There was a wealthy man among the Bani Israel who had substantial wealth. He didn’t have anyone to inherit his wealth, except one nephew. Therefore, his nephew killed him out of greed and selfishness so that he could immediately inherit the wealth.
The other members of Bani Israel then found out they decided to go to Moses (PBUH) and ask him. He asked Allah what the people should do. Allah then instructed Moses to tell them to slaughter a cow.
They did not believe him, so He told them that he only conveys what Allah tells him. Allah said: (And ˹remember˺ when Moses said to his people, “Allah commands you to sacrifice a cow.”1 They replied, “Are you mocking us?” Moses responded, “I seek refuge in Allah from acting foolishly!”) So they decided to mock Allah and asked Moses, what kind of cow it should be? He was so disappointed in his people and said it can be any kind of cow. Bani Israel were rebellious and arrogant and Allah made it harder on them.
He said: (They said, “Call upon your Lord to clarify for us what type ˹of cow˺ it should be!” He replied, “Allah says, ‘The cow should neither be old nor young but in between. So do as you are commanded!’”) (Again they said, “Call upon your Lord so that He may make clear to us which cow, for all cows look the same to us. Then, Allah willing, we will be guided ˹to the right one˺.”) Allah made it even harder for them. (He replied, “Allah says, ‘It should have been used neither to till the soil nor water the fields; wholesome and without blemish.’”) The only cow that matched those requirements was owned by a man who refused to sell it at first, and then they offered him 10 times its weight in gold. (They said, “Now you have come with the truth.” Yet they still slaughtered it hesitantly!). Allah ordered them to put some of the cow's flesh on the dead body. When they did, the dead man at once arose and revealed his nephew as the murderer and then died once again. (So We instructed, “Strike the dead body with a piece of the cow.” This is how ˹easily˺ Allah brings the dead to life, showing you His signs so that you may understand.)
