The Cow

And when Moses said to his people, 'Allah commands you to sacrifice a cow,' they responded, 'Are you mocking us?' He replied, 'I seek refuge in Allah from being among the ignorant.'

2:67And when Moses said unto his people: Lo! Allah commandeth you that ye sacrifice a cow, they said: Dost thou make game of us? He answered: Allah forbid that I should be among the foolish!

They said, 'Ask your Lord to clarify for us what kind of cow it should be.' Moses answered, 'He says it should neither be old nor young, but of middle age. So do as you are commanded.'

2:68They said: Pray for us unto thy Lord that He make clear to us what (cow) she is. (Moses) answered: Lo! He saith, Verily she is a cow neither with calf nor immature; (she is) between the two conditions; so do that which ye are commanded.

Then they asked, 'Pray to your Lord to specify its colour for us.' He replied, 'Allah says it should be a bright yellow cow, pleasing to those who see it.

2:69They said: Pray for us unto thy Lord that He make clear to us of what colour she is. (Moses) answered: Lo! He saith: Verily she is a yellow cow. Bright is her colour, gladdening beholders.

They said, 'Ask your Lord to clarify for us what kind of cow it should be, for all cows seem alike to us. If Allah wills, we will be guided.'

2:70They said: Pray for us unto thy Lord that He make clear to us what (cow) she is. Lo! cows are much alike to us; and Lo! if Allah wills, we may be led aright.

Moses replied, 'He says it should be a cow neither trained for ploughing nor watering fields, sound and free from blemish.' They said, 'Now you have brought the truth!' So they sacrificed it, though they were reluctant.

2:71(Moses) answered: Lo! He saith: Verily she is a cow unyoked; she plougheth not the soil nor watereth the tilth; whole and without mark. They said: Now thou bringest the truth. So they sacrificed her, though almost they did not.