What Did Allah Command the Children of Israel to Do to Purify Themselves After Worshipping the Calf?
بماذا أمر الله بني إسرائيل ليطهروا أنفسهم بعد عبادة العجل؟
Moses, peace be upon him, burnt the calf idol and told them that Allah Almighty commanded them to kill one another; the innocent had to kill the one who had worshipped the calf. They did what Allah Almighty commanded them, and the innocent killed the guilty among them.
(And remember when Moses said to his people, "O my people! Surely you have wronged yourselves by worshipping the calf, so turn in repentance to your Creator and execute the calf-worshippers among yourselves. That is best for you in the sight of your Creator." Then He accepted your repentance. Surely He is the Accepter of Repentance, Most Merciful.) (Al-Baqarah 2:54)
حرق موسى عليه السلام العجل الصنم وقال لهم إن الله أمرهم أن يقتلوا أنفسهم، البريء يجب أن يقتل المذنب الذي عبد العجل. ففعلوا ذلك وقتل الأبرياءُ المذنبين منهم.
(وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوْمِهِ يَا قَوْمِ إِنَّكُمْ ظَلَمْتُمْ أَنفُسَكُم بِاتِّخَاذِكُمُ الْعِجْلَ فَتُوبُوا إِلَىٰ بَارِئِكُمْ فَاقْتُلُوا أَنفُسَكُمْ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ عِندَ بَارِئِكُمْ فَتَابَ عَلَيْكُمْ إِنَّهُ هُوَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ) البقرة 2: 54
1. Repentance Framed as Something Owed, Not Optional | التوبة واجبٌ لا خيار
Moses' words to his people are direct: "you have wronged yourselves," naming the sin plainly before commanding the remedy. The instruction "turn in repentance to your Creator" precedes the harsh command that follows, framing what came next as the cost of repentance itself, not a punishment detached from it.
كلام موسى لقومه مباشر: "إنكم ظلمتم أنفسكم"، يسمي الذنب صراحةً قبل أن يأمر بالعلاج. ويسبق توجيه "فتوبوا إلى بارئكم" الأمر الشديد الذي يليه، مما يؤطر ما تلاه ثمنًا للتوبة نفسها، لا عقوبةً منفصلة عنها.
2. Mercy Confirmed Immediately After | رحمةٌ مؤكدةٌ فور التنفيذ
The ayah does not leave the outcome in doubt: "Then He accepted your repentance. Surely He is the Accepter of Repentance, Most Merciful." Even after commanding one of the harshest acts of repentance recorded for any nation, the immediate follow-up is confirmed divine mercy, not lingering punishment. The fuller account of this repentance, including the number the commentators report were killed, is covered in how the Children of Israel repented from this crime.
لا تترك الآية النتيجة موضع شك: "فتاب عليكم إنه هو التواب الرحيم". فحتى بعد الأمر بأحد أقسى أعمال التوبة المسجلة لأي أمة، يأتي التأكيد الفوري برحمةٍ إلهية، لا بعقوبةٍ مستمرة.
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
What did Allah command the Children of Israel to do after the calf-worship?
To execute the guilty calf-worshippers among themselves as an act of repentance.
Did Allah accept their repentance afterward?
Yes, the ayah confirms He accepted their repentance immediately.