It strikes me odd that this sura is entitled “The Cow,” but there is a reason for it, as we shall see. It is not just the first major sura but also the longest, so I will use two posts to go through it. I promise that in the future I will keep the posts more concise so we don’t get bogged down in details.
As with all surahs, this one begins with the statement from the opening sura: “In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy.” Then there is a monogram(?) of three letters: “A L M” (but in Arabic, of course). Some surahs begin with a series of letters like this, perhaps an identification of some sort, or to get the attention of Arabic listeners, but the real meaning is obscure. Some commentators simply say, “God knows best.”
Then the text begins:
This is the Scripture in which there is no doubt, containing guidance for those who are mindful of God, who believe in the unseen, keep up the prayer, and give out of what We have provided for them; those who believe in the revelation sent down to you [Muhammad], and in what was sent before you, those who have firm faith in the Hereafter.
Sura 2:2-4
I find this to be compatible with its related religions: commending those who are mindful of God and the spiritual side of life, who pray, who give charitably, who believe in the inspired revelation, and have faith in the afterlife. Of course, Jews might say it is the Torah that is God’s revelation, and Christians the Bible. And they all three share this weakness: just because a book claims to be a revelation from God doesn’t mean that it is, and just because one claims to be a prophet doesn’t make it so. Clearly each group takes issue with the other groups’ prophet(s) and revelations, otherwise they’d be in agreement. Can they all three be right? Probably not, given the incompatibility of some of the teachings. But they could all be wrong.
Next Muhammad goes on to say that there will be unbelievers, who will never believe, because God has sealed their hearts and ears. This is another element in common with Judaism and Christianity. This idea occurs multiple times in the Old Testament (Jewish scriptures), such as Isaiah 6:9 and 10 (is Muhammad quoting this passage, in fact?) and is also repeated by Jesus in passages like Mark 4:10-12. It’s not just that people don’t believe, but that God Himself actually prevents them from believing. Well, that doesn’t seem fair, does it? How can one repent if God is preventing him from believing?! I wonder if this is a way of simply dismissing unbelievers and their objections: You don’t have an open heart, so God is essentially going to lock you out. Now I can wash my hands of you and ignore what you say. I’m not sure how this is compatible with God being the Lord of Mercy, but believers in all three religions don’t seem to be bothered by this idea.
Muhammad then criticizes the hypocrites who will say they believe, when they really don’t. And the fate of unbelievers and hypocrites? Great and agonizing torment. Now, the Jews seemed to be iffy on the concept of an afterlife, especially eternal torment, and Jesus taught that although there would be weeping and gnashing of teeth at the Judgment, unbelievers would then be destroyed, like weeds thrown into a fire. However, by the time of Muhammad Christianity had adopted the doctrine of eternal torment of the unbelievers. Muhammad appears to agree with that concept. Personally, I find it odd how the Supreme Being has to use such threats in order to enforce obedience. He seems to have trouble convincing people without such threats. I think about Deuteronomy 28 (read it!). It starts off with 14 verses of nice things that God will do for the people if they are obedient. Then it reels off 54 (!) verses of all the terrible things God will do to the people if they do not obey. Not just things that will happen to them as a consequence, but things God will specifically make happen to them, like terrible illnesses and plagues, madness and military defeats. Talk about tough love! (I’m not sure the word “love” should be used here.) I just find it weird that people who proclaim God’s love and mercy should also describe in graphic detail what terrible torment awaits those who for whatever reason cannot come to believe the “right” things. Especially if God Himself is the one preventing people from coming to repentance, which the Torah, New Testament and Quran all claim.
To be fair, Muhammad does cite some good rewards for the believers, like gardens graced with flowing streams and fruit, and even “pure spouses.” (I guess the 72 virgins come later?) I can see why people living in an arid land would welcome the vision of flowing streams and juicy fruit.
The first Bible story that Muhammad includes is that of Adam, the first man, including Adam’s naming of all the animals. Apparently the angels object to God creating Adam, but God rebuffs them by showing them that Adam could name all the animals and they could not!
Jan Brueghel the Younger: Adam Naming the Animals
God then tells the angels to bow down before Adam, but one named Iblis refuses. Iblis is typically associated with the figure of Satan. This is not unlike the Christian tradition that Satan sinned by being arrogant and refusing to obey God. (However, advocates of this idea often refer to a passage not speaking of Satan but of the King of Babylon; see Isaiah 14.) Clearly Muhammad knew stories and traditions of the Jews and Christians, although he puts his own spin on them. He also tells of Satan causing Adam and his wife to sin and being thrown out of the garden. But the good news is that those who heed God’s guidance will be preserved, but once again, those who do not will be “inhabitants of fire.” Ouch!
Muhammad then appeals to the Jews – the “children of Israel” – to heed the teachings being given to them (i.e., the Quran). He reminds them of their deliverance from Pharaoh but how they then sinned by worshipping the Golden Calf. God provided them food and water, like when Moses struck the rock, but the people still sinned and rebelled. He seems to be urging the Jews of his day to remain faithful and not rebel as their ancestors did.
Nicolas Poussin: Adoration of the Golden Calf
Then he makes this interesting statement:
The [Muslim] believers, the Jews, the Christians, and the Sabians – all those who believe in God and the Last Day and do good– will have their rewards with their Lord. No fear for them, nor will they grieve.
Sura 2:1
The Sabians were another monotheistic religious group. And it sounds like all these monotheists who believe in the One God and in the Judgment and who do good will be rewarded in the afterlife. Really? I am not sure Muhammad is so accommodating in other parts of the Quran but we shall see.
Then we get to “the cow” part. Muhammad speaks of Moses telling the people God wanted a sacrifice of a cow. And I find this humorous: the people respond, “Are you making fun of us?” (2:67) Like they couldn’t believe Almighty God was asking for a cow. So Moses responds (essentially), “Really!” Well, what kind of cow? Not too young or too old. What color should it be? A bright yellow cow. Show us, cuz all cows look alike to us. An untrained cow, that is perfect and unblemished. Oh, now we get it! So they sacrifice a cow.
I get the impression Muhammad is trying to tell the Jews not to be stubborn like their ancestors but to listen to God’s words (now found in the Quran). But feel free to form your own opinion.
There is then a recap of some of God’s instructions, similar to what you find in the Torah and also the New Testament:
> Worship none but God.
> Be good to your parents and kinsfolk, to orphans and the poor.
> Be faithful in prayer.
> Pay the prescribed alms (charitable giving).
> Do not shed one another’s blood or drive one another from your homelands.
He then takes them to task for violating this last command.
He then returns to his theme that the problem with Jews and Christians is that they are again refusing to listen to God:
We gave Moses the Scripture and We sent messengers after him in succession. We gave Jesus, son of Mary, clear signs and strengthened him with the Holy Spirit. So how is it that, whenever a messenger brings you something you do not like, you become arrogant, calling some impostors and killing others?
Sura 2:87
So, Muhammad believes that the Jews and Christians received revelations from God, but now they are rejecting God’s new messenger, even calling him an impostor. I assume he is referring to himself. He goes on to question their hearts because they refuse to listen to him. I see this in many of his surahs, that he seems to be overly defensive. Of course he believes he is God’s messenger, receiving revelations from God, instructions for people to follow. But why should the Jews and Christians believe him? I think this is an inherent weakness in most (all?) religious teachings. Before Muhammad, when the Christians began to preach about Jesus as God’s Messiah, the Jews questioned, Why should we believe you? (e.g., see 1 Corinthians 1:22-24) And no doubt when the Jews told the pagans that they worshipped the only true god the pagans asked, Why should we believe you? A lot of people down through the ages, and even now, claim to have revelations from God. Who are you to believe? If anybody? In later surahs Muhammad does offer some reasoning to “prove” that he is a true prophet, but I will leave it to each of you to make your own evaluation of his claims.
Let’s take a break here. We are only about 1/3 of the way through this sura (the longest in the Quran). I will accelerate through the rest of the sura in the next post, and just highlight some interesting teachings therein.
(Don’t forget to leave your comments and questions below!)
Exercise:
Most people adopt the religion of their family or the surrounding culture. Some people convert to other religions for a variety of reasons (even marriage). How do you think a person should decide on which religion, if any, to follow? Is it possible you grew up in the “wrong” religion? How do you determine which religion, if any, is really telling “The Truth”?