“Indeed, those who took the calf for worship will be overtaken by wrath from their Lord and humiliation in the life of this world. Thus do We recompense those who fabricate lies. (152) As for those who commit evil deeds, then repent afterwards and believe, your Lord thereafter is surely All-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (153) And when Moses’ anger subsided, he took up the Tablets; and in their inscription was guidance and mercy for those who stand in awe of their Lord. (154)”

Allah, exalted is He, says: “Indeed, those who took the calf”—that is, took it as a god—“will be overtaken by wrath from their Lord” in the Hereafter, “and humiliation in the life of this world.” Abu al-‘Aliyah said: This was the command that they kill themselves. ‘Atiyyah al-‘Awfi said: “Indeed, those who took the calf” refers to the Jews who lived in the time of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. Allah reproached them for what their forefathers had done and attributed it to them. “They will be overtaken by wrath from their Lord and humiliation in the life of this world” refers to what befell Banu Qurayzah and Banu Nadir in the form of killing and exile.

Ibn ‘Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said: It is the jizyah tax. “Thus do We recompense those who fabricate lies”—that is, the liars. Abu Qilabah said: By Allah, this is the recompense of every fabricator of lies until the Day of Resurrection: that Allah humiliates him. Sufyan ibn ‘Uyaynah said: This applies to every religious innovator until the Day of Resurrection.

His saying: “And when Moses’ anger subsided”—that is, calmed—“he took up the Tablets,” which he had cast down and six-sevenths of which had gone. “And in their inscription”: the scholars differed regarding this. It was said that it refers to the Tablets themselves, because they had been copied from the Preserved Tablet.

It was also said that when Moses cast down the Tablets, they broke, so another copy was made from them. This is what is meant by His saying: “And in their inscription.”

It was also said that it means: and in what was copied from them. ‘Ata’ said: In what remained of them. Ibn ‘Abbas and ‘Amr ibn Dinar said: When Moses cast down the Tablets and they broke, he fasted for forty days. They were then returned to him as two tablets, containing “guidance and mercy”—that is, guidance from misguidance and mercy from punishment—“for those who stand in awe of their Lord,” meaning those who fear their Lord. The preposition before “their Lord” is added for emphasis, as in His saying: “It has drawn near for you.” And he said: