Overall meaning : Allah Exalted be He, states that after Moses, peace be upon him, listened to what his brother Aaron had said, he turned to As-Samiree, who was to blame for that had happened, and rebukingly asked him, ‘What do you have to say for yourself, As-Samiree? What made you do what you did?’ As-Samiree replied, ‘I saw what the Israelites did not see. I saw Gabriel riding a horse, so I took a handful of dust from the hoofprints of his horse then cast it on the molten ornaments out of which I moulded a calf—a lifeless body which made a lowing sound. Thus did my soul tempt me to do.’
‘Go away then!’ Moses said to him. ‘As punishment for leading the Israelites astray, you will live as an outcast for the rest of your life, saying to everyone you meet, “I am not to touch anyone, nor to be touched by anyone.” Then there is a promise of punishment for you in the life to come which Allah will not fail to fulfil. Now look at your god to whose worship you have been so devoted: we will surely burn it and then scatter its particles far and wide over the sea, so that nothing of it remains.’ Then, turning to his people, he declared the basic principle of true faith, saying, ‘Your true god who alone is deserving of worship is Allah. His knowledge encompasses all things.’