And this is the last of what Allah has mentioned regarding the news of Pharaoh and the Copts, their denial of the signs of Allah, their oppression, and their sins. Then He followed it with the account of the Children of Israel and what they innovated after their rescue from the tyranny of Pharaoh and his subjugation, and after witnessing the great signs, and crossing the sea—such as the worship of the calf and their request to see Allah openly, and other types of disbelief and sins. This is so that the state of man may be known, and that he is as described: oppressive, ungrateful, ignorant, and disobedient, except for whom Allah has protected. And few are My servants who are grateful. And to console the Messenger of Allah, blessings and peace be upon him, regarding what he saw from the Children of Israel in Medina. It has been narrated that Moses crossed them on the Day of Ashura after Allah had destroyed Pharaoh and his people. They fasted that day in gratitude to Allah. Then they passed by a people who were devoted to their idols, consistently worshipping them. Ibn Jurayj said: They were statues of calves; and this was the first matter of the calf. It was said that they were a people from Lakhm. It was also said that they were from the Canaanites whom Moses, peace be upon him, was commanded to fight. And it was read: 'and we permitted', meaning 'we allowed'. It is said: 'He permitted the place' and 'he surpassed it', meaning 'he passed it', as in saying: 'the upper part of it and the higher part of it'. And it was read: 'they are devoting themselves', with a dammah on the kaf and a kasrah. 'Make for us a god, an idol, that we may devote ourselves to it, as they have gods, idols, that they are devoted to.' 'And what' is inclusive for the kaf, and therefore the sentence follows it. And it has been narrated from 'Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, that a Jew said to him: 'You have differed after your Prophet before his water has dried.' He said: 'You said,