The chronic relapse of the Children of Israel into “spiritual amnesia” is one of the most baffling psychological profiles recorded in the Qur’an. Found in Surah Al-A’raf, this account presents a pivotal scene in the tumultuous relationship between Prophet Moses (PBUH) and his people. It reveals how a history of subjugation can leave a soul vulnerable to deviation, even after witnessing absolute miracles like the parting of the sea.
Contagious Ignorance: Why the Chronic Relapse Occurred
It had not been long since the Children of Israel were subjected to the cruelest forms of oppression under the paganism of Pharaoh. Only a short while earlier, they were saved from that tyranny at the hands of their Prophet and leader, Moses, in the name of Allah—the only Lord in the universe. They had witnessed the destruction of their enemy and the literal parting of the sea. Yet, hardly had the saltwater dried on their clothes than they encountered a group of people dedicated to the worship of idols.
At that moment, instead of feeling disgust for the very system that had enslaved them, they asked Moses to replicate it. They said: “Moses, set up a god for us just as they have gods.” (Al-A’raf 7:138). This scene reveals a profound truth about human nature: diseases of the soul are contagious just like diseases of the body. However, the infection can only be passed to those whose souls are ready to receive it. The Israelites possessed a nature that was weak and lacking in resolve, constantly relapsing into deviation the moment they were asked to elevate themselves.
Moses’s Rebuke: Addressing the Roots of Spiritual Deviation
Moses (peace be upon him) had spent over twenty years in Egypt preaching the Oneness of Allah and witnessing the stubbornness of Pharaoh. To hear his own followers—the very people for whom the laws of nature were suspended—ask for an idol was a source of immense grief and anger. He replied with a stinging indictment: “You are indeed an ignorant people.”
In the original Arabic, the term for “ignorant” implies a lack of both knowledge and wisdom. Moses did not specify what they were ignorant of because he wanted the description to apply in its fullest sense. This request betrayed a total lack of logic. When science and reason look at the universe and the complementary laws that operate within it, they inevitably point to a single Creator. No one turns a blind eye to this unity except the ignorant and the stupid, regardless of how much worldly “knowledge” they claim to possess.
The Path of Imitation vs. Divine Favor
Moses continued his rebuke by explaining the inevitable end of those who worship idols. He pointed out that the methods of the pagans they wished to imitate would lead to nothing but destruction. “As for these people: their method will inevitably lead to destruction, and worthless is all that they have been doing” (Al-A’raf 7:139).
He reminded them that the entire social structure built upon paganism—the army of functionaries, the clerics, and the rulers who derive authority from chaotic and erroneous concepts—is in vain. It is a house built on sand. For the Israelites to seek to join that “worthless” way of life while they were currently basking in Divine grace was a betrayal of their own history and their future potential.
Remembering the Favor of Allah
The most powerful part of Moses’s argument was the reminder of their unique status. He asked: “Am I to seek for you a deity other than God, although He has favored you above all other people?” (Al-A’raf 7:140). Being favored meant they were chosen as the bearers of the divine message of Monotheism—the greatest honor a human can receive.
As is typical of the Qur’an, this dialogue is followed by a direct address from Allah Himself, grounding the lesson in the visceral memory of their suffering: “We have indeed saved you from Pharaoh’s people, who oppressed you cruelly: they slew your sons and spared your women. Surely that was an awesome trial from your Lord” (Al-A’raf 7:141). This direct link between Moses’s speech and Allah’s word serves as a sublime honor to the Prophets and a stern warning to those who would trade their spiritual freedom for the chains of idolatry.
By Sayyid Qutb
