Juz 1: Al-Fātiḥah to Al-Baqarah 141
Section 11 of 18 · Tafsir of the Qur’an · Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
The Story of the Cow (Origin of Surah's Name) | Verses: 2:67-73
Surah Al-Baqarah derives its name from a significant incident involving the Children of Israel that serves as a profound lesson in submission to divine commands. This story begins with a wealthy Israelite who was murdered by his nephew for inheritance. After committing this crime, the murderer carried the body at night and placed it at someone else's doorstep, falsely accusing an innocent person.
When the investigation ensued, the Israelites were on the verge of tribal warfare as accusations were made against the innocent. It was in this critical situation that Allah commanded Musa (peace be upon him) to instruct them to sacrifice a cow:
وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوْمِهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَن تَذْبَحُوا بَقَرَةً ۖ قَالُوا أَتَتَّخِذُنَا هُزُوًا ۖ قَالَ أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ أَنْ أَكُونَ مِنَ الْجَاهِلِينَ
“When Musa said to his people, 'Allah commands you to slaughter a cow,' they said, 'Are you making fun of us?' He said, 'I seek refuge with Allah from being one of the ignorant.'" (2:67)”
What is remarkable about this incident is that the Children of Israel, instead of immediately obeying what was a simple command, began to question it excessively. Had they promptly slaughtered any cow, it would have fulfilled the divine requirement. However, their reluctance and unnecessary questioning made the matter increasingly difficult for them:
قَالُوا ادْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُبَيِّن لَّنَا مَا هِيَ ۚ قَالَ إِنَّهُ يَقُولُ إِنَّهَا بَقَرَةٌ لَّا فَارِضٌ وَلَا بِكْرٌ عَوَانٌ بَيْنَ ذَٰلِكَ ۖ فَافْعَلُوا مَا تُؤْمَرُونَ
“They said, 'Call upon your Lord for us that He makes it clear to us what sort she should be.' He said, 'He says she should be a cow neither too old nor too young—of a middle age. So, do what you are commanded.'" (2:68)”
The questioning continued as they sought more specific details, further restricting their options and making the task more challenging:
قَالُوا ادْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُبَيِّن لَّنَا مَا لَوْنُهَا ۚ قَالَ إِنَّهُ يَقُولُ إِنَّهَا بَقَرَةٌ صَفْرَاءُ فَاقِعٌ لَّوْنُهَا تَسُرُّ النَّاظِرِينَ
“They said, 'Call upon your Lord for us that He makes it clear to us what color she should be.' He said, 'He says she should be a yellow cow, bright in color, pleasing to the beholders.'" (2:69)”
Even after these specifications, they continued to press for more details:
قَالُوا ادْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُبَيِّن لَّنَا مَا هِيَ إِنَّ الْبَقَرَ تَشَابَهَ عَلَيْنَا وَإِنَّا إِن شَاءَ اللَّهُ لَمُهْتَدُونَ
“They said, 'Call upon your Lord for us that He makes it clear to us what sort she should be, for cows appear alike to us, and if Allah wills, we shall certainly be guided.'" (2:70)”
Finally, after exhausting themselves with questions, they were left with an extremely specific description of a rare cow:
قَالَ إِنَّهُ يَقُولُ إِنَّهَا بَقَرَةٌ لَّا ذَلُولٌ تُثِيرُ الْأَرْضَ وَلَا تَسْقِي الْحَرْثَ مُسَلَّمَةٌ لَّا شِيَةَ فِيهَا ۚ قَالُوا الْآنَ جِئْتَ بِالْحَقِّ ۚ فَذَبَحُوهَا وَمَا كَادُوا يَفْعَلُونَ
“He said, 'He says she should be a cow which is not tractable for tilling the soil or watering the fields, sound and without blemish.' They said, 'Now you have come up with the truth.' So, they slaughtered her, although they hardly wanted to do it." (2:71-72)”
This incident carries multiple layers of significance. Beyond resolving the murder case, it served as a divine demonstration of resurrection, addressing doubts about the Hereafter that had begun to emerge among the Israelites. When they struck the corpse with a piece of the sacrificed cow's meat, Allah revived the murdered man momentarily, enabling him to identify his killer:
فَقُلْنَا اضْرِبُوهُ بِبَعْضِهَا ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يُحْيِي اللَّهُ الْمَوْتَىٰ وَيُرِيكُمْ آيَاتِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ
“So We said, 'Strike him with a part of it.' Thus Allah brings the dead to life, and shows you His signs, so that you may understand." (2:73)”
Additionally, this incident helped sever the Children of Israel's misplaced veneration of cows—a practice they had acquired during their long stay in Egypt, where cattle were held sacred. By commanding them to slaughter a cow, Allah demonstrated that while beneficial, cows are not sacred animals.
The primary lesson from this narrative is the importance of immediate submission to Allah's commands without excessive questioning or hesitation. Those who excessively question divine instructions only make matters more difficult for themselves, while prompt obedience brings ease and blessing.