Yet, when we summoned Moses for forty nights, you worshiped the calf in his absence, and turned wicked.*
وَإِذ وٰعَدنا موسىٰ أَربَعينَ لَيلَةً ثُمَّ اتَّخَذتُمُ العِجلَ مِن بَعدِهِ وَأَنتُم ظٰلِمونَ
wa iz waa’adnaa Moosaaa arba’eena lailatan summattakhaztumul ‘ijla mim ba’dihee wa antum zaalimoon
*2:51 This incident reflects the humans’ idolatrous tendency. Despite the profound miracles, Moses’ followers worshiped the calf in his absence, and Moses ended up with only two believers (5:23). As pointed out in the Introduction, the humans are rebels whose egos are their gods.