Muhammad Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali, Muhammad Muhsin Khan — 318

20:88 88. Then he took out (of the fire) for them (a statue of) a calf which seemed to low. They said: "This is your ilâh (god), and the ilâh (god) of Mûsâ (Moses), but he [Mûsâ (Moses)] has forgotten (his god).’"

20:89 89. Did they not see that it could not return them a word (for answer), and that it had no power either to harm them or to do them good?

20:90 90. And Hârûn (Aaron) indeed had said to them beforehand: "O my people! You are being tried in this, and verily, your Lord is (Allâh) the Most Gracious, so follow me and obey my order."

20:91 91. They said: "We will not stop worshipping it (i.e. the calf), until Mûsâ (Moses) returns to us."

20:92 92. [Mûsâ (Moses)] said: "O Hârûn (Aaron)! What prevented you when you saw them going astray;

20:93 93. "That you followed me not (according to my advice to you)? Have you then disobeyed my order?"

20:94 94. He [Hârûn (Aaron)] said: "O son of my mother! Seize (me) not by my beard, nor by my head! Verily, I feared lest you should say: ‘You have caused a division among the Children of Israel, and you have not respected my word!’ "

20:95 95. [Mûsâ (Moses)] said: "And what is the matter with you. O Sâmirî? (i.e. why did you do so?)"

20:96 96. (Sâmirî) said: "I saw what they saw not, so I took a handful (of dust) from the (hoof) print of the messenger [Jibrîl’s (Gabriel) horse] and threw it [into the fire in which were put the ornaments of Fir‘aun’s (Pharaoh) people, or into the calf]. Thus my inner-self suggested to me."

20:97 97. Mûsâ (Moses) said: "Then go away! And verily, your (punishment) in this life will be that you will say: "Touch me not (i.e. you will live alone exiled away from mankind); and verily (for a future torment), you have a promise that will not fail. And look at your ilâh (god) to which you have been devoted. We will certainly burn it, and scatter its particles in the sea."

20:98 98. Your Ilâh (God) is only Allâh, (the One) Lâ ilâha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He). He has full knowledge of all things.