Surah Al-Baqarah — Verse 71

Word Meanings:

• Lā thalūl: Not subjugated or tamed for work.
• Tuthīru al-arḍ: Ploughing the earth (i.e., turning over the soil for cultivation).
• Tasqī al-ḥarth: Watering the crops/fields.
• Musallamah: Free from defects, sound and healthy.
• Lā shiyata fīhā: No mark or spot of a different colour on it.
• Jī'ta bil-ḥaqq: You have brought the truth (i.e., the precise, unambiguous description).
• Mā kādū yaf'alūn: They almost did not do it (due to reluctance and stubbornness).

Tafsir (Explanation):

Prophet Moses (peace be upon him) conveyed to his people the final specification from Allah: the cow must be one that has never been tamed or broken in for labour—it does not plough the land for farming, nor does it draw water to irrigate the fields. It is to be completely sound, free from any blemish, and with no patch or mark of another colour on its hide. At this, the Israelites finally admitted, "Now you have brought the exact truth," acknowledging that this description left no room for ambiguity or evasion. Yet even then, they slaughtered it only after great hesitation, and they nearly did not do so at all—such was their obstinacy and reluctance to obey.

This verse highlights a profound lesson: when people delay and argue with divine commands, they only make matters harder for themselves. The Israelites were given a simple command to slaughter a cow, but their excessive questioning and stubbornness led to increasingly difficult requirements. Had they obeyed promptly and sincerely, the task would have remained easy. This is a timeless reminder for believers to respond to Allah's guidance with immediate submission and trust, rather than hesitation or debate. When we embrace Allah's commands wholeheartedly, He eases our path; when we resist, we only create our own hardships. Let this story inspire you to hasten towards obedience with a pure heart, for in that lies true success and peace—both in this life and the Hereafter.