Tablets of Moses (a): Difference between revisions

'''Tablets of Moses (a)''' or '''Alwāḥ Mūsā''' (Arabic: {{ia|ألواح موسی}}) are two tablets sent down to the prophet [[Moses (a)]] on which the [[Ten Commandments]] were inscribed. Upon witnessing the [[Israelites]] worshiping a calf, Moses (a) was infuriated and threw the tablets on the ground. According to Islamic sources, the broken pieces of tablets survived among the Israelites and were kept in the [[Ark of the Covenant]]. However, according to the [[Torah]], Moses (a) went to [[Mount Sinai]] again, where another set of Tablets were sent down to him.

Although the [[Qur'an]] is not explicit on the tablets being sent down in the "tryst" (miqat)<ref>The concept of "tryst" -"miqat" in Arabic"- is taken from the [[Qur'an7]]:142.</ref>, it does say that when Moses (a) returned from the "miqat" and witnessed people worshiping a calf, he (a) threw down the tablets<ref>Qur'an7:150: When Moses returned to his people, angry and indignant, he said, ‘Evil has been your conduct in my absence! Would you hasten on the edict of your Lord?’ He threw down the tablets.</ref>, and when he (a) calmed down, he (a) picked up the broken pieces of the tablets again<ref>Qur'an7:154: When Moses’ indignation abated, he picked up the tablets whose inscriptions contained guidance and mercy for those who are in awe of their Lord.</ref>.

Some [[Exegetes]] of the Qur'an such as [['Allama Tabataba'i]] believe that the tablets mentioned in the Qur'an are the same tablets mentioned in the Torah. Others maintain that they were sent down before the revelation of the Torah. [[Rashid Rida]], the author of ''[[al-Minar]]'', says about the relationship between the tablets and the Torah: "The Tablets were the first part of shari'a (religious law). Indeed, they were a concise version of the Torah, and then detailed rulings regarding worships, transactions, and the like were gradually revealed on different occasions. The same type of revelation is true of the Qur'an as well".

The [[Torah]] is explicit that there were two Tablets: "The two Tablets of the covenant"<ref>Exodus 32:15</ref>. The Qur'an talks about "alwah"<ref>"Alwah" is a plural noun in Arabic and the plural form in this language equals at least three.</ref> without referring to the number. Thus, there are different views among exegetes of the Qur'an with respect to the number of the tablets. Some of them believe that "alwah", which is in plural form, was used instead of the dual form (muthanna), that is "lawhayn" (Arabic:{{ia|لَوْحَیْن}}), so the tablets were two.

The prophet [[Moses (a)]] spent 40 days in [[Mount Sinai]]. When he returned, he brought with him the tablets on which the [[revelation]] was engraved. But when he witnessed the [[Children of Israel]] worshiping a calf, he was infuriated and threw down the tablets, and they broke. Some exegetes of the Qur'an believe that the reason why Moses (a) broke the Tablets was his anger of [[calf-worshiping]] by the Israelites.