Surah Taa-Haa (20) — Ayah 87

(Ayah 87) ➊ { قَالُوْا مَاۤ اَخْلَفْنَا مَوْعِدَكَ بِمَلْكِنَا :} They presented a very flimsy excuse for breaking the promise, saying that they had no control in this matter. Samiri misled them in such a way that they lost the ability to distinguish between good and bad. One may ask: Did Samiri launch a military attack on you or threaten you with a sword that your control was lost? On the Day of Resurrection, every criminal will declare himself innocent and powerless, and will hold Satan responsible for all his crimes, but he will clearly say that he did not launch any military attack on them, he only invited them, and if they had not accepted, what harm could he have done to them? See Surah Ibrahim (22).

➋ { وَ لٰكِنَّا حُمِّلْنَاۤ اَوْزَارًا …:} Most commentators have interpreted this verse to mean that before leaving Egypt, the Israelites borrowed jewelry from the people of Pharaoh’s nation; some have even written that they did this at the instruction of Musa (peace be upon him). Now these had become a burden for them, because they were considered spoils of war, and spoils were not lawful for previous nations. Thus, at the suggestion of Harun (peace be upon him) or Samiri, that keeping these ornaments was sinful, all the jewelry was thrown into a pit and set on fire, and Samiri took advantage of this to make a calf out of the gold or silver. Some have written that when Pharaoh’s people drowned and their bodies washed ashore, the Israelites took their jewelry; at that time, men also wore gold and silver bangles and ornaments like women. By {’’ زِيْنَةِ الْقَوْمِ ‘‘}, the ornaments of Pharaoh’s people are meant. Many people insist that this is the interpretation of the Salaf, and to deviate from it is to deviate from the Salaf. But neither the Qur’an and Hadith nor any companion with an authentic chain even remotely indicate that at the time of migration, the entire nation, including Musa (peace be upon him), was concerned with acquiring the jewelry of Pharaoh’s people through deception, nor do the verses indicate that in {’’ زِيْنَةِ الْقَوْمِ ‘‘} the meaning of {’’ الْقَوْمِ ‘‘} is Pharaoh’s people. In fact, this idea is taken from the Torah and earlier scriptures, in which the Jews have made so many alterations that they have not hesitated to slander the Prophets. Their slanders against Dawud and Lut (peace be upon them) are well known. In this incident too, they have slandered Harun (peace be upon him), claiming that he was the one who made the calf and led the people to worship it. [ نَعُوْذُ بِاللّٰہِ مِنْ ھَفَوَاتِھِمْ ] In contrast, the Qur’an clearly states elsewhere that all the ornaments belonged to the Israelites themselves, as Allah says: «{ وَ اتَّخَذَ قَوْمُ مُوْسٰى مِنْۢ بَعْدِهٖ مِنْ حُلِيِّهِمْ عِجْلًا جَسَدًا لَّهٗ خُوَارٌ }» [الأعراف : ۱۴۸ ] “And the people of Musa, after him, made a calf from their ornaments, a body that had a lowing sound.” Despite the explicit mention of {’’ مِنْ حُلِيِّهِمْ ‘‘ } (from their ornaments), it is strange to call them the ornaments of Pharaoh’s people.

The real truth seems to be that at that time there were no banknotes, etc.; cash existed only in the form of gold or silver, which people wore as ornaments or kept safe at home, and it became quite a burden, especially when mixed with copper, etc., and with leather, thread, or iron chains for wearing. Therefore, during this journey, when responsibilities were divided, instead of each person carrying their own burden, some people were assigned the responsibility of carrying it. Obviously, such an important responsibility could only be given to the prominent people of the nation. Musa (peace be upon him) was also addressing these people, because he could not speak to thousands, or according to some, millions of people at once. They gave the reason that they were burdened with the people’s ornaments, so to lighten the load as much as possible, they threw them into the fire so that the excess materials would burn away and pure gold and silver ingots would be made, and upon reaching their destination, each person would be given his share of pure gold or silver according to the name written on it. Samiri took advantage of this opportunity and made the calf’s statue from it.

➌ Allah Almighty has placed this quality in gold and silver that they have always been used as a standard of value. Dinars and dirhams were also made from them, and this was the natural way by which everyone’s wealth remained with themselves. Clever Jews established banks and collected people’s gold and silver, issuing them receipts that they could show to claim their gold and silver whenever they wished. For the mere convenience of not having to carry the burden, people started trading with these receipts, which later took the form of banknotes. Now, just to avoid carrying a burden, all business is conducted either with notes or bank checks. People have nothing but a piece of paper in their hands, and the value of this paper is such that whenever governments wish, they can halve its value, or reduce it to a quarter. A person who owned gold worth ten million rupees, after just one announcement, is left with nothing but paper promising five million, and if new notes are issued and he cannot exchange them in time, he is left empty-handed. If the bank goes bankrupt, his check is worthless and the entire amount is lost. This is the result of trying to avoid a necessary burden. If Allah wills, His sincere servants will break the grip of the Jews, abolish interest and banks, and issue gold or silver coins, so that no one can usurp another’s right. The only purpose here is to show how much loss the Israelites suffered by trying to avoid the burden, and now Muslims and non-Muslims, just to avoid carrying a burden, are suffering even greater losses, for in reality they have nothing in their hands; everything is with the Jewish usurers or their agents. Every Muslim should try to keep his wealth in the form of gold and silver, and sell only as much as is needed for use. The value of gold has always remained the same and will remain so. See the authentic hadith in which it is narrated from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) that he bought a goat for one dinar; even after fourteen hundred and thirty years since the Hijrah, the price of a goat is still the same today.