عجل
ʿIjl
Topic
The calf the Israelites worshipped while Moses was on the mountain; in the Quran it was made by al-Samiri, not by Aaron.
What it means
The Quran says that after Moses left, his people took “a calf, a body with a lowing sound”, made of their ornaments (7:148, 20:88). It names al-Samiri as the one who led them to it (20:85, 20:95–97). Aaron warned them that they were being tested and told them to follow him (20:90). Moses rebuked the people and al-Samiri, burned the calf and scattered it in the sea (20:97).
What the sources say
In the Quran it is Aaron who opposes the calf, and Moses’ anger at him (7:150) is that of a brother who feared he had not done enough. The Quran uses the story as an example of the Israelites’ readiness to fall back into idolatry, and of forgiveness after repentance (2:54).