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2632 The Caller: the angel whose voice will call and direct all souls. (20.108)
2633 A beautiful personification of hushed Sound. First there is the loud blast of the Trumpet. Then there is the stillness and
hush of awe and reverence: only the tramp of the ranks marching along will be heard. (20.108)
CALF:
7:148 - The people of Moses made in his absence out of their ornaments the image of a calf (for
worship): it seemed to low: did they not see that it could neither speak to them nor show them
the way? They took it for worship and they did wrong. 111211131114
1113 Image of a Calf. Jasad is literally a body, especially the body of a man according to Khalil quoted by Ragib. In xxi. 8, it
is used obviously for the human body, as also in xxxviii. 34; but in the latter case, the idea of an image, without any
real life or soul, is also suggested. In the present passage I understand many suggestions: (1) that it was a mere
image, without life, (2) as such, it could not low, therefore the appearance of lowing, mentioned immediately
afterwards, was a fraud: (3) unlike its prototype, the bull of Osiris, it had not even the symbolism of Osiris behind it; the
Osiris myth, in the living religion of Egypt, had at least some ethical principles behind it. (7.148)
1114 The lowing of the golden calf was obviously a deception practised by the promoters of the cult. Lytton in his "Last
Days of Pompeii" exposes the deception practised by the priests of Isis. Men hidden behind images imposed on the
credulity of the commonalty. (7.148)
7:152 - Those who took the calf (for worship) will indeed be overwhelmed with wrath from their
Lord and with shame in this life: thus do We recompense those who invent (falsehoods). 1120
1120 The consequences were twofold: (1) spiritual, in that Allah's grace is withdrawn, and (2) even in the present life of this
world, in that godly men also shun the sinner's company, and he is isolated. (7.152)
20:88 - "Then he brought out (of the fire) before the (people) the image of a calf: it seemed to low:
so they said: `This is your god and the god of Moses but (Moses) has forgotten!' " 260926102611
2611 Moses has forgotten: i.e., 'forgotten both us and his god. He has been gone for so many days. He is searching for a
god on the Mount when his god is really here!' This is spoken by the Samiri and his partisans, but the people as a
whole accepted it, and it therefore, becomes their speech. (20.88)
2612 This is a parenthetical comment. How blind the people were! They had seen Signs of the true living God, and yet they
were willing to worship this dead image! The true living God had spoken in definite words of command, while this calf
could only emit some sounds of lowing, which were themselves contrived by the fraud of the priests. This image could
do neither good nor harm, while Allah was the Cherisher and Sustainer of the Universe, Whose Mercy was
unbounded and Whose Wrath was terrible. (20.89)
20:96 - He replied: "I saw what they saw not: so I took a handful (of dust) from the footprint of the
Apostle and threw it (into the calf): thus did my soul suggest to me." 2621
2621 This answer of the Samiri is a fine example of unblushing effrontery, careful evasion of issues, and invented
falsehoods. He takes upon himself to pretend that he had far more insight than anybody else: he saw what the crowd
did not see. He saw something supernatural. "The Messenger" is construed by many Commentators to mean the
angel Gabriel. Rasul (plural, rusul) is used in several places for "angels" e.g., in xi. 69, 77; xix. 19; and xxxv. 1. But if
we take it to mean the Messenger Moses, it means that the Samiri saw something sacred or supernatural in his
footprints: perhaps he thinks a little flattery would make Moses forgive him. The dust became sacred, and his throwing
it into the calf made the calf utter a lowing sound! As if that was the point at issue! He does not answer the charge of
making an image for worship. But finally, with arrogant effrontery, he says, "Well, that is what my soul suggested to
me, and that should be enough!" (20.96)
2:51 - And remember We appointed forty nights for Moses and in his absence you took the calf (for
worship) and ye did grievous wrong. 66
66 This was after the Ten Commandments and the Laws and Ordinances had been given on Mount Sinai: Moses was
asked up into the Mount, and he was there forty days and forty nights: Exod. xxiv. 18. But the people got impatient of
the delay, made a calf of melted gold, and offered worship ande sacrifice to it: Exod. xxxii 1-8. (2.51)
2:54 - And remember Moses said to his people: "O my people! Ye have indeed wronged
yourselves by your worship of the calf so turn (in repentance) to your Maker and slay
yourselves (the wrong-doers); that will be better for you in the sight of your Maker." Then He
turned toward you (in forgiveness); for He is Oft-returning Most Merciful. 69
11:69 - There came Our Messengers to Abraham with glad tidings. They said "Peace!" He
answered "Peace!" and hastened to entertain them with a roasted calf. 1565
1565 According to the sequence of Sura vii, the next reference should be to the story of Lut, and that story commences at
xi. 77 below, but it is introduced by a brief reference to an episode in the life of his uncle Abraham, from whose seed
sprang the peoples to whom Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad Al-Mustafa were sent with the major Revelations.
Abraham had by this time passed through the fire of persecutions in the Mesopotamian valleys: he had left behind him
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