Now, Saamiri began to say to Bani Israel: ‘This calf is your god, so worship it!’ (Tafseer Siraat-ul-Jinan, Part 9, Surah Al-A’raf, under the verse 148, V 3, p. 435, summarised)

‘اَسْتَغْفِرُاللّٰھ۔۔۔۔۔اَسْتَغْفِرُاللّٰھ’ Whilst on Mount Sinai, Sayyiduna Musa عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام received news of Saamiri’s mischief. In a state of anger, Sayyiduna Musa عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام returned and asked Saamiri:

قَالَ فَمَا خَطْبُكَ یٰسَامِرِیُّ(۹۵)

Said Moosa, 'And what is your position, O Saamiri?'

[Kanz-ul-Iman (translation of Quran)] (Part 16, Surah Taha, verse 95)

Meaning, ‘O Saamri! Why did you do this? What is the reason for this?’ (Tafseer Siraat-ul-Jinan, Part 16, Surah Taha, under the verse 95, V 6, p. 235) to which Saamri replied:

بَصُرْتُ بِمَا لَمْ یَبْصُرُوْا بِهٖ فَقَبَضْتُ قَبْضَةً مِّنْ اَثَرِ الرَّسُوْلِ فَنَبَذْتُهَا

'I saw what the people did not see. I took a handful of sand from the footprint (of the horse of Jibra'eel), then placed it (into the mouth of the calf),

[Kanz-ul-Iman (translation of Quran)] (Part 16, Surah Taha, verse 96)

Which means, ‘O Musa عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام! I have seen that which Bani Israel did not. Meaning, I saw Jibreel عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام and recognized it was him. He was riding upon a horse, and I proceeded to pick up a fistful of sand from the hoof-prints that his horse left in the earth. After this, I put it into the mouth of the calf, and it sprung to life due to this and began to speak.’ (Tafseer Siraat-ul-Jinan, Part 16, Surah Taha, under the verse 95, V 6, p. 235)

Did you see, O devotees of the Prophet! In the Holy Quran, the earth that came into contact with the hooves of the horse of Sayyiduna Jibreel عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام is described as ‘اَثَر’. Sayyiduna Jibreel عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام is beloved to Allah Almighty, and is undoubtedly, blessed, but let us