Allah also made this punishment “an example to present generations”—that is, the nations that witnessed it and those living at that time whom news of it reached—and “future generations,” meaning those who came after them. Thus Allah’s proof would be established against His servants and they would be deterred from disobeying Him. Yet it serves as a beneficial admonition only to the God-fearing; all others derive no benefit from the signs.

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(67–74) “And when Moses said to his people, ‘Allah commands you to sacrifice a cow,’ they said, ‘Are you making a mockery of us?’ He said, ‘I seek refuge in Allah from being one of the ignorant.’ They said, ‘Call upon your Lord for us, that He may make clear to us what kind it should be.’ He said, ‘He says that it should be a cow neither old nor young, but of middle age. So do as you are commanded.’ They said, ‘Call upon your Lord for us, that He may make clear to us what color it should be.’ He said, ‘He says that it should be a bright yellow cow, pleasing to those who behold it.’”

That is, remember what transpired between you and Moses when you killed someone and disputed over him, each shifting the blame and differing as to who had killed him. The matter grew increasingly grave between you, and—had Allah not clarified it for you—great evil would almost have erupted among you. To identify the killer, Moses told you, “Sacrifice a cow.” You were duty-bound to hasten to obey his command without objecting, but they would do nothing but object. They said, “Are you making a mockery of us?” The Prophet of Allah replied, “I seek refuge in Allah from being one of the ignorant.” An ignorant person speaks words that serve no purpose and mocks people. A rational person, however, recognizes that one of the gravest faults—one that demeans both religion and reason—is to ridicule another human being like himself. Even if he has been favored above that person, such favor requires him to thank his Lord and show mercy to His servants. When Moses said this, they realized that he was speaking in earnest, so they said, “Call upon your Lord for us, that He may make clear to us what kind it should be.”

That is, how old should it be? “He said, ‘He says that it should be a cow neither old’”—that is, advanced in age—“nor young,” meaning a young cow, “but of middle age. So do as you are commanded,” and stop being unduly exacting and obstinate.

“They said, ‘Call upon your Lord for us, that He may make clear to us what color it should be.’ He said, ‘He says that it should be a bright yellow cow,’” meaning intensely yellow, “‘pleasing to those who behold it’” because of its beauty.