Islam 101

02.067  And remember Moses said to his people: "God commands that ye sacrifice a
heifer." They said: "Makest thou a laughing-stock of us?" He said: "God save me
from being an ignorant (fool)!"

002.068  They said: "Beseech on our behalf Thy Lord to make plain to us what
(heifer) it is!" He said; "He says: The heifer should be neither too old nor too young,
but of middling age. Now do what ye are commanded!"

002.069  They said: "Beseech on our behalf Thy Lord to make plain to us Her
colour." He said: "He says: A fawn-coloured heifer, pure and rich in tone, the
admiration of beholders!"

002.070  They said: "Beseech on our behalf Thy Lord to make plain to us what she is:
To us are all heifers alike: We wish indeed for guidance, if God wills."

002.071  He said: "He says: A heifer not trained to till the soil or water the fields;
sound and without blemish." They said: "Now hast thou brought the truth." Then they
offered her in sacrifice, but not with good-will.

002.072  Remember ye slew a man and fell into a dispute among yourselves as to the
crime: But God was to bring forth what ye did hide.

002.073  So We said: "Strike the (body) with a piece of the (heifer)." Thus God
bringeth the dead to life and showeth you His Signs: Perchance ye may understand.

002.074  Thenceforth were your hearts hardened: They became like a rock and even
worse in hardness. For among rocks there are some from which rivers gush forth;
others there are which when split asunder send forth water; and others which sink for
fear of God. And God is not unmindful of what ye do.

(This text is taken from the English translation by Abdullah Yusuf Ali of the original Quran in Arabic.)