Accompanying Ramadan 14

Moses – Mûsâ 3

The Covenant is sealed but the people of Israel rebel: the story of the Golden Calf.

Bible

The Lord makes a Covenant with his people (Ex. ch.19-31). Israel sets up a golden calf, breaking the covenant which is then renewed and the journey to the Promised Land restarted (Ex. ch.32-40), the Lord giving his guidance:

At every stage of their journey, whenever the cloud rose from the tabernacle the sons of Israel would resume their march. If the cloud did not rise they waited and would not march until it did. For the cloud of the Lord rested on the tabernacle by day, and a fire shone within the cloud by night, for all the House of Israel to see. And so it was for every stage of their journey (Ex. 40:36-38).

Qur’an

We appointed thirty nights for Moses, and then added ten more: the term set by his Lord was completed in forty nights… When Moses came for Our appointment, and his Lord spoke to him, he said, “My Lord, show Yourself to me: let me see You!” He said, “You will never see Me, but look at that mountain: if it remains standing firm, you will see Me,” and when his Lord revealed Himself to the mountain, He made it crumble: Moses fell down unconscious. When he recovered, he said, “Glory be to You! To You I turn in repentance! I am the first to believe!”  He said, “Moses, I he raised you above other people by [giving you] messages and speaking to you; e one of those who gives thanks.” We inscribed everything for him in the Tablets which taught and explained everything, saying, ‘hold on to them firmly and urge your people to hold fast to their excellent teachings.” (Q 7:142-145)

In his absence Moses’ people took to worshipping a mere shape that made sounds like a cow – a calf made from their jewellery (sic). Could they not see that it did not speak to them or guide them in any way? Yet they took it for worship: They were evildoers (Q 7:148).

When his people asked him for water, [We] inspired Moses to strike the rock with his [so that] twelve springs gushed out… We gave them the shade of cloud and sent down to them manna and quails.     

                                                                               (Q 7:160)

Moses is not only a recipient of revelation but also a leader of his people, bringing them out of the bondage to Pharaoh to a new land. In this way he is seen as a model for Muhammad who was called upon to communicate God’s word and commandments to the people of Arabia, bringing them out of polytheistic Mekka to another area, Madina, where they could form a new religious community. This is why Montgomery Watt characterized Muhammad as “Prophet and Statesman”.

In this way Muhammad differs from Jesus who never had a political role.