Message #22196

[Ruhi_Rose]

These people were the Israelites (the Jews) soon after the Exodus when they left Egypt and were close to the land of Palestine. 

Yes, apparently Prophet Moses (pbuh) was in communication with Allah Almighty to help him (Prophet Moses) answer the questions put by the people.  But we cannot confirm the precise method of this communication, whether it was direct or through angel Jibrael or through sequential dreams.  Only Allah Almighty knows that best.

The purpose was to test the Israelites who had temporarily gone back to their pagan practice of worshiping the golden calf when Prophet Moses (pbuh) had gone to get the Torah (10 Commandments) from The Almighty. 

The Israelites were commanded to sacrifice a cow to abandon the old practice of worship of the cow which they acquired from the pagan nations of old and their customs.  It was a test of their faith.  If they were true Monotheists and sincerely believed in Allah as their only Deity, then they would readily sacrifice the cow.  But obviously their Faith was not yet strong enough so they tried to evade the sacrifice asking unnecessary questions.  It is opined that the  specific cow they were commanded to sacrifice was the one they had chosen for worship.  That is the reason they tried to delay the sacrifice with needless questions.  But finally they agreed to sacrifice it.