What is the meaning of the verse (And when We appointed for Moses forty nights...)?
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The questioner : He is asking about a noble verse in Surat al-Baqarah. I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Shaytan: [Al-Baqarah 2:51]?
The Shaykh : Allah the Mighty and Majestic says, drawing attention to this appointment He made with Moses (peace be upon him). Allah the Exalted had appointed for Moses thirty nights for His speech, then He completed it with ten, so the appointed time of his Lord was forty nights. Then Allah the Mighty and Majestic spoke to him and addressed him with what He willed. During his absence for this period, his people were tested by taking the calf as a god. Therefore He said:[Al-Baqarah 2:51] So they made an idol in the shape of a calf from the ornaments of the family of Pharaoh. And al-Samiri said to the Children of Israel: This is your god and the god of Moses. So he led them astray after Aaron (peace be upon him) had advised them, but they: [Taha 20:91] The story is detailed in Surat Ta-Ha.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
And [recall] when We made an appointment with Moses for forty nights
وَإِذْ وَاعَدْنَا مُوسَى أَرْبَعِينَ لَيْلَةًThe Shaykh : Allah the Mighty and Majestic says, drawing attention to this appointment He made with Moses (peace be upon him). Allah the Exalted had appointed for Moses thirty nights for His speech, then He completed it with ten, so the appointed time of his Lord was forty nights. Then Allah the Mighty and Majestic spoke to him and addressed him with what He willed. During his absence for this period, his people were tested by taking the calf as a god. Therefore He said:
And [recall] when We made an appointment with Moses for forty nights. Then you took [for worship] the calf after him, while you were wrongdoers.
وَإِذْ وَاعَدْنَا مُوسَى أَرْبَعِينَ لَيْلَةً ثُمَّ اتَّخَذْتُمُ الْعِجْلَ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ وَأَنْتُمْ ظَالِمُونَThey said, "We will never cease being devoted to the calf until Moses returns to us."
قَالُوا لَنْ نَبْرَحَ عَلَيْهِ عَاكِفِينَ حَتَّى يَرْجِعَ إِلَيْنَا مُوسَىThe questioner : May Allah bless you.