And [recall] when Musa said to his people, “Indeed, Allah commands you to slaughter a cow.” They said, “Do you take us in ridicule?” He said, “I seek refuge in Allah from being among the ignorant.”
They said, “Call upon your Lord to make clear to us what it is.” [Musa] said, “[Allah] says, ‘It is a cow which is neither old nor young, but median between that,’ so do what you are commanded.” They said, “Call upon your Lord to show us what is her color.” He said, “He says, ‘It is a yellow cow, bright in color – pleasing to those who see it.'” 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 among those who are guided.” He said, “He says, ‘It is a cow neither trained to plow the earth nor to irrigate the field, sound and without blemish.'” They said, “Now you have come with the truth.” So they slaughtered her, but they could hardly [hesitant to] do it. And [recall] when you slew a man and disputed over it, but Allah is the One who brought forth that which you were concealing. So We said, “Strike him [the slain man] with part of it [the cow].” Thus does Allah bring the dead to life, and He shows you His signs that you might reason. Then your hearts became hardened after that, being like stones or even harder. And indeed, there are stones from which rivers gush forth, and there are some of them that split open and water comes out of them, and indeed there are some of them that fall down for fear of Allah. And Allah is not unaware of what you do.