Page 170 - The Test of the Seventy Men

In this lesson of Surah Al-A’raf, verses 156-158, Shaykh Dr. Aḥsan Ḥanīf recounts the story where Prophet Musa عَلَیهِ‌السَّلام  selected seventy men from the Children of Israel to seek Allah's forgiveness for their people’s sin of worshipping the golden calf. However, they made a bold request that displeased Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ, resulting in their deaths from a violent earthquake. Prophet Musa عَلَیهِ‌السَّلام , concerned for his people, prayed for forgiveness and mercy, asking why they were punished for their ancestors’ mistakes. Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ responded, explaining that His mercy encompasses all things and is given to those who are pious, give Zakah, and believe in His signs. These verses also mention the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, whose coming was foretold in earlier scriptures, and emphasise his role in guiding people to worship Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ alone.