Surah 1-2 - YasSarNal QuR'aN

Al-Baqarah (The Cow) | MAN IN CHARGE OF THE EARTHonly Moses and his Lord. Moreover, their question regarding the type of cow to besacrificed is also indicative of their total lack of interest and their tendency toridicule. Moses had already told them to sacrifice a cow, and any cow would havesufficed.Moses persisted with his patient approach and tried to steer the dialogue back to asensible level and away from argument on formality and technicality. He gives themanother straight and clear answer: “He says let her be neither an old cow nor a youngheifer, but of an age in between.” (Verse 68) He follows that with a clear, authoritativeadvice: “Do, then, as you are commanded.” (Verse 68)That should have been more than adequate for them to choose a cow and carryout the order, discharging their obligation and sparing themselves furthercomplication by narrowing their choices even further. Nevertheless, they insisted onasking more questions: “They said: ‘Pray on our behalf to your Lord to make clear to us ofwhat colour she should be.’“ (Verse 69) Since they asked, they received an answer:“[Moses] replied: ‘He says let her be a yellow cow, bright of hue, pleasing to the beholder.’“(Verse 69)The choices are narrowing and the task of finding the right kind of beast thatwould meet this now elaborate description has become more difficult than ever. It isno longer simply the first available cow, but it has to be one of middle years, neithervery old nor very young, of bright yellow colour, not too fat nor too lean, and, mostdifficult of all, ‘pleasing to the beholder’. This means that the cow must be bright,lively and vigorous; because such are the qualities that people are pleased to see. Onthe other hand, people dislike to look at a thin, weak or deformed animal.Yet those Jews were not finished. They continued to make matters difficult forthemselves. Once again they ask about the type of cow they should sacrifice,justifying their new request on grounds that they had a problem of choice: “They said:‘Pray on our behalf to your Lord to make plain to us of what exact type she should be, for to uscows are much alike. We shall, God willing, be guided aright.’” (Verse 70)There was now no escaping severe complication and restriction of choice, as moreand more features were specified: “[Moses] answered: ‘He says let her be a cow, notbroken-in to plough the earth or water the tillage, free of all fault, without markings of anyother colour.’“ (Verse 71)It was no longer an ordinary, average cow that could be easily found anywhere,but one with a specific description and an unusual combination of features. Then,just as the matter became unduly complicated and the choice really hard, the peoplerelented: “Said they: ‘Now you have given the right description.’ They sacrificed her,although they had almost left it undone.” (Verse 71)It was as though Moses had not, up to that point, been telling them the truth, or82