Another Passage Which Exposes Muhammad’s Fraud: The Samaritan Who Didn’t Exist

Do they not consider the Qur’an (with care)? Had it been from other Than God, they would surely have found therein Much discrepancy. S. 4:82 Y. Ali

Said He: “Then [know that], verily, in thy absence We have put thy people to a test, and the Samaritan (al-samiriyyu) has led them astray.”… They answered: “We did not break our promise to thee of our own free will, but [this is what happened:] we were loaded with the [sinful] burdens of the [Egyptian] people’s ornaments, and so we threw them [into the fire], and likewise did this Samaritan (al-samiriyyu) cast [his into it].”… Said [Moses]: “What, then, didst thou have in view, O Samaritan (ya samiriyyu)?” S. 20:85, 87, 95 Muhammad Asad

He said: Then, truly, We tried thy folk after thee and the Samaritan caused them to go astray… They said: We broke not what was promised to thee from what is within our power, but we were charged with a heavy load of the adornments of the folk. Surely, we hurled them because the Samaritan cast… Moses said: Then, what is thy business O Samaritan? Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar

He said: “We have tested your folk in your absence and the Samaritan has led them astray.”… They said: “We did not break your appointment of our own accord, but we had to carry loads of the people´s ornaments and toss them [into a furnace]. That is what the Samaritan suggested.”… He said: “What have you been trying to do, 0 Samaritan?” T.B.Irving

[God] said, “But We have tested your people after you [departed], and the Samaritan has led them astray.”… They said, “We did not break our promise to you deliberately, but we were weighed down with the heavy burden of the people’s jewelry so we threw them [into the fire], following what the Samaritan did.”… [Moses] said, “And what is the matter with you Samaritan?” Safi Kaskas

He said, “Truly We tried thy people in thine absence, and the Samaritan led them astray.”… They said, “We did not fail our tryst with thee of our own will, but we were laden with the burden of the people’s ornaments. So we cast them [into the pit], and thus did the Samaritan throw also.”… He said, “What was your purpose, O Samaritan?” The Study Quran

(God) said: “Then (know that) We have put your people to a test in your absence, and the Samiri (Samaritan) has led them astray.” Ali Ünal

Said He, “Yet surely We have already tempted your people even after you; (i.e., after your departure from them) and As- Samiriyy (The Samaritan) has led them into error.”… They said, “In no way did we fail your promise of our volition; but we were burdened with encumbrances of adornment of the people; so we hurled them (into the fire). So, (even) thus did As-Samiriyy (The Samaritan) also cast.” Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali

Allah said: “Well, listen! We tested your people after you and the Samiri (Samaritan) has led them astray.” Farook Malik

He (Allah) said: ‘We tempted your nation in your absence, and the Samaritan has misled them into error.’… They replied: ‘We have not failed in our promise to you through our choosing. We were laden with fardels, even the ornaments of the nation, and threw them just as the Samaritan had thrown them (into the fire),’… You, Samaritan, ‘ said he (Moses), ‘what was your business?‘ Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah

Said He, ‘We have tempted thy people since thou didst leave them. The Samaritan has misled them into error.’… ‘We have not failed in our tryst with thee,’ they said, ‘of our volition; but we were loaded with fardels, even the ornaments of the people, and we cast them, as the Samaritan also threw them, into the fire.’… Moses said, ‘And thou, Samaritan, what was thy business?’ Arthur John Arberry

as-samira the Samaritans

samiri Samaritan; (pl. -un… samara) a Samaritan (Hans-Wehr, 4th edition, p. 501)

.. (TA) the Samaritans; a people said to be] one of the tribes of the Children of Israel; (M;) or a sect, (Msb,) or people, (K,) of the Jews, differing from them (Msb, K).. Zj says, they remain to this time in Syria… (M:) most of them are in the mountain of En-Nabulus… (Lane’s Lexicon, p. 1426)

… The Samaritan, a name given to an individual who is said to have made the Golden Calf for the Children of Israel. (Penrice, Dictionary and Glossary of the Quran, p. 71)

… The Samaritans.. a sect of the Jews differing from them in some of their institutions… (M. G. Farid, Dictionary of Quran, p. 410)

… Samiriyyun… The Samaritan (87:95). (L; T; Razi; Ibn Kathir; LL) (Dictionary of the Holy Quran, p. 279)

But those he supposed to be following him had remained behind for He exalted be He said ‘Indeed We tried your people after you that is after your departure from them and the Samaritan led them astray’ so they took to worshipping the golden calf. (Tafsir al-Jalalayn https://www.altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=0&tTafsirNo=74&tSoraNo=20&tAyahNo=85&tDisplay=yes&UserProfile=0&LanguageId=2; bold emphasis mine)

They said ‘We did not break our tryst with you of our own accord read the mīm with any of the three vowellings meaning ‘by our own power’ or ‘of our own will’ but we were laden with read hamalnā ‘we carried’ or hummilnā ‘we were made to carry’ the burdens the weight of the people’s ornaments of the trinkets of Pharaoh’s folk — which the Children of Israel had borrowed from them on the pretext of using them for a wedding but which had remained with them — and we cast them we threw them into the fire at the command of the Samaritan and so just as We cast did the Samaritan cast what he had on him of their trinkets together with the dust that he took from the track left by the hoof of Gabriel’s steed as follows (Ibid. https://www.altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=0&tTafsirNo=74&tSoraNo=20&tAyahNo=87&tDisplay=yes&UserProfile=0&LanguageId=2; bold emphasis mine)

He said ‘And what have you to say what was the motive for doing what you did O Samaritan?’ (Ibid. https://www.altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=0&tTafsirNo=74&tSoraNo=20&tAyahNo=95&tDisplay=yes&UserProfile=0&LanguageId=2; bold emphasis mine)

AS-SAMIRI.… Mentioned in the Qur’an (Surah xx. 87: “As-Samiri has led them astray”) as the person who made the golden calf for the Children of Israel. In Professor Palmer’s translation, it is tendered “the Samaritan,” which is according to al-Baizawi, who says his name was Musa ibn Zafar, of the tribe of Samaritans. [MOSES.] (Thomas P, Hughes, Dictionary of Islam, p. 564 https://answeringislam.net/Books/Hughes/s.htm; underline emphasis mine)

19 That is, the Samaritan. This rendering, which is probably the true explanation of the word Samiri, involves a grievous ignorance of history on the part of Muhammad. Selden (de diis Syr. Syn. i. ch. 4) supposes that Samiri is Aaron himself, the Shomeer, or keeper of Israel during the absence of Moses. Many Arabians identify him with the Micha of Judges xvii. who is said to have assisted in making the calf (Raschi, Sanhedr. 102, 2 Hottinger Hist. Orient. p. 84). Geiger suggests that Samiri may be a corruption of Samael. See next note. But it is probable that the name and its application in the present instance, is to be traced to the old national feud between the Jews and Samaritans. See De Sacy, Chrestom. i. p. 189, who quotes Abu Rihan Muhammad as stating that the Samaritans were called Al-limsahsit, the people who say, “Touch me not” (v. 97, below), and Juynboll Chron. Sam. (Leid. 1848) p. 113. Sale also mentions a similar circumstance of a tribe of Samaritan Jews dwelling on one of the islands in the Red Sea. (John M. Rod-well, The Koran, p. 108 https://www.sacred-texts.com/isl/qr/020.htm#fn_232; bold emphasis mine)

Samiri was the name for Samaritan, and according to the Arabians the Samaritans said, “Touch us not.”⁸ With how much reason the Arabians hold this is indeed unknown, perhaps only from confusion with a sect of the Pharisees described as bad in the Talmud, where it is named “The set-apart, touch me not;”⁹ but I have only a dim recollection of the passage. In short the Samaritans were certainly known to later Arabians by this name, and Muhammad doubtless knew them by it too; and since he gave the name of Samaritan¹ to the maker of the calf, this man must have seemed to him to be the founder of the sect, and the “Touch me not” must have originated with him, which as a punishment was known to Muhammad from the similar story of the wandering Jew. Muhammad says that the calf lowed as it come forth.² With this is to be compared the Rabbinical statement: “There came forth this calf³ lowing, and the Israelites saw it. Rabbi Johuda says that Samael entered into it and lowed in order to mislead Israel.”⁴ In the Quran it is said⁵ that among the people of Moses there was a tribe which kept to the truth. This seems to refer to the tribe of Levi and especially to their behaviour about the calf, although possibly it may refer also to their belief in Moses’s mission to Pharaoh of which we have spoken before. In the biblical account a statement is made,⁶ which is explained by the Rabbis as follows:⁷ “From Exodus, xxxii. 26, it is clear that the tribe of Levi was not implicated in the matter of the golden calf.” The Arabian commentators produce the most unedifying fables about this passage. (Abraham Geiger, Judaism and Islam, pp. 132-133 https://answering-islam.org/Books/Geiger/Judaism/chap22.htm; bold emphasis mine)

This is not, however, the only wonderful story which the Qur’an relates concerning what took place during the sojourn of the Israelites in the wilderness. Not less strange is what we are told about the calf which they made to worship during Moses’ absence. In Surah XX⁵⁶, Ta Ha, we are told that when Moses returned and reproached them for this, they said, “We were made to bear loads of the ornaments of the people, and we threw them [into the fire]: and the Samaritan likewise cast in. Then he brought out unto them a calf in body, which could low.” Jalalain’s note says that the calf was made of flesh and blood, and that it had the power of lowing because life was given it through a handful of dust from the print left by the hoof of the Angel Gabriel’s steed, which “the Samaritan” had collected and put into its month, according to v. 96 of the same Surah.

This legend also comes from the Jews, as is evident from the following extract which we translate from Pirqey Rabbi Eliezer § 45, “And this calf came out lowing, and the Israelites saw it. Rabbi Yehudah says that Sammael was hidden in its interior, and was lowing in order that he might deceive Israel.” The idea that the calf was able to low must come from the supposition that, though made of gold (Exod. xxxii. 4), it was alive, since it “came out” (v. 24) of the fire. Here, again, we see that the use of a figurative expression, when taken literally, led to the growth of a myth to explain it. The Muhammadan commentator in explaining the words “a calf in body” in the Qur’an as signifying that it had “flesh and blood” has only gone a step further, and he does this to explain how it was that the animal could low. Muhammad seems to have understood most of the Jewish legend correctly, but the word Sammael puzzled him. Not understanding that this is the Jewish name of the Angel of Death, and perhaps misled as to the pronunciation, he mistook the word for the somewhat similar “Samiri,” which means “Samaritan.” Of course he made this mistake because he knew that the Jews were enemies of the Samaritans, and he fancied that they attributed the making of the calf to one of the latter. He was doubtless confirmed in this belief by some indistinct recollection of having heard that Jeroboam, king of what was afterwards called Samaria, had “made Israel to sin” by leading them to worship the calves which he made and placed in Dan and Beth-el (1 Kings xii. 28, 29). But since the city of Samaria was not built, or at least called by that name, until several hundred years after Moses’ death, the anachronism is at least amusing, and would be startling in any other book than the Qur’an, in which far more stupendous ones frequently occur.

Here, as in very many other instances, Muhammad’s ignorance of the Bible and acquaintance with Jewish legends instead is very striking. It is hardly necessary to point out that in the Bible the maker of the golden calf is Aaron, and that we read nothing of either Sammael or of the “Samaritan.” (Rev. W. St. Clair-Tisdall, The Original Sources of the Quran https://answeringislam.net/Books/Tisdall/Sources/chap3.htm; bold emphasis mine)

Here are one or two other tales of Moses in the wilderness; and first, that of the Golden Calf which came out of the fire kindled by the people at Sinai. The Koran tells us that Sameri also cast (what he had into the fire) and brought out unto them a bodily calf which lowed.(Surah 20:9) The origin of this fiction we find in a Jewish writer.2 as follows: “The calf having cried aloud, came forth, and the children of Israel saw it. Rabbi Yahuda says that Sammael from the inside of it made the cry of the calf in order to lead the Israelites astray.” No doubt the Prophet in this matter got his information from the Jews; strange that he should have been led to adopt this baseless tale. But he has used the wrong name Al Sameri. The name of the people, of course, occurs often in the Bible, and the Jews regarded the Samaritans as their enemies; but as the city of Samaria did not arise till some four hundred years after Moses, it is difficult to imagine how it came to be entered in this story.3 We also note that in this matter the Koran is in opposition to the Torah, which tells us that Aaron was the person who for fear of the Israelites around him, had the molten calf set up. Another story, given us twice in the Koran, (Surah 2:28, Surah 4:152) is that when the Israelites insisted on seeing the Lord, they were punished by death, but eventually restored to life again; and to add to the foolish tale we are told that it was the Torah which appealed for help and thus obtained their revival. (Tisdall, Sources of Islam, pp. 37-38 https://truthnet.org/islam/src-chp3.htm – see also https://answeringislam.net/Books/Tisdall/Sources0/p037-038.htm; bold emphasis mine)

Another Qur’anic story which has an undoubted Jewish origin is that found in Su’ratu Ta Ha (xx. 90) in connection with the calf which was worshipped by the Israelites during Moses’ absence on Mount Sinai. We are there told that the people brought their ornaments of gold and silver and cast them into the fire, after which in like manner Samiri also cast them in and he brought out to them a corporeal, lowing calf.” It is well known that the Taurat contains no mention of the golden calf having lowed; but Rabbinical fables are not wanting in which the story as reproduced by Muhammad is clearly traced. Thus in the Pirke Rabbi Eleazar we read, “The calf having cried aloud, came forth, and the children of Israel saw it.” Rabbi Yahuda further preserves a fable to the effect that a man named Sammael secreted himself inside the image and made a cry like a calf in order to lead the Israelites astray.¹ Such is the story which was current amongst the Jews of Arabia in the time of Muhammad. Let it be compared with the narrative of the Qur’an and the reader will easily see that Muhammad, thinking the story which he heard upon the lips of his Jewish contemporaries to be a part of the scripture record, adopted and later gave it out to the ignorant Arabs as though revealed from heaven.

Unfortunately Muhammad failed to rightly understand the allusion to the man Sammael, and, confounding his name with the name of the Samaritans, whom he probably knew to be enemies of the Jews, makes the Samaritan to have a part in the matter. Since, however, the Samaritans did not come into existence as a people until some centuries after the event recorded here, it must require a wide stretch of credulity indeed to enable one to believe that this Qur’anic tale also was handed down from heaven by the angel Gabriel. (Rev. William Goldsack, The Origins of the Quran: An Enquiry Into the Sources of Islam , pp. 17-18 https://answeringislam.net/Books/Goldsack/Sources/chap2.htm; bold emphasis mine)

70 The designation as-samiri is undoubtedly an adjectival noun denoting the person’s descent or origin. According to one of the explanations advanced by Tabari and Zamakhshari, it signifies “a man of the Jewish clan of the Samirah”, i.e., the ethnic and religious group designated in later times as the Samaritans (a small remnant of whom is still living in Nablus, in Palestine). Since that sect as such did not yet exist at the time of Moses, it is possible that – as Ibn ‘Abbas maintained (Razi) – the person in question was one of the many Egyptians who had been converted to the faith of Moses and joined the Israelites on their exodus from Egypt (cf. note 92 on 7:124): in which case the designation samiri might be connected with the ancient Egyptian shemer, “a foreigner” or “stranger”. This surmise is strengthened by his introduction of the worship of the golden calf, undoubtedly an echo of the Egyptian cult of Apis (see note 113 on 7:148). In any case, it is not impossible that the latter-day Samaritans descended – or were reputed to descend – from this personality, whether of Hebrew or of Egyptian origin; this might partly explain the persistent antagonism between them and the rest of the Israelite community. (The Message of the Qur’an, p. 658; bold emphasis mine)

2605 Who was this Samiri? If it was his personal name, it was sufficiently near the meaning of the original root-word to have the definite article attached to it: Cf. the name of the Khalifa Mu’tasim (Al-Mu’tasim). What was the root for “Samiri”? If we look to old Egyptian, we have Shemer=A stranger, foreigner (Sir E.A. Wallis Budge’s Egyptian Hieroglyphic Dictionary, 1920,p. 815 b). As the Israelites had just left Egypt, they might quite well have among them an Egyptianised Hebrew bearing that nickname. That the name Shemer was subsequently not unknown among the Hebrews is clear from the Old Testament. In I Kings, xvi. 21 we read that Omri, king of Israel, the northern portion of the divided kingdom, who reigned about 903-896 B.C., built a new city, Samaria, on a hill which he bought from Shemer, the owner of the hill, for two talents of silver. See also Renan: History of Israel, ii. 210. For a further discussion of the word, see n. 2608 below. http://www.alim.org/library/quran/surah/english/20/YAT#ayanote-2605

2608 See n. 2605 about the Samiri. If the Egyptian origin of the root is not accepted we have a Hebrew origin in “Shomer” a guard, watchman, sentinel. The Samiri may have been a watchman, in fact or by nickname. http://www.alim.org/library/quran/surah/english/20/YAT#ayanote-2608

Thus doth God MAKE CLEAR His Signs to you: In order that ye may understand. S. 2:242 Y. Ali

Alif Lam Ra. A Book whose verses ARE SET CLEAR, and then distinguished, from One All-wise, All-aware: S. 11:1 Arberry

A. L. R. These are the Ayats of Revelation, – of a Qur’an that makes things clear. S. 15:1 Y. Ali Mecca

And indeed We know that they (polytheists and pagans) say: “It is only a human being who teaches him (Muhammad).” The tongue of the man they refer to is foreign, while this (the Qur’an) is a clear Arabic tongue. S. 16:103 Hilali-Khan

We verily, have made it a Qur’an in Arabic, that you may be able to understand (its meanings and its admonitions). S. 43:3 Hilali-Khan

By the manifest Book (this Qur’an) THAT MAKES THINGS CLEAR, S. 44:2 Hilali-Khan – cf. Q. 2:187, 219, 266; 3:103, 118; 4:26, 176; 5:89; 24:18, 58-59, 61; 57:17

It is He Who has set the stars for you, so that you may guide your course with their help through the darkness of the land and the sea. We have (indeed) explained IN DETAIL Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, Revelations, etc.) for people who know. It is He Who has created you from a single person (Adam), and has given you a place of residing (on the earth or in your mother’s wombs) and a place of storage [in the earth (in your graves) or in your father’s loins]. Indeed, We have EXPLAINED IN DETAIL Our revelations (this Qur’an) for people who understand. S. 6:97-98

[Say (O Muhammad)] “Shall I seek a judge other than Allah while it is He Who has sent down unto you the Book (The Qur’an), EXPLAINED IN DETAIL.” Those unto whom We gave the Scripture [the Taurat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)] know that it is revealed from your Lord in truth. So be not you of those who doubt. S. 6:114 Hilali-Khan

Certainly, We have brought to them a Book (the Qur’an) which We have explained IN DETAIL WITH KNOWLEDGE, – a guidance and a mercy to a people who believe. S. 7:52 Hilali-Khan

Indeed in their stories, there is a lesson for men of understanding. It (the Qur’an) is not a forged statement but a confirmation of Allah’s existing Books [the Taurat (Torah), the Injeel (Gospel) and other Scriptures of Allah] and A DETAILED EXPLANATION OF EVERYTHING and a guide and a Mercy for the people who believe. S. 12:111

One day We shall raise from all Peoples a witness against them, from amongst themselves: and We shall bring thee as a witness against these (thy people): and We have sent down to thee the Book EXPLAINING ALL THINGS, a Guide, a Mercy, and Glad Tidings to Muslims. S. 16:89 Y. Ali

A Book whereof the Verses are explained IN DETAIL; A Qur’an in Arabic for people who know. S. 41:3 Hilali-Khan

Children of Israel, remember My blessing wherewith I blessed you, and fulfil My covenant and I shall fulfil your covenant; and have awe of Me. And believe in that I have sent down, confirming that WHICH IS WITH YOU, and be not the first to disbelieve in it. And sell not My signs for a little price; and fear you Me. And do not confound the truth with vanity, and do not conceal the truth wittingly. And do not confound the truth with vanity, and do not conceal the truth wittingly. And perform the prayer, and pay the alms, and bow with those that bow. Will you bid others to piety, and forget yourselves WHILE YOU RECITE THE BOOK? Do you not understand? S. 2:40-44

And they say, ‘Our hearts are uncircumcised.’ Nay, but God has cursed them for their unbelief; little will they believe. When there came to them a Book from God, confirming WHAT WAS WITH THEM — and they aforetimes prayed for victory over the unbelievers — when there came to them that they recognized, they dis