THE DIVINE GIFT AND JUSTICE

This is the story of a gift by the Almighty to an obedient son and the solution of a murder mystery during the time of Prophet Musa. A young man from the Israelite was murdered and the murderer was untraceable, hence people approached the Prophet Musa for help, who with the guidance of the Almighty Allah solved the mystery. Justice was the identifying the murderer by touching one part of a special cow. Below given is the outcome of this episode:

The Israelite cow is narrated in the Glorious Qur’an in the Surah al-Baqarah Ayah 67 to 74, “And remember when Musa said to his people, “Surely, Allah commands you that you should sacrifice a cow.” They said, “Do you mock us?” He said: I take refuge with Allah from being one of the ignorant!” They said, “Ask your Lord for us to make it clear to us what she is.” Musa said, “He says: Surely She is a cow neither old nor young., but of middle age; so, do what you are commanded.” They said, “Ask your Lord for us to make it clear to us what color she should be.” Musa said, “He says she should be yellow cow, bright in color, giving delight to the beholders.” They said, “Ask your Lord for us to make it clear to us what kind of cow must it be, for surely to us the cows are all alike, and if Allah wills, we shall be surely be guided aright.” Musa said, “Verily, He says: Verily, she is a cow not yet trained to till the soil or water the fields; sound and without blemish.” They said, “Now you have brought the truth. Then they offered her in sacrifice.” “And remember when you killed a man and disputed thereon: but Allah was to bring forth what you were hiding.” “So, We said: Strike him (the corpse) with a part of it (the sacrificed cow). Thus, Allah gives life to the dead and shows you of His Signs, so that you might understand.”

The Israelite searched for the cow with those peculiar qualities, it was available only with a pious young man who sold it for a leather bag full of gold. One of the companions of Prophet Musa narrated the back-ground of the cow and said that there was a young Israelite who was very obedient and respectful to his father. One day he came to get some money from his father for a business transaction. The father was sleeping, and the keys were kept below his pillow. He did not want to disturb his father and let go the business. When the father woke up and heard the whole episode, he was very happy and sought blessings of Allah for him and gave away the cow to him.

When a part of the sacrificed cow was touched with the corpse, it revived, and it was a young man who identified his cousin as the murderer.

The Divine Gift was the water bag full of gold to the pious young man who was respectful towards his father and cared so much for his comfort. The justice was the identification of the real murderer in an abnormal manner.

These are Almighty’s mysterious ways to reward the pious!

Sources: Tafsir al-Mizan of Ayatollah Muhammad Husayn Tabatabai translated in Urdu by Ayatollah Hassan Raza              

Ghadeeri

Tafsir-e-Namoona Ayatollah Nasir Makarem Shirazi translated in Urdu by Sayyid Safdar Husayn Najafi (r.a.)