Surah Taha — Ayah 96 (20:96)

English translation (Saheeh International)

He said, "I saw what they did not see, so I took a handful [of dust] from the track of the messenger¹ and threw it,² and thus did my soul entice me."

1. i.e., a hoof-print in the sand left by the angel Gabriel's horse.
2. Into the fire upon the melted ornaments in order to form the calf.

Brief commentary

Samiri said to Moses (peace be upon him): “I saw what they did not see: I saw Gabriel on a horse, so I took a handful of soil from the footsteps of his horse and threw it on melted jewellery which was moulded into the form of a calf. From this, the body of a calf with a mooing sound was formed. And this is how my soul made what I did appealing to me”.