وَإِذ أَخَذنا ميثاقَكُم وَرَفَعنا فَوقَكُمُ الطّورَ خُذوا ما آتَيناكُم بِقُوَّةٍ وَاذكُروا ما فيهِ لَعَلَّكُم تَتَّقونَ

We made a covenant with you, as We raised the Mount above you: “Hold firmly to what We’ve given you, and remember what’s in it, so that you may become righteous.”

ثُمَّ تَوَلَّيتُم مِن بَعدِ ذٰلِكَ ۖ فَلَولا فَضلُ اللَّهِ عَلَيكُم وَرَحمَتُهُ لَكُنتُم مِنَ الخاسِرينَ

Yet, you turned away after that. Were it not for God’s grace and mercy upon you, you would’ve been among the losers.

وَلَقَد عَلِمتُمُ الَّذينَ اعتَدَوا مِنكُم فِي السَّبتِ فَقُلنا لَهُم كونوا قِرَدَةً خاسِئينَ

You knew those among you who transgressed the Sabbath. We said to them, “Be apes, despised.”

فَجَعَلناها نَكالًا لِما بَينَ يَدَيها وَما خَلفَها وَمَوعِظَةً لِلمُتَّقينَ

So We made it an exemplary punishment for their generation and the generations to follow, and a lesson for the virtuous.

وَإِذ قالَ موسىٰ لِقَومِهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأمُرُكُم أَن تَذبَحوا بَقَرَةً ۖ قالوا أَتَتَّخِذُنا هُزُوًا ۖ قالَ أَعوذُ بِاللَّهِ أَن أَكونَ مِنَ الجاهِلينَ

When Moses told his people, “God commands you to sacrifice a cow,” they replied, “Are you making fun of us?” He replied, “I seek refuge in God from being among the ignorant.”

قالُوا ادعُ لَنا رَبَّكَ يُبَيِّن لَنا ما لَونُها ۚ قالَ إِنَّهُ يَقولُ إِنَّها بَقَرَةٌ صَفراءُ فاقِعٌ لَونُها تَسُرُّ النّاظِرينَ

They said, “Ask your Lord to clarify for us its color.” He replied, “He says it’s a cow, bright yellow in color, pleasing to the onlookers.”

قالُوا ادعُ لَنا رَبَّكَ يُبَيِّن لَنا ما هِيَ إِنَّ البَقَرَ تَشابَهَ عَلَينا وَإِنّا إِن شاءَ اللَّهُ لَمُهتَدونَ

They said, “Ask your Lord to specify for us exactly what it is, all cows are alike to us. And, if God wills, we will be guided.”

قالَ إِنَّهُ يَقولُ إِنَّها بَقَرَةٌ لا ذَلولٌ تُثيرُ الأَرضَ وَلا تَسقِي الحَرثَ مُسَلَّمَةٌ لا شِيَةَ فيها ۚ قالُوا الآنَ جِئتَ بِالحَقِّ ۚ فَذَبَحوها وَما كادوا يَفعَلونَ

He replied, “He says it’s a cow not utilized for plowing or irrigating fields, flawless, with no blemish.” They said, “Now you’ve brought the truth.” So they slaughtered her, but they almost didn’t.

وَإِذ قَتَلتُم نَفسًا فَادّارَأتُم فيها ۖ وَاللَّهُ مُخرِجٌ ما كُنتُم تَكتُمونَ

When you killed a person and disputed over it, God unveiled what you were hiding.

فَقُلنَا اضرِبوهُ بِبَعضِها ۚ كَذٰلِكَ يُحيِي اللَّهُ المَوتىٰ وَيُريكُم آياتِهِ لَعَلَّكُم تَعقِلونَ

We commanded, “Strike him with part of it.” Thus, does God bring the dead to life. He shows you His signs so you may understand.