Is it true that the Children of Israel were intelligent?

QUESTION:

Assalamualaikum Ustadz Afwan, permission to ask Ustadz. We once heard a recitation in a mosque, the speaker told a story about cows in Surah Al Baqarah, but what was a bit strange for us was that the speaker saw the story from a different perspective by saying that the children of Israel were intelligent, he said. This can be seen from the dialogue between the prophet Musa and the Children of Israel regarding the characteristics of the cows that will be slaughtered.

The question is Ustadz, is there anything in the Tafsir book that says that, Ustadz?…
It increases in this verse, if I’m not mistaken, almost the Children of Israel did not carry out the orders of the prophet Moses.

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ANSWER

Wa’alaikumussalam wa Rahmatullah wa Barakatuh

The Children of Israel questioned not because they were intelligent, but because their basic nature was rebellious. They did not want to slaughter so they were asked various questions. Precisely because Prophet Musa ‘Alaihissalam was intelligent, in the end all the strange questions of the Children of Israel were answered by Prophet Musa and they ended up slaughtering.

Allah Ta’ala also criticized the Bani Israel’s excessive questions to the Prophet Musa and showed their defiance and lack of faith. One example is in Surah Al-Baqarah verses 67-71, which tells the story of the Bani Israel when they were ordered to slaughter a cow. Instead of immediately obeying Allah’s commands, they asked a lot of questions about the cow’s details, such as its color, age, and type of work. This attitude shows their habit of complicating things that are actually clear. Not because they are smart.

Allah Ta’ala says in surah al-Baqarah verse 68:

They said, “Call on your Lord so that we can explain to us what it is.”

“They said: ‘Ask your Lord to explain to us (cows) how to do it’…”

Allah criticizes their attitude in several other verses, such as in Surah al-Baqarah verse 108:

Or do you want to ask your Messenger as he asked Moses before?

“Will you ask your Messenger (Muhammad) as the Children of Israel asked Moses first?”

This verse reminds Muslims not to follow in the footsteps of the Children of Israel who asked too many questions in order to avoid obligations, not to seek knowledge sincerely. This kind of attitude actually shows stubbornness and a lack of obedience to God’s revelation.

Thus, Allah Ta’ala’s criticism of the Bani Israel’s questions to Moses was more due to their unwillingness to accept orders with full obedience, not because of intelligence.

Wallahu a’lam