It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Hearing news is not like seeing with one's own eyes. Allah informed Musa (peace be upon him) that his people had made the calf (an object of worship), yet he did not throw down the Tablets; but when he saw with his own eyes what they had done, he threw down the Tablets (in anger)." This hadith is sahih (authentic) on the condition of the two Shaykhs (Bukhari and Muslim), and they did not record it.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that Sayyiduna Harun (peace be upon him) came upon al-Samiri while he was making the calf. He asked him: "What are you making?" He said: "Something that neither benefits nor harms." Harun (peace be upon him) said (as an imprecation): "O Allah, give him what he has asked of You (by intending it) in his heart." When he had gone, he said: "O Allah, I ask You that it should low." So it lowed. Thus, whenever anyone prostrated, the calf made a sound, and whenever anyone raised his head, it also made a sound. And that happened because of the supplication of Sayyiduna Harun (peace be upon him). This hadith is sahih (authentic) on the condition of Imam Muslim, and the two Shaykhs did not record it.