Who Was the Samiri?

The Samiri was a man from the Children of Israel who is mentioned in the Holy Qur’an in Surah Taha. He became known because of a great trial he caused during the absence of Prophet Moses (peace be upon him) from his people.

The Samiri took advantage of Moses’ departure to meet his Lord at Mount Sinai and created a golden calf, then called upon the Children of Israel to worship it. This was one of the greatest trials they faced after their deliverance from Pharaoh.

Moses’ Departure to Meet His Lord

After Allah blessed the Children of Israel by saving them from Pharaoh’s ظلم, Allah chose His Prophet Moses (peace be upon him) to speak with Him and commanded him to go to Mount Sinai.

Allah Almighty said:

﴿And We appointed for Moses thirty nights and completed them with ten more; so the appointed time of his Lord was completed as forty nights.﴾

Before leaving, Moses (peace be upon him) appointed his brother Aaron (peace be upon him) as his successor over his people and instructed him to promote righteousness and not follow the way of the corrupters.

However, Moses’ absence became prolonged for the Children of Israel, and the Samiri used this opportunity to spread discord among them.

How Did the Samiri Make the Golden Calf?

Collecting the Jewelry of the Children of Israel

The Children of Israel had gold jewelry that they had taken with them when they left Egypt. The Samiri collected this jewelry, melted it, and made from it a statue in the shape of a calf.

The calf was made of gold, but it was only a lifeless body with no soul.

The Trace of Gabriel’s Horse

The Qur’an mentions that the Samiri said to Moses (peace be upon him) after his return:

﴿He said: “I saw what they did not see, so I took a handful from the trace of the Messenger and threw it in, and thus my soul tempted me.”﴾

This means that he saw something others did not see, took a handful from the trace of the Messenger, and cast it into the calf.

Scholars have differed regarding the meaning of “the trace of the Messenger.” Some said it referred to the trace of Gabriel’s horse, while others held different interpretations, and Allah knows the reality of the matter.

How Did the Samiri Mislead the Children of Israel?

After making the calf, the Samiri convinced his people that it was their god and said:

﴿This is your god and the god of Moses, but he forgot.﴾

Some of the Children of Israel were deceived by what they saw, especially when the calf produced a sound resembling the mooing of cattle, so they worshipped it instead of Allah.

The موقف of Prophet Aaron (Peace Be Upon Him)

Prophet Aaron (peace be upon him) did not remain silent in the face of this trial. He tried to prevent his people from worshipping the calf and called them back to worship Allah alone.

Allah Almighty said:

﴿And Aaron had already said to them before: “O my people, you are only being tested by it, and indeed your Lord is the Most Merciful, so follow me and obey my command.”﴾

However, many of them refused to respond and insisted on worshipping the calf.

The Return of Moses and His Confrontation with the Samiri

When Moses (peace be upon him) returned to his people and saw what had happened, he became deeply angry and saddened because he found that the Children of Israel had abandoned the worship of Allah and fallen into associating partners with Him.

Moses (peace be upon him) initially questioned his brother Aaron, thinking that he had not prevented the trial. It then became clear that Aaron had tried to correct the situation but feared that forcing the matter could cause division among the Children of Israel.

After that, Moses turned to the Samiri and asked him about the reason behind his actions.

The Samiri replied:

﴿I saw what they did not see, so I took a handful from the trace of the Messenger and threw it in, and thus my soul tempted me.﴾

The Punishment of the Samiri and the End of the Golden Calf

The Punishment of the Samiri

Moses (peace be upon him) punished the Samiri by ordering him to be isolated and separated from people. He said to him:

﴿So go away, for indeed your punishment in this life is to say: “Do not touch me.”﴾

This meant that his life would be based on avoiding people and not mixing with them.

Allah also promised him punishment in the Hereafter because of the misguidance and trial he caused.

Destroying the Golden Calf

Moses (peace be upon him) ordered the removal of the calf created by the Samiri so that no trace of it would remain among the people.

Allah Almighty said:

﴿We will certainly burn it, then we will scatter its remains into the sea completely.﴾

The calf became a lesson for the Children of Israel and a reminder of the danger of following falsehood and being deceived by appearances.

Lessons from the Story of the Samiri

The Danger of Trials and Temptations

The story of the Samiri shows that a person may fall into temptation when they move away from knowledge and certainty, and that following appearances without reflection can lead to misguidance.

The Importance of Holding Firm to Monotheism

The story emphasizes that worship belongs only to Allah alone, and that all prophets called people to the oneness of Allah and rejection of associating partners with Him.

Being Cautious of Those Who Mislead Others

The story of the Samiri demonstrates how one person can influence a large group when taking advantage of people’s ignorance and weaknesses.

Who is the Samiri in the Qur’an?
The Samiri was a man from the Children of Israel mentioned in Surah Taha who caused the trial of calf worship during the absence of Moses (peace be upon him).

Why did the Samiri make the calf?
The Samiri made the calf to mislead the Children of Israel and turn them away from worshipping Allah alone.

What did the Children of Israel do after the calf was made?
Some of them worshipped the calf despite Prophet Aaron’s warnings.

How did Moses punish the Samiri?
Moses ordered that he be isolated and removed from society, and Allah promised him punishment in the Hereafter.

Where is the story of the Samiri mentioned?
The story of the Samiri is mentioned in Surah Taha in the Holy Qur’an.