Tafsir Ibn Abbas: Al-Baqara, Ayah 70

Al-Baqara · Ayah 70 · View Ayah
قَالُوا۟ ٱدْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُبَيِّن لَّنَا مَا هِىَ إِنَّ ٱلْبَقَرَ تَشَٰبَهَ عَلَيْنَا وَإِنَّآ إِن شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَمُهْتَدُونَ
They said, "Call upon your Lord to make clear to us what it is. Indeed, [all] cows look alike to us. And indeed we, if Allah wills, will be guided."

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Ibn Abbas Commentary

(They said: pray for us unto your Lord that He make clear to us what (cow) she is) whether she ploughs the soil or not. (Lo! Cows are much alike to us) we cannot distinguish much between cows; (and lo! If Allah wills, we may be led rightfully) to its fitting description; as it is said that this means: we may be led to the murder of 'Amil.

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They said ‘Pray to your Lord for us that He make clear to us what she may be does it graze freely or is it used in labour?; the cows that is the species described in the way mentioned are all alike to us because there are many of them and we have not been able to find the one sought after; and if God wills we shall then be guided’ to it. In one hadīth it is reported ‘Had they not uttered the proviso inshā’a Llāh it would never have been made clear to them’.

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