Surah Al-Baqarah 2:70
سُورَةُ البَقَرَةِ · Medinan · Verse 70 of 286
قَالُوا۟ ٱدْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُبَيِّن لَّنَا مَا هِىَ إِنَّ ٱلْبَقَرَ تَشَـٰبَهَ عَلَيْنَا وَإِنَّآ إِن شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَمُهْتَدُونَ
Translation
They said, ‘Call on your Lord for us, to show us [exactly] what it is: all cows are more or less alike to us. With God’s will, we shall be guided.’
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
In Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 70, we find the Children of Israel, through their prophet Musa (peace be upon him), making a third request to Allah for more details about the cow they were commanded to sacrifice. This ayah captures their words: "They said, 'Call upon your Lord for us to make clear to us what it is. Indeed, the cattle have become ambiguous to us, and indeed, if Allah wills, we are surely guided.'"
The Nuance of Their Questioning
The phrase مَا هِيَ (ma hiya), meaning "what is it?", appears again here. While grammatically it asks for the very essence or definition of the cow, the context suggests the Children of Israel were seeking more specific, distinguishing characteristics. As Imam al-Razi notes, their true intent was to define its attributes to differentiate it from others, rather than its philosophical nature. This points to their persistent need for explicit clarity in divine commands.
Their explanation for this continued questioning comes with the statement إِنَّ الْبَقَرَ تَشَابَهَ عَلَيْنَا (inna al-baqara tashabaha 'alayna), which translates to "Indeed, the cattle have become ambiguous to us." The word تَشَابَهَ (tashabaha) vividly portrays their predicament: the cows, despite the previous descriptions, were still so numerous and similar in their eyes that they couldn't distinguish the specific one required. The particle إنَّ (inna - indeed) emphasizes their feeling of confusion, serving almost as an apology to Musa for their repeated inquiries, seeking to explain that their persistence wasn't out of defiance but genuine difficulty, as highlighted by Ibn Ashur.
A Pledge of Guidance
The verse concludes with their promise: وَإِنَّا إِن شَاءَ اللَّهُ لَمُهْتَدُونَ (wa inna in shaa Allahu lamuhtadoon), meaning "And indeed, if Allah wills, we are surely guided." Here, the use of إنَّا (inna - indeed we) again, combined with the emphatic particle لام (lam) in لمُهْتَدُونَ (lamuhtadoon - surely guided), reinforces their commitment. Ibn Ashur explains this as an effort to reassure Musa (peace be upon him) that they intend to comply, hoping to alleviate his exasperation at their persistent questions.
Crucially, they add إن شَاءَ اللَّهُ (in shaa Allah - if Allah wills). This phrase is a profound expression of humility and etiquette (ta'addub) with Allah, acknowledging that all guidance and success depend solely on His will. As scholars like al-Jalalayn and al-Razi mention, a narration indicates that had they not included this phrase, the cow's description might never have been fully clarified for them. It teaches us the importance of entrusting our intentions and efforts to the divine will, recognizing that ultimate guidance comes from Allah alone. This particular wording reveals a moment where, despite their previous arduous questioning, they turned to Allah's will for success in their task.
Sources: Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi), al-Jalalayn, al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb)
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Al-Baqarah 2:70 is discussed in 6 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
Open Surah Al-Baqarah 2:70 in Maani to reflect on it through the Five Lenses: its wording, its context, what it means for you, its connections across the Quran and its lessons, grounded in classical tafsir.