Surah Taha — Verse 95

Word Meanings:

• Khatbuka (خَطْبُكَ): Your matter, affair, or situation — specifically, what serious matter or purpose drove you to do what you did.
• As-Samiri (السَّامِرِيُّ): The title of a man from the Children of Israel who had led them astray by crafting the golden calf. The name refers to his origin or his role, and it is used here as a direct address.

Tafsir (Explanation):

After Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) returned from the Mount of Tur and found his people worshipping the golden calf, he confronted his brother Harun, and then he turned to the one who had orchestrated this great misguidance — the Samiri. Musa addressed him directly with a stern and probing question: "What is your matter, O Samiri?" — meaning, what was your purpose, your intention, and what drove you to commit such a grave act? What made you dare to mislead an entire nation away from the worship of the Most Merciful, and to craft a calf that they took as a god besides Allah?

This question was not merely informational; it was a rebuke and an interrogation. Musa was demanding an account from the Samiri, exposing his deed before the people, and setting the stage for the consequences that would follow. The question carries a tone of shock and disapproval — how could anyone, after witnessing the clear signs of Allah, turn to such blatant idolatry? It also serves as a lesson to all who hear it: every person will be asked about their deeds, and no one can escape accountability for the harm they cause to others' faith.

A Da'wah Reflection:

This verse teaches us a profound lesson about responsibility and the weight of influence. The Samiri did not merely sin himself — he caused others to sin, and his question from Musa reminds us that those who lead others astray bear a double burden. As believers, we must be vigilant about whom we follow and what we promote, for our words and actions can either guide people toward Allah or pull them away from His path. Let this be a call to every Muslim: guard your heart, purify your intentions, and never let your desires — like the Samiri's — become a means of misguiding others. And if you ever find yourself in error, hasten to repent, for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful, and He accepts the repentance of those who turn back to Him sincerely.