Surah Al-Baqarah (2:67)

وَاِذۡ قَالَ مُوۡسٰى لِقَوۡمِهٖۤ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ يَاۡمُرُكُمۡ اَنۡ تَذۡبَحُوۡا بَقَرَةً ؕ قَالُوۡآ اَتَتَّخِذُنَا هُزُوًۡا ؕ قَالَ اَعُوۡذُ بِاللّٰهِ اَنۡ اَكُوۡنَ مِنَ الۡجٰـهِلِيۡنَ‏ ۝

Wa-ith qala moosaliqawmihi inna Allaha ya/murukum an tathbahoobaqaratan qaloo atattakhithuna huzuwan qalaaAAoothu biAllahi an akoona mina aljahileen

And recall when Moses said to his people, "Indeed, Allāh commands you to slaughter a cow." They said, "Do you take us in ridicule?" He said, "I seek refuge in Allāh from being among the ignorant."

Tadabbur (Reflection)

Theme of the Ayat

The Test of Obedience: The command to slaughter the Cow and their argumentative nature.

The Insight

Musa commanded his people to sacrifice a cow, but instead of immediate obedience, they began to question and argue about the details. Avoid unnecessary complication. When faced with a clear directive from God or His messenger, focus on immediate compliance. Excessive questioning and argument (casuistry) often reveal a resistance to genuine submission.