سُوْرَةُ طٰهٰ
Surah Taa-Haa (20) — Ayah 85
قَالَ فَإِنَّا قَدْ فَتَنَّا قَوْمَكَ مِنۢ بَعْدِكَ وَأَضَلَّهُمُ ٱلسَّامِرِىُّ ﴿85﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
(Allâh) said: "Verily We have tried your people in your absence, and As-Sâmirî has led them astray."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
قَالَ
qāla
He said
فَإِنَّا
fa-innā
But indeed, We
قَدْ
qad
[verily]
فَتَنَّا
fatannā
We (have) tried
قَوْمَكَ
qawmaka
your people
مِنۢ
min
after you
بَعْدِكَ
baʿdika
after you
وَأَضَلَّهُمُ
wa-aḍallahumu
and has led them astray
ٱلسَّامِرِىُّ
l-sāmiriyu
the Samiri
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
Allah said, "We have indeed tested your people after you, and the Samiri [59] has led them astray."
[59]
The Calf-Worship of Bani Israel and the Investigation of the Word Samiri:
When he was engaged in worship on Mount Tur and was waiting for the completion of forty days so that Allah the Exalted would grant the Book of Guidance, during that time his people, after him, again began to worship the calf. Samiri prepared a calf for them and these people became engaged in its worship. Allah the Exalted informed Musa ؑ of this incident right there on Mount Tur. He became very angry with his people upon receiving this news, but staying there was also extremely necessary. Therefore, he restrained himself and remained there for the appointed period. From the word "as-Samiri" two things are understood. First, that this was not the real name of the person, but rather he was a particular Samiri individual, as indicated by the definite article "al" at the beginning. Second, at the end is the nisbah ya, which means that Samir was either the name of his homeland or Samir or Samar was the name of one of his ancestors, as is the common custom among the Arabs.
[59]
The Calf-Worship of Bani Israel and the Investigation of the Word Samiri:
When he was engaged in worship on Mount Tur and was waiting for the completion of forty days so that Allah the Exalted would grant the Book of Guidance, during that time his people, after him, again began to worship the calf. Samiri prepared a calf for them and these people became engaged in its worship. Allah the Exalted informed Musa ؑ of this incident right there on Mount Tur. He became very angry with his people upon receiving this news, but staying there was also extremely necessary. Therefore, he restrained himself and remained there for the appointed period. From the word "as-Samiri" two things are understood. First, that this was not the real name of the person, but rather he was a particular Samiri individual, as indicated by the definite article "al" at the beginning. Second, at the end is the nisbah ya, which means that Samir was either the name of his homeland or Samir or Samar was the name of one of his ancestors, as is the common custom among the Arabs.
