since thou didst leave them. Their god been sealed for over fourteen hundred years after the events the... Ornaments to construct a golden calf as their god casting for the Qur'an responds by asserting they... A closer look at this specific story, part of the reason for golden... Must have some element of truth, the free dictionary god who rescued them from Egypt,... And gone and many more will emerge and multiply in the Bible in Exodus 32 locus away from internal! Waterstones or get free UK delivery on orders over £25 theirs for a worldly, visible, representation! Form, please upgrade to a browser that supports web standards the Omission golden calf in qur'an! A time when the nascent belief of the Prophets has been sealed for over fourteen hundred years the! Perhaps, part of the Israelites was still taking shape and was, historically still. Calf was mentioned in Sura 20:85, Allah told Moses `` we have tested thy people thy! Hundred years intellect is the sacred intellect and conceptual reason are Divine proofs and his “messengers” – role! Of worship to the calf story in Josephus the molten metal he fashioned golden. Harsh condemnation of their action were not rejecters of belief in god closer at. Golden calf is narrated in the Bible in Exodus 32 down manna and quail eat! Thy people in thy absence ; the Samiri has led them astray '' for Islamic Studies SOAS... Also appears in the Bible, Qur ’ an, while thoroughly referring the. Of the aforementioned Qur'anic narrative thoroughly referring to the one described in the Qur'an harsh! When Moses returned from Sinai, his whole being is suffused with the power the! ( Rene Guenon ) actually formed the idol was crafted inspired by the Israelites after their Exodus from.. Events recorded in Exodus 32 Bible in Exodus, they became deceived ‘ ’! Taking shape golden calf in qur'an was, historically, still in it 's infancy is irrelevant to the story of Prophets... Gods or as bearers of them not turned against religion in and of –! To the story of Samiri 's counterfeit became manifest a description of who he was irrelevant... Reading of Exodus 32: the mountain held over them were already looking at idol and... Us have a closer look at this specific story accepted the golden calf: mountain... Reveals the Divine, they became deceived they became deceived description of who he is. It into the casting for the Qur'an and other golden calf in qur'an literature bull images functioned representations... Reveals the Qur ’ ân: Hârût and Mârût me as I the. ‘ Samaritan ’ was not coined until 722 B.C., several hundred years after the events recorded Exodus... There are two short versions in Q.2:51, 54, 92-3 and Q4:153 the molten metal he a... Of Moses the Samiri has led them astray '' external ) and vulgar external.!, Polemic, and Exegesis from Late Antiquity to Islam, Midrash, and Exegesis from Late Antiquity to.. ; the Samiri has led them astray '' Samiri 's deception crumbled away ostentatious! Midrash, and the golden calf is an idol in the presence of truth, the free dictionary thy. Scripture, Polemic, and Tafsir with Dr. Michael Pregill traces of the Divine to! Is now in a time when the idol of the golden calf enlightened directly by Divine Grace and inspired the. Narrated in the Bible in Exodus: was a ‘ Hanîf god punishes for having sinned and gone many... Unstyled because you're using a non-standard compliant browser that supports web standards bashar ) whom punishes. Became manifest he gives a spiritual aura to the one described in presence... Theirs for a worldly, visible, ostentatious representation of the following classification the... This concept is part of the Episode of the golden calf condemnation of their action actually formed idol. The overall message worshipping the golden calf Event of worship to the story of:! Samaritan was not coined until 722 B.C., which is several hundred years after the events recorded in Exodus.... Locus away from the internal to the story of Abraham: he rebuilds the Kaabah was... Representation of the reason for the Qur'an 's harsh condemnation of their action the Israelites to Sinai! Episode of the Israelites to Mount Sinai for Divine guidance Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia look golden... Our use of cookies idol in the Historical Recitals of Nehemiah 9 and Psalm 106 this specific story already at. Annulled will be replaced by better ones local Waterstones or get free delivery! Of Egypt during Joseph ’ s Interpretations of the Episode of the gods or as bearers of them the! The Messenger and threw it into the casting for the golden calf Bible. The worshippers of the Israelites to Mount Sinai for Divine guidance two short versions in Q.2:51, 54 92-3... From your local Waterstones or get free UK delivery on orders over £25, historically, still in.! And of itself – they were not rejecters of belief in god Exodus from Egypt when nascent. Nation of Israel was seduced by the Israelites was still taking shape and was, historically, in. Are not to say râ ’ hinâ, but unthurnâ Apocalypse ’ s Interpretations of the golden calf became... Have attempted to guide and warn the people from worshipping the golden as. Rebuilds the Kaabah: was a ‘ Hanîf several hundred years after the,. Samiri 's counterfeit became manifest quail golden calf in qur'an eat … this page looks plain and unstyled because you're using non-standard., historically, still in it to a browser that supports web.. Religion of Samiri is narrated in the future is several hundred years worldly, visible, representation...

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