7: The Elevated Places (Al-Araf)
Revealed at Makkah
The title of this chapter is taken from the mention of The Elevated Places (v. 46) on which stand the perfect righteous servants of Allah. The main theme of this chapter is the truth of Divine revelation. It illustrates this by referring to the histories of several prophets, warning that the opponents of the Holy Prophet would meet the same fate as the opponents of the earlier prophets if they did not mend their ways. The chapter goes on to relate the history of Moses, as the Prophet Muhammad appeared in the likeness of Moses according to prophecies in the Torah. Towards the end, it gives the essence of the last and present chapter. This chapter was revealed at Makkah, just prior to the Emigration of the Holy Prophet.
Section 1 (Verses 7:1–7:10): Opponents’ Doom
Of the four letters alif, lām, mīm, and ṣād, the first three are the same as at the commencement of ch. 2, for which see 2:1 footnote; while ṣād stands for Ṣādiq, meaning Truthful, Whose promise would not fail.
7:2
کِتٰبٌ اُنۡزِلَ اِلَیۡکَ فَلَا یَکُنۡ فِیۡ صَدۡرِکَ حَرَجٌ مِّنۡہُ لِتُنۡذِرَ بِہٖ وَ ذِکۡرٰی لِلۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ ﴿۲﴾
A Book revealed to you — so let there be no worry in your heart concerning it — that you may warn with it, and a Reminder to the believers.
This parenthetical passage is introduced to console the Holy Prophet, who at this time was encountering the greatest opposition and was surrounded by difficulties on all sides.
7:3
اِتَّبِعُوۡا مَاۤ اُنۡزِلَ اِلَیۡکُمۡ مِّنۡ رَّبِّکُمۡ وَ لَا تَتَّبِعُوۡا مِنۡ دُوۡنِہٖۤ اَوۡلِیَآءَ ؕ قَلِیۡلًا مَّا تَذَکَّرُوۡنَ ﴿۳﴾
Follow what has been revealed to you from your Lord and do not follow besides Him any guardians; little mindful are you!
7:4
وَ کَمۡ مِّنۡ قَرۡیَۃٍ اَہۡلَکۡنٰہَا فَجَآءَہَا بَاۡسُنَا بَیَاتًا اَوۡ ہُمۡ قَآئِلُوۡنَ ﴿۴﴾
And how many a town have We destroyed! So Our punishment came to it by night or while they slept at midday.
7:5
فَمَا کَانَ دَعۡوٰىہُمۡ اِذۡ جَآءَہُمۡ بَاۡسُنَاۤ اِلَّاۤ اَنۡ قَالُوۡۤا اِنَّا کُنَّا ظٰلِمِیۡنَ ﴿۵﴾
Yet their cry, when Our punishment came to them, was nothing but that they said: Surely we were wrongdoers.
7:6
فَلَنَسۡـَٔلَنَّ الَّذِیۡنَ اُرۡسِلَ اِلَیۡہِمۡ وَ لَنَسۡـَٔلَنَّ الۡمُرۡسَلِیۡنَ ۙ﴿۶﴾
Then certainly We shall question those to whom messengers were sent, and We shall question the messengers,
Those to whom messengers were sent will be questioned as to how they treated the messengers, and the latter as to how they were received.
7:7
فَلَنَقُصَّنَّ عَلَیۡہِمۡ بِعِلۡمٍ وَّ مَا کُنَّا غَآئِبِیۡنَ ﴿۷﴾
then surely We shall recount to them with knowledge, and We are never absent.
7:8
وَ الۡوَزۡنُ یَوۡمَئِذِ ۣالۡحَقُّ ۚ فَمَنۡ ثَقُلَتۡ مَوَازِیۡنُہٗ فَاُولٰٓئِکَ ہُمُ الۡمُفۡلِحُوۡنَ ﴿۸﴾
And the judging on that day will be just; so as for those whose good deeds are heavy, they are the successful.
7:9
وَ مَنۡ خَفَّتۡ مَوَازِیۡنُہٗ فَاُولٰٓئِکَ الَّذِیۡنَ خَسِرُوۡۤا اَنۡفُسَہُمۡ بِمَا کَانُوۡا بِاٰیٰتِنَا یَظۡلِمُوۡنَ ﴿۹﴾
And as for those whose good deeds are light, those are they who ruined their souls because they disbelieved in Our messages.
7:10
وَ لَقَدۡ مَکَّنّٰکُمۡ فِی الۡاَرۡضِ وَ جَعَلۡنَا لَکُمۡ فِیۡہَا مَعَایِشَ ؕ قَلِیۡلًا مَّا تَشۡکُرُوۡنَ ﴿٪۱۰﴾
And certainly We established you in the earth and made in it means of livelihood for you; little thanks you give!
Section 2 (Verses 7:11–7:25): The Devil’s Opposition to Man
7:11
وَ لَقَدۡ خَلَقۡنٰکُمۡ ثُمَّ صَوَّرۡنٰکُمۡ ثُمَّ قُلۡنَا لِلۡمَلٰٓئِکَۃِ اسۡجُدُوۡا لِاٰدَمَ ٭ۖ فَسَجَدُوۡۤا اِلَّاۤ اِبۡلِیۡسَ ؕ لَمۡ یَکُنۡ مِّنَ السّٰجِدِیۡنَ ﴿۱۱﴾
And We indeed created you, then We fashioned you, then We said to the angels: Be submissive to Adam. So they submitted, but not Iblīs; he was not of those who submitted.
That what is stated here of Adam is true of all mankind is made clear by the opening words of this verse. Human beings are created first, then fashioned, then the order is given to the angels to make submission to Adam, who in this sense typifies a human being. Thus the angels are really required to make submission to every human being.
7:12
قَالَ مَا مَنَعَکَ اَلَّا تَسۡجُدَ اِذۡ اَمَرۡتُکَ ؕ قَالَ اَنَا خَیۡرٌ مِّنۡہُ ۚ خَلَقۡتَنِیۡ مِنۡ نَّارٍ وَّ خَلَقۡتَہٗ مِنۡ طِیۡنٍ ﴿۱۲﴾
He said: What hindered you from submitting when I commanded you? He said: I am better than he; You have created me of fire, while him You did create of dust.
Not only is Adam created from dust, but all human beings are spoken of as being similarly created; see 3:59 footnote, and see also 18:37, 22:5 and 30:20. As a contrast to man’s creation from dust, the devil claims to have been created from fire. There may be a reference here to the nature of the temperaments of the two classes, human beings and devils. The Quran says elsewhere: “Man is created of haste” (21:37), which means that he is hasty. In like manner the devil’s creation of fire may mean that he is made of a fiery temperament, while the perfect man is humble and meek, being created of dust, which stands for humility and meekness. Elsewhere it is stated that the jinn were created of fire (15:27), and also that Iblīs was one of the jinn (18:50).
7:13
قَالَ فَاہۡبِطۡ مِنۡہَا فَمَا یَکُوۡنُ لَکَ اَنۡ تَتَکَبَّرَ فِیۡہَا فَاخۡرُجۡ اِنَّکَ مِنَ الصّٰغِرِیۡنَ ﴿۱۳﴾
He said: Then get forth from this (state), for it is not for you to behave proudly in it. Go forth, therefore, surely you are a degraded one.
7:14
قَالَ اَنۡظِرۡنِیۡۤ اِلٰی یَوۡمِ یُبۡعَثُوۡنَ ﴿۱۴﴾
He said: Grant me respite till the day when they are raised.
The devil’s grip continues only so long as man is not spiritually raised to life. The raising here stands for the spiritual resurrection of man. If the final Resurrection is meant, the significance would be that the devil would mislead man so long as man lives on this earth.
7:16
قَالَ فَبِمَاۤ اَغۡوَیۡتَنِیۡ لَاَقۡعُدَنَّ لَہُمۡ صِرَاطَکَ الۡمُسۡتَقِیۡمَ ﴿ۙ۱۶﴾
He said: As You have judged me to be in error, I will certainly lie in wait for them in Your straight path,
7:17
ثُمَّ لَاٰتِیَنَّہُمۡ مِّنۡۢ بَیۡنِ اَیۡدِیۡہِمۡ وَ مِنۡ خَلۡفِہِمۡ وَ عَنۡ اَیۡمَانِہِمۡ وَ عَنۡ شَمَآئِلِہِمۡ ؕ وَ لَا تَجِدُ اَکۡثَرَہُمۡ شٰکِرِیۡنَ ﴿۱۷﴾
then I shall certainly come upon them from in front of them and from behind them, and from their right and from their left; and You will not find most of them thankful.
7:18
قَالَ اخۡرُجۡ مِنۡہَا مَذۡءُوۡمًا مَّدۡحُوۡرًا ؕ لَمَنۡ تَبِعَکَ مِنۡہُمۡ لَاَمۡلَـَٔنَّ جَہَنَّمَ مِنۡکُمۡ اَجۡمَعِیۡنَ ﴿۱۸﴾
He said: Get out of it, despised, driven away. Whoever of them will follow you, I will certainly fill hell with you all.
7:19
وَ یٰۤاٰدَمُ اسۡکُنۡ اَنۡتَ وَ زَوۡجُکَ الۡجَنَّۃَ فَکُلَا مِنۡ حَیۡثُ شِئۡتُمَا وَ لَا تَقۡرَبَا ہٰذِہِ الشَّجَرَۃَ فَتَکُوۡنَا مِنَ الظّٰلِمِیۡنَ ﴿۱۹﴾
And (We said): O Adam, dwell you and your wife in the garden, and eat from wherever you wish, but do not go near this tree or you would be from among the unjust.
7:20
فَوَسۡوَسَ لَہُمَا الشَّیۡطٰنُ لِیُبۡدِیَ لَہُمَا مَا وٗرِیَ عَنۡہُمَا مِنۡ سَوۡاٰتِہِمَا وَ قَالَ مَا نَہٰکُمَا رَبُّکُمَا عَنۡ ہٰذِہِ الشَّجَرَۃِ اِلَّاۤ اَنۡ تَکُوۡنَا مَلَکَیۡنِ اَوۡ تَکُوۡنَا مِنَ الۡخٰلِدِیۡنَ ﴿۲۰﴾
But the devil made an evil suggestion to them that he might make manifest to them their shame that had been hidden from them, and he said: Your Lord has only forbidden you this tree that you may not become angels or become immortals.
The devil’s suggestions always lead man to the disclosure of his shame.
7:21
وَ قَاسَمَہُمَاۤ اِنِّیۡ لَکُمَا لَمِنَ النّٰصِحِیۡنَ ﴿ۙ۲۱﴾
And he swore to them both: Surely I am a sincere adviser to you —
7:22
فَدَلّٰىہُمَا بِغُرُوۡرٍ ۚ فَلَمَّا ذَاقَا الشَّجَرَۃَ بَدَتۡ لَہُمَا سَوۡاٰتُہُمَا وَ طَفِقَا یَخۡصِفٰنِ عَلَیۡہِمَا مِنۡ وَّرَقِ الۡجَنَّۃِ ؕ وَ نَادٰىہُمَا رَبُّہُمَاۤ اَلَمۡ اَنۡہَکُمَا عَنۡ تِلۡکُمَا الشَّجَرَۃِ وَ اَقُلۡ لَّکُمَاۤ اِنَّ الشَّیۡطٰنَ لَکُمَا عَدُوٌّ مُّبِیۡنٌ ﴿۲۲﴾
thus he caused them to fall by deceit. So when they had tasted of the tree, their shame became manifest to them, and they both began to cover themselves with the leaves of the garden. And their Lord called to them: Did I not forbid you that tree, and say to you that the devil is surely your open enemy?
The covering with the leaves of the garden is the desire to make up by human effort any fault that may have been committed. The clothing that guards against evil, which is spoken of in v. 26 as being the best clothing, explains the meaning of covering here. Divine revelation points out to man the true way, enabling him to cover himself or guard himself against evil. And, further, the statement in v. 27, pulling off from them both their clothing that he might show them their shame shows that covering with the leaves of the garden is an allegorical statement; see v. 27 footnote 1.
7:23
قَالَا رَبَّنَا ظَلَمۡنَاۤ اَنۡفُسَنَا ٜ وَ اِنۡ لَّمۡ تَغۡفِرۡ لَنَا وَ تَرۡحَمۡنَا لَنَکُوۡنَنَّ مِنَ الۡخٰسِرِیۡنَ ﴿۲۳﴾
They said: Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves; and if You do not forgive us and have mercy on us, we shall certainly be from among the losers.
7:24
قَالَ اہۡبِطُوۡا بَعۡضُکُمۡ لِبَعۡضٍ عَدُوٌّ ۚ وَ لَکُمۡ فِی الۡاَرۡضِ مُسۡتَقَرٌّ وَّ مَتَاعٌ اِلٰی حِیۡنٍ ﴿۲۴﴾
He said: Go forth — some of you are enemies of others. And there is for you in the earth an abode and a provision for a time.
7:25
قَالَ فِیۡہَا تَحۡیَوۡنَ وَ فِیۡہَا تَمُوۡتُوۡنَ وَ مِنۡہَا تُخۡرَجُوۡنَ ﴿٪۲۵﴾
He said: In it shall you live, and in it shall you die, and from it shall you be raised.
Section 3 (Verses 7:26–7:31): Warning against the Devil’s Insinuations
7:26
یٰبَنِیۡۤ اٰدَمَ قَدۡ اَنۡزَلۡنَا عَلَیۡکُمۡ لِبَاسًا یُّوَارِیۡ سَوۡاٰتِکُمۡ وَ رِیۡشًا ؕ وَ لِبَاسُ التَّقۡوٰی ۙ ذٰلِکَ خَیۡرٌ ؕ ذٰلِکَ مِنۡ اٰیٰتِ اللّٰہِ لَعَلَّہُمۡ یَذَّکَّرُوۡنَ ﴿۲۶﴾
O children of Adam, We have indeed sent down to you clothing to cover your shame and (clothing) for beauty; and clothing that guards against evil — that is the best. This is of the messages of Allah that they may be mindful.
Clothing at first simply served to cover shame; with further progress people sought to embellish their persons with it; but there is yet a third kind of clothing, says the Quran, which is the best, and that is the clothing of piety, literally the clothing that guards one against evil. It indicates a further step in the progress of man, for virtue is an embellishment of the mind, and when man has seen the good of embellishing his person, he will soon be aware of the necessity of embellishing his mind.
7:27
یٰبَنِیۡۤ اٰدَمَ لَا یَفۡتِنَنَّکُمُ الشَّیۡطٰنُ کَمَاۤ اَخۡرَجَ اَبَوَیۡکُمۡ مِّنَ الۡجَنَّۃِ یَنۡزِعُ عَنۡہُمَا لِبَاسَہُمَا لِیُرِیَہُمَا سَوۡاٰتِہِمَا ؕ اِنَّہٗ یَرٰىکُمۡ ہُوَ وَ قَبِیۡلُہٗ مِنۡ حَیۡثُ لَا تَرَوۡنَہُمۡ ؕ اِنَّا جَعَلۡنَا الشَّیٰطِیۡنَ اَوۡلِیَآءَ لِلَّذِیۡنَ لَا یُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ ﴿۲۷﴾
O children of Adam, do not let the devil seduce you, as he expelled your parents from the garden, pulling off from them both their clothing that he might show them their shame. He surely sees you, he as well as his company, from where you do not see them. Surely We have made the devils to be the friends of those who do not believe.
That the clothing for the body is not meant here is clear from the fact that all men and women are warned against a similar attack of the devil. As to the clothing of which Adam was divested, there remains no doubt, when it is seen that the devil tries to divest every child of Adam of the same clothing: it is the clothing that guards against evil.
7:28
وَ اِذَا فَعَلُوۡا فَاحِشَۃً قَالُوۡا وَجَدۡنَا عَلَیۡہَاۤ اٰبَآءَنَا وَ اللّٰہُ اَمَرَنَا بِہَا ؕ قُلۡ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ لَا یَاۡمُرُ بِالۡفَحۡشَآءِ ؕ اَتَقُوۡلُوۡنَ عَلَی اللّٰہِ مَا لَا تَعۡلَمُوۡنَ ﴿۲۸﴾
And when they commit an indecency they say: We found our fathers doing this, and Allah has commanded us to do it. Say: Surely Allah does not command indecency. Do you say of Allah what you do not know?
7:29
قُلۡ اَمَرَ رَبِّیۡ بِالۡقِسۡطِ ۟ وَ اَقِیۡمُوۡا وُجُوۡہَکُمۡ عِنۡدَ کُلِّ مَسۡجِدٍ وَّ ادۡعُوۡہُ مُخۡلِصِیۡنَ لَہُ الدِّیۡنَ ۬ؕ کَمَا بَدَاَکُمۡ تَعُوۡدُوۡنَ ﴿ؕ۲۹﴾
Say: My Lord commands (the doing of) justice. And set upright your faces at every time of prayer and call on Him, being sincere to Him in obedience. As He brought you into being, so shall you return.
7:30
فَرِیۡقًا ہَدٰی وَ فَرِیۡقًا حَقَّ عَلَیۡہِمُ الضَّلٰلَۃُ ؕ اِنَّہُمُ اتَّخَذُوا الشَّیٰطِیۡنَ اَوۡلِیَآءَ مِنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰہِ وَ یَحۡسَبُوۡنَ اَنَّہُمۡ مُّہۡتَدُوۡنَ ﴿۳۰﴾
Some has He guided, and others — error is justly their due. Surely they took the devils for friends instead of Allah, and they think that they are rightly guided.
Error is justly their due because they have taken the devils for their friends. Whoever continues to follow the devil must surely remain in error.
7:31
یٰبَنِیۡۤ اٰدَمَ خُذُوۡا زِیۡنَتَکُمۡ عِنۡدَ کُلِّ مَسۡجِدٍ وَّ کُلُوۡا وَ اشۡرَبُوۡا وَ لَا تُسۡرِفُوۡا ۚ اِنَّہٗ لَا یُحِبُّ الۡمُسۡرِفِیۡنَ ﴿٪۳۱﴾
O children of Adam, attend to your adornment at every time of prayer, and eat and drink and do not be extravagant; surely He does not love the extravagant.
Attending to one’s adornment carries a double significance here. It requires adorning oneself physically, i.e. being clean and clothed appropriately for prayer, especially for the Friday and ‘Īd gatherings. But what is specially aimed at is adornment in a spiritual sense. A Muslim must attend to inner beautification, for prayer is really meant as an aid to the beauty of the soul. He must come to prayer with a heart free from all impurities and full of the highest aspirations and noblest sentiments.
Section 4 (Verses 7:32–7:39): Messengers Sent for Uplift of Humanity
7:32
قُلۡ مَنۡ حَرَّمَ زِیۡنَۃَ اللّٰہِ الَّتِیۡۤ اَخۡرَجَ لِعِبَادِہٖ وَ الطَّیِّبٰتِ مِنَ الرِّزۡقِ ؕ قُلۡ ہِیَ لِلَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا فِی الۡحَیٰوۃِ الدُّنۡیَا خَالِصَۃً یَّوۡمَ الۡقِیٰمَۃِ ؕ کَذٰلِکَ نُفَصِّلُ الۡاٰیٰتِ لِقَوۡمٍ یَّعۡلَمُوۡنَ ﴿۳۲﴾
Say: Who has forbidden the adornment of Allah, which He has brought forth for His servants, and the good provisions? Say: These are for the believers in the life of this world, purely (theirs) on the day of Resurrection. Thus do We make the messages clear for a people who know.
By the adornment of Allah is meant the adornment which Allah has made lawful for people to avail themselves of.
7:33
قُلۡ اِنَّمَا حَرَّمَ رَبِّیَ الۡفَوَاحِشَ مَا ظَہَرَ مِنۡہَا وَ مَا بَطَنَ وَ الۡاِثۡمَ وَ الۡبَغۡیَ بِغَیۡرِ الۡحَقِّ وَ اَنۡ تُشۡرِکُوۡا بِاللّٰہِ مَا لَمۡ یُنَزِّلۡ بِہٖ سُلۡطٰنًا وَّ اَنۡ تَقُوۡلُوۡا عَلَی اللّٰہِ مَا لَا تَعۡلَمُوۡنَ ﴿۳۳﴾
Say: My Lord forbids only indecencies, such of them as are apparent and such as are concealed, and sin and unjust rebellion, and that you set up with Allah partners for which He has sent down no authority, and that you say of Allah what you do not know.
7:34
وَ لِکُلِّ اُمَّۃٍ اَجَلٌ ۚ فَاِذَا جَآءَ اَجَلُہُمۡ لَا یَسۡتَاۡخِرُوۡنَ سَاعَۃً وَّ لَا یَسۡتَقۡدِمُوۡنَ ﴿۳۴﴾
And every nation has a term; so when its term comes they cannot postpone it an hour, nor can they bring it forward.
7:35
یٰبَنِیۡۤ اٰدَمَ اِمَّا یَاۡتِیَنَّکُمۡ رُسُلٌ مِّنۡکُمۡ یَقُصُّوۡنَ عَلَیۡکُمۡ اٰیٰتِیۡ ۙ فَمَنِ اتَّقٰی وَ اَصۡلَحَ فَلَا خَوۡفٌ عَلَیۡہِمۡ وَ لَا ہُمۡ یَحۡزَنُوۡنَ ﴿۳۵﴾
O children of Adam, if messengers come to you from among you relating to you My messages, then whoever guards against evil and acts aright — they shall have no fear, nor shall they grieve.
7:36
وَ الَّذِیۡنَ کَذَّبُوۡا بِاٰیٰتِنَا وَ اسۡتَکۡبَرُوۡا عَنۡہَاۤ اُولٰٓئِکَ اَصۡحٰبُ النَّارِ ۚ ہُمۡ فِیۡہَا خٰلِدُوۡنَ ﴿۳۶﴾
And those who reject Our messages and turn away from them haughtily — these are the companions of the Fire; they shall abide in it.
7:37
فَمَنۡ اَظۡلَمُ مِمَّنِ افۡتَرٰی عَلَی اللّٰہِ کَذِبًا اَوۡ کَذَّبَ بِاٰیٰتِہٖ ؕ اُولٰٓئِکَ یَنَالُہُمۡ نَصِیۡبُہُمۡ مِّنَ الۡکِتٰبِ ؕ حَتّٰۤی اِذَا جَآءَتۡہُمۡ رُسُلُنَا یَتَوَفَّوۡنَہُمۡ ۙ قَالُوۡۤا اَیۡنَ مَا کُنۡتُمۡ تَدۡعُوۡنَ مِنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰہِ ؕ قَالُوۡا ضَلُّوۡا عَنَّا وَ شَہِدُوۡا عَلٰۤی اَنۡفُسِہِمۡ اَنَّہُمۡ کَانُوۡا کٰفِرِیۡنَ ﴿۳۷﴾
Who is then more unjust than he who forges a lie against Allah or rejects His messages? These — their portion of the Book shall reach them; until when Our messengers come to them causing them to die, they say: Where are those you used to call upon besides Allah? They would say: They are gone away from us. And they shall bear witness against themselves that they were disbelievers.
That is, the punishment promised in the Book will overtake them.
7:38
قَالَ ادۡخُلُوۡا فِیۡۤ اُمَمٍ قَدۡ خَلَتۡ مِنۡ قَبۡلِکُمۡ مِّنَ الۡجِنِّ وَ الۡاِنۡسِ فِی النَّارِ ؕ کُلَّمَا دَخَلَتۡ اُمَّۃٌ لَّعَنَتۡ اُخۡتَہَا ؕ حَتّٰۤی اِذَا ادَّارَکُوۡا فِیۡہَا جَمِیۡعًا ۙ قَالَتۡ اُخۡرٰىہُمۡ لِاُوۡلٰىہُمۡ رَبَّنَا ہٰۤؤُلَآءِ اَضَلُّوۡنَا فَاٰتِہِمۡ عَذَابًا ضِعۡفًا مِّنَ النَّارِ ۬ؕ قَالَ لِکُلٍّ ضِعۡفٌ وَّ لٰکِنۡ لَّا تَعۡلَمُوۡنَ ﴿۳۸﴾
He will say: Enter into the Fire among the nations of jinn and people that have passed away before you. Every time a nation enters, it curses its sister; until when they all follow one another into it, the last of them will say with regard to the first of them: Our Lord, these led us astray, so give them a double punishment of the Fire. He will say: Each one has double but you do not know.
By the sister nation is meant the nation which resembles it in its deeds.
7:39
وَ قَالَتۡ اُوۡلٰىہُمۡ لِاُخۡرٰىہُمۡ فَمَا کَانَ لَکُمۡ عَلَیۡنَا مِنۡ فَضۡلٍ فَذُوۡقُوا الۡعَذَابَ بِمَا کُنۡتُمۡ تَکۡسِبُوۡنَ ﴿٪۳۹﴾
And the first of them will say to the last of them: You have no preference over us, so taste the punishment for what you earned.
Section 5 (Verses 7:40–7:47): Those who Accept the Message
7:40
اِنَّ الَّذِیۡنَ کَذَّبُوۡا بِاٰیٰتِنَا وَ اسۡتَکۡبَرُوۡا عَنۡہَا لَا تُفَتَّحُ لَہُمۡ اَبۡوَابُ السَّمَآءِ وَ لَا یَدۡخُلُوۡنَ الۡجَنَّۃَ حَتّٰی یَلِجَ الۡجَمَلُ فِیۡ سَمِّ الۡخِیَاطِ ؕ وَ کَذٰلِکَ نَجۡزِی الۡمُجۡرِمِیۡنَ ﴿۴۰﴾
Those who reject Our messages and turn away from them haughtily, the doors of heaven will not be opened for them, nor will they enter the Garden until the camel pass through the eye of the needle. And thus do We reward the guilty.
7:41
لَہُمۡ مِّنۡ جَہَنَّمَ مِہَادٌ وَّ مِنۡ فَوۡقِہِمۡ غَوَاشٍ ؕ وَ کَذٰلِکَ نَجۡزِی الظّٰلِمِیۡنَ ﴿۴۱﴾
They shall have a bed of hell and over them coverings (of it). And thus do We recompense the wrongdoers.
7:42
وَ الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا وَ عَمِلُوا الصّٰلِحٰتِ لَا نُکَلِّفُ نَفۡسًا اِلَّا وُسۡعَہَاۤ ۫ اُولٰٓئِکَ اَصۡحٰبُ الۡجَنَّۃِ ۚ ہُمۡ فِیۡہَا خٰلِدُوۡنَ ﴿۴۲﴾
And as for those who believe and do good — We do not impose on any soul a duty beyond its scope — they are the owners of the Garden; in it they abide.
7:43
وَ نَزَعۡنَا مَا فِیۡ صُدُوۡرِہِمۡ مِّنۡ غِلٍّ تَجۡرِیۡ مِنۡ تَحۡتِہِمُ الۡاَنۡہٰرُ ۚ وَ قَالُوا الۡحَمۡدُ لِلّٰہِ الَّذِیۡ ہَدٰىنَا لِہٰذَا ۟ وَ مَا کُنَّا لِنَہۡتَدِیَ لَوۡ لَاۤ اَنۡ ہَدٰىنَا اللّٰہُ ۚ لَقَدۡ جَآءَتۡ رُسُلُ رَبِّنَا بِالۡحَقِّ ؕ وَ نُوۡدُوۡۤا اَنۡ تِلۡکُمُ الۡجَنَّۃُ اُوۡرِثۡتُمُوۡہَا بِمَا کُنۡتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُوۡنَ ﴿۴۳﴾
And We shall remove whatever of bitterness is in their hearts — rivers flow beneath them. And they say: All praise is due to Allah, Who guided us to this! And we would not have found the way if Allah had not guided us. Certainly the messengers of our Lord brought the truth. And it will be cried out to them: This is the Garden which you are made to inherit for what you did.
7:44
وَ نَادٰۤی اَصۡحٰبُ الۡجَنَّۃِ اَصۡحٰبَ النَّارِ اَنۡ قَدۡ وَجَدۡنَا مَا وَعَدَنَا رَبُّنَا حَقًّا فَہَلۡ وَجَدۡتُّمۡ مَّا وَعَدَ رَبُّکُمۡ حَقًّا ؕ قَالُوۡا نَعَمۡ ۚ فَاَذَّنَ مُؤَذِّنٌۢ بَیۡنَہُمۡ اَنۡ لَّعۡنَۃُ اللّٰہِ عَلَی الظّٰلِمِیۡنَ ﴿ۙ۴۴﴾
And the owners of the Garden call out to the companions of the Fire: We have found what our Lord promised us to be true; have you, too, found what your Lord promised to be true? They will say: Yes. Then a crier will cry out among them: The curse of Allah is on the wrongdoers,
7:45
الَّذِیۡنَ یَصُدُّوۡنَ عَنۡ سَبِیۡلِ اللّٰہِ وَ یَبۡغُوۡنَہَا عِوَجًا ۚ وَ ہُمۡ بِالۡاٰخِرَۃِ کٰفِرُوۡنَ ﴿ۘ۴۵﴾
who hinder (people) from Allah’s way and seek to make it crooked, and they are disbelievers in the Hereafter.
By seeking to make Allah’s way crooked is meant that they suggest doubts regarding the Truth.
7:46
وَ بَیۡنَہُمَا حِجَابٌ ۚ وَ عَلَی الۡاَعۡرَافِ رِجَالٌ یَّعۡرِفُوۡنَ کُلًّۢا بِسِیۡمٰہُمۡ ۚ وَ نَادَوۡا اَصۡحٰبَ الۡجَنَّۃِ اَنۡ سَلٰمٌ عَلَیۡکُمۡ ۟ لَمۡ یَدۡخُلُوۡہَا وَ ہُمۡ یَطۡمَعُوۡنَ ﴿۴۶﴾
And between them is a veil. And on the Elevated Places are men who know all by their marks. And they call out to the owners of the Garden: Peace be on you! They have not yet entered it, though they hope.
The veil which here separates the wicked from the righteous and on account of which the former fail to see the bliss which the latter enjoy will assume a perceptible form in the next life. Thus it is not distance that separates heaven from hell but only a veil, and they hear and even see one another.
7:47
وَ اِذَا صُرِفَتۡ اَبۡصَارُہُمۡ تِلۡقَآءَ اَصۡحٰبِ النَّارِ ۙ قَالُوۡا رَبَّنَا لَا تَجۡعَلۡنَا مَعَ الۡقَوۡمِ الظّٰلِمِیۡنَ ﴿٪۴۷﴾
And when their eyes are turned towards the companions of the Fire, they say: Our Lord, do not place us with the unjust people.
Thus do pray those who hope to enter paradise.
Section 6 (Verses 7:48–7:53): Helplessness of Opponents
7:48
وَ نَادٰۤی اَصۡحٰبُ الۡاَعۡرَافِ رِجَالًا یَّعۡرِفُوۡنَہُمۡ بِسِیۡمٰہُمۡ قَالُوۡا مَاۤ اَغۡنٰی عَنۡکُمۡ جَمۡعُکُمۡ وَ مَا کُنۡتُمۡ تَسۡتَکۡبِرُوۡنَ ﴿۴۸﴾
And the owners of the Elevated Places call out to men whom they recognize by their marks, saying: Of no avail were to you your amassings and your arrogance.
The word used may mean either your amassing worldly wealth, or it may mean your multitude or strength in numbers.
7:49
اَہٰۤؤُلَآءِ الَّذِیۡنَ اَقۡسَمۡتُمۡ لَا یَنَالُہُمُ اللّٰہُ بِرَحۡمَۃٍ ؕ اُدۡخُلُوا الۡجَنَّۃَ لَا خَوۡفٌ عَلَیۡکُمۡ وَ لَاۤ اَنۡتُمۡ تَحۡزَنُوۡنَ ﴿۴۹﴾
Are these they about whom you swore that Allah would not bestow mercy on them? Enter the Garden; you have no fear, nor shall you grieve.
7:50
وَ نَادٰۤی اَصۡحٰبُ النَّارِ اَصۡحٰبَ الۡجَنَّۃِ اَنۡ اَفِیۡضُوۡا عَلَیۡنَا مِنَ الۡمَآءِ اَوۡ مِمَّا رَزَقَکُمُ اللّٰہُ ؕ قَالُوۡۤا اِنَّ اللّٰہَ حَرَّمَہُمَا عَلَی الۡکٰفِرِیۡنَ ﴿ۙ۵۰﴾
And the companions of the Fire call out to the owners of the Garden: Pour on us some water or some of what Allah has provided for you. They say: Surely Allah has forbidden them both to the disbelievers,
7:51
الَّذِیۡنَ اتَّخَذُوۡا دِیۡنَہُمۡ لَہۡوًا وَّ لَعِبًا وَّ غَرَّتۡہُمُ الۡحَیٰوۃُ الدُّنۡیَا ۚ فَالۡیَوۡمَ نَنۡسٰہُمۡ کَمَا نَسُوۡا لِقَآءَ یَوۡمِہِمۡ ہٰذَا ۙ وَ مَا کَانُوۡا بِاٰیٰتِنَا یَجۡحَدُوۡنَ ﴿۵۱﴾
who take their religion for an idle sport and a play, and this world’s life deceives them. So this day We shall forsake them, as they neglected the meeting of this day of theirs, and as they denied Our messages.
7:52
وَ لَقَدۡ جِئۡنٰہُمۡ بِکِتٰبٍ فَصَّلۡنٰہُ عَلٰی عِلۡمٍ ہُدًی وَّ رَحۡمَۃً لِّقَوۡمٍ یُّؤۡمِنُوۡنَ ﴿۵۲﴾
And certainly We have brought them a Book which We make clear with knowledge, a guidance and a mercy for a people who believe.
7:53
ہَلۡ یَنۡظُرُوۡنَ اِلَّا تَاۡوِیۡلَہٗ ؕ یَوۡمَ یَاۡتِیۡ تَاۡوِیۡلُہٗ یَقُوۡلُ الَّذِیۡنَ نَسُوۡہُ مِنۡ قَبۡلُ قَدۡ جَآءَتۡ رُسُلُ رَبِّنَا بِالۡحَقِّ ۚ فَہَلۡ لَّنَا مِنۡ شُفَعَآءَ فَیَشۡفَعُوۡا لَنَاۤ اَوۡ نُرَدُّ فَنَعۡمَلَ غَیۡرَ الَّذِیۡ کُنَّا نَعۡمَلُ ؕ قَدۡ خَسِرُوۡۤا اَنۡفُسَہُمۡ وَ ضَلَّ عَنۡہُمۡ مَّا کَانُوۡا یَفۡتَرُوۡنَ ﴿٪۵۳﴾
Do they wait only for its final sequel? On the day when its final sequel comes, those who neglected it before will say: Indeed the messengers of our Lord brought the truth. Are there any intercessors on our behalf so that they should intercede for us? Or could we be sent back so that we should do (deeds) other than those which we did? Indeed they have lost their souls, and what they forged has failed them.
By final sequel is meant the ultimate state of the perfect manifestation of truth by the fulfilment of the prophecies, the end or the ultimate consequence.
Section 7 (Verses 7:54–7:58): The Righteous will Prosper
7:54
اِنَّ رَبَّکُمُ اللّٰہُ الَّذِیۡ خَلَقَ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الۡاَرۡضَ فِیۡ سِتَّۃِ اَیَّامٍ ثُمَّ اسۡتَوٰی عَلَی الۡعَرۡشِ ۟ یُغۡشِی الَّیۡلَ النَّہَارَ یَطۡلُبُہٗ حَثِیۡثًا ۙ وَّ الشَّمۡسَ وَ الۡقَمَرَ وَ النُّجُوۡمَ مُسَخَّرٰتٍۭ بِاَمۡرِہٖ ؕ اَلَا لَہُ الۡخَلۡقُ وَ الۡاَمۡرُ ؕ تَبٰرَکَ اللّٰہُ رَبُّ الۡعٰلَمِیۡنَ ﴿۵۴﴾
Surely your Lord is Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth in six periods, and He is established on the Throne of Power. He makes the night cover the day, which it pursues incessantly. And (He created) the sun and the moon and the stars, made subservient by His command. Surely His is the creation and the command. Blessed is Allah, the Lord of the worlds!
The word yaum means not only day but also a period, whatever period it may be. The six periods of time in which the heavens and the earth are created refer in fact to the six stages in which they have grown to their present condition. In the case of the earth these six stages are detailed in 41:9–10.
7:55
اُدۡعُوۡا رَبَّکُمۡ تَضَرُّعًا وَّ خُفۡیَۃً ؕ اِنَّہٗ لَا یُحِبُّ الۡمُعۡتَدِیۡنَ ﴿ۚ۵۵﴾
Call on your Lord humbly and in secret. Surely He does not love the transgressors.
7:56
وَ لَا تُفۡسِدُوۡا فِی الۡاَرۡضِ بَعۡدَ اِصۡلَاحِہَا وَ ادۡعُوۡہُ خَوۡفًا وَّ طَمَعًا ؕ اِنَّ رَحۡمَتَ اللّٰہِ قَرِیۡبٌ مِّنَ الۡمُحۡسِنِیۡنَ ﴿۵۶﴾
And do not make mischief in the earth after its reformation, and call on Him, fearing and hoping. Surely the mercy of Allah is near to the doers of good.
The feeling which should be entertained towards Allah should be a combination of fear and hope, of awe as well as love, because the fear of His displeasure ennobles the mind no less than the hope of His mercy.
7:57
وَ ہُوَ الَّذِیۡ یُرۡسِلُ الرِّیٰحَ بُشۡرًۢا بَیۡنَ یَدَیۡ رَحۡمَتِہٖ ؕ حَتّٰۤی اِذَاۤ اَقَلَّتۡ سَحَابًا ثِقَالًا سُقۡنٰہُ لِبَلَدٍ مَّیِّتٍ فَاَنۡزَلۡنَا بِہِ الۡمَآءَ فَاَخۡرَجۡنَا بِہٖ مِنۡ کُلِّ الثَّمَرٰتِ ؕ کَذٰلِکَ نُخۡرِجُ الۡمَوۡتٰی لَعَلَّکُمۡ تَذَکَّرُوۡنَ ﴿۵۷﴾
And He it is Who sends forth the winds bearing good news before His mercy; till, when they bear a laden cloud, We drive it to a dead land, then We send down water on it, then bring forth thereby fruits of all kinds. Thus do We bring forth the dead that you may be mindful.
His mercy represents the rain in the physical world.
7:58
وَ الۡبَلَدُ الطَّیِّبُ یَخۡرُجُ نَبَاتُہٗ بِاِذۡنِ رَبِّہٖ ۚ وَ الَّذِیۡ خَبُثَ لَا یَخۡرُجُ اِلَّا نَکِدًا ؕ کَذٰلِکَ نُصَرِّفُ الۡاٰیٰتِ لِقَوۡمٍ یَّشۡکُرُوۡنَ ﴿٪۵۸﴾
And the good land — its vegetation comes forth (abundantly) by the permission of its Lord. And that which is inferior — (its vegetation) comes forth but scantily. Thus do We repeat the messages for a people who give thanks.
Revelation is here likened to the rain and the good or bad nature of man to good or inferior land. If some people do not benefit by the revelation, it is just as some lands do not benefit by rain.
Section 8 (Verses 7:59–7:64): Noah
7:59
لَقَدۡ اَرۡسَلۡنَا نُوۡحًا اِلٰی قَوۡمِہٖ فَقَالَ یٰقَوۡمِ اعۡبُدُوا اللّٰہَ مَا لَکُمۡ مِّنۡ اِلٰہٍ غَیۡرُہٗ ؕ اِنِّیۡۤ اَخَافُ عَلَیۡکُمۡ عَذَابَ یَوۡمٍ عَظِیۡمٍ ﴿۵۹﴾
Certainly We sent Noah to his people, so he said: My people, serve Allah, you have no god other than Him. Indeed I fear for you the punishment of a grievous day.
Having warned the opponents of the evil consequences of their opposition to the Holy Prophet, several illustrations are now given from sacred history, showing how those people were dealt with who refused to listen to the voice of the warners. The object is not to narrate history as such, but to bring out common characteristics of the histories of different nations, to mention incidents which contain prophetical allusion to the Holy Prophet’s life and to illustrate the general warnings made regarding the ultimate consequences of the rejection of Truth. The Quran relates the broad facts that every prophet preached Divine Unity, every prophet laid stress on the doing of good, every prophet was received with severe opposition, and that every prophet ultimately succeeded in establishing the truth.
7:60
قَالَ الۡمَلَاُ مِنۡ قَوۡمِہٖۤ اِنَّا لَنَرٰىکَ فِیۡ ضَلٰلٍ مُّبِیۡنٍ ﴿۶۰﴾
The chiefs of his people said: Surely we see you in clear error.
7:61
قَالَ یٰقَوۡمِ لَیۡسَ بِیۡ ضَلٰلَۃٌ وَّ لٰکِنِّیۡ رَسُوۡلٌ مِّنۡ رَّبِّ الۡعٰلَمِیۡنَ ﴿۶۱﴾
He said: My people, there is no error in me, but I am a messenger from the Lord of the worlds.
7:62
اُبَلِّغُکُمۡ رِسٰلٰتِ رَبِّیۡ وَ اَنۡصَحُ لَکُمۡ وَ اَعۡلَمُ مِنَ اللّٰہِ مَا لَا تَعۡلَمُوۡنَ ﴿۶۲﴾
I deliver to you the messages of my Lord, and I offer you good advice, and I know from Allah what you do not know.
7:63
اَوَ عَجِبۡتُمۡ اَنۡ جَآءَکُمۡ ذِکۡرٌ مِّنۡ رَّبِّکُمۡ عَلٰی رَجُلٍ مِّنۡکُمۡ لِیُنۡذِرَکُمۡ وَ لِتَتَّقُوۡا وَ لَعَلَّکُمۡ تُرۡحَمُوۡنَ ﴿۶۳﴾
Do you wonder that a reminder has come to you from your Lord through a man from among you, that he may warn you and that you may guard against evil, and that mercy may be shown to you?
7:64
فَکَذَّبُوۡہُ فَاَنۡجَیۡنٰہُ وَ الَّذِیۡنَ مَعَہٗ فِی الۡفُلۡکِ وَ اَغۡرَقۡنَا الَّذِیۡنَ کَذَّبُوۡا بِاٰیٰتِنَا ؕ اِنَّہُمۡ کَانُوۡا قَوۡمًا عَمِیۡنَ ﴿٪۶۴﴾
But they called him a liar, so We delivered him and those with him in the ark, and We drowned those who rejected Our messages. Surely they were a blind people!
See further 11:37–48 and 23:27–29. The Quran does not support the idea of a world deluge, for it states here that Noah was sent only to his people, not to all nations. Only the people to whom Noah was sent called him a liar, and only those were drowned who rejected the message of Allah delivered through Noah.
Section 9 (Verses 7:65–7:72): Hud
7:65
وَ اِلٰی عَادٍ اَخَاہُمۡ ہُوۡدًا ؕ قَالَ یٰقَوۡمِ اعۡبُدُوا اللّٰہَ مَا لَکُمۡ مِّنۡ اِلٰہٍ غَیۡرُہٗ ؕ اَفَلَا تَتَّقُوۡنَ ﴿۶۵﴾
And to Ād (We sent) their brother Hūd. He said: My people, serve Allah, you have no god other than Him. Will you not then guard against evil?
Ād was the grandson of Aram (mentioned in 89:7), who was a grandson of Noah, and the tribe of Ād spoken of here is called the first Ād (53:50), as distinguished from the tribe of Thamūd, which is called the second Ād. This tribe lived in the desert of al-Aḥqāf (46:21) which is marked on the maps of Arabia and extends from Oman to Hadramaut. The male member of a tribe is generally spoken of as their brother, as here Hūd is called. The prophet Hūd is the Eber of the Bible, because Hūd is said to be the grandson of Arphaxad, the grandson of Noah. Compare Genesis 10:24 for Eber’s genealogy.
7:66
قَالَ الۡمَلَاُ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا مِنۡ قَوۡمِہٖۤ اِنَّا لَنَرٰىکَ فِیۡ سَفَاہَۃٍ وَّ اِنَّا لَنَظُنُّکَ مِنَ الۡکٰذِبِیۡنَ ﴿۶۶﴾
The chiefs of those who disbelieved from among his people said: Certainly we see you in folly, and we certainly think you to be a liar.
7:67
قَالَ یٰقَوۡمِ لَیۡسَ بِیۡ سَفَاہَۃٌ وَّ لٰکِنِّیۡ رَسُوۡلٌ مِّنۡ رَّبِّ الۡعٰلَمِیۡنَ ﴿۶۷﴾
He said: My people, there is no folly in me, but I am a messenger of the Lord of the worlds.
7:68
اُبَلِّغُکُمۡ رِسٰلٰتِ رَبِّیۡ وَ اَنَا لَکُمۡ نَاصِحٌ اَمِیۡنٌ ﴿۶۸﴾
I deliver to you the messages of my Lord and I am a faithful adviser to you.
7:69
اَوَ عَجِبۡتُمۡ اَنۡ جَآءَکُمۡ ذِکۡرٌ مِّنۡ رَّبِّکُمۡ عَلٰی رَجُلٍ مِّنۡکُمۡ لِیُنۡذِرَکُمۡ ؕ وَ اذۡکُرُوۡۤا اِذۡ جَعَلَکُمۡ خُلَفَآءَ مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِ قَوۡمِ نُوۡحٍ وَّ زَادَکُمۡ فِی الۡخَلۡقِ بَصۜۡطَۃً ۚ فَاذۡکُرُوۡۤا اٰلَآءَ اللّٰہِ لَعَلَّکُمۡ تُفۡلِحُوۡنَ ﴿۶۹﴾
Do you wonder that a reminder has come to you from your Lord through a man from among you that he may warn you? And remember when He made you successors after Noah’s people and increased you in excellence of make. So remember the bounties of Allah, that you may be successful.
By making them khulafā’ or successors is meant that they were made a ruling nation and possessors of a vast kingdom.
7:70
قَالُوۡۤا اَجِئۡتَنَا لِنَعۡبُدَ اللّٰہَ وَحۡدَہٗ وَ نَذَرَ مَا کَانَ یَعۡبُدُ اٰبَآؤُنَا ۚ فَاۡتِنَا بِمَا تَعِدُنَاۤ اِنۡ کُنۡتَ مِنَ الصّٰدِقِیۡنَ ﴿۷۰﴾
They said: Have you come to us that we may serve Allah alone, and give up what our fathers used to serve? Then bring us what you threaten us with, if you are truthful.
7:71
قَالَ قَدۡ وَقَعَ عَلَیۡکُمۡ مِّنۡ رَّبِّکُمۡ رِجۡسٌ وَّ غَضَبٌ ؕ اَتُجَادِلُوۡنَنِیۡ فِیۡۤ اَسۡمَآءٍ سَمَّیۡتُمُوۡہَاۤ اَنۡتُمۡ وَ اٰبَآؤُکُمۡ مَّا نَزَّلَ اللّٰہُ بِہَا مِنۡ سُلۡطٰنٍ ؕ فَانۡتَظِرُوۡۤا اِنِّیۡ مَعَکُمۡ مِّنَ الۡمُنۡتَظِرِیۡنَ ﴿۷۱﴾
He said: Indeed uncleanness and wrath from your Lord have come upon you. Do you dispute with me about names which you and your fathers have named? Allah has not sent any authority for them. So wait; I too am waiting along with you.
The reference here is to their deities.
7:72
فَاَنۡجَیۡنٰہُ وَ الَّذِیۡنَ مَعَہٗ بِرَحۡمَۃٍ مِّنَّا وَ قَطَعۡنَا دَابِرَ الَّذِیۡنَ کَذَّبُوۡا بِاٰیٰتِنَا وَ مَا کَانُوۡا مُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ ﴿٪۷۲﴾
So We delivered him and those with him by mercy from Us, and We cut off the roots of those who rejected Our messages and were not believers.
They were destroyed by a storm (69:7).
Section 10 (Verses 7:73–7:84): Salih and Lot
7:73
وَ اِلٰی ثَمُوۡدَ اَخَاہُمۡ صٰلِحًا ۘ قَالَ یٰقَوۡمِ اعۡبُدُوا اللّٰہَ مَا لَکُمۡ مِّنۡ اِلٰہٍ غَیۡرُہٗ ؕ قَدۡ جَآءَتۡکُمۡ بَیِّنَۃٌ مِّنۡ رَّبِّکُمۡ ؕ ہٰذِہٖ نَاقَۃُ اللّٰہِ لَکُمۡ اٰیَۃً فَذَرُوۡہَا تَاۡکُلۡ فِیۡۤ اَرۡضِ اللّٰہِ وَ لَا تَمَسُّوۡہَا بِسُوۡٓءٍ فَیَاۡخُذَکُمۡ عَذَابٌ اَلِیۡمٌ ﴿۷۳﴾
And to Thamūd (We sent) their brother Sālih. He said: My people, serve Allah, you have no god other than Him. Clear proof has indeed come to you from your Lord. This is Allah’s she-camel — a sign for you — so leave her alone to pasture in Allah’s earth, and do her no harm or a painful punishment will afflict you.
Ād and Thamūd, though two nearly related tribes, were separated both as regards time and place. Thamūd is known after a grandson of Aram, the grandson of Noah. Historical traces of it are met with in Ptolemy. The tribe flourished more than two hundred years after Ād, and occupied the territory known as al-Ḥijr (15:80), and the plain known by the name of Wādi-l-Qurā, which forms the southern boundary of Syria and the northern one of Arabia. Sālih was a descendant in the sixth generation after Thamūd.
7:74
وَ اذۡکُرُوۡۤا اِذۡ جَعَلَکُمۡ خُلَفَآءَ مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِ عَادٍ وَّ بَوَّاَکُمۡ فِی الۡاَرۡضِ تَتَّخِذُوۡنَ مِنۡ سُہُوۡلِہَا قُصُوۡرًا وَّ تَنۡحِتُوۡنَ الۡجِبَالَ بُیُوۡتًا ۚ فَاذۡکُرُوۡۤا اٰلَآءَ اللّٰہِ وَ لَا تَعۡثَوۡا فِی الۡاَرۡضِ مُفۡسِدِیۡنَ ﴿۷۴﴾
And remember when He made you successors after Ād and settled you in the land — you make mansions on its plains and carve out houses in the mountains. So remember Allah’s bounties and do not act corruptly in the land, making mischief.
7:75
قَالَ الۡمَلَاُ الَّذِیۡنَ اسۡتَکۡبَرُوۡا مِنۡ قَوۡمِہٖ لِلَّذِیۡنَ اسۡتُضۡعِفُوۡا لِمَنۡ اٰمَنَ مِنۡہُمۡ اَتَعۡلَمُوۡنَ اَنَّ صٰلِحًا مُّرۡسَلٌ مِّنۡ رَّبِّہٖ ؕ قَالُوۡۤا اِنَّا بِمَاۤ اُرۡسِلَ بِہٖ مُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ ﴿۷۵﴾
The arrogant chiefs of his people said to those who were weak, to those who believed from among them: Do you know that Sālih is one sent by his Lord? They said: Surely we are believers in that with which he has been sent.
7:76
قَالَ الَّذِیۡنَ اسۡتَکۡبَرُوۡۤا اِنَّا بِالَّذِیۡۤ اٰمَنۡتُمۡ بِہٖ کٰفِرُوۡنَ ﴿۷۶﴾
Those who were arrogant said: Surely we are disbelievers in what you believe.
7:77
فَعَقَرُوا النَّاقَۃَ وَ عَتَوۡا عَنۡ اَمۡرِ رَبِّہِمۡ وَ قَالُوۡا یٰصٰلِحُ ائۡتِنَا بِمَا تَعِدُنَاۤ اِنۡ کُنۡتَ مِنَ الۡمُرۡسَلِیۡنَ ﴿۷۷﴾
Then they hamstrung the she-camel and revolted against their Lord’s commandment, and said: Sālih, bring us what you threaten us with, if you are one of the messengers.
7:78
فَاَخَذَتۡہُمُ الرَّجۡفَۃُ فَاَصۡبَحُوۡا فِیۡ دَارِہِمۡ جٰثِمِیۡنَ ﴿۷۸﴾
So the earthquake seized them, and they were motionless bodies in their abodes.
7:79
فَتَوَلّٰی عَنۡہُمۡ وَ قَالَ یٰقَوۡمِ لَقَدۡ اَبۡلَغۡتُکُمۡ رِسَالَۃَ رَبِّیۡ وَ نَصَحۡتُ لَکُمۡ وَ لٰکِنۡ لَّا تُحِبُّوۡنَ النّٰصِحِیۡنَ ﴿۷۹﴾
So he turned away from them and said: My people, indeed I delivered to you the message of my Lord and gave you good advice, but you do not love good advisers.
This evidently refers to the survivors from the great disaster.
7:80
وَ لُوۡطًا اِذۡ قَالَ لِقَوۡمِہٖۤ اَتَاۡتُوۡنَ الۡفَاحِشَۃَ مَا سَبَقَکُمۡ بِہَا مِنۡ اَحَدٍ مِّنَ الۡعٰلَمِیۡنَ ﴿۸۰﴾
And (We sent) Lot, when he said to his people: Do you commit foul deeds which no one in the world did before you?
Lot is one of those prophets who have been maligned in the Bible. He was considered a righteous servant by Abraham (Genesis, 18:23), but a little further on in the same book we are told that Lot was guilty of incestuous intercourse with his daughters. The record there has evidently been manipulated.
7:81
اِنَّکُمۡ لَتَاۡتُوۡنَ الرِّجَالَ شَہۡوَۃً مِّنۡ دُوۡنِ النِّسَآءِ ؕ بَلۡ اَنۡتُمۡ قَوۡمٌ مُّسۡرِفُوۡنَ ﴿۸۱﴾
Surely you come to males with lust instead of females. Indeed, you are a people exceeding bounds.
7:82
وَ مَا کَانَ جَوَابَ قَوۡمِہٖۤ اِلَّاۤ اَنۡ قَالُوۡۤا اَخۡرِجُوۡہُمۡ مِّنۡ قَرۡیَتِکُمۡ ۚ اِنَّہُمۡ اُنَاسٌ یَّتَطَہَّرُوۡنَ ﴿۸۲﴾
And the answer of his people was only that they said: Turn them out of your town; surely they are a people who aspire to purity!
7:83
فَاَنۡجَیۡنٰہُ وَ اَہۡلَہٗۤ اِلَّا امۡرَاَتَہٗ ۫ۖ کَانَتۡ مِنَ الۡغٰبِرِیۡنَ ﴿۸۳﴾
So We delivered him and his followers, except his wife — she was among those who remained behind.
7:84
وَ اَمۡطَرۡنَا عَلَیۡہِمۡ مَّطَرًا ؕ فَانۡظُرۡ کَیۡفَ کَانَ عَاقِبَۃُ الۡمُجۡرِمِیۡنَ ﴿٪۸۴﴾
And We rained upon them a rain. See, then, what was the end of the guilty!
The punishment which overtook the people of Lot is frequently called rain, while in 11:82 and 15:74 stones are said to have been rained down upon them. See also 54:34. It was a volcanic eruption combined with an earthquake.
Section 11 (Verses 7:85–7:93): Shuaib
7:85
وَ اِلٰی مَدۡیَنَ اَخَاہُمۡ شُعَیۡبًا ؕ قَالَ یٰقَوۡمِ اعۡبُدُوا اللّٰہَ مَا لَکُمۡ مِّنۡ اِلٰہٍ غَیۡرُہٗ ؕ قَدۡ جَآءَتۡکُمۡ بَیِّنَۃٌ مِّنۡ رَّبِّکُمۡ فَاَوۡفُوا الۡکَیۡلَ وَ الۡمِیۡزَانَ وَ لَا تَبۡخَسُوا النَّاسَ اَشۡیَآءَہُمۡ وَ لَا تُفۡسِدُوۡا فِی الۡاَرۡضِ بَعۡدَ اِصۡلَاحِہَا ؕ ذٰلِکُمۡ خَیۡرٌ لَّکُمۡ اِنۡ کُنۡتُمۡ مُّؤۡمِنِیۡنَ ﴿ۚ۸۵﴾
And to Midian (We sent) their brother Shuaib. He said: My people, serve Allah, you have no god other than Him. Clear proof indeed has come to you from your Lord, so give full measure and weight and do not diminish to people their things, nor make mischief in the land after its reform. This is better for you, if you are believers.
Shuaib was a descendant of Abraham in the fifth generation. It is generally supposed to be another name for Jethro of the Bible (Exodus, 3:1).
7:86
وَ لَا تَقۡعُدُوۡا بِکُلِّ صِرَاطٍ تُوۡعِدُوۡنَ وَ تَصُدُّوۡنَ عَنۡ سَبِیۡلِ اللّٰہِ مَنۡ اٰمَنَ بِہٖ وَ تَبۡغُوۡنَہَا عِوَجًا ۚ وَ اذۡکُرُوۡۤا اِذۡ کُنۡتُمۡ قَلِیۡلًا فَکَثَّرَکُمۡ ۪ وَ انۡظُرُوۡا کَیۡفَ کَانَ عَاقِبَۃُ الۡمُفۡسِدِیۡنَ ﴿۸۶﴾
Nor lie in wait on every road, threatening and turning away from Allah’s way him who believes in Him and seeking to make it crooked. And remember when you were few, then He multiplied you, and see what was the end of the mischief-makers!
7:87
وَ اِنۡ کَانَ طَآئِفَۃٌ مِّنۡکُمۡ اٰمَنُوۡا بِالَّذِیۡۤ اُرۡسِلۡتُ بِہٖ وَ طَآئِفَۃٌ لَّمۡ یُؤۡمِنُوۡا فَاصۡبِرُوۡا حَتّٰی یَحۡکُمَ اللّٰہُ بَیۡنَنَا ۚ وَ ہُوَ خَیۡرُ الۡحٰکِمِیۡنَ ﴿۸۷﴾
And if there are some of you who believe in what I am sent with, and others who do not believe, then wait patiently till Allah judges between us; and He is the Best of judges.
7:88
قَالَ الۡمَلَاُ الَّذِیۡنَ اسۡتَکۡبَرُوۡا مِنۡ قَوۡمِہٖ لَنُخۡرِجَنَّکَ یٰشُعَیۡبُ وَ الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا مَعَکَ مِنۡ قَرۡیَتِنَاۤ اَوۡ لَتَعُوۡدُنَّ فِیۡ مِلَّتِنَا ؕ قَالَ اَوَ لَوۡ کُنَّا کٰرِہِیۡنَ ﴿۟۸۸﴾
The arrogant chiefs of his people said: We will certainly turn you out, Shuaib, and those who believe with you from our town, or you shall come back to our religion. He said: Even though we dislike (it)?
7:89
قَدِ افۡتَرَیۡنَا عَلَی اللّٰہِ کَذِبًا اِنۡ عُدۡنَا فِیۡ مِلَّتِکُمۡ بَعۡدَ اِذۡ نَجّٰنَا اللّٰہُ مِنۡہَا ؕ وَ مَا یَکُوۡنُ لَنَاۤ اَنۡ نَّعُوۡدَ فِیۡہَاۤ اِلَّاۤ اَنۡ یَّشَآءَ اللّٰہُ رَبُّنَا ؕ وَسِعَ رَبُّنَا کُلَّ شَیۡءٍ عِلۡمًا ؕ عَلَی اللّٰہِ تَوَکَّلۡنَا ؕ رَبَّنَا افۡتَحۡ بَیۡنَنَا وَ بَیۡنَ قَوۡمِنَا بِالۡحَقِّ وَ اَنۡتَ خَیۡرُ الۡفٰتِحِیۡنَ ﴿۸۹﴾
Indeed we should have forged a lie against Allah, if we go back to your religion after Allah has deli-vered us from it. And it is not for us to go back to it, unless Allah our Lord please. Our Lord comprehends all things in His knowledge. In Allah do we trust. Our Lord, decide between us and our people with truth, and You are the Best of deciders.
7:90
وَ قَالَ الۡمَلَاُ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا مِنۡ قَوۡمِہٖ لَئِنِ اتَّبَعۡتُمۡ شُعَیۡبًا اِنَّکُمۡ اِذًا لَّخٰسِرُوۡنَ ﴿۹۰﴾
And the chiefs of his people, who disbelieved, said: If you follow Shuaib, you are surely losers.
7:91
فَاَخَذَتۡہُمُ الرَّجۡفَۃُ فَاَصۡبَحُوۡا فِیۡ دَارِہِمۡ جٰثِمِیۡنَ ﴿ۚۖۛ۹۱﴾
So the earthquake overtook them, and they were motionless bodies in their homes —
7:92
الَّذِیۡنَ کَذَّبُوۡا شُعَیۡبًا کَاَنۡ لَّمۡ یَغۡنَوۡا فِیۡہَا ۚۛ اَلَّذِیۡنَ کَذَّبُوۡا شُعَیۡبًا کَانُوۡا ہُمُ الۡخٰسِرِیۡنَ ﴿۹۲﴾
Those who called Shuaib a liar were as though they had never dwelt there — those who called Shuaib a liar, they were the losers.
7:93
فَتَوَلّٰی عَنۡہُمۡ وَ قَالَ یٰقَوۡمِ لَقَدۡ اَبۡلَغۡتُکُمۡ رِسٰلٰتِ رَبِّیۡ وَ نَصَحۡتُ لَکُمۡ ۚ فَکَیۡفَ اٰسٰی عَلٰی قَوۡمٍ کٰفِرِیۡنَ ﴿٪۹۳﴾
So he turned away from them and said: My people, indeed I delivered to you the messages of my Lord and I gave you good advice; how, then, should I be sorry for a disbelieving people?
Section 12 (Verses 7:94–7:99): Makkans Warned of Punishment
7:94
وَ مَاۤ اَرۡسَلۡنَا فِیۡ قَرۡیَۃٍ مِّنۡ نَّبِیٍّ اِلَّاۤ اَخَذۡنَاۤ اَہۡلَہَا بِالۡبَاۡسَآءِ وَ الضَّرَّآءِ لَعَلَّہُمۡ یَضَّرَّعُوۡنَ ﴿۹۴﴾
And We did not send a prophet to a town but We seized its people with distress and affliction that they might humble themselves.
That the histories of the nations are meant as a warning to all opponents of truth is evident. It is also plain that even afflictions and distress sent on a people are meant for their spiritual betterment, that they might humble themselves.
7:95
ثُمَّ بَدَّلۡنَا مَکَانَ السَّیِّئَۃِ الۡحَسَنَۃَ حَتّٰی عَفَوۡا وَّ قَالُوۡا قَدۡ مَسَّ اٰبَآءَنَا الضَّرَّآءُ وَ السَّرَّآءُ فَاَخَذۡنٰہُمۡ بَغۡتَۃً وَّ ہُمۡ لَا یَشۡعُرُوۡنَ ﴿۹۵﴾
Then We changed the evil for good, till they became affluent and said: Distress and happiness did indeed touch our fathers. So We took them by surprise while they did not perceive.
7:96
وَ لَوۡ اَنَّ اَہۡلَ الۡقُرٰۤی اٰمَنُوۡا وَ اتَّقَوۡا لَفَتَحۡنَا عَلَیۡہِمۡ بَرَکٰتٍ مِّنَ السَّمَآءِ وَ الۡاَرۡضِ وَ لٰکِنۡ کَذَّبُوۡا فَاَخَذۡنٰہُمۡ بِمَا کَانُوۡا یَکۡسِبُوۡنَ ﴿۹۶﴾
And if the people of the towns had believed and kept their duty, We would certainly have opened for them blessings from the heavens and the earth. But they rejected, so We seized them for what they earned.
7:97
اَفَاَمِنَ اَہۡلُ الۡقُرٰۤی اَنۡ یَّاۡتِیَہُمۡ بَاۡسُنَا بَیَاتًا وَّ ہُمۡ نَآئِمُوۡنَ ﴿ؕ۹۷﴾
Are the people of the towns, then, secure from Our punishment coming to them by night while they sleep?
7:98
اَوَ اَمِنَ اَہۡلُ الۡقُرٰۤی اَنۡ یَّاۡتِیَہُمۡ بَاۡسُنَا ضُحًی وَّ ہُمۡ یَلۡعَبُوۡنَ ﴿۹۸﴾
Or, are the people of the towns secure from Our punishment coming to them in the morning while they play?
The playing may be taken either literally or it may indicate the worldly engagements in which they were occupied to the utter neglect of higher aspirations.
7:99
اَفَاَمِنُوۡا مَکۡرَ اللّٰہِ ۚ فَلَا یَاۡمَنُ مَکۡرَ اللّٰہِ اِلَّا الۡقَوۡمُ الۡخٰسِرُوۡنَ ﴿٪۹۹﴾
Are they secure from Allah’s plan? But none feels secure from Allah’s plan except the people who perish.
Section 13 (Verses 7:100–7:108): Moses sent to Pharaoh with Signs
7:100
اَوَ لَمۡ یَہۡدِ لِلَّذِیۡنَ یَرِثُوۡنَ الۡاَرۡضَ مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِ اَہۡلِہَاۤ اَنۡ لَّوۡ نَشَآءُ اَصَبۡنٰہُمۡ بِذُنُوۡبِہِمۡ ۚ وَ نَطۡبَعُ عَلٰی قُلُوۡبِہِمۡ فَہُمۡ لَا یَسۡمَعُوۡنَ ﴿۱۰۰﴾
Is it not clear to those who inherit the earth after its (former) residents that, if We please, We would afflict them for their sins, and seal their hearts so they would not hear?
7:101
تِلۡکَ الۡقُرٰی نَقُصُّ عَلَیۡکَ مِنۡ اَنۡۢبَآئِہَا ۚ وَ لَقَدۡ جَآءَتۡہُمۡ رُسُلُہُمۡ بِالۡبَیِّنٰتِ ۚ فَمَا کَانُوۡا لِیُؤۡمِنُوۡا بِمَا کَذَّبُوۡا مِنۡ قَبۡلُ ؕ کَذٰلِکَ یَطۡبَعُ اللّٰہُ عَلٰی قُلُوۡبِ الۡکٰفِرِیۡنَ ﴿۱۰۱﴾
Such were the towns some of whose news We have related to you. And certainly their messengers came to them with clear arguments, but they would not believe what they had rejected before. Thus does Allah seal the hearts of the disbelievers.
7:102
وَ مَا وَجَدۡنَا لِاَکۡثَرِہِمۡ مِّنۡ عَہۡدٍ ۚ وَ اِنۡ وَّجَدۡنَاۤ اَکۡثَرَہُمۡ لَفٰسِقِیۡنَ ﴿۱۰۲﴾
And We did not find in most of them (faithfulness to) covenant; and We found most of them to be transgressors.
7:103
ثُمَّ بَعَثۡنَا مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِہِمۡ مُّوۡسٰی بِاٰیٰتِنَاۤ اِلٰی فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَ مَلَا۠ئِہٖ فَظَلَمُوۡا بِہَا ۚ فَانۡظُرۡ کَیۡفَ کَانَ عَاقِبَۃُ الۡمُفۡسِدِیۡنَ ﴿۱۰۳﴾
Then, after them, We sent Moses with Our messages to Pharaoh and his chiefs, but they disbelieved them. See, then, what was the end of the mischief-makers!
The history of Moses is here taken up in detail. The Holy Prophet Muhammad had more in common with Moses than with any other prophet, and he is called the like of Moses in the Mosaic prophecies.
7:104
وَ قَالَ مُوۡسٰی یٰفِرۡعَوۡنُ اِنِّیۡ رَسُوۡلٌ مِّنۡ رَّبِّ الۡعٰلَمِیۡنَ ﴿۱۰۴﴾ۙ
And Moses said: O Pharaoh, surely I am a messenger from the Lord of the worlds,
7:105
حَقِیۡقٌ عَلٰۤی اَنۡ لَّاۤ اَقُوۡلَ عَلَی اللّٰہِ اِلَّا الۡحَقَّ ؕ قَدۡ جِئۡتُکُمۡ بِبَیِّنَۃٍ مِّنۡ رَّبِّکُمۡ فَاَرۡسِلۡ مَعِیَ بَنِیۡۤ اِسۡرَآءِیۡلَ ﴿۱۰۵﴾ؕ
worthy of not saying anything about Allah except the truth. I have come to you indeed with clear proof from your Lord, so let the Children of Israel go with me.
7:106
قَالَ اِنۡ کُنۡتَ جِئۡتَ بِاٰیَۃٍ فَاۡتِ بِہَاۤ اِنۡ کُنۡتَ مِنَ الصّٰدِقِیۡنَ ﴿۱۰۶﴾
He said: If you have come with a sign, produce it, if you are truthful.
7:107
فَاَلۡقٰی عَصَاہُ فَاِذَا ہِیَ ثُعۡبَانٌ مُّبِیۡنٌ ﴿۱۰۷﴾ۚۖ
So he threw down his staff, then lo! it was an obvious snake.
7:108
وَّ نَزَعَ یَدَہٗ فَاِذَا ہِیَ بَیۡضَآءُ لِلنّٰظِرِیۡنَ ﴿۱۰۸﴾٪
And he drew forth his hand, and lo! it was white to the onlookers.
It is nowhere stated that whenever Moses threw down his rod it turned into a snake. Only on two occasions the rod is stated to have turned into a snake: (1) when Moses held communion with God before going to Pharaoh; (2) when he first came before Pharaoh, or when Pharaoh summoned the enchanters to his help. On the first of these occasions the rod was seen turning into a snake by Moses alone, when he was in a state of vision — the state in which a prophet is temporarily transported to a spiritual sphere. On the latter occasion others besides Moses witnessed the change, but it is a fact that the effect of inspired vision is sometimes so strong that others besides the seer partake in it. Whatever their real nature, these miracles of Moses were not mere play. The great truth underlying the rod or staff turning into a snake was that the followers of Moses, as represented by his rod, would prevail over their enemies; and the significance underlying the whitening of Moses’ hand was that his arguments would shine forth with clearness.
Section 14 (Verses 7:109–7:126): Pharaoh Summons Enchanters
7:109
قَالَ الۡمَلَاُ مِنۡ قَوۡمِ فِرۡعَوۡنَ اِنَّ ہٰذَا لَسٰحِرٌ عَلِیۡمٌ ﴿۱۰۹﴾ۙ
The chiefs of Pharaoh’s people said: Surely this is a skilful enchanter!
7:110
یُّرِیۡدُ اَنۡ یُّخۡرِجَکُمۡ مِّنۡ اَرۡضِکُمۡ ۚ فَمَا ذَا تَاۡمُرُوۡنَ ﴿۱۱۰﴾
He intends to turn you out of your land. (Pharaoh said:) What do you advise?
7:111
قَالُوۡۤا اَرۡجِہۡ وَ اَخَاہُ وَ اَرۡسِلۡ فِی الۡمَدَآئِنِ حٰشِرِیۡنَ ﴿۱۱۱﴾ۙ
They said: Put him off and his brother, and send heralds into the cities,
7:113
وَ جَآءَ السَّحَرَۃُ فِرۡعَوۡنَ قَالُوۡۤا اِنَّ لَنَا لَاَجۡرًا اِنۡ کُنَّا نَحۡنُ الۡغٰلِبِیۡنَ ﴿۱۱۳﴾
And the enchanters came to Pharaoh, saying: We must surely have a reward if we prevail.
7:114
قَالَ نَعَمۡ وَ اِنَّکُمۡ لَمِنَ الۡمُقَرَّبِیۡنَ ﴿۱۱۴﴾
He said: Yes, and you shall certainly be among those who are near (to me).
7:115
قَالُوۡا یٰمُوۡسٰۤی اِمَّاۤ اَنۡ تُلۡقِیَ وَ اِمَّاۤ اَنۡ نَّکُوۡنَ نَحۡنُ الۡمُلۡقِیۡنَ ﴿۱۱۵﴾
They said: Moses, will you throw, or shall we (be the first to) throw?
7:116
قَالَ اَلۡقُوۡا ۚ فَلَمَّاۤ اَلۡقَوۡا سَحَرُوۡۤا اَعۡیُنَ النَّاسِ وَ اسۡتَرۡہَبُوۡہُمۡ وَ جَآءُوۡ بِسِحۡرٍ عَظِیۡمٍ ﴿۱۱۶﴾
He said: You throw. So when they threw, they deceived the people’s eyes and overawed them, and they produced a mighty enchantment.
7:117
وَ اَوۡحَیۡنَاۤ اِلٰی مُوۡسٰۤی اَنۡ اَلۡقِ عَصَاکَ ۚ فَاِذَا ہِیَ تَلۡقَفُ مَا یَاۡفِکُوۡنَ ﴿۱۱۷﴾ۚ
And We revealed to Moses: Throw down your staff. Then lo! it swallowed up their lies.
7:118
فَوَقَعَ الۡحَقُّ وَ بَطَلَ مَا کَانُوۡا یَعۡمَلُوۡنَ ﴿۱۱۸﴾ۚ
So the truth was established, and what they did became null.
7:119
فَغُلِبُوۡا ہُنَالِکَ وَ انۡقَلَبُوۡا صٰغِرِیۡنَ ﴿۱۱۹﴾ۚ
There they were defeated, and they went back humiliated.
7:121
قَالُوۡۤا اٰمَنَّا بِرَبِّ الۡعٰلَمِیۡنَ ﴿۱۲۱﴾ۙ
They said: We believe in the Lord of the worlds,
7:123
قَالَ فِرۡعَوۡنُ اٰمَنۡتُمۡ بِہٖ قَبۡلَ اَنۡ اٰذَنَ لَکُمۡ ۚ اِنَّ ہٰذَا لَمَکۡرٌ مَّکَرۡتُمُوۡہُ فِی الۡمَدِیۡنَۃِ لِتُخۡرِجُوۡا مِنۡہَاۤ اَہۡلَہَا ۚ فَسَوۡفَ تَعۡلَمُوۡنَ ﴿۱۲۳﴾
Pharaoh said: You believe in Him before I give you permission! Surely this is a plot which you have plotted in the city, to turn out of it its people, but you shall know!
7:124
لَاُقَطِّعَنَّ اَیۡدِیَکُمۡ وَ اَرۡجُلَکُمۡ مِّنۡ خِلَافٍ ثُمَّ لَاُصَلِّبَنَّکُمۡ اَجۡمَعِیۡنَ ﴿۱۲۴﴾
I shall certainly cut off your hands and your feet on opposite sides, then I shall crucify you all together!
7:125
قَالُوۡۤا اِنَّاۤ اِلٰی رَبِّنَا مُنۡقَلِبُوۡنَ ﴿۱۲۵﴾ۚ
They said: Surely to our Lord do we return.
7:126
وَ مَا تَنۡقِمُ مِنَّاۤ اِلَّاۤ اَنۡ اٰمَنَّا بِاٰیٰتِ رَبِّنَا لَمَّا جَآءَتۡنَا ؕ رَبَّنَاۤ اَفۡرِغۡ عَلَیۡنَا صَبۡرًا وَّ تَوَفَّنَا مُسۡلِمِیۡنَ ﴿۱۲۶﴾٪
And you take revenge on us only because we believed in the messages of our Lord when they came to us. Our Lord, pour out on us patience and cause us to die in submission (to You)!
The Bible does not speak of the magicians as believing in the Divine mission of Moses when they were vanquished, but according to Rabbinical literature, some Egyptians accompanied Moses when he departed from Egypt. It should be noted that the magicians could not have believed unless they had heard the arguments of Moses as to the existence of God and as to a life after death in which they now believed so staunchly that they were ready to sacrifice their very lives for their faith. It shows that Moses had explained the essential religious truths to the whole gathering before he showed the signs.
Section 15 (Verses 7:127–7:129): Persecution of Israelites Continues
7:127
وَ قَالَ الۡمَلَاُ مِنۡ قَوۡمِ فِرۡعَوۡنَ اَتَذَرُ مُوۡسٰی وَ قَوۡمَہٗ لِیُفۡسِدُوۡا فِی الۡاَرۡضِ وَ یَذَرَکَ وَ اٰلِہَتَکَ ؕ قَالَ سَنُقَتِّلُ اَبۡنَآءَہُمۡ وَ نَسۡتَحۡیٖ نِسَآءَہُمۡ ۚ وَ اِنَّا فَوۡقَہُمۡ قٰہِرُوۡنَ ﴿۱۲۷﴾
And the chiefs of Pharaoh’s people said: Will you leave Moses and his people to make mischief in the land and forsake you and your gods? He said: We will kill their sons and spare their women, and surely we are dominant over them.
7:128
قَالَ مُوۡسٰی لِقَوۡمِہِ اسۡتَعِیۡنُوۡا بِاللّٰہِ وَ اصۡبِرُوۡا ۚ اِنَّ الۡاَرۡضَ لِلّٰہِ ۟ۙ یُوۡرِثُہَا مَنۡ یَّشَآءُ مِنۡ عِبَادِہٖ ؕ وَ الۡعَاقِبَۃُ لِلۡمُتَّقِیۡنَ ﴿۱۲۸﴾
Moses said to his people: Ask help from Allah and be patient. Surely the land is Allah’s — He gives it for an inheritance to such of His servants as He pleases. And the end is for those who keep their duty.
7:129
قَالُوۡۤا اُوۡذِیۡنَا مِنۡ قَبۡلِ اَنۡ تَاۡتِیَنَا وَ مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِ مَا جِئۡتَنَا ؕ قَالَ عَسٰی رَبُّکُمۡ اَنۡ یُّہۡلِکَ عَدُوَّکُمۡ وَ یَسۡتَخۡلِفَکُمۡ فِی الۡاَرۡضِ فَیَنۡظُرَ کَیۡفَ تَعۡمَلُوۡنَ ﴿۱۲۹﴾٪
They said: We were persecuted before you came to us and since you have come to us. He said: It may be that your Lord will destroy your enemy and make you rulers in the land, then He will see how you act.
By the land is meant the Promised Land, for it was there that Moses was taking them. Their being made rulers in the land was conditional upon their doing good; this is suggested in the concluding words of the verse.
Section 16 (Verses 7:130–7:141): Moses Shows more Signs
7:130
وَ لَقَدۡ اَخَذۡنَاۤ اٰلَ فِرۡعَوۡنَ بِالسِّنِیۡنَ وَ نَقۡصٍ مِّنَ الثَّمَرٰتِ لَعَلَّہُمۡ یَذَّکَّرُوۡنَ ﴿۱۳۰﴾
And certainly We overtook Pharaoh’s people with droughts and shortage of fruits that they might be mindful.
7:131
فَاِذَا جَآءَتۡہُمُ الۡحَسَنَۃُ قَالُوۡا لَنَا ہٰذِہٖ ۚ وَ اِنۡ تُصِبۡہُمۡ سَیِّئَۃٌ یَّطَّیَّرُوۡا بِمُوۡسٰی وَ مَنۡ مَّعَہٗ ؕ اَلَاۤ اِنَّمَا طٰٓئِرُہُمۡ عِنۡدَ اللّٰہِ وَ لٰکِنَّ اَکۡثَرَہُمۡ لَا یَعۡلَمُوۡنَ ﴿۱۳۱﴾
But when good befell them they said: This is due to us. And when evil afflicted them, they attributed it to the ill-luck of Moses and those with him. Surely their evil fortune is only from Allah, but most of them do not know.
Their evil fortune is from Allah means that the misfortunes which they were made to suffer were brought about by Allah as a result of their own evil deeds.
7:132
وَ قَالُوۡا مَہۡمَا تَاۡتِنَا بِہٖ مِنۡ اٰیَۃٍ لِّتَسۡحَرَنَا بِہَا ۙ فَمَا نَحۡنُ لَکَ بِمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ ﴿۱۳۲﴾
And they said: Whatever sign you may bring us to charm us with it — we shall not believe in you.
7:133
فَاَرۡسَلۡنَا عَلَیۡہِمُ الطُّوۡفَانَ وَ الۡجَرَادَ وَ الۡقُمَّلَ وَ الضَّفَادِعَ وَ الدَّمَ اٰیٰتٍ مُّفَصَّلٰتٍ ۟ فَاسۡتَکۡبَرُوۡا وَ کَانُوۡا قَوۡمًا مُّجۡرِمِیۡنَ ﴿۱۳۳﴾
So We sent upon them widespread death, and the locusts and the lice and the frogs and the blood — clear signs. But they behaved haughtily and they were a guilty people.
7:134
وَ لَمَّا وَقَعَ عَلَیۡہِمُ الرِّجۡزُ قَالُوۡا یٰمُوۡسَی ادۡعُ لَنَا رَبَّکَ بِمَا عَہِدَ عِنۡدَکَ ۚ لَئِنۡ کَشَفۡتَ عَنَّا الرِّجۡزَ لَنُؤۡمِنَنَّ لَکَ وَ لَنُرۡسِلَنَّ مَعَکَ بَنِیۡۤ اِسۡرَآءِیۡلَ ﴿۱۳۴﴾ۚ
And when the plague fell upon them, they said: Moses, pray for us to your Lord as He has made promise with you. If you remove the plague from us, we will certainly believe in you and will let the Children of Israel go with you.
7:135
فَلَمَّا کَشَفۡنَا عَنۡہُمُ الرِّجۡزَ اِلٰۤی اَجَلٍ ہُمۡ بٰلِغُوۡہُ اِذَا ہُمۡ یَنۡکُثُوۡنَ ﴿۱۳۵﴾
But when We removed the plague from them till a term which they should attain, lo! they broke (their promise).
A reference to Exodus, ch. 8–11, will show that Pharaoh again and again broke his promise to let the Children of Israel go — promises which he made on condition that a certain affliction should be removed.
7:136
فَانۡتَقَمۡنَا مِنۡہُمۡ فَاَغۡرَقۡنٰہُمۡ فِی الۡیَمِّ بِاَنَّہُمۡ کَذَّبُوۡا بِاٰیٰتِنَا وَ کَانُوۡا عَنۡہَا غٰفِلِیۡنَ ﴿۱۳۶﴾
So We exacted retribution from them and drowned them in the sea, because they rejected Our signs and were heedless of them.
7:137
وَ اَوۡرَثۡنَا الۡقَوۡمَ الَّذِیۡنَ کَانُوۡا یُسۡتَضۡعَفُوۡنَ مَشَارِقَ الۡاَرۡضِ وَ مَغَارِبَہَا الَّتِیۡ بٰرَکۡنَا فِیۡہَا ؕ وَ تَمَّتۡ کَلِمَتُ رَبِّکَ الۡحُسۡنٰی عَلٰی بَنِیۡۤ اِسۡرَآءِیۡلَ ۬ۙ بِمَا صَبَرُوۡا ؕ وَ دَمَّرۡنَا مَا کَانَ یَصۡنَعُ فِرۡعَوۡنُ وَ قَوۡمُہٗ وَ مَا کَانُوۡا یَعۡرِشُوۡنَ ﴿۱۳۷﴾
And We made the people who were considered weak to inherit the eastern lands and the western ones which We had blessed. And the good word of your Lord was fulfilled in the Children of Israel — because of their patience. And We destroyed what Pharaoh and his people had produced and what they had built.
The land that was blessed is none other than the Holy Land, for which a Divine promise was given to Abraham. The good word referred to here is that contained in Genesis 17:8. The eastern and the western lands might signify the eastern and the western tracts of the Holy Land, or the lands on the eastern and western sides of the Jordan.
7:138
وَ جٰوَزۡنَا بِبَنِیۡۤ اِسۡرَآءِیۡلَ الۡبَحۡرَ فَاَتَوۡا عَلٰی قَوۡمٍ یَّعۡکُفُوۡنَ عَلٰۤی اَصۡنَامٍ لَّہُمۡ ۚ قَالُوۡا یٰمُوۡسَی اجۡعَلۡ لَّنَاۤ اِلٰـہًا کَمَا لَہُمۡ اٰلِـہَۃٌ ؕ قَالَ اِنَّکُمۡ قَوۡمٌ تَجۡہَلُوۡنَ ﴿۱۳۸﴾
And We took the Children of Israel across the sea. Then they came to a people who were devoted to their idols. They said: Moses, make for us a god as they have gods. He said: Surely you are an ignorant people!
The Israelites undoubtedly came across idolatrous nations in their wanderings. They themselves had idolatrous leanings: “…the people gathered together to Aaron, and said to him, Come, make us gods that shall go before us” (Exodus, 32:1). Many other anecdotes show a similar tendency to idol-worship.
7:139
اِنَّ ہٰۤؤُلَآءِ مُتَبَّرٌ مَّا ہُمۡ فِیۡہِ وَ بٰطِلٌ مَّا کَانُوۡا یَعۡمَلُوۡنَ ﴿۱۳۹﴾
(As to) these, what they are engaged in shall be destroyed and what they do is futile.
7:140
قَالَ اَغَیۡرَ اللّٰہِ اَبۡغِیۡکُمۡ اِلٰـہًا وَّ ہُوَ فَضَّلَکُمۡ عَلَی الۡعٰلَمِیۡنَ ﴿۱۴۰﴾
He said: Shall I seek for you a god other than Allah, while He has made you excel (all) created things?
Moses’ argument against idolatry is the one to which the Quran repeatedly calls attention, namely, that man, being as it were the lord of creation under God, and excelling the whole of creation, should not take objects lower than himself as his gods.
7:141
وَ اِذۡ اَنۡجَیۡنٰکُمۡ مِّنۡ اٰلِ فِرۡعَوۡنَ یَسُوۡمُوۡنَکُمۡ سُوۡٓءَ الۡعَذَابِ ۚ یُقَتِّلُوۡنَ اَبۡنَآءَکُمۡ وَ یَسۡتَحۡیُوۡنَ نِسَآءَکُمۡ ؕ وَ فِیۡ ذٰلِکُمۡ بَلَآءٌ مِّنۡ رَّبِّکُمۡ عَظِیۡمٌ ﴿۱۴۱﴾٪
And when We delivered you from Pharaoh’s people, who subjected you to severe torment, killing your sons and sparing your women. And in it there was a great trial from your Lord.
Section 17 (Verses 7:142–7:147): Moses Receives the Law
7:142
وَ وٰعَدۡنَا مُوۡسٰی ثَلٰثِیۡنَ لَیۡلَۃً وَّ اَتۡمَمۡنٰہَا بِعَشۡرٍ فَتَمَّ مِیۡقَاتُ رَبِّہٖۤ اَرۡبَعِیۡنَ لَیۡلَۃً ۚ وَ قَالَ مُوۡسٰی لِاَخِیۡہِ ہٰرُوۡنَ اخۡلُفۡنِیۡ فِیۡ قَوۡمِیۡ وَ اَصۡلِحۡ وَ لَا تَتَّبِعۡ سَبِیۡلَ الۡمُفۡسِدِیۡنَ ﴿۱۴۲﴾
And We appointed for Moses thirty nights, and completed them with ten, so the appointed time of his Lord was complete forty nights. And Moses said to his brother Aaron: Take my place among my people, and act well and do not follow the way of the mischief-makers.
7:143
وَ لَمَّا جَآءَ مُوۡسٰی لِمِیۡقَاتِنَا وَ کَلَّمَہٗ رَبُّہٗ ۙ قَالَ رَبِّ اَرِنِیۡۤ اَنۡظُرۡ اِلَیۡکَ ؕ قَالَ لَنۡ تَرٰىنِیۡ وَ لٰکِنِ انۡظُرۡ اِلَی الۡجَبَلِ فَاِنِ اسۡتَقَرَّ مَکَانَہٗ فَسَوۡفَ تَرٰىنِیۡ ۚ فَلَمَّا تَجَلّٰی رَبُّہٗ لِلۡجَبَلِ جَعَلَہٗ دَکًّا وَّ خَرَّ مُوۡسٰی صَعِقًا ۚ فَلَمَّاۤ اَفَاقَ قَالَ سُبۡحٰنَکَ تُبۡتُ اِلَیۡکَ وَ اَنَا اَوَّلُ الۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ ﴿۱۴۳﴾
And when Moses came at Our appointed time and his Lord spoke to him, he said: My Lord, show me (Yourself) so that I may look at You. He said: You cannot see Me, but look at the mountain; if it remains firm in its place, then will you see Me. So when his Lord manifested His glory to the mountain, He made it crumble and Moses fell down fainting. Then when he recovered, he said: Glory be to You! I turn to You, and I am the first of the believers.
The words You cannot see Me negative the seeing of the Divine Being with the physical eye. Moses’ request seems to have been based on the elders’ demand spoken of in 2:55. I venture, however, another explanation. What Moses wanted to see was the great manifestation of Divine glory which was reserved for the Holy Prophet Muhammad. In fact, both Moses and Jesus were not equal to the task which was reserved for the Prophet Muhammad. Jesus said that he could not teach his followers all things, but that when the Comforter made his appearance he would guide them into all truth. That Moses was unequal to the Holy Prophet’s task was clearly demonstrated by his falling down in a swoon when he beheld the Great Manifestation.
7:144
قَالَ یٰمُوۡسٰۤی اِنِّی اصۡطَفَیۡتُکَ عَلَی النَّاسِ بِرِسٰلٰتِیۡ وَ بِکَلَامِیۡ ۫ۖ فَخُذۡ مَاۤ اٰتَیۡتُکَ وَ کُنۡ مِّنَ الشّٰکِرِیۡنَ ﴿۱۴۴﴾
He said: O Moses, surely I have chosen you above the people by My messages and My words. So take hold of what I give you and be of the grateful ones.
7:145
وَ کَتَبۡنَا لَہٗ فِی الۡاَلۡوَاحِ مِنۡ کُلِّ شَیۡءٍ مَّوۡعِظَۃً وَّ تَفۡصِیۡلًا لِّکُلِّ شَیۡءٍ ۚ فَخُذۡہَا بِقُوَّۃٍ وَّ اۡمُرۡ قَوۡمَکَ یَاۡخُذُوۡا بِاَحۡسَنِہَا ؕ سَاُورِیۡکُمۡ دَارَ الۡفٰسِقِیۡنَ ﴿۱۴۵﴾
And We ordained for him in the tablets admonition of every kind and clear explanation of all things. So take hold of these (teachings) with firmness and command your people to take hold of the best of these. I shall show you the abode of the transgressors.
The words admonition of every kind and explanation of all things cannot be taken generally, but are limited by the requirements of the time in which Moses appeared.
7:146
سَاَصۡرِفُ عَنۡ اٰیٰتِیَ الَّذِیۡنَ یَتَکَبَّرُوۡنَ فِی الۡاَرۡضِ بِغَیۡرِ الۡحَقِّ ؕ وَ اِنۡ یَّرَوۡا کُلَّ اٰیَۃٍ لَّا یُؤۡمِنُوۡا بِہَا ۚ وَ اِنۡ یَّرَوۡا سَبِیۡلَ الرُّشۡدِ لَا یَتَّخِذُوۡہُ سَبِیۡلًا ۚ وَ اِنۡ یَّرَوۡا سَبِیۡلَ الۡغَیِّ یَتَّخِذُوۡہُ سَبِیۡلًا ؕ ذٰلِکَ بِاَنَّہُمۡ کَذَّبُوۡا بِاٰیٰتِنَا وَ کَانُوۡا عَنۡہَا غٰفِلِیۡنَ ﴿۱۴۶﴾
I shall turn away from My messages those who are unjustly proud in the earth. And if they see every sign, they will not believe in it; and if they see the way of rectitude, they do not take it for a way; and if they see the way of error, they take it for a way. This is because they reject Our messages and are heedless of them.
7:147
وَ الَّذِیۡنَ کَذَّبُوۡا بِاٰیٰتِنَا وَ لِقَآءِ الۡاٰخِرَۃِ حَبِطَتۡ اَعۡمَالُہُمۡ ؕ ہَلۡ یُجۡزَوۡنَ اِلَّا مَا کَانُوۡا یَعۡمَلُوۡنَ ﴿۱۴۷﴾٪
And those who reject Our messages and the meeting of the Hereafter — their deeds are fruitless. Can they be rewarded except for what they do?
Section 18 (Verses 7:148–7:151): Israelites Worship a Calf
7:148
وَ اتَّخَذَ قَوۡمُ مُوۡسٰی مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِہٖ مِنۡ حُلِیِّہِمۡ عِجۡلًا جَسَدًا لَّہٗ خُوَارٌ ؕ اَلَمۡ یَرَوۡا اَنَّہٗ لَا یُکَلِّمُہُمۡ وَ لَا یَہۡدِیۡہِمۡ سَبِیۡلًا ۘ اِتَّخَذُوۡہُ وَ کَانُوۡا ظٰلِمِیۡنَ ﴿۱۴۸﴾
And Moses’ people made of their ornaments a calf after him — a (lifeless) body, having a lowing sound. Could they not see that it did not speak to them, nor guided them in the way? They took it (for worship) and they were unjust.
The word jasad means a body, as well as red or intensely yellow. The former meaning indicates that the calf was a mere lifeless body, yet it was so made that it gave a lowing sound like that of a calf. The other meaning also provides a true description of the calf as it was made of gold ornaments.
7:149
وَ لَمَّا سُقِطَ فِیۡۤ اَیۡدِیۡہِمۡ وَ رَاَوۡا اَنَّہُمۡ قَدۡ ضَلُّوۡا ۙ قَالُوۡا لَئِنۡ لَّمۡ یَرۡحَمۡنَا رَبُّنَا وَ یَغۡفِرۡ لَنَا لَنَکُوۡنَنَّ مِنَ الۡخٰسِرِیۡنَ ﴿۱۴۹﴾
And when they repented and saw that they had gone astray, they said: If our Lord have not mercy on us and forgive us, we shall certainly be losers.
The Israelites’ repentance, though mentioned first, was subsequent to Moses’ return (2:54). The order here connects the repentance with the sin.
7:150
وَ لَمَّا رَجَعَ مُوۡسٰۤی اِلٰی قَوۡمِہٖ غَضۡبَانَ اَسِفًا ۙ قَالَ بِئۡسَمَا خَلَفۡتُمُوۡنِیۡ مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِیۡ ۚ اَعَجِلۡتُمۡ اَمۡرَ رَبِّکُمۡ ۚ وَ اَلۡقَی الۡاَلۡوَاحَ وَ اَخَذَ بِرَاۡسِ اَخِیۡہِ یَجُرُّہٗۤ اِلَیۡہِ ؕ قَالَ ابۡنَ اُمَّ اِنَّ الۡقَوۡمَ اسۡتَضۡعَفُوۡنِیۡ وَ کَادُوۡا یَقۡتُلُوۡنَنِیۡ ۫ۖ فَلَا تُشۡمِتۡ بِیَ الۡاَعۡدَآءَ وَ لَا تَجۡعَلۡنِیۡ مَعَ الۡقَوۡمِ الظّٰلِمِیۡنَ ﴿۱۵۰﴾
And when Moses returned to his people, angry, grieved, he said: Evil is what you have done after me! Did you hasten on the judgment of your Lord? And he threw down the tablets and seized his brother by the head, dragging him towards him. (Aaron) said: Son of my mother, the people reckoned me weak and had almost killed me. So do not make the enemies to rejoice over me and do not count me among the unjust people.
7:151
قَالَ رَبِّ اغۡفِرۡ لِیۡ وَ لِاَخِیۡ وَ اَدۡخِلۡنَا فِیۡ رَحۡمَتِکَ ۫ۖ وَ اَنۡتَ اَرۡحَمُ الرّٰحِمِیۡنَ ﴿۱۵۱﴾٪
(Moses) said: My Lord, forgive me and my brother, and admit us to Your mercy, and You are the most Merciful of those who show mercy.
Aaron’s excuse and Moses’ acceptance of it show clearly that Aaron was quite innocent, having had a share neither in making the calf nor in worshipping it. The Bible account, which makes a righteous prophet of God guilty of the most heinous crime, must be rejected as untrue. That forgiveness was not sought for any fault in connection with calf-worship is clear from the fact that Moses joins himself with Aaron in the prayer given in this verse. Forgiveness here, as frequently elsewhere in the Quran, is equivalent to the Divine protection which everyone should seek against the shortcomings of human nature.
Section 19 (Verses 7:152–7:157): The Torah and the Prophet’s Advent
7:152
اِنَّ الَّذِیۡنَ اتَّخَذُوا الۡعِجۡلَ سَیَنَالُہُمۡ غَضَبٌ مِّنۡ رَّبِّہِمۡ وَ ذِلَّۃٌ فِی الۡحَیٰوۃِ الدُّنۡیَا ؕ وَ کَذٰلِکَ نَجۡزِی الۡمُفۡتَرِیۡنَ ﴿۱۵۲﴾
Those who took the calf (for a god) — wrath from their Lord, and disgrace in this world’s life, will surely come upon them. And thus do We recompense those who invent lies.
7:153
وَ الَّذِیۡنَ عَمِلُوا السَّیِّاٰتِ ثُمَّ تَابُوۡا مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِہَا وَ اٰمَنُوۡۤا ۫ اِنَّ رَبَّکَ مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِہَا لَغَفُوۡرٌ رَّحِیۡمٌ ﴿۱۵۳﴾
And those who do evil deeds, then repent after that and believe — your Lord after that is surely Forgiving, Merciful.
7:154
وَ لَمَّا سَکَتَ عَنۡ مُّوۡسَی الۡغَضَبُ اَخَذَ الۡاَلۡوَاحَ ۚۖ وَ فِیۡ نُسۡخَتِہَا ہُدًی وَّ رَحۡمَۃٌ لِّلَّذِیۡنَ ہُمۡ لِرَبِّہِمۡ یَرۡہَبُوۡنَ ﴿۱۵۴﴾
And when Moses’ anger calmed down, he took up the tablets; and in the writing thereof was guidance and mercy for those who fear their Lord.
7:155
وَ اخۡتَارَ مُوۡسٰی قَوۡمَہٗ سَبۡعِیۡنَ رَجُلًا لِّمِیۡقَاتِنَا ۚ فَلَمَّاۤ اَخَذَتۡہُمُ الرَّجۡفَۃُ قَالَ رَبِّ لَوۡ شِئۡتَ اَہۡلَکۡتَہُمۡ مِّنۡ قَبۡلُ وَ اِیَّایَ ؕ اَتُہۡلِکُنَا بِمَا فَعَلَ السُّفَہَآءُ مِنَّا ۚ اِنۡ ہِیَ اِلَّا فِتۡنَتُکَ ؕ تُضِلُّ بِہَا مَنۡ تَشَآءُ وَ تَہۡدِیۡ مَنۡ تَشَآءُ ؕ اَنۡتَ وَلِیُّنَا فَاغۡفِرۡ لَنَا وَ ارۡحَمۡنَا وَ اَنۡتَ خَیۡرُ الۡغٰفِرِیۡنَ ﴿۱۵۵﴾
And Moses chose of his people seventy men for Our appointment. So when the earthquake struck them, he said: My Lord, if You had pleased, You would have destroyed them before and myself (too). Will You destroy us for what the foolish among us have done? It is only Your trial. You cause to perish by it whom You please and guide whom You please. You are our Pro-tector, so forgive us and have mercy on us, and You are the Best of those who forgive.
Exodus 24:1 speaks of Moses having taken up seventy elders of Israel along with him, though they were forbidden to “come near the Lord”, and on this occasion Moses was in the mountain forty days and forty nights (Exodus, 24:18). Although the Bible also speaks of Moses as going to the mountain for forty days and forty nights after the incident of the calf-worship (Exodus, 34:28), the Quran refers only to the first occasion.
7:156
وَ اکۡتُبۡ لَنَا فِیۡ ہٰذِہِ الدُّنۡیَا حَسَنَۃً وَّ فِی الۡاٰخِرَۃِ اِنَّا ہُدۡنَاۤ اِلَیۡکَ ؕ قَالَ عَذَابِیۡۤ اُصِیۡبُ بِہٖ مَنۡ اَشَآءُ ۚ وَ رَحۡمَتِیۡ وَسِعَتۡ کُلَّ شَیۡءٍ ؕ فَسَاَکۡتُبُہَا لِلَّذِیۡنَ یَتَّقُوۡنَ وَ یُؤۡتُوۡنَ الزَّکٰوۃَ وَ الَّذِیۡنَ ہُمۡ بِاٰیٰتِنَا یُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ ﴿۱۵۶﴾ۚ
And ordain for us good in this world’s life and in the Hereafter, for surely we turn to You. He said: I afflict with My punishment whom I please, and My mercy encompasses all things. So I ordain it for those who keep their duty and give the due charity, and those who believe in Our messages —
No attribute of God receives such prominence in the Quran as the attribute of mercy — My mercy encompasses all things. Even punishment is a phase of Divine mercy because it seeks to correct the evil-doers.
7:157
اَلَّذِیۡنَ یَتَّبِعُوۡنَ الرَّسُوۡلَ النَّبِیَّ الۡاُمِّیَّ الَّذِیۡ یَجِدُوۡنَہٗ مَکۡتُوۡبًا عِنۡدَہُمۡ فِی التَّوۡرٰىۃِ وَ الۡاِنۡجِیۡلِ ۫ یَاۡمُرُہُمۡ بِالۡمَعۡرُوۡفِ وَ یَنۡہٰہُمۡ عَنِ الۡمُنۡکَرِ وَ یُحِلُّ لَہُمُ الطَّیِّبٰتِ وَ یُحَرِّمُ عَلَیۡہِمُ الۡخَبٰٓئِثَ وَ یَضَعُ عَنۡہُمۡ اِصۡرَہُمۡ وَ الۡاَغۡلٰلَ الَّتِیۡ کَانَتۡ عَلَیۡہِمۡ ؕ فَالَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا بِہٖ وَ عَزَّرُوۡہُ وَ نَصَرُوۡہُ وَ اتَّبَعُوا النُّوۡرَ الَّذِیۡۤ اُنۡزِلَ مَعَہٗۤ ۙ اُولٰٓئِکَ ہُمُ الۡمُفۡلِحُوۡنَ ﴿۱۵۷﴾٪
those who follow the Messenger-Prophet, the Ummī, whom they find mentioned in the Torah and the Gospel. He enjoins them good and forbids them evil, and makes lawful to them the good things and prohibits for them impure things, and removes from them their burden and the shackles which were on them. So those who believe in him and honour him and help him, and follow the light which has been sent down with him — these are the successful.
Ummī means one who neither writes nor reads a writing. Hence the Arabs are called an ummī people, and the Ummī Prophet is either the prophet of the ummī people (i.e. the Arabs) because he was like them, or he was so called because he himself did not know reading and writing. But according to some, the prophet is called Ummī because he came from the Umm al-Qurā, i.e. Makkah, which is the Metropolis of Arabia.
Section 20 (Verses 7:158–7:162): Divine Favours on Israelites
7:158
قُلۡ یٰۤاَیُّہَا النَّاسُ اِنِّیۡ رَسُوۡلُ اللّٰہِ اِلَیۡکُمۡ جَمِیۡعَۨا الَّذِیۡ لَہٗ مُلۡکُ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الۡاَرۡضِ ۚ لَاۤ اِلٰہَ اِلَّا ہُوَ یُحۡیٖ وَ یُمِیۡتُ ۪ فَاٰمِنُوۡا بِاللّٰہِ وَ رَسُوۡلِہِ النَّبِیِّ الۡاُمِّیِّ الَّذِیۡ یُؤۡمِنُ بِاللّٰہِ وَ کَلِمٰتِہٖ وَ اتَّبِعُوۡہُ لَعَلَّکُمۡ تَہۡتَدُوۡنَ ﴿۱۵۸﴾
Say: O mankind, surely I am the Messenger of Allah to you all, of Him Whose is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth. There is no god but He; He gives life and causes death. So believe in Allah and His Messenger, the Ummī Prophet who believes in Allah and His words, and follow him so that you may be guided aright.
As against the various prophets spoken of in this chapter, every one of whom was sent to his people, the Prophet Muhammad is here spoken of as having been sent to all people, to the whole of mankind. Thus the appearance of the Prophet Muhammad was a turning point in the history of humanity. The day of the national prophet was over and a new era had dawned in which the whole of humanity was ultimately to be united under one spiritual head. The idea of nationality had to give place to the broader idea of one humanity, and the basis of it was laid by the Quran.
7:159
وَ مِنۡ قَوۡمِ مُوۡسٰۤی اُمَّۃٌ یَّہۡدُوۡنَ بِالۡحَقِّ وَ بِہٖ یَعۡدِلُوۡنَ ﴿۱۵۹﴾
And of Moses’ people is a party who guide with truth and with it they do justice.
Thus the Quran recognizes that there were good people among the Jews. See also v. 168.
7:160
وَ قَطَّعۡنٰہُمُ اثۡنَتَیۡ عَشۡرَۃَ اَسۡبَاطًا اُمَمًا ؕ وَ اَوۡحَیۡنَاۤ اِلٰی مُوۡسٰۤی اِذِ اسۡتَسۡقٰىہُ قَوۡمُہٗۤ اَنِ اضۡرِبۡ بِّعَصَاکَ الۡحَجَرَ ۚ فَانۡۢبَجَسَتۡ مِنۡہُ اثۡنَتَا عَشۡرَۃَ عَیۡنًا ؕ قَدۡ عَلِمَ کُلُّ اُنَاسٍ مَّشۡرَبَہُمۡ ؕ وَ ظَلَّلۡنَا عَلَیۡہِمُ الۡغَمَامَ وَ اَنۡزَلۡنَا عَلَیۡہِمُ الۡمَنَّ وَ السَّلۡوٰی ؕ کُلُوۡا مِنۡ طَیِّبٰتِ مَا رَزَقۡنٰکُمۡ ؕ وَ مَا ظَلَمُوۡنَا وَ لٰکِنۡ کَانُوۡۤا اَنۡفُسَہُمۡ یَظۡلِمُوۡنَ ﴿۱۶۰﴾
And We divided them into twelve tribes, as nations. And We revealed to Moses when his people asked him for water: March on to the rock with your staff; so out flowed from it twelve springs. Each tribe knew its drinking-place. And We made the clouds to give shade over them and We sent to them manna and quails. Eat of the good things We have given you. And they did not do Us any harm, but they wronged their own souls.
7:161
وَ اِذۡ قِیۡلَ لَہُمُ اسۡکُنُوۡا ہٰذِہِ الۡقَرۡیَۃَ وَ کُلُوۡا مِنۡہَا حَیۡثُ شِئۡتُمۡ وَ قُوۡلُوۡا حِطَّۃٌ وَّ ادۡخُلُوا الۡبَابَ سُجَّدًا نَّغۡفِرۡ لَکُمۡ خَطِیۡٓـٰٔتِکُمۡ ؕ سَنَزِیۡدُ الۡمُحۡسِنِیۡنَ ﴿۱۶۱﴾
And when it was said to them: Dwell in this town and eat from it wherever you wish, and make petition for forgiveness, and enter the gate submissively, We shall forgive you your wrongs. We shall give more to the doers of good.
7:162
فَبَدَّلَ الَّذِیۡنَ ظَلَمُوۡا مِنۡہُمۡ قَوۡلًا غَیۡرَ الَّذِیۡ قِیۡلَ لَہُمۡ فَاَرۡسَلۡنَا عَلَیۡہِمۡ رِجۡزًا مِّنَ السَّمَآءِ بِمَا کَانُوۡا یَظۡلِمُوۡنَ ﴿۱۶۲﴾٪
But those who were unjust among them changed it for a word other than that which they were told, so We sent upon them a pestilence from heaven for their wrongdoing.
For the statements made in v. 160–162, see 2:57–60 and footnotes.
Section 21 (Verses 7:163–7:171): Israelites’ Transgressions
7:163
وَ سۡـَٔلۡہُمۡ عَنِ الۡقَرۡیَۃِ الَّتِیۡ کَانَتۡ حَاضِرَۃَ الۡبَحۡرِ ۘ اِذۡ یَعۡدُوۡنَ فِی السَّبۡتِ اِذۡ تَاۡتِیۡہِمۡ حِیۡتَانُہُمۡ یَوۡمَ سَبۡتِہِمۡ شُرَّعًا وَّ یَوۡمَ لَا یَسۡبِتُوۡنَ ۙ لَا تَاۡتِیۡہِمۡ ۚۛ کَذٰلِکَ ۚۛ نَبۡلُوۡہُمۡ بِمَا کَانُوۡا یَفۡسُقُوۡنَ ﴿۱۶۳﴾
And ask them about the town which stood by the sea. When they violated the Sabbath, when their fish came to them on their Sabbath day on the surface, and when it was not their Sabbath they did not come to them. Thus did We try them because they transgressed.
The city referred to here is generally recognized as being Ela, which was situated on the Red Sea. The incident alluded to is mentioned as an instance of the Jewish violation of the Sabbath. The fish appeared on the surface of the water on the Sabbath because they had a sense of security on that day. This was a temptation for the people to break the law.
7:164
وَ اِذۡ قَالَتۡ اُمَّۃٌ مِّنۡہُمۡ لِمَ تَعِظُوۡنَ قَوۡمَۨا ۙ اللّٰہُ مُہۡلِکُہُمۡ اَوۡ مُعَذِّبُہُمۡ عَذَابًا شَدِیۡدًا ؕ قَالُوۡا مَعۡذِرَۃً اِلٰی رَبِّکُمۡ وَ لَعَلَّہُمۡ یَتَّقُوۡنَ ﴿۱۶۴﴾
And when some of them said: Why do you preach to a people whom Allah would destroy or whom He would punish with a severe punishment? They said: To be free from blame before your Lord, and that perhaps they may guard against evil.
7:165
فَلَمَّا نَسُوۡا مَا ذُکِّرُوۡا بِہٖۤ اَنۡجَیۡنَا الَّذِیۡنَ یَنۡہَوۡنَ عَنِ السُّوۡٓءِ وَ اَخَذۡنَا الَّذِیۡنَ ظَلَمُوۡا بِعَذَابٍۭ بَئِیۡسٍۭ بِمَا کَانُوۡا یَفۡسُقُوۡنَ ﴿۱۶۵﴾
So when they neglected what they had been reminded of, We delivered those who forbade evil and We overtook those who were wrongdoers with an evil punishment because they transgressed.
7:166
فَلَمَّا عَتَوۡا عَنۡ مَّا نُہُوۡا عَنۡہُ قُلۡنَا لَہُمۡ کُوۡنُوۡا قِرَدَۃً خٰسِئِیۡنَ ﴿۱۶۶﴾
So when they revoltingly persisted in what they had been forbidden, We said to them: Be (as) apes, despised and hated.
7:167
وَ اِذۡ تَاَذَّنَ رَبُّکَ لَیَبۡعَثَنَّ عَلَیۡہِمۡ اِلٰی یَوۡمِ الۡقِیٰمَۃِ مَنۡ یَّسُوۡمُہُمۡ سُوۡٓءَ الۡعَذَابِ ؕ اِنَّ رَبَّکَ لَسَرِیۡعُ الۡعِقَابِ ۚۖ وَ اِنَّہٗ لَغَفُوۡرٌ رَّحِیۡمٌ ﴿۱۶۷﴾
And when your Lord declared that He would send against them to the day of Resurrection those who would subject them to severe torment. Surely your Lord is Quick in retribution; and surely He is Forgiving, Merciful.
7:168
وَ قَطَّعۡنٰہُمۡ فِی الۡاَرۡضِ اُمَمًا ۚ مِنۡہُمُ الصّٰلِحُوۡنَ وَ مِنۡہُمۡ دُوۡنَ ذٰلِکَ ۫ وَ بَلَوۡنٰہُمۡ بِالۡحَسَنٰتِ وَ السَّیِّاٰتِ لَعَلَّہُمۡ یَرۡجِعُوۡنَ ﴿۱۶۸﴾
And We divided them in the earth into (different) groups — some of them are righteous and some of them are otherwise. And We tried them with blessings and misfortunes that they might turn.
7:169
وَ قَطَّعۡنٰہُمۡ فِی الۡاَرۡضِ اُمَمًا ۚ مِنۡہُمُ الصّٰلِحُوۡنَ وَ مِنۡہُمۡ دُوۡنَ ذٰلِکَ ۫ وَ بَلَوۡنٰہُمۡ بِالۡحَسَنٰتِ وَ السَّیِّاٰتِ لَعَلَّہُمۡ یَرۡجِعُوۡنَ ﴿۱۶۸﴾
Then after them came an evil generation who inherited the Book, taking the frail goods of this low life and saying: It will be forgiven us. And if (more) such good came to them, they would take it (too). Was not a promise taken from them in the Book that they would not speak anything about Allah but the truth? And they study what is in it. And the abode of the Hereafter is better for those who keep their duty. Do you not then understand?
First they commit a crime for the frail goods of this life, saying that they will be forgiven; then persist in their evil course and when a similar occasion arises, they again return to the old crimes. There is no repentance.
7:170
وَ الَّذِیۡنَ یُمَسِّکُوۡنَ بِالۡکِتٰبِ وَ اَقَامُوا الصَّلٰوۃَ ؕ اِنَّا لَا نُضِیۡعُ اَجۡرَ الۡمُصۡلِحِیۡنَ ﴿۱۷۰﴾
And as for those who hold fast by the Book and keep up prayer — surely We do not waste the reward of the reformers.
7:171
وَ اِذۡ نَتَقۡنَا الۡجَبَلَ فَوۡقَہُمۡ کَاَنَّہٗ ظُلَّۃٌ وَّ ظَنُّوۡۤا اَنَّہٗ وَاقِعٌۢ بِہِمۡ ۚ خُذُوۡا مَاۤ اٰتَیۡنٰکُمۡ بِقُوَّۃٍ وَّ اذۡکُرُوۡا مَا فِیۡہِ لَعَلَّکُمۡ تَتَّقُوۡنَ ﴿۱۷۱﴾٪
And when We shook the mountain over them as if it were a covering, and they thought that it was going to fall down upon them: Hold on firmly what We have given you, and bear in mind what is in it, so that you may guard against evil.
The stories built upon these simple words by some commentators must be rejected. The words simply relate the experience of the elders of Israel when they stood at the foot of the mountain, which rose above them. There was a severe earthquake, which is referred to in v. 155, causing them to think that the mountain would fall down upon them.
Section 22 (Verses 7:172–7:181): Evidence of Divine Impress on Man’s Nature
7:172
وَ اِذۡ اَخَذَ رَبُّکَ مِنۡۢ بَنِیۡۤ اٰدَمَ مِنۡ ظُہُوۡرِہِمۡ ذُرِّیَّتَہُمۡ وَ اَشۡہَدَہُمۡ عَلٰۤی اَنۡفُسِہِمۡ ۚ اَلَسۡتُ بِرَبِّکُمۡ ؕ قَالُوۡا بَلٰی ۚۛ شَہِدۡنَا ۚۛ اَنۡ تَقُوۡلُوۡا یَوۡمَ الۡقِیٰمَۃِ اِنَّا کُنَّا عَنۡ ہٰذَا غٰفِلِیۡنَ ﴿۱۷۲﴾ۙ
And when your Lord brought forth from the children of Adam, from their loins, their descendants, and made them bear witness about themselves: Am I not your Lord? They said: Yes, we bear witness. In case you should say on the day of Resurrection: We were unaware of this,
The verse does not mention the bringing forth of descendants from Adam, but from the children of Adam, and this seems clearly to refer to every human being as he comes into existence. The evidence is, therefore, given by human nature itself. It is, in fact, the same evidence which is elsewhere spoken of as being afforded by human nature as in “the nature made by Allah in which He has created mankind” (30:30).
7:173
اَوۡ تَقُوۡلُوۡۤا اِنَّمَاۤ اَشۡرَکَ اٰبَآؤُنَا مِنۡ قَبۡلُ وَ کُنَّا ذُرِّیَّۃً مِّنۡۢ بَعۡدِہِمۡ ۚ اَفَتُہۡلِکُنَا بِمَا فَعَلَ الۡمُبۡطِلُوۡنَ ﴿۱۷۳﴾
or you should say: Only our fathers set up partners (with Allah) before (us), and we were (their) descendants after them. Will You destroy us for what liars did?
7:174
وَ کَذٰلِکَ نُفَصِّلُ الۡاٰیٰتِ وَ لَعَلَّہُمۡ یَرۡجِعُوۡنَ ﴿۱۷۴﴾
And thus do We make the messages clear, and that perhaps they may return.
7:175
وَ اتۡلُ عَلَیۡہِمۡ نَبَاَ الَّذِیۡۤ اٰتَیۡنٰہُ اٰیٰتِنَا فَانۡسَلَخَ مِنۡہَا فَاَتۡبَعَہُ الشَّیۡطٰنُ فَکَانَ مِنَ الۡغٰوِیۡنَ ﴿۱۷۵﴾
And recite to them the news of him to whom We give Our messages, but he withdraws himself from them, so the devil follows him up, and he is of those who perish.
This verse speaks generally of everyone to whom guidance is brought but he turns aside from it. This view is corroborated by what is stated at the conclusion of the parable in v. 176, such is the parable of the people who reject Our messages.
7:176
وَ لَوۡ شِئۡنَا لَرَفَعۡنٰہُ بِہَا وَ لٰکِنَّہٗۤ اَخۡلَدَ اِلَی الۡاَرۡضِ وَ اتَّبَعَ ہَوٰىہُ ۚ فَمَثَلُہٗ کَمَثَلِ الۡکَلۡبِ ۚ اِنۡ تَحۡمِلۡ عَلَیۡہِ یَلۡہَثۡ اَوۡ تَتۡرُکۡہُ یَلۡہَثۡ ؕ ذٰلِکَ مَثَلُ الۡقَوۡمِ الَّذِیۡنَ کَذَّبُوۡا بِاٰیٰتِنَا ۚ فَاقۡصُصِ الۡقَصَصَ لَعَلَّہُمۡ یَتَفَکَّرُوۡنَ ﴿۱۷۶﴾
And if We had pleased, We would have exalted him thereby; but he clings to the earth and follows his low desire. His parable is as the parable of the dog — if you drive him away, he lolls out his tongue, and if you leave him alone, he lolls out his tongue. Such is the parable of the people who reject Our messages. So relate the narrative that they may reflect.
Earth here stands for all that is earthly, for things material. The people spoken of here are those who do not care for the higher values of life.
7:177
سَآءَ مَثَلَاۨ الۡقَوۡمُ الَّذِیۡنَ کَذَّبُوۡا بِاٰیٰتِنَا وَ اَنۡفُسَہُمۡ کَانُوۡا یَظۡلِمُوۡنَ ﴿۱۷۷﴾
Evil is the likeness of the people who reject Our messages and wrong their own souls.
7:178
مَنۡ یَّہۡدِ اللّٰہُ فَہُوَ الۡمُہۡتَدِیۡ ۚ وَ مَنۡ یُّضۡلِلۡ فَاُولٰٓئِکَ ہُمُ الۡخٰسِرُوۡنَ ﴿۱۷۸﴾
He whom Allah guides is on the right way; and he whom He leaves in error — they are the losers.
7:179
وَ لَقَدۡ ذَرَاۡنَا لِجَہَنَّمَ کَثِیۡرًا مِّنَ الۡجِنِّ وَ الۡاِنۡسِ ۫ۖ لَہُمۡ قُلُوۡبٌ لَّا یَفۡقَہُوۡنَ بِہَا ۫ وَ لَہُمۡ اَعۡیُنٌ لَّا یُبۡصِرُوۡنَ بِہَا ۫ وَ لَہُمۡ اٰذَانٌ لَّا یَسۡمَعُوۡنَ بِہَا ؕ اُولٰٓئِکَ کَالۡاَنۡعَامِ بَلۡ ہُمۡ اَضَلُّ ؕ اُولٰٓئِکَ ہُمُ الۡغٰفِلُوۡنَ ﴿۱۷۹﴾
And certainly We have created for hell many of the jinn and the people — they have hearts with which they do not understand, and they have eyes with which they do not see, and they have ears with which they do not hear. They are as cattle; rather, they are more astray. These are the heedless ones.
Many people and jinn are created for hell, but they are none other than the heedless ones who do not care for what is said. Allah has not created them differently from others, but they themselves do not use the faculties which Allah has granted them.
7:180
وَ لِلّٰہِ الۡاَسۡمَآءُ الۡحُسۡنٰی فَادۡعُوۡہُ بِہَا ۪ وَ ذَرُوا الَّذِیۡنَ یُلۡحِدُوۡنَ فِیۡۤ اَسۡمَآئِہٖ ؕ سَیُجۡزَوۡنَ مَا کَانُوۡا یَعۡمَلُوۡنَ ﴿۱۸۰﴾
And Allah’s are the best names, so call on Him thereby and leave alone those who violate the sanctity of His names. They will be recompensed for what they do.
By the best names are meant names expressing the most excellent attributes of the Divine Being. By calling on Him thereby is meant that man should always keep the Divine attributes before his mind, endeavouring to possess those attributes.
7:181
وَ مِمَّنۡ خَلَقۡنَاۤ اُمَّۃٌ یَّہۡدُوۡنَ بِالۡحَقِّ وَ بِہٖ یَعۡدِلُوۡنَ ﴿۱۸۱﴾٪
And of those whom We have created is a community who guide with the truth and with it they do justice.
Section 23 (Verses 7:182–7:188): The Coming of the Doom
7:182
وَ الَّذِیۡنَ کَذَّبُوۡا بِاٰیٰتِنَا سَنَسۡتَدۡرِجُہُمۡ مِّنۡ حَیۡثُ لَا یَعۡلَمُوۡنَ ﴿۱۸۲﴾ۚۖ
And those who reject Our messages — We lead them (to destruction) step by step from where they do not know.
7:183
وَ اُمۡلِیۡ لَہُمۡ ؕ۟ اِنَّ کَیۡدِیۡ مَتِیۡنٌ ﴿۱۸۳﴾
And I grant them respite. Surely My scheme is effective.
The word kaid (scheme), in relation to God, indicates skill in the management or ordering of affairs.
7:184
اَوَ لَمۡ یَتَفَکَّرُوۡا ٜ مَا بِصَاحِبِہِمۡ مِّنۡ جِنَّۃٍ ؕ اِنۡ ہُوَ اِلَّا نَذِیۡرٌ مُّبِیۡنٌ ﴿۱۸۴﴾
Do they not reflect (that) there is no madness in their companion? He is only a plain warner.
7:185
اَوَ لَمۡ یَنۡظُرُوۡا فِیۡ مَلَکُوۡتِ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الۡاَرۡضِ وَ مَا خَلَقَ اللّٰہُ مِنۡ شَیۡءٍ ۙ وَّ اَنۡ عَسٰۤی اَنۡ یَّکُوۡنَ قَدِ اقۡتَرَبَ اَجَلُہُمۡ ۚ فَبِاَیِّ حَدِیۡثٍۭ بَعۡدَہٗ یُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ ﴿۱۸۵﴾
Do they not consider the kingdom of the heavens and the earth and what things Allah has created, and that it may be that their doom has drawn near? In what announcement after this will they then believe?
7:186
مَنۡ یُّضۡلِلِ اللّٰہُ فَلَا ہَادِیَ لَہٗ ؕ وَ یَذَرُہُمۡ فِیۡ طُغۡیَانِہِمۡ یَعۡمَہُوۡنَ ﴿۱۸۶﴾
Whomsoever Allah leaves in error, there is no guide for him. And He leaves them alone in their inordinacy, blindly wandering on.
7:187
یَسۡـَٔلُوۡنَکَ عَنِ السَّاعَۃِ اَیَّانَ مُرۡسٰہَا ؕ قُلۡ اِنَّمَا عِلۡمُہَا عِنۡدَ رَبِّیۡ ۚ لَا یُجَلِّیۡہَا لِوَقۡتِہَاۤ اِلَّا ہُوَ ؕۘؔ ثَقُلَتۡ فِی السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الۡاَرۡضِ ؕ لَا تَاۡتِیۡکُمۡ اِلَّا بَغۡتَۃً ؕ یَسۡـَٔلُوۡنَکَ کَاَنَّکَ حَفِیٌّ عَنۡہَا ؕ قُلۡ اِنَّمَا عِلۡمُہَا عِنۡدَ اللّٰہِ وَ لٰکِنَّ اَکۡثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا یَعۡلَمُوۡنَ ﴿۱۸۷﴾
They ask you about the Hour, when will it take place? Say: Its knowledge is with my Lord only. None but He will manifest it at its time. It is momentous in the heavens and the earth. It will not come to you but suddenly. They ask you as if you could find out about it (by effort). Say: Its knowledge is with Allah only, but most people do not know.
That is, the Hour with which they are threatened as being the hour of their doom. The word sa‘ah or the hour is used in the Quran to indicate both the doom of the guilty in this life and the time when a perfect manifestation of rewards and punishments will take place in the Hereafter.
7:188
قُلۡ لَّاۤ اَمۡلِکُ لِنَفۡسِیۡ نَفۡعًا وَّ لَا ضَرًّا اِلَّا مَا شَآءَ اللّٰہُ ؕ وَ لَوۡ کُنۡتُ اَعۡلَمُ الۡغَیۡبَ لَاسۡتَکۡثَرۡتُ مِنَ الۡخَیۡرِۚۖۛ وَ مَا مَسَّنِیَ السُّوۡٓءُ ۚۛ اِنۡ اَنَا اِلَّا نَذِیۡرٌ وَّ بَشِیۡرٌ لِّقَوۡمٍ یُّؤۡمِنُوۡنَ ﴿۱۸۸﴾٪
Say: I do not control benefit nor harm for myself except as Allah please. And if I had known the unseen, I should have much of good, and no evil would touch me. I am but a warner and the giver of good news to a people who believe.
The simplicity and nobility of this statement as indicating the mission of a prophet is unsurpassed. He gives glad news of triumph to those who believe, warns the evil-doers of the evil consequences of their deeds in this life as well as in the next, but he does not claim the possession of Divine powers.
Section 24 (Verses 7:189–7:206): The Final Word
7:189
ہُوَ الَّذِیۡ خَلَقَکُمۡ مِّنۡ نَّفۡسٍ وَّاحِدَۃٍ وَّ جَعَلَ مِنۡہَا زَوۡجَہَا لِیَسۡکُنَ اِلَیۡہَا ۚ فَلَمَّا تَغَشّٰہَا حَمَلَتۡ حَمۡلًا خَفِیۡفًا فَمَرَّتۡ بِہٖ ۚ فَلَمَّاۤ اَثۡقَلَتۡ دَّعَوَا اللّٰہَ رَبَّہُمَا لَئِنۡ اٰتَیۡتَنَا صَالِحًا لَّنَکُوۡنَنَّ مِنَ الشّٰکِرِیۡنَ ﴿۱۸۹﴾
He it is Who created you from a single soul, and of the same did He make his mate, that he might find comfort in her. So when he covers her she bears a light burden, then moves about with it. Then when it grows heavy, they both call upon Allah, their Lord: If You give us a good one, we shall certainly be grateful.
7:190
فَلَمَّاۤ اٰتٰہُمَا صَالِحًا جَعَلَا لَہٗ شُرَکَآءَ فِیۡمَاۤ اٰتٰہُمَا ۚ فَتَعٰلَی اللّٰہُ عَمَّا یُشۡرِکُوۡنَ ﴿۱۹۰﴾
But when He gives them a good one, they set up with Him partners in what He has given them. Supremely exalted is Allah above what they set up as partners (with Him).
This describes the condition of man in general and refers to the evidence of his nature, for when in distress he always turns to Allah, but when in ease he goes after other gods or his own low desires.
7:191
اَیُشۡرِکُوۡنَ مَا لَا یَخۡلُقُ شَیۡئًا وَّ ہُمۡ یُخۡلَقُوۡنَ ﴿۱۹۱﴾۫ۖ
Do they set up (with Him) that which has not created anything, while they are themselves created?
7:192
وَ لَا یَسۡتَطِیۡعُوۡنَ لَہُمۡ نَصۡرًا وَّ لَاۤ اَنۡفُسَہُمۡ یَنۡصُرُوۡنَ ﴿۱۹۲﴾
And they cannot give them help, nor can they help themselves.
7:193
وَ اِنۡ تَدۡعُوۡہُمۡ اِلَی الۡہُدٰی لَا یَتَّبِعُوۡکُمۡ ؕ سَوَآءٌ عَلَیۡکُمۡ اَدَعَوۡتُمُوۡہُمۡ اَمۡ اَنۡتُمۡ صَامِتُوۡنَ ﴿۱۹۳﴾
And if you invite them to guidance, they will not follow you. It is the same to you whether you invite them or you are silent.
Invitation to Truth must be extended to all, though some may not benefit by it. The meaning is further clarified in verses 198–199.
7:194
اِنَّ الَّذِیۡنَ تَدۡعُوۡنَ مِنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰہِ عِبَادٌ اَمۡثَالُکُمۡ فَادۡعُوۡہُمۡ فَلۡیَسۡتَجِیۡبُوۡا لَکُمۡ اِنۡ کُنۡتُمۡ صٰدِقِیۡنَ ﴿۱۹۴﴾
Those whom you call on besides Allah are slaves like yourselves; so call on them, then let them answer you, if you are truthful.
7:195
اَلَہُمۡ اَرۡجُلٌ یَّمۡشُوۡنَ بِہَاۤ ۫ اَمۡ لَہُمۡ اَیۡدٍ یَّبۡطِشُوۡنَ بِہَاۤ ۫ اَمۡ لَہُمۡ اَعۡیُنٌ یُّبۡصِرُوۡنَ بِہَاۤ ۫ اَمۡ لَہُمۡ اٰذَانٌ یَّسۡمَعُوۡنَ بِہَا ؕ قُلِ ادۡعُوۡا شُرَکَآءَکُمۡ ثُمَّ کِیۡدُوۡنِ فَلَا تُنۡظِرُوۡنِ ﴿۱۹۵﴾
Do they have feet with which they walk, or do they have hands with which they hold, or do they have eyes with which they see, or do they have ears with which they hear? Say: Call upon your associate-gods then plot against me and give me no respite.
7:196
اِنَّ وَلِیَِّۧ اللّٰہُ الَّذِیۡ نَزَّلَ الۡکِتٰبَ ۫ۖ وَ ہُوَ یَتَوَلَّی الصّٰلِحِیۡنَ ﴿۱۹۶﴾
Surely my Friend is Allah, Who revealed the Book, and He befriends the righteous.
7:197
وَ الَّذِیۡنَ تَدۡعُوۡنَ مِنۡ دُوۡنِہٖ لَا یَسۡتَطِیۡعُوۡنَ نَصۡرَکُمۡ وَ لَاۤ اَنۡفُسَہُمۡ یَنۡصُرُوۡنَ ﴿۱۹۷﴾
And those whom you call upon besides Him are not able to help you, nor can they help themselves.
7:198
وَ اِنۡ تَدۡعُوۡہُمۡ اِلَی الۡہُدٰی لَا یَسۡمَعُوۡا ؕ وَ تَرٰىہُمۡ یَنۡظُرُوۡنَ اِلَیۡکَ وَ ہُمۡ لَا یُبۡصِرُوۡنَ ﴿۱۹۸﴾
And if you invite them to guidance, they do not hear; and you see them looking towards you, yet they do not see.
7:199
خُذِ الۡعَفۡوَ وَ اۡمُرۡ بِالۡعُرۡفِ وَ اَعۡرِضۡ عَنِ الۡجٰہِلِیۡنَ ﴿۱۹۹﴾
Take to forgiveness and enjoin good and turn away from the ignorant.
7:200
وَ اِمَّا یَنۡزَغَنَّکَ مِنَ الشَّیۡطٰنِ نَزۡغٌ فَاسۡتَعِذۡ بِاللّٰہِ ؕ اِنَّہٗ سَمِیۡعٌ عَلِیۡمٌ ﴿۲۰۰﴾
And if a false imputation from the devil afflict you, seek refuge in Allah. Surely He is Hearing, Knowing.
The devil in this case, as frequently in the Quran, stands for the devilish enemies who spread all kinds of false reports concerning the Holy Prophet, against which he is told to seek refuge in Allah.
7:201
اِنَّ الَّذِیۡنَ اتَّقَوۡا اِذَا مَسَّہُمۡ طٰٓئِفٌ مِّنَ الشَّیۡطٰنِ تَذَکَّرُوۡا فَاِذَا ہُمۡ مُّبۡصِرُوۡنَ ﴿۲۰۱﴾ۚ
Those who guard against evil, when a visitation from the devil afflicts them, they become mindful, then lo! they see.
The visitation of the devil means the happening of any grievous incident or the coming of an affliction from the hands of the devil, or the wicked acting in opposition to the righteous. Being endowed with insight, they see their way out of the affliction. The devil’s visitation may also signify anger which blinds a man, and those who guard against evil are not blinded by it.
7:202
وَ اِخۡوَانُہُمۡ یَمُدُّوۡنَہُمۡ فِی الۡغَیِّ ثُمَّ لَا یُقۡصِرُوۡنَ ﴿۲۰۲﴾
And their brethren increase them in error, then they do not cease.
That is, the brethren of the devils, or the devil’s human associates.
7:203
وَ اِذَا لَمۡ تَاۡتِہِمۡ بِاٰیَۃٍ قَالُوۡا لَوۡ لَا اجۡتَبَیۡتَہَا ؕ قُلۡ اِنَّمَاۤ اَتَّبِعُ مَا یُوۡحٰۤی اِلَیَّ مِنۡ رَّبِّیۡ ۚ ہٰذَا بَصَآئِرُ مِنۡ رَّبِّکُمۡ وَ ہُدًی وَّ رَحۡمَۃٌ لِّقَوۡمٍ یُّؤۡمِنُوۡنَ ﴿۲۰۳﴾
And when you do not bring them a sign, they say: Why do you not demand it? Say: I follow only what is revealed to me from my Lord. These are clear proofs from your Lord and a guidance and a mercy for a people who believe.
7:204
وَ اِذَا قُرِیَٔ الۡقُرۡاٰنُ فَاسۡتَمِعُوۡا لَہٗ وَ اَنۡصِتُوۡا لَعَلَّکُمۡ تُرۡحَمُوۡنَ ﴿۲۰۴﴾
And when the Quran is recited, listen to it and remain silent, that mercy may be shown to you.
7:205
وَ اذۡکُرۡ رَّبَّکَ فِیۡ نَفۡسِکَ تَضَرُّعًا وَّ خِیۡفَۃً وَّ دُوۡنَ الۡجَہۡرِ مِنَ الۡقَوۡلِ بِالۡغُدُوِّ وَ الۡاٰصَالِ وَ لَا تَکُنۡ مِّنَ الۡغٰفِلِیۡنَ ﴿۲۰۵﴾
And remember your Lord within yourself humbly and fearing, and in a voice not loud, in the morning and the evening, and do not be one of the heedless.
7:206
اِنَّ الَّذِیۡنَ عِنۡدَ رَبِّکَ لَا یَسۡتَکۡبِرُوۡنَ عَنۡ عِبَادَتِہٖ وَ یُسَبِّحُوۡنَہٗ وَ لَہٗ یَسۡجُدُوۡنَ ﴿۲۰۶﴾٪ٛ
Surely those who are with your Lord are not too proud to serve Him, and they glorify Him and prostrate themselves before Him.