The Quran

152

إِنَّ الَّذينَ اتَّخَذُوا العِجلَ سَيَنالُهُم غَضَبٌ مِن رَبِّهِم وَذِلَّةٌ فِي الحَياةِ الدُّنيا ۚ وَكَذٰلِكَ نَجزِي المُفتَرينَ

Muhammad Asad

[And to Aaron he said:] "Verily, as for those who have taken to worshipping the [golden] calf - their Sustainer's condemnation will overtake them, and ignominy [will be their lot] in the life of this world!" For thus do We requite all who invent [such] falsehood.¹

Throughout the Qur'an, this expression is used to describe (a) the attribution of divine qualities to any concrete or imaginary object or person, and (b) the making of false statements about God, His attributes, or the contents of His messages. In the above context it refers to any false imagery which deflects man from the worship of the One God.