Ali Quli Qarai, The Qur’ān with a Phrase-by-Phrase English Translation (2005)

for the present and the succeeding [generations],
and an advice to the Godwary.

67 And when Moses said to his people,
‘Indeed Allah commands you to slaughter a cow,’
they said, ‘Do you take us in derision?’
He said, ‘I seek Allah’s protection
lest I should be one of the senseless!’
68 They said, ‘Invoke your Lord for us,
that He may clarify for us what she may be.’
He said, ‘He says, She is a cow,
neither old nor young,
of a middle age.
Now do what you are commanded.’
69 They said, ‘Invoke your Lord for us,
that He may clarify for us what her colour may be.’
He said, ‘He says, She is a cow that is yellow,
of a bright hue, pleasing to the onlookers.’
70 They said, ‘Invoke your Lord for us,
that He may clarify for us what she may be.
Indeed all cows are much alike to us,
and, if Allah wishes, we will surely be guided.’
71 He said, ‘He says, She is a cow
not broken to till the earth
or to water the tillage,
sound and without blemish.’
They said, ‘Now have you come up with the truth!’
And they slaughtered it,
though they were about not to do it.
72 And when you killed a soul,