Samiri (Islamic figure)

Samiri (Qur'an 20:85, 20:87 and 20:95) is the name given in the Qur'an to the creator of the Golden Calf. He was the man who tempted the Israelites to forsake the worship of Allah while Musa (Moses) was away for 40 days on Mount Sinai while he and the other Sahabah (companions) believed Musa (Moses) had died. The Qur'an narrates that Samiri gave the illusion that the idol was making a 'lowing' sound, and the Qur'an further expands upon this, narrating that Samiri cast the dust which archangel Gabriel (Jibril) had tread upon onto the calf, while some prominent exegesists narrate the sound was made due to the wind entering and exiting the statue, and some posit the sound was due to the use of the dust. In sharp contrast to account given in the Hebrew Bible, the Qur'an does not blame Aaron (Haroun) for the creation of the calf and instead praises him for trying to stop the worship of the calf.

The Hebrew Bible mentions Zimri as a chief instigator of the later Heresy of Peor, and does not mention him in connection with the Golden Calf. However, his sinful character is depicted both in the Bible and Quran.

Surah Al-Araaf (7):

Surah Al-Qasas (28):

Surah Ta Ha (20):

95. [Moses] said, "And what is your case, O Samiri?" 96. He said, "I saw what they did not see, so I took a handful [of dust] from the track of the messenger and threw it, thus did my soul entice me." 97. [Moses] said, "Then go. And indeed, it is [decreed] for you in [this] life to say, 'No contact.' And indeed, you have an appointment [in the Hereafter] you will not fail to keep. And look at your 'god' to which you remained devoted. We will surely burn it and blow it [i.e., its ashes] into the sea with a blast. 98. Your God is only Allah, except for whom there is no deity. He has encompassed all things in knowledge." Surah Taha Ayat 95-98 Sahih international

The Bahá'í Faith sees Samiri as a magician who led people away from the "knowledge and justice" of Moses to ignorance. He is mentioned in the Kitáb-i-Íqán, the primary theological work of the Baha'i religion.

...
Wikipedia