The Holy Qor-aan 002:055
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وَاِذۡ قَالَ مُوۡسٰى لِقَوۡمِهٖ يٰقَوۡمِ اِنَّكُمۡ ظَلَمۡتُمۡ اَنۡفُسَکُمۡ بِاتِّخَاذِكُمُ الۡعِجۡلَ فَتُوۡبُوۡآ اِلٰى بَارِٮِٕكُمۡ فَاقۡتُلُوۡٓا اَنۡفُسَكُمۡؕ ذٰ لِكُمۡ خَيۡرٌ لَّـكُمۡ عِنۡدَ بَارِٮِٕكُمۡؕ فَتَابَ عَلَيۡكُمۡؕ اِنَّهٗ هُوَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيۡمُ
Wa-iz-qaa-la-moo-saa-lay-qao-may-he
Yaa-qao-may-in-na-koom-za-lum-toom-un-fo-sa-koom
Bit-tay-khaa-zay-ko-mool-ij-la
Fa-too-boo-elaa-baa-ray-aiy-koom
Fuq-to-loo-un-fo-sa-koom
Zaa-lay-koom-khai-roon-la-koom-in-da-baa-ray-aiy-koom
Fa-taa-ba-alai-koom
In-na-hoo-ho-wut-taw-waa-boor-ra-hee-m.
And when Moses said to his people,
“Listen, my people, you surely had wronged yourselves
With your taking the calf as God.
So you all turn to your Creator repenting for forgiveness.
Then suppress yourselves in evil tendencies.
It is better for you with (in the eyes of) your Creator.”
Then He turned to you in compassion.
He indeed is the Utmost Forgiving, the Utmost Merciful.
(The first 7 words in 002:055 and 014:007 are the same)
- وَ — Wa — And (= Conj., Connects words, phrases or clauses; also; but; additionally; though; when; while; yet; whereupon)
- اِذۡ — Iz — When (= Behold; call to mind, recall; remember or think of the time, event, occasion, opportunity or time)
- قَا لَ — Qaa-la — He said (= v., past , s., m., 3rd person. Announced; called; conveyed declared; directed; elaborated; explained; informed; instructed; mandated; ordered; specified; told)
- مُوۡسٰى — Moo-sa — Moses (= The name of a Messenger / Prophet of Allah)
- لَ — Lay — To (= For the benefit, purpose or reason; with intent to or object of)
- قَوۡمِ — Qao-may — People (= Addressees; attendees; followers; folks; nation)
- هٖ — He — (= pro., s., m., 3rd person. Refers to Moses)
- يٰۤ — Yaa — Listen (= Be attentive; pay attention; O!)
- قَوۡمِ — Qao-may — People (= Addressees; attendees; followers; folks; nation)
- اِنَّ — In-na — Surely (= Absolutely; certainly; definitely; doubtlessly; indeed; in all seriousness; positively; really; truly; verily)
- کُمۡ — Koom — You (= pro., pl., m., 2nd person. You. Addressees are Israelites)
- ظَلَمۡ — Za-lum — Wronged (= v., past., pl., 2nd person. Acted improperly or wickedly; committed grievous wrong; did evil or injustice; harmed or unfairly treated others or yourself; transgressed; violated)
- تُمۡ — Toom — You (= pl., m., 2nd person. You all men. See کُمۡ above)
- اَنۡفُسَ — Un-fo-sa — Selves (= pl., Individuals’ hearts, minds or souls; persons)
- کُمۡ — Koom — You (= pro., pl., m., 2nd person. You all men. See کُمۡ above)
- بِ — B…(it) — With (= This word in Arabic literally means ‘with’)
- اتِّخَا ذِ — Tay-khaa-zay — Taking as God (= v., present participle. Adopting, catching, choosing, grabbing, grasping, holding, picking, seizing or setting up for worship)
- کُمۡ — Ko-mo..(ol) — You (= pro., pl., m., 2nd person. You all men. See کُمۡ above)
- الۡعِجۡلَ — Ij-la — Calf (= Baby cow prior to growing into a heifer)
- فَ — Fa — Therefore (= Consequently; as a result; so; then; thereafter; yet)
- تُوۡبُوۡا — Too-boo — Turn repentant (= v., pres., pl., 2nd person. Admit or confess the fault, guilt or sin or committed, express sorrow for the wrong, offer regret, remorse and repentance, and ask and beg to be excused, forgiven and pardoned with mercy, kindness and compassion)
- اِلٰٓى — E-laa — Towards (= 1. In the direction of; to. 2. For; until; till)
- بَارِٮِٕ — Baa-ray-aiy — Creator (= God. Maker. Who gradually evolves you in your being)
- کُمۡ — Koom — You (= pro., pl., m., 2nd person. You all men. See کُمۡ above)
- فَ — Fa…(uq) — So (= Consequently; as a result; then; thereafter; therefore; yet)
- اقۡتُلُوۡٓ — Uq-to-loo — Suppress * (= v., Fight evil tendencies. Other meanings at 002:073 and [regarding a practice contrary to Islam but alleged to be a part of it] see Commentary ‘Jihad – Is it Fighting‘ )
- اَنۡفُسَ — Un-fo-sa — Selves (= pl., Many individuals’ hearts or minds; people, persons; souls)
- کُمۡ — Koom — Your (= pro., pl., m., 2nd person. You all men. See کُمۡ above)
- ذٰلِكُمۡ — Zaa-lay-koom — For you in this (= ذٰلِك means ‘this here’, and for کُمۡ see above)
- خَيۡرٌ — Khai-roon — Better (= Best; good; greater, higher or more value; superior by comparison. Glad tiding. Good news. Things holding prospects of a better and improved prize)
- لَّ — La — For ( = For the benefit, purpose or reason; with intent to or object of)
- کُمۡ — Koom — You (= pro., pl., m., 2nd person. You all men. See کُمۡ above)
- عِنۡدَ — In-da — With (= Close at hand; in the counting; in the eyes, estimate or sight of; near)
- بَارِٮِٕ — Baa-ray-aiy — Creator (= God; Maker; Who gradually evolves you in your being)
- کُمۡ — Koom — You (= pro., pl., m., 2nd person. You all men. See کُمۡ above)
- فَ — Fa — Then (= Consequently; as a result; so; thereafter; therefore; yet)
- تَا بَ — Taa-ba — He turned (= v., past., s., m., 3rd person. As God’ act, the word means that He attended, moved, turned and forgave mercifully with kindness and compassion. See Note 002:038)
- عَلَيۡ — Alai — On (= Above; against; before; for; on top of; over; upon)
- کُمۡ — Koom — You (= pro., pl., m., 2nd person. You all men. See کُمۡ above)
The next five (5) words are repeats in verses 002:038 and 002:055
- اِنَّ — In-na — Definitely (= Absolutely; certainly; doubtlessly; earnestly; indeed; in all seriousness; positively; really; surely; truly; verily)
- هٗ — Hoo — Only He (= s., m., 3rd person. Refers to the Almighty God)
- هُوَ — Ho-wa..(ut) — He Alone (= s., m., 3rd person. Refers to the Almighty God. See also, “2 Pronouns referring to the same person….”)
- التَّوَّابُ — Tuw-waab .. (or) — Utmost Forgiver (= superlative form indicates the greatest, the highest, the most, and highlights that none more than Him is ready to turn in compassion and mercy to accept the regret, remorse and repentance of man. Forgives man who admits faults, guilt or sins. A/t/a, Forgiving; Oft-Returning; Returning in utmost compassion; Relenting. See Note 002:038)
- الرَّحِيۡمُ — Ra-heem — Utmost Merciful (= superlative form indicates the greatest, the highest, the most, and highlights that none more than Him shows mercy again and again, continually, incessantly and indefinitely like the endlessly and perpetually incoming waves from the oceans; Merciful Forever. See 001:002)
* Note 002:055. The extrapolations of the four-worded phrase فَاقۡتُلُوۡٓا اَنۡفُسَكُم (in 002:055) range widely. What did the Command mean? Was it a direction to physically kill others? Was it a directive to psychologically suppress evil tendencies? Is it a killing and slaying, or an execution in punishment (002:073), or suppressing with will power? What really was meant?
One extreme stated “kill your ring-leaders”, “slay the culprits and evil-doers among you” and “the innocent among you kill the wrongdoers among you” by just naming them as such.
The other extreme said “kill your passion”, “kill your evil desires” and “Let each one of you slay the evil propensities of his mind.” Maulana Muhammad Ali [Note 86, 1st Ed in 1917] wrote “According to the Bible, the children of Levis were commanded to slay the others, and three thousand were killed on that day … (but) … The context does not allow this interpretation.” Malik Ghulam Farid [Note 95 in 1969 Ed) wrote: “The Israelites were commanded to purge their souls of evil desires through mortification. The biblical statement that they were commanded ‘to slay every man his brother, every man his companion and every man his neighbour [Exod 32:27] is not supported by the Quran.” The Holy Qor-aan has clearly stated that calf-worshipers were pardoned (004:154) and … their leader Samiri was not killed (020:098) but punished differently for he went around saying “Don’t touch me” which could have been due to his excommunication with a social boycott or his contracting some physical or mental disease.
Studying Islam is a serious matter; it must not be taken lightly; see Commentary The Holy Qor-aan is no joke. Help is available on this site in its word-by-word translations and Commentaries. Notes to verses 002:055, 002:073 and 002:191 help on the subject in hand. Soon other helpful posts will be put on this site like the ‘Arabic Grammar – 103 Questions Answered.’
