Shabbir Ahmed

Surah 7. The Heights, The Elevated Places (al-A`raf)

206 verses Meccan
1 Opponents' Doom
2 Devil's Opposition to Man
3 Warning against Devil's Insinuations
4 Messengers to uplift Humanity
5 Acceptors of Message
7:43
وَنَزَعۡنَا مَا فِی صُدُورِهِم مِّنۡ غِلࣲّ تَجۡرِی مِن تَحۡتِهِمُ ٱلۡأَنۡهَـٰرُۖ وَقَالُوا۟ ٱلۡحَمۡدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِی هَدَىٰنَا لِهَـٰذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لِنَهۡتَدِیَ لَوۡلَاۤ أَنۡ هَدَىٰنَا ٱللَّهُۖ لَقَدۡ جَاۤءَتۡ رُسُلُ رَبِّنَا بِٱلۡحَقِّۖ وَنُودُوۤا۟ أَن تِلۡكُمُ ٱلۡجَنَّةُ أُورِثۡتُمُوهَا بِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُونَ ۝٤٣
Shabbir Ahmed
(In earthly life human beings conceal many negative feelings that they have towards others even though they may have cordial relations with them). We will remove all negative emotions from their hearts. There will be no such feelings amongst the dwellers of earthly and heavenly Paradise wherein streams will flow. (The blessings of such a Social Order would be everlasting!) They will say: "All Praise is due to Allah Who has guided us to such a beautiful destination. Without Divine guidance we would never have reached this place. Allah's Messengers brought to us this Truth. It will be proclaimed: "This is the Paradise which you have inherited; and since you have inherited this Paradise as a result of your own effort, you will not be expelled from it."
wanazaʿnā mā fī ṣudūrihim min ghillin tajrī min taḥtihimu l-anhāru waqālū l-ḥamdu lillahi alladhī hadānā lihādhā wamā kunnā linahtadiya lawlā an hadānā l-lahu laqad jāat rusulu rabbinā bil-ḥaqi wanūdū an til'kumu l-janatu ūrith'tumūhā bimā kuntum taʿmalūn
6 Helplessness of Opponents
7:53
هَلۡ یَنظُرُونَ إِلَّا تَأۡوِیلَهُۥۚ یَوۡمَ یَأۡتِی تَأۡوِیلُهُۥ یَقُولُ ٱلَّذِینَ نَسُوهُ مِن قَبۡلُ قَدۡ جَاۤءَتۡ رُسُلُ رَبِّنَا بِٱلۡحَقِّ فَهَل لَّنَا مِن شُفَعَاۤءَ فَیَشۡفَعُوا۟ لَنَاۤ أَوۡ نُرَدُّ فَنَعۡمَلَ غَیۡرَ ٱلَّذِی كُنَّا نَعۡمَلُۚ قَدۡ خَسِرُوۤا۟ أَنفُسَهُمۡ وَضَلَّ عَنۡهُم مَّا كَانُوا۟ یَفۡتَرُونَ ۝٥٣
Shabbir Ahmed
Are they waiting until the consequences stare them in their eyes? The Day the consequences appear, those who disregarded it will say, "The Messengers of our Lord did bring the Truth. Are there any intercessors to intercede on our behalf? Or can we be returned that we behave differently from our past?" They have put their "Self" in loss and their own forgery fails them. (They will seek mediation for their mutual conflicts and long for starting from scratch. Since they have hurt their "Self", they have lost the power of judgment and they would need help. They have been fabricating unworkable systems)
hal yanẓurūna illā tawīlahu yawma yatī tawīluhu yaqūlu alladhīna nasūhu min qablu qad jāat rusulu rabbinā bil-ḥaqi fahal lanā min shufaʿāa fayashfaʿū lanā aw nuraddu fanaʿmala ghayra alladhī kunnā naʿmalu qad khasirū anfusahum waḍalla ʿanhum mā kānū yaftarūn
7 Righteous will prosper
8 Noah
9 Hud
10 Salih and Lot
11 Shu'aib
7:85
وَإِلَىٰ مَدۡیَنَ أَخَاهُمۡ شُعَیۡبࣰاۚ قَالَ یَـٰقَوۡمِ ٱعۡبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنۡ إِلَـٰهٍ غَیۡرُهُۥۖ قَدۡ جَاۤءَتۡكُم بَیِّنَةࣱ مِّن رَّبِّكُمۡۖ فَأَوۡفُوا۟ ٱلۡكَیۡلَ وَٱلۡمِیزَانَ وَلَا تَبۡخَسُوا۟ ٱلنَّاسَ أَشۡیَاۤءَهُمۡ وَلَا تُفۡسِدُوا۟ فِی ٱلۡأَرۡضِ بَعۡدَ إِصۡلَـٰحِهَاۚ ذَ ٰلِكُمۡ خَیۡرࣱ لَّكُمۡ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤۡمِنِینَ ۝٨٥
Shabbir Ahmed
(And there was the Nation of Midyan that lived between Madinah and Damascus since around 2000 B.C. They were the descendants of Prophet Abraham's son MIDYAN from his third wife QATOORA. Most of them were traders but they squandered justice and equity in business.) We sent Shoaib (Jethro), their brother, to them (around 1300 BC). He said, "O My people! Obey Allah. There is none else worthy of obedience and Law-giving. Now has come to you the clear evidence of Truth from your Lord. Be loyal to measure and weight in all your dealings. Withhold not from people the things that are rightfully theirs. Do not corrupt the earth after it has been set straight. All this will be better for you if you would but believe. Learn from history about the outcome of the corrupt and the bloody criminals
wa-ilā madyana akhāhum shuʿayban qāla yāqawmi uʿ'budū l-laha mā lakum min ilāhin ghayruhu qad jāatkum bayyinatun min rabbikum fa-awfū l-kayla wal-mīzāna walā tabkhasū l-nāsa ashyāahum walā tuf'sidū fī l-arḍi baʿda iṣ'lāḥihā dhālikum khayrun lakum in kuntum mu'minīn
12 Makkans warned
13 Moses sent to Pharaoh
14 Pharaoh summons Enchanters
15 Israelites' Persecution
16 Moses shows Signs
17 Moses receives Law
7:143
وَلَمَّا جَاۤءَ مُوسَىٰ لِمِیقَـٰتِنَا وَكَلَّمَهُۥ رَبُّهُۥ قَالَ رَبِّ أَرِنِیۤ أَنظُرۡ إِلَیۡكَۚ قَالَ لَن تَرَىٰنِی وَلَـٰكِنِ ٱنظُرۡ إِلَى ٱلۡجَبَلِ فَإِنِ ٱسۡتَقَرَّ مَكَانَهُۥ فَسَوۡفَ تَرَىٰنِیۚ فَلَمَّا تَجَلَّىٰ رَبُّهُۥ لِلۡجَبَلِ جَعَلَهُۥ دَكࣰّا وَخَرَّ مُوسَىٰ صَعِقࣰاۚ فَلَمَّاۤ أَفَاقَ قَالَ سُبۡحَـٰنَكَ تُبۡتُ إِلَیۡكَ وَأَنَا۠ أَوَّلُ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِینَ ۝١٤٣
Shabbir Ahmed
When Moses arrived at the appointed time, and his Lord spoke to him, Moses said, "My Lord! Show me Yourself, such that I can see You." His Lord said, "You cannot see Me. The best way to see Me is to look at this mountain and think. If you contemplate, you will understand that even a single mountain is made of countless atoms that were scattered. Then consider that you have seen Me." Realizing this, Moses imagined the Glory of His Lord through His signs in the Universe. He was stunned and when he recovered his senses, he said, "Infinite are You in Your Glory! I feel embarrassed and repent at my question. I am among the foremost believers." (The 7,359 feet high Mount Sinai is standing to this day. Therefore contrary to popular literal translation of this verse, its understanding in allegorical terms is preferred. Also, a Prophet of God is unlikely to make a demand to behold God in physical form)
walammā jāa mūsā limīqātinā wakallamahu rabbuhu qāla rabbi arinī anẓur ilayka qāla lan tarānī walākini unẓur ilā l-jabali fa-ini is'taqarra makānahu fasawfa tarānī falammā tajallā rabbuhu lil'jabali jaʿalahu dakkan wakharra mūsā ṣaʿiqan falammā afāqa qāla sub'ḥānaka tub'tu ilayka wa-anā awwalu l-mu'minīn
7:146
سَأَصۡرِفُ عَنۡ ءَایَـٰتِیَ ٱلَّذِینَ یَتَكَبَّرُونَ فِی ٱلۡأَرۡضِ بِغَیۡرِ ٱلۡحَقِّ وَإِن یَرَوۡا۟ كُلَّ ءَایَةࣲ لَّا یُؤۡمِنُوا۟ بِهَا وَإِن یَرَوۡا۟ سَبِیلَ ٱلرُّشۡدِ لَا یَتَّخِذُوهُ سَبِیلࣰا وَإِن یَرَوۡا۟ سَبِیلَ ٱلۡغَیِّ یَتَّخِذُوهُ سَبِیلࣰاۚ ذَ ٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمۡ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِءَایَـٰتِنَا وَكَانُوا۟ عَنۡهَا غَـٰفِلِینَ ۝١٤٦
Shabbir Ahmed
The Law stands* that those who are proud on earth without justification will turn away from My revelations. Even if they went through the entire script, and saw clear evidence of the Truth, their arrogance will keep them from believing. When they see the right guidance, they do not accept it, but they readily accept straying. This is because they choose to preemptively deny Our Revelations and to remain unaware of the wisdom in them. (*The consequences according to the Law of Requital, Allah ascribes to Himself, such as "Allah did it."
sa-aṣrifu ʿan āyātiya alladhīna yatakabbarūna fī l-arḍi bighayri l-ḥaqi wa-in yaraw kulla āyatin lā yu'minū bihā wa-in yaraw sabīla l-rush'di lā yattakhidhūhu sabīlan wa-in yaraw sabīla l-ghayi yattakhidhūhu sabīlan dhālika bi-annahum kadhabū biāyātinā wakānū ʿanhā ghāfilīn
18 Israelites worship a calf
7:150
وَلَمَّا رَجَعَ مُوسَىٰۤ إِلَىٰ قَوۡمِهِۦ غَضۡبَـٰنَ أَسِفࣰا قَالَ بِئۡسَمَا خَلَفۡتُمُونِی مِنۢ بَعۡدِیۤۖ أَعَجِلۡتُمۡ أَمۡرَ رَبِّكُمۡۖ وَأَلۡقَى ٱلۡأَلۡوَاحَ وَأَخَذَ بِرَأۡسِ أَخِیهِ یَجُرُّهُۥۤ إِلَیۡهِۚ قَالَ ٱبۡنَ أُمَّ إِنَّ ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱسۡتَضۡعَفُونِی وَكَادُوا۟ یَقۡتُلُونَنِی فَلَا تُشۡمِتۡ بِیَ ٱلۡأَعۡدَاۤءَ وَلَا تَجۡعَلۡنِی مَعَ ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِینَ ۝١٥٠
Shabbir Ahmed
Moses returned to his people and was upset and grieved. He said, "You have chosen a terrible thing after me. Do you wish your Lord's Law of Requital to smite you soon (20:86)? He placed the tablets of the Commands among them and questioned his brother, Aaron, very strictly. Aaron explained, "O Son of my mother! These people treated me harshly and took my patience as weakness, and almost killed me. Let not my opponents rejoice, and count me not among the wrongdoers." (Seizing the beard and head is indicative of interrogating harshly. Aaron had been extra patient with their idolatry to avoid division among them (20:94). Aaron, the Prophet of God, preferred SHIRK over Sectarianism. This is how reprehensible sectarianism and division in religion is)
walammā rajaʿa mūsā ilā qawmihi ghaḍbāna asifan qāla bi'samā khalaftumūnī min baʿdī aʿajil'tum amra rabbikum wa-alqā l-alwāḥa wa-akhadha birasi akhīhi yajurruhu ilayhi qāla ib'na umma inna l-qawma is'taḍʿafūnī wakādū yaqtulūnanī falā tush'mit biya l-aʿdāa walā tajʿalnī maʿa l-qawmi l-ẓālimīn
19 Torah and the Prophet's Advent
7:155
وَٱخۡتَارَ مُوسَىٰ قَوۡمَهُۥ سَبۡعِینَ رَجُلࣰا لِّمِیقَـٰتِنَاۖ فَلَمَّاۤ أَخَذَتۡهُمُ ٱلرَّجۡفَةُ قَالَ رَبِّ لَوۡ شِئۡتَ أَهۡلَكۡتَهُم مِّن قَبۡلُ وَإِیَّـٰیَۖ أَتُهۡلِكُنَا بِمَا فَعَلَ ٱلسُّفَهَاۤءُ مِنَّاۤۖ إِنۡ هِیَ إِلَّا فِتۡنَتُكَ تُضِلُّ بِهَا مَن تَشَاۤءُ وَتَهۡدِی مَن تَشَاۤءُۖ أَنتَ وَلِیُّنَا فَٱغۡفِرۡ لَنَا وَٱرۡحَمۡنَاۖ وَأَنتَ خَیۡرُ ٱلۡغَـٰفِرِینَ ۝١٥٥
Shabbir Ahmed
Moses planned for the future. He appointed seventy of his people as officers to prevent the nation from wavering. An earthquake shook them (2:55) and Moses said, "My Lord! You could have destroyed them and me before, if You so willed (when they asked to see God in physical form (2:55)). Would you destroy us for the actions of the ignorant among us? This must be Your trial for us. You have appointed Laws of straying and guidance. You are our Protecting Friend. Forgive us and have Mercy on us. You are the Best of forgivers
wa-ikh'tāra mūsā qawmahu sabʿīna rajulan limīqātinā falammā akhadhathumu l-rajfatu qāla rabbi law shi'ta ahlaktahum min qablu wa-iyyāya atuh'likunā bimā faʿala l-sufahāu minnā in hiya illā fit'natuka tuḍillu bihā man tashāu watahdī man tashāu anta waliyyunā fa-igh'fir lanā wa-ir'ḥamnā wa-anta khayru l-ghāfirīn
7:157
ٱلَّذِینَ یَتَّبِعُونَ ٱلرَّسُولَ ٱلنَّبِیَّ ٱلۡأُمِّیَّ ٱلَّذِی یَجِدُونَهُۥ مَكۡتُوبًا عِندَهُمۡ فِی ٱلتَّوۡرَىٰةِ وَٱلۡإِنجِیلِ یَأۡمُرُهُم بِٱلۡمَعۡرُوفِ وَیَنۡهَىٰهُمۡ عَنِ ٱلۡمُنكَرِ وَیُحِلُّ لَهُمُ ٱلطَّیِّبَـٰتِ وَیُحَرِّمُ عَلَیۡهِمُ ٱلۡخَبَـٰۤىِٕثَ وَیَضَعُ عَنۡهُمۡ إِصۡرَهُمۡ وَٱلۡأَغۡلَـٰلَ ٱلَّتِی كَانَتۡ عَلَیۡهِمۡۚ فَٱلَّذِینَ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِهِۦ وَعَزَّرُوهُ وَنَصَرُوهُ وَٱتَّبَعُوا۟ ٱلنُّورَ ٱلَّذِیۤ أُنزِلَ مَعَهُۥۤ أُو۟لَـٰۤىِٕكَ هُمُ ٱلۡمُفۡلِحُونَ ۝١٥٧
Shabbir Ahmed
(Now the Law has been revealed to Prophet Muhammad.) Follow the Messenger, the Prophet who is a non-Israelite, and who was unlettered before the Revelation (29:48). They find him well described* in the Torah and the Gospel with them. He enjoins upon them the Right, and forbids them the Wrong. He declares Lawful all good things, and declares Unlawful only the unclean things. He relieves people from the burdens they carried. He breaks the shackles that they used to wear, of mental and physical slavery, and brings them from darkness to Light (5:15-16), (65:11), (76:4). Those who believe in him, honor him, support him, and follow the Light that came with him, are the eternally successful. *(Deuteronomy xviii, 15 and 18. Gospel of John 14:16, 15:26, 16:7 PARACLETOS = COMFORTER, from original Greek PERICLYTOS = THE PRAISED ONE. In Aramaic, MAWHAMANA = THE PRAISED ONE
alladhīna yattabiʿūna l-rasūla l-nabiya l-umiya alladhī yajidūnahu maktūban ʿindahum fī l-tawrāti wal-injīli yamuruhum bil-maʿrūfi wayanhāhum ʿani l-munkari wayuḥillu lahumu l-ṭayibāti wayuḥarrimu ʿalayhimu l-khabāitha wayaḍaʿu ʿanhum iṣ'rahum wal-aghlāla allatī kānat ʿalayhim fa-alladhīna āmanū bihi waʿazzarūhu wanaṣarūhu wa-ittabaʿū l-nūra alladhī unzila maʿahu ulāika humu l-muf'liḥūn
20 Divine Favours on Israelites
7:160
وَقَطَّعۡنَـٰهُمُ ٱثۡنَتَیۡ عَشۡرَةَ أَسۡبَاطًا أُمَمࣰاۚ وَأَوۡحَیۡنَاۤ إِلَىٰ مُوسَىٰۤ إِذِ ٱسۡتَسۡقَىٰهُ قَوۡمُهُۥۤ أَنِ ٱضۡرِب بِّعَصَاكَ ٱلۡحَجَرَۖ فَٱنۢبَجَسَتۡ مِنۡهُ ٱثۡنَتَا عَشۡرَةَ عَیۡنࣰاۖ قَدۡ عَلِمَ كُلُّ أُنَاسࣲ مَّشۡرَبَهُمۡۚ وَظَلَّلۡنَا عَلَیۡهِمُ ٱلۡغَمَـٰمَ وَأَنزَلۡنَا عَلَیۡهِمُ ٱلۡمَنَّ وَٱلسَّلۡوَىٰۖ كُلُوا۟ مِن طَیِّبَـٰتِ مَا رَزَقۡنَـٰكُمۡۚ وَمَا ظَلَمُونَا وَلَـٰكِن كَانُوۤا۟ أَنفُسَهُمۡ یَظۡلِمُونَ ۝١٦٠
Shabbir Ahmed
We set up twelve tribal communities among the Israelites for effective administration. When his people asked for water, We revealed to Moses, "Strike the rock with your staff!" And twelve springs gushed forth from there. (Remember the times when you were in the Sinai desert and there was shortage of water. Moses asked for water for his people and We guided him to a rock under which were hidden twelve springs of water ready to gush forth. Moses, with the strength of his conviction and with the help of his companions, unclogged those springs and each of the twelve tribes found their respective source of fresh cool water (2:60)). Moses had established the Divine system of life. We shall open the Blessings of the heavens and the earth for any nation that accepts these Laws and works for the collective good of humanity. Such abundance with equity is no less than a heavenly "Table spread" that ensures freedom from want for all, in the shadow of Divine Grace. They enjoyed delicious bird meat and vegetation they had grown in the oasis of their own making. That is what the people of Moses were given, "Eat of the good things that We have provided you." After a time, the corrupters in that wonderful society started dissenting. Did they harm us? Nay, they harmed their own "Self"
waqaṭṭaʿnāhumu ith'natay ʿashrata asbāṭan umaman wa-awḥaynā ilā mūsā idhi is'tasqāhu qawmuhu ani iḍ'rib biʿaṣāka l-ḥajara fa-inbajasat min'hu ith'natā ʿashrata ʿaynan qad ʿalima kullu unāsin mashrabahum waẓallalnā ʿalayhimu l-ghamāma wa-anzalnā ʿalayhimu l-mana wal-salwā kulū min ṭayyibāti mā razaqnākum wamā ẓalamūnā walākin kānū anfusahum yaẓlimūn
21 Israelites' Transgressions
7:169
فَخَلَفَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِهِمۡ خَلۡفࣱ وَرِثُوا۟ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ یَأۡخُذُونَ عَرَضَ هَـٰذَا ٱلۡأَدۡنَىٰ وَیَقُولُونَ سَیُغۡفَرُ لَنَا وَإِن یَأۡتِهِمۡ عَرَضࣱ مِّثۡلُهُۥ یَأۡخُذُوهُۚ أَلَمۡ یُؤۡخَذۡ عَلَیۡهِم مِّیثَـٰقُ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ أَن لَّا یَقُولُوا۟ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا ٱلۡحَقَّ وَدَرَسُوا۟ مَا فِیهِۗ وَٱلدَّارُ ٱلۡءَاخِرَةُ خَیۡرࣱ لِّلَّذِینَ یَتَّقُونَۚ أَفَلَا تَعۡقِلُونَ ۝١٦٩
Shabbir Ahmed
But, the succeeding generations that inherited the Scripture, did no better. They became more materialistic, falling for instant gains. Yet, they insist, "We will be forgiven," and won't have to account for it. And they keep longing for material gains. Didn't they promise to uphold the Scripture, and not to say about God but the Truth? And they have studied the Commands in it! The long-term benefit and the abode of the Hereafter are better for those who deal justly with people and walk aright. Do you not use sense
fakhalafa min baʿdihim khalfun warithū l-kitāba yakhudhūna ʿaraḍa hādhā l-adnā wayaqūlūna sayugh'faru lanā wa-in yatihim ʿaraḍun mith'luhu yakhudhūhu alam yu'khadh ʿalayhim mīthāqu l-kitābi an lā yaqūlū ʿalā l-lahi illā l-ḥaqa wadarasū mā fīhi wal-dāru l-ākhiratu khayrun lilladhīna yattaqūna afalā taʿqilūn
22 Divine Impress on Man's Nature
23 Coming of Doom
24 The Final Word
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