Indexed OCR Text

292
Sūrah Al-A'raf 7:80-84
وَلُوطًا إِذْ قَالَ لِقَوْمِهِ: أَتَأْتُونَ الْفَحِشَةَ مَا سَبَقَكُمْ بِهَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ مِّنَ الْعَلَمِينَ
إِنَّكُمْ لَتَأْتُونَ الرِّجَالَ شَهْوَةً مِّن دُونِ اٌلَِّ آءِ بَلْ أَنْتُمْ قَوْمٌ
1 .
تُسْرِفُونَ ﴿٣٨َ وَمَا كَانَ جَوَابَ قَوْمِهِ، إِلَّ أَنْ قَالُواْ أَخْرِجُوهُم مِّن
قَرْيَتِكُمْ إِنَّهُمْ أُنَاسُ يَنَطَهَّرُونَ [٧] فَأَنَجَيَّنَهُ وَأَهْلَهُ: إِلَّا أَمْرَأَتَهُ، كَانَتْ
وَأَمْطَرْنَا عَلَيْهِم مَّطَرًا فَأَنْظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَقِبَةُ
مِنَ الْغَيِينَ
٨٣
الْمُجْرِمِينَ
And (We sent) Lūt (Lot) when he said to his people, "Do you commit the
shameful act in which nobody in the world has ever preceded you? 25 [80]
You come to men lustfully instead of women. No, you are a people who
cross the limits." [81] The answer of his people was no other than to say,
"Expel them from your town. They are a people who pretend too much
purity." [82] So, We saved him and his family, except his wife. She was
one of those who remained behind. 26 [83] And We rained down upon
them a rain. So, look! How was the fate of the sinners! [84]
25) Lut i was a nephew of the Holy Prophet Ibrahim i who migrated from
Iraq along with him. Then following the directions of his noble uncle, Lut
settled in Syria and Palestine. He was later invested with prophethood and sent
to the people of Sodom and adjoining towns who, apart from their polytheism,
were notorious for homosexuality. When they did not heed the sincere advices
of the Holy Prophet Lut gi, they were seized by the divine scourge, and all
their towns were overturned. No traces of these towns are found today, and
most probably they were submerged in the Dead Sea of Jordan, which is also
named as the Sea of Lut . The most detailed account of Lut ti is found in
Surah Hud (11:69 to 82). See also 15:59-61, 26:160-167, 27:56, 29:26. For other
references, see 22:43, 38:13, 50:13, 54:33 and 66:10.
26) As mentioned in Surah Hud and At-Tahrim, the wife of the Prophet Lut
did not accept the true faith, preferring instead to help the disbelievers. When,
before the divine scourge, Lut ti was directed to leave the city, she remained
behind and was destroyed along with the other disbelievers.

293
Surah Al-A'raf 7:85-87
وَإِلَى مَدْيَنَ أَخَاهُمْ شُعَيْبًا قَالَ يَقَوْمِ أَعْبُدُواْ اللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَهِ
غَيْرُهُ، قَدْ جَاءَتْكُم بَيِّنَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ فَأَوْفُواْ الْكَيْلَ وَالْمِيزَانَ
وَلَا نَبْخَسُواْ النَّاسَ أَشْيَآءَ هُمْ وَلَا نُفْسِدُواْ فِى الْأَرْضِ بَعْدَ إِصْلَحِهَاً
ذَلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُم مُؤْمِنِينَ [١٥] وَلَا نَفْعُدُواْ بِكُلِّ صِرَطٍ
تُوعِدُونَ وَتَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ مَنْ ءَامَنَ بِهِ، وَتَبْغُونَهَا عِوَجَأَ
وَاذْكُرُوَاْ إِذْ كُنْتُمْ قَلِيلًا فَكَتََّكُمُّ وَأَنْظُرُواْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَقِبَةُ
وَإِن كَانَ طَآئِفَةٌ مِنْكُمْ ءَامَنُواْ بِالَّذِىّ أُرْسِلْتُ بِهِ،
اٌلْمُفْسِدِينَ [ِ
وَطَآئِفَةٌ لَّمْ يُؤْمِنُواْ فَأَصْبِرُواْ حَتَّى يَحْكُمَ اَللَّهُ بَيْنَنَّأَ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ اَلْحَكِمِينَ
And to Madyan (We sent) their brother Shu aib. 27 He said, "O my
people, worship Allah. You have no god other than Him. There has come
to you a clear sign from your Lord. Give the measure and weight in full,
and do not make people short of their things, and do not make mischief
on the earth after it has been set in order. That is good for you, if you are
believers. [85] Do not sit in every path threatening and preventing from
the way of Allah the people who believe in Him, and seeking a twist in it.
Remember the time when you were few, then He increased you in
number. Consider the fate of those who used to make mischief. [86] If a
group from among you has believed in what I have been sent with, and
another group has not believed, then keep patience until Allah decides
between us. He is the best of all judges." [87]
27) Madyan is the name of a place as well as of the people who lived there.
Apart from polytheism, they were involved in a number of corrupt practices.
When selling and buying, they used to cheat the opposite party by giving short
measure or weight. Shu aib i was sent to them, but when they persisted in
their heinous crimes, they were subjected to a horrible punishment. Fire was
rained on them, accompanied by an earthquake and terrible noise. For further
details in the Holy Qur'an, see 11:87 to 95, 26:177 and 29:36

294
Sūrah Al-A'raf 7:88-93
﴿ قَالَ الْمَلَأُ الَّذِينَ أُسْتَكْبَرُواْ مِن قَوْمِهِ، لَنُخْرِجَنَّكَ يَشُعَيْبُ وَالَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ مَعَكَ مِن
قَدِ أَفْتَرَيْنَا عَلَى اللَّهِ كَذِبًا
◌َيَتِنَا أَوْ لَتَعُودُنَّ فِى مِلَّتِنَأْ قَالَ أَوْلَوْ كُنَّا كَِهِينَ
إِنْ عُدْنَا فِى مِلَّيِكُم بَعْدَ إِذْ نَجَّنْنَا اللَّهُ مِنْهَا وَمَا يَكُونُ لَنَا أَن نَّعُودَ فِيَهَا إِلَّ أَنَ
بَشَآءَ اللَّهُ رَبَّنَا وَسِعَ رَبُّنَا كُلَّ شَىْءٍ عِلَمَأْ عَلَى اللَّهِ تَوَّكَّلْنَا رَبَّنَا أَفْتَحْ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَ
وَقَالَ الَلَأُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِنْ قَوْمِهِ لَيْنِ
فَوْمِنَا بِأَلْحَقِّ وَأَنْتَ خَيْرُ الْفَتِحِينَ
فَأَخَذَتَهُمُ الرَّجْفَةُ فَأَصْبَحُواْ فِي دَارِهِمْ
أَتَّبَعْتُمْ شُعَيْبًا إِنَّكُمْ إِذَا لَّخَسِرُونَ
الَّذِينَ كَذَّبُواْ شُعَيِّبًا كَأَنْ لَّمْ يَغْنَوْاْ فِيهَاَ الَّذِينَ كَذَّبُواْ شُعَيْبًا
خَشِينَ
٢ ١
كَنُواْ هُمُ الْخَسِرِينَ
فَتَوَلَّى عَنْهُمْ وَقَالَ يَقَوْمِ لَقَدْ أَبَغْنُكُمْ رِسَلَاتِ
◌َنِّ وَنَصَحْتُ لَكُمَّ فَكَيْفَ ءَاسَى عَلَى قَوْمِ كَفِرِينَ.
٩٣
The chiefs of his people, who were arrogant, said, "O Shu aib, we wi
expel you and those who believe with you from our town, or you sha
have to turn to our faith." He said, "Even if we hate it? [88] We will be
forging a lie against Allah, if we were to turn to your faith after Allah ha
saved us from it. It is not for us that we turn to it unless Allah, our Lord
so wills. Our Lord has encompassed everything with His knowledge. In
Allah we place our trust.
__ Our Lord, decide between us and our people,
with truth, and You are the best of all judges." [89]
The chiefs of his people who disbelieved said, "If you are to follo
Shu aib, then you will be utter losers." [90]
So, the earthquake seized them, and they were (found dead) in their
homes, fallen on their faces. [91] Those who rejected Shu aib became as
if they never dwelt there. Those who rejected Shu aib were themselves
the losers. [92] So, he turned away from them and said, "O my people, I
have surely delivered to you the message of my Lord, and wished your
betterment. How, then, should I grieve over a disbelieving people?" [93]

295
Surah Al-A'raf 7:94-97
وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا فِى قَرْيَةٍ مِّن نَّبِيّ إِلَّ أَخَذْنَا أَهْلَهَا بِالْبَأْسَآءِ وَالضَّرَّاءِ لَعَلَّهُمْ
يَضَّرَّعُونَ [٠َ ثُمَّ بَدَّلْنَا مَكَانَ السَّيِّئَةِ الْحَسَنَةَ حَتَّى عَفَواْ وَقَالُواْ قَدْ مَشَ
ءَابَآءَنَا الضَّرّاءُ وَالسَّرَّآءُ فَأَخَذْنَهُم بَغْنَةً وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ [١٥] وَلَوْ أَنَّ أَهْلَ الْقُرَىّ
ءَامَنُواْ وَأَتَّقَوْاْ لَفَنَحْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ بَرَكَتِ مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَلَكِنْ كَذَّبُواْ
فَأَخَذْنَهُم بِمَا كَانُواْ يَكْسِبُونَ ﴿٠َ أَفَأَمِنَ أَهْلُ الْقُرَىَّ أَن يَأْتِيَهُم بَأْسُنَا بَيَتَّا
وَهُمْ نَآَيِمُونَ
We did not send any prophet to a town, but We seized its people with
hardship and suffering, so that they may turn humble. [94] Thereafter,
We substituted good in place of evil until they increased, and said,
"Hardship and prosperity came to our fathers (too)." Then We seized
them suddenly while they were not aware. 28 [95]
If the people of the towns believed and feared Allah, We would have opened
for them blessings from the heavens and the earth, but they disbelieved.
So, We seized them because of what they used to earn for themselves. [96]
So, do the people of the towns feel themselves immune from Our
punishment that may befall them at night while they are asleep? [97]
28) This verse refers to a general practice adopted by Allah before subjecting a
people to the divine scourge because of their refusal to accept the message of
the prophets . In the beginning, they are afflicted by some hardships and
sufferings in this world, like famines, epidemics, adverse economic conditions
etc. According to the human nature, these hardships have a positive impact on
one's ability to turn to the Creator and repent for one's misdeeds. Once one's
heart is softened and humbled, one may listen to the advice of the prophets
more attentively. But when this measure does not make some of them pay heed
to the advice, they are subjected to another trial. Now they experience welfare
and prosperity, because some people's nature makes them thankful to their
Creator in good times, if not in adverse conditions. But when the affluent ones
refuse to accept the truth in both conditions, they claim that alternation of
hardship and prosperity is a natural phenomenon, faced by their ancestors too.
Thus, instead of turning to Allah, they persist in their infidelity. At this stage,
they are subjected to the divine scourge.

296
Sūrah Al-A'raf 7:98-103
أَفَأَ مِنُواْ
أَوَ أَمِنَ أَهْلُ الْقُرَىِّ أَن يَأْتِيَهُم بَأْسُنَا ضُحَى وَهُمْ يَلْعَبُونَ
٩٨
مَكْرَ اللَّهُ فَلَا يَأْمَنُ مَكْرَ اَللَّهِ إِلََّّ الْقَوْمُ الْخَسِرُونَ [َ أَوَلَمْ يَهْدِ لِلَّذِينَ
يَرِئُونَ الْأَرْضَ مِنْ بَعْدِ أَهْلِهَا أَن لَّوْ نَشَآءُ أَصَبِّنَهُم بِذُنُوبِهِمَّ وَنَطْبَعُ عَلَى
تِلْكَ الْقُرَى نَقُصُ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ أَنْبَابِهَأَ وَلَقَدْ
قُلُوبِهِمْ فَهُمْ لَا يَسْمَعُونَ لِ
جَاءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُهُم بِالْبَيِّنَتِ فَمَا كَانُوْ لِيُؤْمِنُواْ بِمَا كَذَّبُواْ مِن قَبْلُّ
كَذَلِكَ يَطْبَعُ اَللَّهُ عَلَى قُلُوبٍ الْكَفِرِينَ
وَمَا وَجَدْنَا لِأَكْثَرِهِم مِّنْ
عَهْدٍ وَإِن وَجَدْنَا أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَفَسِقِينَ
ثُمَّ بَعَثْنَا مِنْ بَعْدِهِم مُوسَى بِثَايَتِنَآ
إِلَى فِرْعَوْنَ وَمَلَإِيْهِ. فَظَلَمُواْ بِهَّا فَأَنْظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَقِبَةُ الْمُفْسِدِينَ
Or do the people of the towns feel themselves immune from Our
punishment that may befall them in broad daylight while they are at
play? [98] Do they feel secure from Allah's plan? None can feel secure
from Allah's plan except the people who are losers. [99]
Have all these events still not taught a lesson to those who inherit the
land after its (former) inhabitants, that if We so willed, We could afflict
them for their sins? But We seal their hearts, so that they do not listen.
[100] Those are the towns We narrate to you their important events.
Surely their messengers came to them with clear signs, but they were not
able to believe in what they had rejected earlier. This is how Allah seals
the hearts of the disbelievers. [101] We did not find with most of them any
covenant (unbroken), and surely We have found most of them sinners
[102] After them, We sent Musa with Our signs to Pharaoh and his
chiefs. 29 But they did injustice to them. So, consider the fate of the
mischief-makers. [103]
29) The story of Musa wi is narrated by the Holy Qur'an at many places. Apam
from this Surah, the most detailed accounts are found in Surah Țaha (20:9 to 92
and Surah Al-Qaşaş (28:3 to 76). For other important references see 2:51-108
2:246, 10:75-88, 71:2, 18:60, 26:10-65, 40:26.

297
Surah Al-A'raf 7:104-115
١٠٤
حَقِيقُ عَلَى أَنْ لَّ
وَقَالَ مُوسَى يَفِرْعَوْنُ إِنِ رَسُولٌ مِّن رَّبِّ الْعَلَمِينَ
أَقُولَ عَلَى اللَّهِ إِلَّ الْحَقّ قَدْ جِئْنُصِكُم بِبِنَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ فَأَرْسِلْ مَعِىَ بَنِّ
قَالَ إِن كُنْتَ جِئْتَ بِثَايَةٍ فَأَتِ بِهَاَ إِن كُنْتَ مِنَ الصَّدِقِينَ
١٠٥
إِسْرَةِيلَ
فَأَلْقَى عَصَاهُ فَإِذَا هِىَ ثُغْبَانٌ مُّبِينٌ
وَنَزَعَ يَدَهُ، فَإِذَا هِىَ بَيْضَآءُ
قَالَ الْمَلَأُ مِن قَوْمِ فِرْعَوْنَ إِنَّ هَذَا لَسَحِّ عَلِيمٌ
لِلنَّظِرِينَ
يُرِيدُ أَنْ
١٠٩
قَالُواْ أَرْجِهُ وَأَخَاهُ وَأَرْسِلْ فِ اٌلْمَدَآَيِنِ
يُخْرِجَكُم مِّنْ أَرْضِكُمْ فَمَاذَا تَأْمُونَ ◌ّ
وَجَآءَ السَّحَرَةُ فِرْعَوْنَ قَالُواْ إِنَّ
يَأَتُّوكَ بِكُلِ سَحِرٍ عَلِيمٍ
حَشرِينَ
١١٣
قَالَ نَعَمْ وَإِنَّكُمْ لَمِنَ الْمُقَرَّبِينَ
لَنَا لَأَجْرًّا إِن كُنَّا نَحْنُ الْغَلِينَ
١١٥
قَالُواْ يَمُوسَىّ إِمَّا أَنْ تُلْقِىَ وَإِمَّا أَن نَّكُونَ نَحْنُ الْمُلْقِينَ
Mūsā said, "O Pharaoh, I am a messenger from the Lord of all the
worlds; [104] it befits me not to say anything about Allah except the
truth. I have come to you with a clear sign from your Lord. So, let the
children of Isra'il go with me." [105] He said, "If you have come with a
sign, then bring it forth, if you are really truthful." [106] So he threw down
his staff, and in no time it was a vivid serpent; [107] and he drew out his
hand, and it was luminous for the onlookers. [108]
The chiefs of the people of Pharaoh said, "This man is certainly a
sorcerer of great knowledge. [109] He wants to expel you from your land.
So, what do you suggest?" [110] They said, "leave him and his brother
alone for a while, and send (your) men to the cities to collect [111] and
bring to you every expert sorcerer (who could defeat him)." [112]
The sorcerers came to Pharaoh. They said, "There must be a reward for
us, if we are the victors." [113] He said, "Yes, and of course, you will be
among the closer ones (to me)." [114] They said, "O Mūsā, would you
throw (first) or are we to throw?" [115]

in ALLA 1m 298
Sūrah Al-A'raf 7:116-126
قَالَ أَلْقُواْ فَلَمَّآ أَلْقَوْ سَحَرُوْ أَعْيُنَ النَّاسِ وَأَسْتَرْهَبُوهُمْ وَجَاءُ و بِسِحْرٍ
وَأَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَى مُوسَىّ أَنْ أَلْقِ عَصَاكٌ فَإِذَا هِىَ تَلْقَفُ مَا يَأْفِكُونَ
عَظِيمٍ
◌َ فَغُلِبُواْ هُنَالِكَ وَأَنْقَلَبُوْ صَغِرِينَ
فَوَقَعَ الْحَقُّ وَبَطَلَ مَا كَانُواْ يَعْمَلُونَ
وَأُلِّقِىَ السَّحَرَةُ سَجِدِينَ [٥] قَالُوْ ءَامَنَّا بِرَبِّ الْعَلَمِينَ [٧] رَبِّ مُوسَى وَهَرُونَ
◌َ قَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ ءَامَنْتُم بِهِ قَبْلَ أَنْ عَذَنَ لَكُمْ إِنَّ هَذَا لَمَكْرٌ مَّكَرْتُمُوهُ فِىِ الْمَدِينَةِ
لِنُخْرِجُواْ مِنْهَاَ أَهْلَهَا فَسَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿ لَأُقَطِعَنَّ أَيْدِيَكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُمْ مِّنْ خِلَفٍ ثُمَّ
لَأُصَلِبَنَّكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ (٠َ قَالُواْ إِنَّا إِلَى رَبِنَا مُنْقَلِبُونَ (٤٥) وَمَا نَنِقِمُ مِنَّا إِلَّ
أَثْ ءَمَنَا بِثَايَتِ رَبِّنَا لَمَّا جَاءَتْنَا رَبَّنَا أَفْرِغْ عَلَيْنَا صَبْرًا وَتَوَقَّنَا مُسْلِمِينَ
He said, "You throw." So when they threw, they bewitched the eyes of
the people, and made them frightened, and produced great sorcery. [116]
We revealed to Mūsā, "Throw your staff." Then of a sudden, it began to
swallow all that they had concocted. [117] Thus the truth prevailed, and
what they were doing became a nullity. [118] So, they were overcome then
and there and turned humiliated. [119] The sorcerers could not but fall in
prostration. 30 [120] They said, "We believe in the Lord of the worlds,
[121] the Lord of Mūsā and Harun." [122]
Pharaoh said, "You have believed in him before my permission.
Undoubtedly, this is a plot you have designed in the city, so that you may
expel its people from it. Now you shall know (its end). [123] I will cut off
your hands and your legs from opposite sides. Then I will crucify you all
together." [124] They said, "We have surely to return to our Lord. [125]
For what fault would you punish us except that we have believed in the
signs of our Lord when they appeared to us? O our Lord, pour out
patience upon us, and cause us to die as Muslims (those who submit to
you.)" [126]
30) This is an idiomatic expression to reflect the passive voice used by the Holy
Qur'an to connote that the evidence left them with no choice but to bow to the
obviously superior power.

A 299
Sūrah Al-A'raf 7:127-132
وَقَالَ الْمَلَأُ مِن قَوْمِ فِرْعَوْنَ أَتَذَرُ مُوسَى وَقَوْمَهُ، لِيُفْسِدُواْ فِى الْأَرْضِ وَيَذَرَكَ
وَءَالِهَتَكَ قَالَ سَنُقَيِّلُ أَبْنَ هُمْ وَنَسْتَحِى نِسَآءَهُمْ وَإِنَّا فَوْقَهُمْ قَهِرُونَ لَ قَالَ
مُوسَى لِقَوْمِهِ أُسْتَعِينُواْ بِاللَّهِ وَأَصْبِرُواْ إِنَّ الْأَرْضَ لِلَّهِ يُورِثُهَا مَن يَشَآءُ مِنْ
عِبَادِهِ، وَالْعَنْقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ لَ قَالُواْ أُوْذِينَا مِن قَبْلِ أَنْ تَأْتِيَنَا وَمِنْ بَعْدِ مَا
جِئْتَنَأَ قَالَ عَسَى رَبُّكُمْ أَنْ يُهْلِكَ عَدُوَكُمْ وَيَسْتَخْلِفَكُمْ فِىِ الْأَرْضِ
وَلَقَدْ أَخَذْنَا ءَالَ فِرْعَوْنَ بِالسِّنِينَ وَنَقْصِ مِّنَ
فَيَنْظُرَ كَيْفَ تَعْمَلُونَ (٦
◌ْ فَإِذَا جَاءَ تْهُمُ الْحَسَنَةُ قَالُواْ لَنَا هَذِّهِ، وَإِن تُصِبْهُمْ
الثَّمَرَاتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَذَّكَّرُونَ
سَيِّئَةٌ يَطَيِّرُواْ بِمُوسَى وَمَن مَّعَةُ: أَلَا إِنَّمَا طَيُِّهُمْ عِندَ اللَّهِ وَلَكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا
يَعْلَمُونَ [٣] وَقَالُواْ مَهْمَا تَأْتِنَا بِهِ، مِنْ ءَايَةٍ لِتَسْحَرَنَا بِهَا فَمَا نَحْنُ لَكَ بِمُؤْمِنِينَ
The chiefs of the people of Pharaoh said, "Shall you leave Mūsā and his
people free to spread disorder in the land and to abandon you and your
gods?" He said, "We shall slaughter their sons and let their women
remain alive. We have full power over them." [127]
Mūsā said to his people, "Seek help from Allah and be patient. Surely, the
land belongs to Allah. He lets whomsoever He wills inherit it from
among His servants; and the end-result is in favor of the God-fearing."
[128] They said, "We were persecuted before you came to us and after
you have come to us." He said, "Hopefully your Lord will destroy your
enemy and make you successors in the land, then He will see how you
act." [129]
And We seized the people of Pharaoh with years of famine and poor
production of fruits, so that they may learn a lesson. [130] When good
times came to them, they said, "This is our right." And if an evil touched
them, they took it as an ill omen of Mūsā and those with him. Listen,
their ill omen lies with Allah only, but most of them do not know. [131]
They said, "Whatever sign you bring to us to enchant us with, we are not
going to believe in you." [132]
·

300
Sūrah Al-A'raf 7:133-137
فَأَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمُ الْقُلُوفَانَ وَالْجَرَادَ وَالْقُمَّلَ وَالضَّفَادِعَ وَالدَّمَ ءَايَتٍ مُّفَصَلَتِ فَاسْتَكْبَرُواْ
﴿ وَلَمَّا وَقَعَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْرِجْزُ قَالُواْ يَمُوسَى اَدْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ
وَكَانُواْ قَوْمًا تُجْرِمِينَ
بِمَا عَهِدَ عِندَكَ لَبِن كَشَفْتَ عَنَا الْرِّجْزَ لَنُؤْمِنَنَّ لَكَ وَلَنُرْسِلَنَّ مَعَكَ بَنِىّ
إِسْرَهِيلَ ﴿ فَلَمَّا كَشَفْنَا عَنْهُمُ الرِّجْزَ إِلَى أَجَلٍ هُم بَلِغُوهُ إِذَا هُمْ
فَأَنْتَقَمْنَا مِنْهُمْ فَأَغْرَقْنَهُمْ فِ اَلْيَمِّ بِأَنَهُمْ كَذَّبُواْ بِشَايَلِنَا وَكَانُواْ
(١٣٥)
يَنْكُثُونَ
جَ وَأَوْرَثْنَا الْقَوْمَ الَّذِينَ كَانُواْ يُسْتَضْعَفُونَ مَشَرِقَ الْأَرْضِ
عَنْهَا غَفِلِينَ
وَمَغَرِبَهَا الَِّى بَرَكْنَا فِيهَا وَتَمَّتْ كَلِمَتُ رَبِّكَ الْحُسْنَى عَلَى بَنِىَ إِسْرَِّيلَ بِمَا
(١٣٧
صَبَرُواْ وَدَمَّرْنَا مَا كَانَ يَصْنَعُ فِرْعَوْنُ وَقَوْمُهُ، وَمَا كَانُواْ يَعْرِشُونَ
So We sent upon them the storm and locusts and lice and frogs and blood,
as signs distinct from each other. 31 Yet they showed arrogance, and they
were a guilty people. [133] Whenever a scourge befell them, they said, "O
Mūsā, pray for us to your Lord by the covenant He has made with you. If
you remove the scourge from us, we will truly believe in you, and will send
the children of Isra'il with you." [134] But when We removed the scourge
from them for a term they had to reach, in no time they started to break
their promise. [135] Then We subjected them to retribution, and drowned
them in the sea, because they rejected Our signs, and were neglectful of
them. [136] We caused those people who were deemed to be weak (the
Israelites) to inherit the East and West of the land that We had blessed.
And the sublime word of your Lord was fulfilled for the children of Isra'il,
because they stood patient; and We destroyed what Pharaoh and his
people used to build and what they used to raise high. [137]
31) There were different signs of Allah's displeasure with them, sent one after the
other to serve as warnings against a greater scourge that might befall them if they
persisted in their disbelief and misdeeds. To begin with, they experienced a
furious storm; then locusts were sent to destroy their crops; lice or pests were
created in abundance to afflict men and livestock; frogs were found everywhere,
which made their life miserable; blood used to be present in their water and

30
Sūrah Al-A'raf 7:138-142
وَجَزْنَا بِبَنِىَ إِسْرَّهِيلَ الْبَحْرَ فَأَتَوْ عَلَى قَوْمٍ يَعَكُفُونَ عَلَى أَصْنَاءِ لَّهُمَّ قَالُواْ
إِنَّ هَؤُلَاءِ
يَنْمُوسَى أَجْعَل لَّنَا إِلَهَا كَمَا لَهُمْ ءَالِهَةٌ قَالَ إِنَّكُمْ فَوْمٌ تَجْهَلُونَ
٣٨
مُتَبِّرُ مَا هُمْ فِيهِ وَنَطِلٌ مَّا كَانُواْ يَعْمَلُونَ (٣) قَالَ أَغَيْرَ اللَّهِ أَبْفِيكُمْ
وَإِذْ أَنَجَيْنَكُم مِّنْ ءَلِ فِرْعَوْنَ
إِلَهَا وَهُوَ فَضَّلَكُمْ عَلَى الْعَلَمِينَ لَـ
١٤٠
يَسُومُونَكُمْ سُوَءَ الْعَذَابِّ يُقَئِّلُونَ أَبْنَآءَكُمْ وَيَسْتَحْيُونَ نِسَآءَكُمْ وَفِىِ
ذَلِكُمْ بَلٌَّ مِّن رَّيِّكُمْ عَظِيمٌ (٢٥ ﴾ وَوَعَدْنَا مُوسَى ثَلَثِينَ لَيْلَةً
وَأَتْمَمْنَهَا بِعَشْرٍ فَتَمَّ ◌ِقَتُ رَبِّهِ أَرْبَعِينَ لَيْلَةُ وَقَالَ مُوسَى لِأَخِيهِ هَرُونَ
٤٢
أَخْلُفْنِى فِى قَوْمِى وَأَصْلِحْ وَلَا تَنَِّعْ سَبِيلَ الْمُفْسِدِينَ
We made the children of Isra'il cross the sea, then they came across a
people sitting in devotion before their idols. They (the Israelites) said,
"O Mūsā, make a god for us like they have gods." He said, "You are
really an ignorant people. [138] What these people are engaged in is sure
to be destroyed; and false is what they are doing." [139] He said, "Shall
I seek any one other than Allah as God for you, while He has given you
excellence over the (people of all the) worlds." [140] (Remember) when
We delivered you from the people of Pharaoh who inflicted grievous
torment upon you, slaughtered your sons and left your women alive. In
all that there was a great trial from your Lord. [141]
And We made an appointment with Mūsā for thirty nights, then We
supplemented them with another ten. So, the total period fixed by his
Lord was forty nights. 32 Mūsā said to his brother Hārun, "Take my place
among my people and keep things right, and do not follow the way of
mischief makers." [142]
eatables. Each time they faced a hardship from one of these signs, they requested
Mūsā i to pray to Allah to remove it, but when it was removed, they attributed
it to sorcery of Musa til, and then another sign was sent to them from above.
32) When the Israelites acquired safety and were about to start their life as an
independent nation, they asked Musa it to give them a religious law that they

302
Sūrah Al-A'raf 7:143-145
وَلَمَّا جَآءَ مُوسَى لِمِيقَئِنَا وَكَلَّمَّهُ رَبُّهُ، قَالَ رَبِّ أَرِبِ أَنْظُرْ إِلَيْكَّ قَالَ لَنْ تَرَكِ
وَلَكِنِ أَنْظُرْ إِلَى الْجَبَلِ فَإِنْ أَسْتَفَرَّ مَكَانَهُ فَسَوْفَ تَرَكِّ فَلَمَّا تَجَلَّى رَبّهُ.
لِلْجَبَلِ جَعَلَهُ, دَكًا وَخَرَّ مُوسَى صَعِقَاً فَلَّا أَفَاقَ قَالَ سُبْحَانَكَ تُبْتُ
إِلَيْكَ وَأَنَاْ أَوَّلُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ [١٣] قَالَ يَمُوسَىّ إِنِّى أَصْطَفَيْتُكَ عَلَى النَّاسِ
وَكَتَبْنَا لَهُ فِى
بِسَلَتِي وَبِكَمِى فَخُذْ مَآ ءَاتَيْتُكَ وَكُنْ مِنَ الشَّكِرِينَ
الْأَلْوَاحِ مِن كُلِّ شَىْءٍ مَّوْعِظَةً وَتَفْصِيلًا لِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ فَخُذْهَا بِقُوَّةٍ وَأَمُرْ
1 20
قَوْمَكَ يَأْخُذُواْ بِأَحْسَنِهَا سَأُوْرِيكُمْ دَارَ الْفَسِقِينَ
When Mūsā came at Our appointed time and his Lord spoke to him, he
said, "My Lord, show (Yourself) to me that I may look at You." He said:
"You shall never see Me. But look at the mount. If it stays at its place.
you will see Me." So when his Lord appeared to the Mount, He made it
smashed, and Mūsā fell down unconscious. When he recovered, he said:
"Pure are You. I repent to You, and I am the first to believe (that no one
can see You in this world.)" [143] He said, "Musa, I have chosen you
above all men for my messages and for My speaking (to you). So, take
what I have given to you, and be among the grateful." [144]
We wrote for him on the Tablets advice of every kind, and explanations
of all (needful) things. "So hold it firm, and ask your people to hold on
to the best things in it. I shall show you the house of the sinners. 33 [145]
could follow. On his request, Allah Ta'ala called Musa i to the mount Tu-
(Mount Sinai) to sit in devotion for forty nights. Originally he was asked to sta
there for thirty nights, but for reasons best known to Allah, the term was
extended for another ten days to make the total period forty days. During this
period, Mūsa a devoted himself to acts of worship including fasts, meditation
etc. This was required to develop the spiritual qualities that would enable him
to receive Allah's Book and to act upon it. It was during this stay that he was
given the sacred Tablets of Torah.
33) This is the good news given to the Israelites that they will conquer the lands
of Syria and Palestine etc.

303
Sūrah Al-A'raf 7:146-149
سَأَصْرِفُ عَنْ ءَايَتِىَ الَّذِينَ يَتَكَبَّرُونَ فِى الْأَرْضِ بِغَيْرِ الْحَقِّ وَإِن يَرَوْأْ كُلَّ
ءَايَةٍ لَّا يُؤْمِنُواْ بِهَا وَإِن يَرَوْأْ سَبِيلَ الرُّشْدِ لَا يَتَّخِذُوهُ سَبِيلًا وَإِن يَرَوْأ
سَبِيلَ الْفِىّ يَتَّخِذُوُ سَبِيلًا ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَذَّبُواْ بِكَايَتِنَا وَكَانُواْ عَنْهَا غَفِينَ
وَالَّذِينَ كَذَّبُواْ بِشَايَتِنَا وَلِقَآءِ الْآَخِرَةِ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَلُهُمْ هَلْ يُجْزَوْنَ
١٤٦
إِلَّا مَا كَانُواْ يَعْ مَلُونَ ﴿ وَأَتَّخَذَ قَوْمُ مُوسَى مِنْ بَعْدِهِ، مِنْ حُلِهِمْ عِجْلًا
جَسَدًا لَّهُ خُوَّ أَلَمْ يَرَوْ أَنَّهُ، لَا يُكَلِّمُهُمْ وَلَا يَهْدِيِهِمْ سَبِيلًا أَتَّخَذُوهُ
وَكَانُواْ ظَلِمِينَ (﴾ وَّا سُقِطَ فِىَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَرَأَوْ أَنَّهُمْ قَدْ ضَلُّواْ قَالُوا
لَيْن لَّمْ يَرْحَمْنَا رَبُّنَا وَيَغْفِرْ لَنَا لَنَكُونَنَ مِنَ الْخَسِرِينَ
I shall keep away from My verses those who show arrogance on the earth
with no right to do so. Even if they were to see every sign, they would not
believe in it; and if they see the Path of guidance, they do not take it as
their way; and if they see the path of misguidance, they would take it as
their way. That is because they have rejected Our signs, and have been
neglectful of them. [146] Gone to waste are the deeds of those who have
rejected Our signs and the meeting of the Hereafter. They will be
recompensed only for what they have been doing. [147]
And in the absence of Musa, his people made a calf from their ornaments,
which was merely a sculpture with a moaning sound.34 Did they not see
that it neither talked to them nor could it guide them to any way? They
adopted it (as god), and were so unjust. [148] When they became remorseful
and saw that they had gone astray, they said, "If Allah shows no mercy to
us, and does not forgive us, we shall certainly be among the losers." [149]
34) As mentioned in Sūrah Țāhā (20:85-95), it was Samiriyy, the sorcerer, who
made the image of a calf out of the ornaments of the Israelites. It was a hollow
sculpture, and Samiriyy carved it in a way that when air passed through the
hollow passage, a moaning sound was heard from its mouth. He invited the
people to worship it as god, and the Israelites started to take it as such. The
Holy Qur'an has fully refuted the version of the Bible (Exodus 32:1-6) that it
was Harun gi who carved the calf and misguided his people. Obviously it is
not even imaginable from a holy prophet to make his people indulge in idolatry.

304
Sūrah Al-A'rāf 7:150-154
وَلَمَّا رَجَعَ مُوسَىَّ إِلَى قَوْمِهِ، غَضْبَنَ أَسِفًا قَالَ بِتْسَمَا خَلَفْتُهُونِ مِنْ بَعْدِىٌّ أَعَجِلْتُمْ
أَفَ رَّكُمْ وَأَلْقَى الْأَلْوَاحَ وَأَخَذَ بِرَأْسِ أَخِيهِ بَجُرُّهُ إِلَيْهِ قَالَ أَبْنَ أُمَّ إِنَّ الْقَوْمَ
اُسْتَضْعَفُونِ وَكَادُواْ يَقْتُلُونَنِ فَلَا تُشْمِتْ بِى الْأَعْدَاءَ وَلَا تَجْعَلْنِى مَعَ اُلْقَوْمِ
قَالَ رَبِّ أَغْفِرْ لِ وَلِأَخِى وَأَدْخِلْنَا فِى رَحْمَتِكَّ وَأَنْتَ أَرْحَمُ
الظَّالِمِينَ
١٥٠
◌َ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ اتَّخَذُواْ الْعِجْلَ سَيَنَاهُمْ غَضَبٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ وَزِلَّةٌ فِى
الرَّحِينَ
وَالَّذِينَ عَمِلُواْ السَّيِّئَاتِ ثُمَّ تَابُواْ مِنْ
اْحَوَةِ الدُّنْيَا وَكَذَلِكَ نَجْزِى الْمُفْتَرِينَ
بَعْدِهَا وَءَامَنُواْ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ مِنْ بَعْدِهَا لَغَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ ﴿ وَلَمَّا سَكَتَ عَنْ تُوسَى
الْغَضَبُ أَخَذَ اَلْأَلْوَاحِّ وَفِي نُشَخَتِهَا هُدِّى وَرَحْمَةٌ لِلَّذِينَ هُمْ لِرَبِهِمْ يَزْهَبُونَ
١٥٤
When Musa returned to his people, angry and sad, he said, "How bad is
the thing you have done in my absence! How did you act in haste
against the command of your Lord?" He dropped down the Tablets, and
grabbed the head of his brother, pulling him towards himself. He
(Hārūn) said, "My mother's son, the people took me as weak and were
about to kill me. So do not let the enemies laugh at me, and do not count
me with the wrong-doers." [150] He said, "My Lord! Forgive me and my
brother, and admit us into Your mercy. You are the most Merciful of all
the merciful." [151]
Surely, those who have taken the calf (as god) shall be seized by Allah's
wrath and by humiliation in the worldly life. That is how we recompense
the fabricators. [152] As for those who do evil, and repent thereafter, and
embrace faith, your Lord is then most forgiving, very merciful (for
them). [153]
When the fury of Musa calmed down, he picked up the Tablets, and in
its contents there was guidance, and mercy for those who are fearful
before their Lord. [154]

305
Surah Al-A'raf 7:155-156
وَأَخْتَارَ مُوسَى قَوْمَهُ، سَبْعِينَ رَجُلًا لِّمِيقَئِنّا فَلَمَّا أَخَذَتْهُمُ الرَّجْفَةُ قَالَ رَبِّ لَوْ
شِئْتَ أَهْلَكْنَهُم مِّن قَبْلُ وَإِلَىِّ أَنْلِكُنَا بِمَا فَعَلَ الشُّفَهَاءُ مِنَّ إِنْ هِىَ إِلَّا
فِتْنَنُكَ تُضِلُّ بِهَا مَن تَشَآءُ وَتَهْدِى مَن تَشَاءُ أَنْتَ وَلِيُّنَا فَأَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَأَرْحَمْنَا وَأَنْتَ
﴿ وَأَكْتُبْ لَنَا فِى هَذِهِ الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآَخِرَةِ إِنَّا
خَيْرُ الْغَفِرِينَ
هُدْنَا إِلَيْكَّ قَالَ عَذَابِى أُصِيبُ بِهِ، مَنْ أَشَاءُ وَرَحْمَتِى وَسِعَتْ كُلَّ شَىْءٍ
فَسَأَكْتُهَا لِلَّذِينَ يَثَّقُونَ وَيُؤْثُونَ الزَّكَوَةَ وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ بِثَايَمِنَا يُؤْمِنُونَ
And Mūsā selected seventy men from his people for Our appointment.35
Later when the earthquake seized them, he said, "My Lord, had it been
Your will, You could have destroyed them earlier, and me too. Would You
destroy us for what the foolish among us have done? It is nothing but a
trial from You, wherewith you let go astray whom You will, and give
guidance to whom You will. You are our protector, so forgive us, and
have mercy on us, and You are the best among those who forgive. [155]
And write for us good in this world and in the Hereafter. We turn to You
in repentance." He (Allah) said, "As for My punishment, I afflict with it
whom I will. And My mercy extends to everything.36 So, I shall write it
for those who guard themselves against evil, and pay Zakah, and those
who
do
believe
in
Our
verses,
[156]
35) When the Torah was brought by Musa , some Israelites asserted that they
would act on it only when they could hear Allah's speech directly. Musa
selected seventy people from them and took them again to the mount Țur
where they heard Allah's speech, but still expressed their doubts about its
genuineness, and demanded to see Allah openly, as mentioned by the Holy
Qur'an in 2:55 and 56. As a punishment to their obstinacy, an earthquake
overtook them whereby they fell unconscious.
36) This means that even though every disobedient person is liable to
punishment, Allah does not punish except those transgressors whom He wills.
His mercy, however, extends to everyone.

306
Sūrah Al-A'rāf 7:157-157
الَّذِينَ يَتَّبِعُونَ الرَّسُولَ النَّبِىِّ الْأَمِىَّ الَّذِى يَجِدُونَهُ، مَكْتُوبًا عِنْدَهُمْ فِى
الثَّوْرَةِ وَالْإِنِيلِ يَأْمُرُهُم بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَنَهُمْ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَيُحِلُّ لَهُمُ
اَلَّيْبَتِ وَيُحَرِّمُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْخَبَيِثَ وَيَضَعُ عَنْهُمْ إِصْرَهُمْ وَالْأَغْلَلَ الَّتِى
كَانَتْ عَلَيْهِمَّ قَالَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ بِهِ وَعَزَّرُوهُ وَنَصَرُوهُ وَأَتَّبَعُواْ النُّورَ الَّذِىّ أُنْزِلَ
مَعَهُ: أُوْلَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ
١٥٧
those who follow the Messenger, the Um miyy (unlettered) prophet 37
whom they find written with them in the Torah and the Injil , 38 and who
bids them what is fair and forbids what is unfair, and makes lawful for
them good things, and makes unlawful for them impure things, and
relieves them of their burden, and of the shackles that were upon them.
39 So, those who believe in him and support him, and help him and follow
the light sent down with him, ""those are the ones who are successful."
[157]
37) The 'unlettered prophet' refers to the Holy Prophet Muhammad the . Allah
Ta'ala had kept him unlettered in order to demonstrate the miraculous nature
of the eloquent discourse revealed to him. When Musa i prayed for Allah's
mercy for his people, Allah Ta'ala granted the prayer, though He deemed it fit
to explain that a full demonstration of His mercy would be forthcoming in
regard to the Ummah of the Holy Prophet Muhammad , because he would be
sent to the whole of humankind, and not only to a particular nation. In this
context, some characteristics of his Shari'ah have been spelt out in the verse.
38) This refers to the prophecies made in earlier divine books like the Torah
and the Injil, whereby the advent of the Last Prophet Muhammad he was
foretold. Despite a plethora of distortions introduced to the text of the Bible,
some of these prophecies may still be found in it. For details on these, the book:
Izhār-ul-Haq by Maulānā Raķmatullah Kairānwī may be consulted. Its Urdu and
English translations are also available.
39) The 'burden' and 'shackles' in this verse refer to the stern religious laws that
were imposed on the Israelites as a punishment for their rebellious attitude. It
is mentioned that the Holy Prophet Muhammad the will relieve the people from
such strict rules and injunctions.

307
Sūrah Al-A'raf 7:158-160
قُلْ يَتَأَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنِّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ إِلَيْكُمْ جَمِيعًا الَّذِى لَهُ مُلْكُ
السَّمَوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ يُحِىِ، وَيُمِيتُ فَامِنُواْ بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ النَّبِيِّ
اُلْأُمِّيّ الَّذِى يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَكَلِمَتِهِ، وَأَتَّبِعُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَّدُونَ
وَقَطّعْنَهُمُ أَثْنَىَّ عَشْرَةَ
وَمِن قَوْمِ مُوسَىّ أُمَّةٌ يَهْدُونَ بِالْحَقِّ وَبِهِ، يَعْدِلُونَ
٥٩
أَسْبَاطًا أُمَمَّأَ وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَى مُوسَى إِذِ اسْتَسْقَمُهُ قَوْمُهُ: أَنِ أَضْرِبِ بِعَصَاكَ
اَلْحَجَرِ فَأَنْبَحَسَتْ مِنْهُ أَثْنَتَا عَشْرَةَ عَيْنًا قَدْ عَلِمَ كُلُّ أُنَاسِ مَشْرَبَهُمّْ
وَظَلَّلْنَا عَلَيْهِمُ الْغَمَمَ وَأَنْزَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمُ الْمَنَّ وَالسَّلْوَىِّ كُلُواْ مِن طَيِّبَتِ مَا
رَزَقْتَكُنَّ وَمَا ظَلَمُوْنَا وَلَكِنْ كَانُواْ أَنْفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ
(O Prophet Muhammad) Say, "O people, I am a messenger of Allah
(sent) to you from the One to whom belongs the kingdom of the heavens
and the earth. There is no god but He. He gives life and brings death. So,
believe in Allah and His Messenger, the Um miyy (unlettered) prophet,
who believes in Allah and in His words, and follow him, so that you may
find the right path." 40 [158] Among the community of Musa there are
people who guide with truth and do justice thereby. 41 [159]
And We divided them into twelve tribes, as separate communities, and
We revealed to Mūsā when his people asked him for water, 42 "Strike the
rock with your staff." Then twelve springs gushed forth from it. Each
tribe came to know their drinking place. We shaded them with the
shadow of the clouds. And We sent down to them Mann and Salwa
(saying), "Eat of the good things we have provided you." And they did us
no harm, rather they have been harming their own selves. [160]
40) After mentioning that the advent of the Holy Prophet Muhammad de was
foretold to Mūsā ți, it was pertinent to invite people - Jews in particular - to
believe in him. This verse is thus the logical conclusion one should draw from
what had been said to Musa His.
41) This refers to the Israelites who remained faithful to the original version of
the Mosaic religion and fully obedient to the genuine Torah. History bears out
that a small group among the Israelites did never deviate from their genuine
religion. Ibn Jarir has narrated an interesting story about such people. It also
includes the Israelites who embraced Islam, like 'Abdullah Ibn Salam 4%
42
The events referred to in verses 160 to 162 have already been mentioned in

IA N 308
Sūrah Al-A'raf 7:161-163
وَإِذْ قِيْلَ لَهُمُ أُسْكُنُواْ هَذِهِ أَلْقَرْيَةَ وَكُلُواْ مِنْهَا حَيْثُ شِئْتُمْ وَقُولُواْ
حِظَةٌ وَادْخُلُواْ الْبَابَ سُجَدًا نَّغْفِرْ لَكُمْ خَطِيْئَتِكُمْ سَنَزِيدُ
الْمُحْسِنِينَ ﴾ فَبَدَّلَ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ مِنْهُمْ قَوْلًّا غَيْرَ أَلَّذِى قِيلَ لَهُمْ
فَأَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ رِجْزًا مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ بِمَا كَانُواْ يَظْلِمُونَ
وَسْئَلْهُمْ عَنِ الْقَرْيَةِ الَّتِى كَانَتْ حَاضِرَةَ الْبَحْرِ إِذْ يَعْدُونَ فِى
السَبْتِ إِذْ تَأْتِيهِمْ حِيتَانُهُمْ يَوْمَ سَبْتِهِمْ شُرَّعًا وَيَوْمَ لَا يَسْبِتُونٌَ لَا
تَأْتِيهِمُّ كَذَلِكَ نَبْلُوهُم بِمَا كَانُواْ يَفْسُقُونَ
(Recall) when it was said to them, "Live in this town and eat therefrom
anywhere you like, and say, Hittah (we seek forgiveness) and enter the
gate prostrating yourselves, so that We forgive your errors. We shall give
much more to those who are good in their deeds." [161] But those of
them who were unjust substituted another word for the one that was said
to them. So, We sent down upon them a scourge from the heavens
because they had been transgressing. [162]
Ask them about the town situated by the sea, when they used to
transgress in the matter of Sabbath, 43 when their fish came to them
openly on their Sabbath, and did not come to them when they did no:
have Sabbath. In this way, We put them to a test, because they used to
act sinfully. [163]
verses 55 to 60 of Surah Al-Baqarah. See the notes there.
43) Sabbath means Saturday, which was prescribed for the Israelites as a sacred
day to be devoted for worship. Economic activities were prohibited for them
on that day. A group of them, living near a sea-shore, violated the prohibition
by going for fishing. For that purpose, they invented, at first, some clever
pretences, but gradually they started doing it openly. As a punishment, they
were metamorphosed into apes and swine. This episode belongs to the time of
Dawūd i. (See also 2:65)

309
Surah Al-A'raf 7:164-166
وَإِذْ قَالَتْ أُمَّةٌ مِنَّهُمْ لِمَ تَعِظُونَ قَوْمَّا اللَّهُ مُهْلِكُهُمْ أَوْ مُعَذِّبُهُمْ عَذَابًا شَدِيدًا قَالُواْ
مَعْذِرَةً إِلَى رَبَّكُمْ وَلَعَلَّهُمْ يَنَّقُونَ [١٧] فَلَمَّا نَسُواْ مَا ذُكِرُواْ بِهِ- أَنْجَيْنَا الَّذِينَ
يَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ السُّوْءِ وَأَخَذْنَا الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ بِعَذَابٍ بَشِيِسٍ بِمَا كَانُواْ يَفْسُقُونَ
1 77
ضَْ فَلَمَّا عَتَوْ عَنْ مَا نُهُواْ عَنْهُ قُلْنَا لَهُمْ كُونُواْ قِرَدَةً خَسِتِينَ
When a group of them said, "Why do you exhort a people whom Allah is
going to destroy or chastise with a severe punishment?" They said, "To
absolve ourselves before your Lord, and in order that they may fear
Allah." 44 [164] So, when they forgot the advice they were given, We saved
those who used to forbid evil and seized those who transgressed with a
bitter punishment, because they had been disobeying. [165] When they
persisted in doing what they were forbidden from, We said to them,
"Become apes debased." 45 [166]
44) There were some people in the town who, though not involved in violation
of the Sabbath, were silent on the violation committed by others; while another
group used to admonish the sinners for their violation. The former group asked
the latter why they were wasting their time in admonishing sinners who did not
appear to accept their advice and were going to be punished by Allah. In answer
to them, the latter group mentioned two objectives for their preaching. Firstly
they wished to absolve themselves before Allah by fulfilling their obligation to
call their people to the right path, and secondly they did not lose hope in their
fellow citizens who might fear Allah and abstain from their sinful acts. These
people were saved from the divine scourge, while others were subjected to
punishment. There are three important lessons worth learning from these
verses. Firstly, it is not sufficient for a Muslim to abstain from evil himself; one
is duty bound to admonish others and try his or her best to eradicate evil from
society. Secondly, a preacher should perform his duty to absolve himself before
his Creator, whether or not his efforts bear fruit. Thirdly, a preacher should not
lose hope in his audience despite their negative attitude, and should go on
preaching on the assumption that at least some of them may accept the
message.
45) Some so-called modernists question the possibility of turning human
beings into apes and swine. Apart from the fact that it amounts to questioning
-

310
Sūrah Al-A'raf 7:167-168
وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكَ لَبَعَثَنَّ عَلَيْهِمْ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ مَن يَسُومُهُمْ سُوْءَ اٌلْعَذَابِّ
وَقَطَّعْنَهُمْ فِى الْأَرْضِ
إِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَسَرِيعُ الْعِقَابِ وَإِنَّهُ، لَغَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
7V
أُمَمَّا مِنْهُمُ الصَّلِحُونَ وَمِنْهُمْ دُونَ ذَلِكٌ وَبَلَوْنَهُم بِالْحَسَنَتِ وَالسَّيِّئَاتِ
لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ
(Recall) when your Lord declared that He would surely keep sending to
them, till the Day of Judgment, those who inflict on them evil
chastisement. 46 Certainly, your Lord is swift in punishing, and certainly
He is the Most-forgiving, Very Merciful. [167]
We divided them on the earth as separate communities. Some of them
were righteous, while some others were otherwise. We tested them with
good and bad times, so that they might return. [168]
encompassing power, I cannot help myself quoting here a comment made by my
late friend Prof. Muhammad Hasan Askari about such people. He says, "Our
modernists are, in fact, all too ready to swallow without batting an eyelid the most
preposterous and unfounded notions, only if they come from the West. So they
have complete certitude with regard to Darwin's speculation, that the apes
evolved into man, although no verifiable data has yet been gathered to support
the contention; but when it comes to the statement in the Holy Qur'an that
men were changed into apes, they look askance at it. Although this kind of
change is rationally and logically as possible as the other." (Ma'ariful-Qur'an
v.1, p.233)
46) This is a warning for the Jews who, given their rebellious attitude, will be
subjected continually to persecution by other people until the Day of Judgment.
History bears out that throughout centuries they have been subjected to
humiliating persecution at the hands of different rulers. Obviously, the verse
does not imply that they will never enjoy a peaceful life at any time. Rather, the
import of the verse is that they will continue to face persecution till the Day of
Judgment in different phases of their history. Intervals of relative peace are not
contrary to this statement.

311
Sarah Al-A'raf 7:169-172
فَخَلَفَ مِنْ بَعْدِهِمْ خَلْفُ وَرِثُواْ الْكِنَبَ يَأْخُذُونَ عَرَضَ هَذَا الْأَدْنَى وَيَقُولُونَ سَيُغْفَرُ
لَنَا وَإِن يَأْتِهِمْ عَرَضُ مِثْلُهُ, يَأْخُذُوهُ أَلَمْ يُؤْخَذْ عَلَيِهِم مِيثَقُ الْكِتَبِ أَنْ لَّ يَقُولُوا
عَلَى اللَّهِ إِلَّ الْحَقَّ وَدَرَسُواْ مَا فِيَةٍ وَالدَّارُ الْآَخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ لِلَّذِينَ يَنَّقُونُّ أَفَلَا
وَالَّذِينَ يُمَسِكُونَ بِالْكِنَبِ وَأَقَامُواْ الصَّلَوَةَ إِنَّا لَا نُضِيعُ أَجْرَ
تَعْقِلُونَ
﴿ وَإِذْ نَنَقْنَا الْجَبَلَ فَوْقَهُمْ كَأَنَّهُ، ظُلَّةٌ وَظَنُواْ أَنَّهُ, وَاقِعٌ بِهِمْ
اْمُصْلِحِينَ
وَإِذْ أَخَذَ رَبُّكَ مِنْ
خُذُواْ مَآ ءَاتَيْنَكُم بِقُوَّةٍ وَأَذْكُرُواْ مَا فِيهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ نَنَّقُونَ
بَنِّ ءَمَ مِن ظُهُورِهِمْ ذُرِيَّنَهُمْ وَأَشْهَدَهُمْ عَلَى أَنفُسِهِمْ أَلَسْتُ بِرَبِّكُمْ قَالُواْ بَّ
١٧٢
شَهِدْنَاْ أَن تَقُولُواْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ إِنَّا كُنَّا عَنْ هَذَا غَفِلِينَ
Then, after them, came a generation that inherited the Book, opting for
the mundane stuff of this world and saying, "We shall be forgiven." But if
there comes to them similar stuff, they would opt for it (again).
47 Was not
the covenant of the Book taken from them that they should not say
anything but the truth about Allah? They learnt what it contained.
Certainly, the Last Abode is better for those who fear Allah. Have you then,
no sense? [169] Those who hold fast to the Book and establish Salah, We
shall never let the reward of (such) righteous people to go to waste. [170]
When We raised the mountain over them as though it were a canopy,
and they thought it was falling upon them, (We said,) "Adhere firmly to
what We have given you and remember what is therein, so that you may
become God-fearing." 48 [171] (Recall) when your Lord brought forth
their progeny from the loins of the children of 'Adam, and made them
testify about themselves (by asking them,) "Am I not your Lord?" They
said, "Of course, You are. We testify." 49 (We did so) lest you should say
on the Day of Judgment, "We were unaware of this," [172]
47) This means that they used to change the rules of Torah according to the
desires of people after taking bribes from them, and carelessly observed that they
would be forgiven by Allah. But when they were offered bribes, they were all too
ready to accept it again and to commit the same crime of distorting the Torah.
48) See 2:63 and its relevant note.
49) This is the description of the initial covenant taken from all human beings