WORSHIPPING THE GOLD CALF (VERSE NO. 148 - 149)

      A deplorable and meanwhile amazing incident happened when Moses left his people for a short period of time that he had with our Lord. This event is so important in giving lessons, that it is cited in several places in Quran. (S 2: 51-54 - 92-93, S 4:153, S 7: 148-149 and S 20: 88)

      The object of Quran is not the story, but the lessons. Each point of the event has been narrated in its proper place, adding the touch that is necessary in each narration, to complete the spiritual picture.

      This incident did not happen by accident and at once. It rather had a good background, and an old record in the mythology of Egyptains, because they had already worshipped the image of a bull for a long time, and of old.

      In the absence of Moses, the gold calf was made by a man named Samaritan, but many of the Israelites took it for a god and began to worship it and give it sacrifices. It is said that Samaritan had installed several fine pipes and tubes inside the gold calf, so that when it was faced towards the wind it uttered a voice somehow like the lowing and mooing of a cow!

      Quran reproaches the Israelites in particular, and man in general, saying:

      ``Did they not see that the image of the calf could neither speak to them, nor guide them to a way.''

      Then why should a man worship such an inanimate and senseless body, and accept it for a god?!

      When Moses came back, the Israelites came back to themselves and repented and knew how bad, they had done; and that they had indeed oppressed themselves. So they said: ``If our Lord does not have Mercy upon us, and forgive us not, we shall indeed be lost.''

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