RBIS January 27, 1999: Ask the Imam -- Does the Qur'an state that he who controls the Ashes of the Yellow Cow (Red Heifer) will rule the World?

I am under the impression (from rumor) that somewhere within the Qur'an it states that whoever possesses the ashes of the Yellow Cow (Red Heifer in the Torah) rules the world.

Is this true? If it is true, where specifically does the Qur'an state this? Are you aware of the implications if it is true? Are you also aware of the constant searches going on to find the ashes?

Your input would be greatly appreciated. By the way, I've tried asking the above questions to other Islamic sources, but I've never received any responses.

Sheikh Profoessor Palazzi Answers:

The second Surah (chapter two) of the Qur'an is called "al-Baqarah" (The Heifer).

Verses 67-71 refer to the characteristics required for a cow to be a legitimate Yellow Cow (Red Heifer in the Torah - see Numbers chapter 19 in Parashat Chukat).

Verses 72-73 deal with the heifer that is sacrificed to identify the killer when a dead body is found (see Deuteronomy 21:1-9 in Parashat Shoftim).

In both cases (verses 67-71 and 72-73), there is no mention of ashes. I

n the second case (verses 72-73) there is a reference to a murdered man who was resurrected from the dead when his body was touched with "a part of the cow" (not ashes).

It is possible that the rumor you heard -- that somewhere within the Qur'an it states that whoever possesses the ashes of the Yellow Cow (Red Heifer in the Torah) rules the world -- was circulated as anti-Israel propaganda to convince unlearned Muslims that Jews search for these ashes to acquire magical power to achieve world domination.

What the Qur'an actually says is quite different.

Salaam/Shalom,

Sheikh Professor Abdul Hadi Palazzi

Rome, Italy