Al-A'raf

And on his authority from Ibn 'Abbas who said concerning Allah's saying (Alif. Lam Mim. Sad) Allah says: I am Allah Who knows best and is best; it is also said that this is an oath by which Allah swore.

((It is) a Scripture) this Scripture, i.e. the Qur'an (that is revealed unto thee (Muhammad)) that Gabriel brought to you (so let there be no heaviness in thy heart) let there be no doubt in your heart (therefrom) i.e. there can be no doubt about the Qur'an being from Allah (that thou mayst warn thereby) that you may warn the people of Mecca through the Qur'an in order that they believe, (and (it is) a Reminder unto believers).

((Saying): Follow that which is sent down unto you from your Lord) i.e. the Qur'an: uphold as lawful that which it makes lawful and unlawful that which it makes unlawful, (and follow) and worship (no protecting friends) idols as lords (beside Him. Little do you recollect) you do not take admonition neither much nor a little!

(How many a township) people of townships (have We destroyed) We tormented! (As a raid by night) or day, (or while they slept at noon, Our terror) Our punishment (came unto them).

(No plea) words (had they, when Our terror) Our punishment which destroyed them (came unto them, save that they said: Lo! We were wrong-doers) idolaters.

(Then verily We shall question those unto whom (Our message) hath been sent) with the messengers, i.e. We shall question these people about their response to the messengers, (and verily We shall question the messengers) about their conveyance of the message.

(Then verily We shall narrate unto them) inform them (with knowledge) with elucidation, (for verily We were not absent) from the conveyance of the messengers and the response of the people (when it came to pass).

(The weighing) of works (on that day) the Day of Judgement (is the true) just ((weighing). As for those whose scale is heavy) with good deeds, (they are the successful) the ones who escape Allah's wrath and torment.

(And as for those whose scale is light) with good deeds: (those are they who lose their souls) by being punished (because they disbelieved Our revelations) Muhammad (pbuh) and the Qur'an.

(And We have given you (mankind) power in the earth, and appointed for you therein) in the earth (a livelihood) that from which you eat, drink and clothe yourselves. (Little give you thanks!) you do not give thanks for what is great nor for the small; it is also said that this means: you give little thanks for all that is done for you.

(And We created you) from Adam and Adam is from dust, (then fashioned you) in wombs, and We fashioned Adam between Mecca and Ta'if, (then told the angels) who were on the earth: (Fall ye prostrate before Adam) a prostration of greeting! (And they fell prostrate, all save Iblis) their leader, (who was not of those who make prostration) to Adam.

(He said: What hindered thee) Allah said to Iblis: what prevents you (that thou didst not fall prostrate) to Adam (when I bade thee) to prostrate? ((Iblis) said: I am better than him. Thou createdst me of fire while him Thou didst create of mud) I am made of fire while he is made of mud, and fire devours mud.

(He said) Allah said to him: (Then go down hence!) go down from heaven; it is also said this means: come out of angelic form. (It is not for thee) you ought not (to show pride here) demonstrate pride, in the form of an angel, to the Children of Adam, (so go forth!) leave your angelic form; it is also said that this means: go forth from the earth; (Lo! thou art of those degraded) you are of those who are humiliated in that you are punished.

(He said: Reprieve me) give me respite (till the day when they are raised) from the graves-accursed not wanting to die.

(He said) Allah said to him: (Lo! thou art of those reprieved) you are given respite until the trumpet is blown.

(He) Iblis (said: Now, because Thou hast sent me astray) just as You made me err from guidance, (verily I shall lurk in ambush for them) for the children of Adam (on Thy Right Path) the religion of Islam.

(Then I shall come upon them from before them) with regard to the Hereafter that there is no hell, Paradise, resurrection or reckoning (and from behind them) that the life of this world is everlasting and I shall bid them to amass and withhold out of stinginess and I will order them to commit corruption (and from their right hands) vis-�-vis the religion: I shall confuse those who are guided until they leave the guidance, and I shall make it seem fair to those who are misguided such that they remain misguided (and from their left hands) as regard pleasures and delights, (and Thou wilt not find most of them) all of them (beholden (unto Thee)) believers in You.

(He said: Go forth from hence, degraded) rebuked, (banished) far from good. (As for such of them) from the jinn and humans (as follow thee) obey you, (surely I will fill hell with all of you) of the disbelievers among the jinn and humans.

(And (unto man): O Adam! Dwell thou and thy wife) Eve (in the Garden and eat from whence) in Paradise (ye will) and whenever you will, (but come not nigh this tree) do not eat from this tree: the tree of knowledge (lest ye become wrong-doers) lest you become of those who harm themselves.

(Then Satan whispered to them) to eat from the tree (that he might manifest unto them that which was hidden from them) by the attire of light (of their shame) of their nakedness, (and he said) and Iblis said to them: (Your Lord forbade you) O Adam and Eve (from this tree only lest ye should become angels) who teach good and evil in Paradise (or become of the immortals) in Paradise: this is why He forbade you to eat from the tree.

(And he swore unto them (saying): Lo! I am a sincere adviser unto you) in my oath that this is the tree of immortality.

(Thus did he lead them on) to eat from the tree (with guile) with falsehood and lies until they ate from it. (And when they tasted of the tree their shame) their nakedness (was manifest to them and they began) out of shame (to hide (by heaping) on themselves some of the leaves of the Garden) the leaves of the fig tree. (And their Lord called them) O Adam and Eve, ((saying): Did I not forbid you from that tree) from eating of that tree (and tell you: Lo! Satan) Iblis (is an open enemy to you) whose enmity is quite manifest?

(They said: Our Lord! We have wronged ourselves) we have harmed ourselves by transgressing. (If Thou forgive us not) if You do not overlook our transgression (and have not mercy on us) by not punishing us, (surely we are of the lost!) we shall be of those duped into receiving punishment.

(He said: Go down (from hence)) from Paradise, (one of you a foe unto the other) meaning: Adam, Eve, the serpent and the peacock. (There will be for you on earth a habitation) a dwelling and shelter (and provision for a while) until death.

(He said: There) in the earth (shall ye live, and there) in the earth (shall ye die, and thence) on earth (shall ye be brought forth) on the Day of Judgement.

(O Children of Adam! We have revealed unto you) We have created and given you (raiment) clothes of cotton, wool and fur (to conceal your shame) your nakedness, (and splendid vesture) properties and stuff, that is the furniture of the house, (but the raiment of restraint from evil) the raiment of profession of Allah's divine Oneness and of abstinence, (that is best) better than the raiment of cotton. (This) the raiment of cotton (is of the revelations of Allah) of the marvels of Allah, (that they may remember) take admonition.

(O Children of Adam! Let not Satan) Iblis (seduce you) make you slip with regard to obeying Me (as he caused your (first) parents) Adam and Eve (to go forth from the Garden and tore off) took away (from them their robe) the robe of light (that he might manifest their shame to them. Lo! he) Iblis (seeth you, he and his tribe) his soldiers, (from whence ye see him not) because your breasts are their dwellings. (Lo! We have made the devils protecting friends) helpers (for those who believe not) in Muhammad (pbuh) and in the Qur'an.

(And when they do some lewdness) when they forbid al-Bahirah, al-Sa'ibah, al-Wasilah and al-Ham, (they say: We found our fathers doing it) forbidding it (and Allah hath enjoined it on us) i.e. to forbid al-Bahirah, al-Sa'ibah, al-Wasilah and al-Ham. (Say) O Muhammad: (Allah, verily, enjoineth not lewdness) transgressions and the forbidding of cattle and crops. (Tell ye) indeed you are saying (concerning Allah that which you know not) to be the case?

(Say) O Muhammad: (My Lord enjoineth justice) the confession of Allah's divine Oneness, that there is no god save Allah. (And set your faces) turn with your faces, (upright (towards Him) at every place of worship) upon every prayer (and call upon Him) worship Him, (making religion pure for Him (only)) sincere in your worship of Him and in professing His divine Oneness. (As He brought you into being) on the Day of the Covenant: felicitous and damned, knower and denier, believer and disbeliever, (so return you (unto Him)) in that state.

(A party hath He led aright) Allah honoured them with knowledge and felicity: these are the people of the right, (while error hath just hold) is prescribed (over (another) party) Allah humiliated them with denial and damnation: these are the people of the left, (for lo! they choose) He says: Allah knows that they take (the devils for protecting friends) gods (instead of Allah and deem) the misguided people think (that they are rightly guided) through Allah's religion.

(O Children of Adam! Look to your adornment) wear your clothes (at every place of worship) at the time of every prayer and upon circumambulation of the Ka'bah, (and eat) of meat and fat (and drink) of milk, (but be not prodigal) do not declare unlawful wholesome foods, meat and fat. (Lo! He loveth not the prodigals) those who transgress by leaving the lawful and going after the unlawful..

(Say) O Muhammad to the people of Mecca: (Who hath forbidden the adornment of Allah) the wearing of clothes during the days of pilgrimage, in the Sacred Precinct and upon circumambulation of the Ka'bah (which He hath brought forth) i.e. the adornment which He created (for His bondmen, and the good things of His providing?) of meat and fat, for in the pre-Islamic days they used to forbid themselves meat and fat during the days of pilgrimage, and entered the Sacred Precinct completely naked: the men during the day and the women during the night. Allah made these practices unlawful. (Say) O Muhammad: (Such) the good things, (on the Day of Resurrection, will be only for those who believed during the life of the world) in Muhammad (pbuh) and the Qur'an, while both believer and sinner will enjoy them during the life of this world. (Thus do We detail Our revelations) We elucidate the Qur'an by explaining the lawful and the unlawful (for people who have knowledge) for people who believe it is from Allah.

(Say) to them, O Muhammad: (My Lord forbids only indecencies) adultery, (such of them as are apparent) open adultery (and such as are within) taking secret lovers, (and sin) intoxicants as the poet said: I sipped sin until my mind erred, Thus indeed does sin take away minds. I openly drank urns of sin, And between us benefiting, you see your goddess; (and wrongful oppression) unlawful overbearingness, (and that you associate with Allah that for which no warrant) no Scripture or proof (hath been revealed, and that ye tell concerning Allah that which ye know not) of forbidding crops and cattle, good things and raiment.

(And every nation) every people that have a religion (hath its term) an appointed time for its destruction, (and when its term) the time of their destruction (cometh, they cannot put it off an hour) they are not given reprieve one fraction of a second after their appointed time (nor yet advance (it)) they are not destroyed before the appointed time, even if it be by one fraction of a second.

(O Children of Adam! If messengers of your own) human beings like you (come unto you who narrate) recite (unto you My revelations) explaining commands and prohibitions, (then whosoever refraineth from evil) whosoever believes in the Scripture and messenger (and amendeth) that which is between him and his Lord (there shall no fear) regarding torment (come upon them neither shall they grieve) about missing Paradise.

(But they who deny Our revelations) Our Scripture and messenger (and scorn them) scorn believing in them (such are rightful owners of the Fire; they will abide therein) forever, never to die or be removed.

(Who doeth greater wrong) who is more insolent and bolder vis-�-vis Allah (than he who inventeth a lie concerning Allah or denieth Our tokens) Muhammad (pbuh) and the Qur'an. ((For such) their appointed portion of the Book (of destiny) reacheth them) that which they were promised in the Book such as turning their faces black and their eyes blue. Give them respite, O Muhammad, (till, when Our messengers) i.e. the angel of death and his helpers (come to gather them) to take away their souls, (they say) upon taking away their souls: (Where (now) is that to which ye cried) worshipped (beside Allah) so that they can help you? (They say: They have departed from us) they are too occupied with themselves to pay attention to us. (And they testify against themselves that they were disbelievers) in Allah and the messengers in the life of this world.

(He saith) Allah says to them: (Enter into the Fire among nations) of the disbelievers (of the jinn and humankind who passed away before you. Every time a nation) the adherents of a religion (entereth, it curseth its sister (nation)) that went in before it (till, when they have all) from the first to the last (been made to follow one another thither) and all gather in the Fire, (the last of them) the last of nations (saith unto the first of them) the first of nations: (Our Lord! These) i.e. the leaders (led us astray) from Your religion and obedience, (so give them double torment of the Fire) torment them with double what you inflict on us. (He says) Allah says to them: (For each one there is double (torment), but ye know not) because of the severity of the torment.

(And the first of them) the first nation (saith unto the last of them) the last of nations: (Ye were no whit better than us) such that our torment should be double yours, for you disbelieved as we disbelieved and worshipped others beside Allah as we did. Allah then tells them: (so taste the doom for what ye used to earn) for what you used to say and do of idolatry in the life of this world.

(Lo! they who deny Our revelations) Muhammad (pbuh) and the Qur'an (and scorn them) scorn believing in them, (for them the gates of Heaven will not be opened) to receive their works or souls (nor will they enter the Garden until the camel goeth through the needle's eye) they will not enter Paradise just as a camel cannot pass through the eye of a needle; it is also said that this means: they will not enter Paradise until a rope goes through a needle's eye. (Thus do We requite the guilty) the idolaters.

(Theirs will be a bed of hell) a bed of fire, (and over them coverings (of hell). Thus do We requite wrong-doers) the idolaters.

(But (as for) those who believe) in Muhammad, Allah give him peace, and the Qur'an (and do good works) between them and their Lord (We tax not any soul) in its effort (beyond its scope) its capability. (Such) i.e. the believers (are rightful owners of the Garden) the folk of Paradise. (They abide therein) forever, never to die or be removed.

(And We remove whatever rancour) resentful envy or enmity (may be in their hearts) in the life of this world. (Rivers) of wine, water, honey and milk (flow beneath them) beneath their habitations and beds in the Hereafter. (And they say) when they reach their habitations; and it is said: when they reach the source of life: (The praise to Allah) gratitude and benevolence are Allah's, (Who hath guided us to this) to this habitation and source. (We could not truly have been led aright if Allah had not guided us) to it; it is also said that when they see Allah's favour when He bestowed faith upon them, they said: praise and thanks are due to Allah Who has guided us to the religion of Islam, and we would not have been guided to the religion of Islam had not Allah guided us to it. (Verily the messengers of our Lord did bring the Truth) they brought truth, glad tiding, reward and favour. (And it is cried unto them: This is the Garden. Ye inherit it) you were given it (for what ye used to do) and say of good things in the life of this world.

(And the dwellers of the Garden cry unto the dwellers of the Fire: We have found that which our Lord promised us) of reward and favour ((to be) the Truth. Have ye (too)) O people of the Fire (found that which your Lord promised) of torment and humiliation to be (the Truth? They say: Yea, verily. And a crier in between them) between the people of Paradise and the people of hell (crieth: The curse of Allah) the torment of Allah (is on evil-doers) on the disbelievers.

(Who debar (men) from the path of Allah) who divert people from Allah's religion and obedience (and would have it crooked) would have it changed, (and who are disbelievers in the Last Day) in resurrection after death.

(Between them) between Paradise and hell (is a veil) a wall. (And on the Heights are men) on the wall are men-whose good deeds are of the same amount as their evil deeds; it is also said these are men of knowledge and experts in law but who held doubts about provision (who know them all) all those who enter hell and those who enter Paradise (by their marks) they know those who enter hell by their darkened faces and blue eyes and those who enter Paradise by their lightened faces: at once handsome and radiant. (And they) the people on the wall (call unto the dwellers of the Garden: Peace be unto you) O people of Paradise! (They enter it not) yet (although they hope (to enter)) i.e. the people on the wall.

(And when their eyes are turned towards) when they look at (the dwellers of the Fire, they say: Our Lord!) O our Lord (Place us not with the wrong-doing folk) with the disbelievers in hell.

(And the dwellers on the Heights call unto men) among the disbelievers (whom they know) that is before they entered hell (by their marks) by their darkened faces and blue eyes, ((saying)) O Walid Ibn al-Mughirah! O Abu Jahl Ibn Hisham! O Umayyah Ibn Khalaf! O Ubayy Ibn Khalaf al-Jumahi! O Aswad Ibn 'Abd al-Muttalib! O leaders! (What did your multitude) of wealth and servants (and that in which ye took your pride) which made you scorn belief in Muhammad (pbuh) and the Qur'an (avail you?)

Then, they looked at the dwellers of Paradise: Salman al-Farisi, Suhayb [al-Rumi], 'Ammar [Ibn Yasir] and all the other meek and weak believers, and said: (Are these) weak people (they of whom ye swore) in the life of this world, O group of disbelievers (that Allah would not show them mercy?) that Allah would not enter them to Paradise. They have indeed entered Paradise in spite of you. Allah then says to the people of the Heights: ((Unto them it hath been said) Enter the Garden. No fear) from the torment (shall come upon you nor is it ye who will grieve.)

(And the dwellers of the Fire cry out unto the dwellers of the Garden; Pour on us some water or some of that wherewith Allah hath provided you) of the fruits of Paradise. (They) i.e. the dwellers of Paradise (say: Lo! Allah hath forbidden both) water and the fruits of Paradise (to disbelievers (in His guidance)),

(Who took their religion for a sport) for falsehood (and pastime) merriment; it is also said this means: a joke and mockery, (and whom the life of the world beguiled) the comfort and luxury of the life of the world beguiled them. (So this day) the Day of Judgement (We have forgotten them) We leave them in hell (even as they forgot) they left (the meeting of this Day) the belief in this Day of theirs (and as they used to deny Our tokens) Our Scripture and Messenger.

(Verily We have brought them a Scripture) Allah says: We have sent them Muhammad (pbuh) with the Qur'an (which We expound with knowledge) with knowledge from Us; it is also said that this means: We have taught it, (a guidance) from error (and a mercy) from torment (for a people who believe) in Muhammad (pbuh) and the Qur'an.

(Await they) what do the people of Mecca wait for when they have refused to believe (aught save the fulfilment thereof) the consequence of what Allah has promised them in the Qur'an? (On the day) which is the Day of Judgement (when the fulfilment thereof) when the consequence of what Allah has promised them in the Qur'an (cometh, those who were before forgetful thereof) those who did not believe in it in the life of this world (will say: The messengers of our Lord did bring the Truth!) with the exposition of the resurrection, Paradise and hell but we denied all. (Have we any intercessors, that they may intercede for us) to avoid the torment? (Or can we be returned) to life on earth, (that we may act) that we may believe and act (otherwise than we used to act) of idolatry? (They have lost their souls) by missing Paradise and abiding in hell, (and that which they devised) that which they worshipped falsely (hath failed them).

(Lo! your Lord is Allah Who created the heavens and the earth in six Days) of the beginning of the life of this world, each day the equivalent of a thousand years, (then mounted He the Throne) then He proceeded to create the Throne; it is also said that this means: He seated Himself on the Throne. (He covereth the night with the day) and the day with the night, (which is in haste to follow it) i.e. the day is in haste to follow the night and the night is in haste to follow the day, (and hath made the sun and the moon and the stars subservient by His command) by His leave. (His verily is all creation) the creation of the heavens and the earth (and commandment) i.e. the judgement of people on the Day of Judgement (Blessed be Allah) the Possessor of grace; it is also said that this means: elevated is Allah; as it is said that this means: far exalted is Allah, (the Lord of the Worlds!) the Master and Disposer of the Worlds.

((O mankind!) Call upon your Lord humbly) openly (and in secret) it is also said that this means: call upon your Lord humbly and out of fear. (Lo! He loveth not aggressors) in their supplications, by calling for that which is not permissible for them against the righteous.

(Work not confusion) through sins and invitation to other than Allah (in the earth after the fair ordering (thereof)) through obedience and calling to Allah, Exalted is He, (and call on Him) worship Him (in fear) of Him and His torment (and hope) in Him that you shall enter His Paradise. (Lo! the mercy of Allah) the Paradise of Allah (is nigh unto the good) the believers who are good in their words and works.

(And He it is Who sendeth the winds as tidings heralding His mercy) before the rain, (till, when they bear a cloud heavy (with rain), We lead it to a dead land) with no vegetation, (and then cause water to descend thereon) on that dead land, (and thereby bring forth) by means of this water (fruits of every kind. Thus) just as We revive the earth with vegetation (bring We forth the dead) We revive and bring forth the dead from their graves. (Haply you may remember) haply you may take heed.

(As for the good land) which is not a swamp, (its vegetation cometh forth by permission of its Lord) by the will of its Lord without toil or effort, just as the sincere believer fulfils that which Allah commands him to do voluntarily and with the good disposition of his soul; (while as for that which is bad) the bad, swampy land, (only the useless cometh forth (from it)) its vegetation comes forth only with toil and great effort. The hypocrite does not perform that which Allah commands him to do except when compelled and without a good disposition of the soul. (Thus do We recount the tokens) We expound the Qur'an by giving the simile of the believer and the disbeliever (for people who give thanks) for people who believe.

(We sent Noah (of old) unto his people, and he said: O my people! Serve Allah) profess Allah's divine Oneness. (Ye have no other God save Him) to Whom I am calling you. (Lo! I fear for you) I know that you be inflicted with (the retribution of an Awful Day) if you do not believe.

(The chieftains of his people said: Lo! we see you) O Noah (surely in plain error) in what you say.

(He said: O my people! There is no error) foolishness (in me, but I am a messenger from the Lord of the Worlds) to you.

(I convey unto you the messages of my Lord) by explaining commands and prohibition (and give good counsel unto you) I warn against the torment and call you to repentance and faith, (and know from Allah that which ye know not) of torment, if you do not believe.

(Marvel ye) indeed, you marvel (that there should come unto you a Reminder) prophethood (from your Lord by means of a man among you) a human being like you, (that he may warn you, and that you may keep from evil) and that you obey Allah and ward off worship of other than Him, (and that haply ye may find mercy) and not be tormented.

(But they denied him) i.e. Noah, (so We saved him and those with him in the ship) from drowning and torment, (and We drowned those who denied Our token) those who denied Our Scripture and Messenger Noah. (Lo! they were blind folk) to the guidance, disbelievers in Allah.

(And unto (the tribe of) 'Aad) and We sent to 'Aad (their brother) their prophet (Hud. He said: O my people! Serve Allah) profess Allah's divine Oneness. (Ye have no other God save Him) save the One to whom I am calling you. (Will ye not ward off (evil)) the worship of other than Him?

(The chieftains of his people, who were disbelieving, said: Lo! we surely see thee) O Noah (in foolishness) in ignorance, (and lo! we deem thee of the liars) in what you say.

(He said: O my people; There is no foolishness) ignorance (in me, but I am a messenger from the Lord of the Worlds) to you.

(I convey unto you the messages of my Lord) by explaining the commands and prohibitions (and am for you a true adviser) warning you of Allah's torment and calling you to repentance and faith, and I am trustworthy in conveying the message of my Lord. It is also said that this means: you used to consider me a trustworthy person, so how is it that you are now accusing me.

(Marvel ye) indeed you find it a marvel (that there should come unto you a Reminder) prophethood (from your Lord by means of a man among you) a human being like you, (that he may warn you) of Allah's torment? (Remember how He made you vicegerents after Noah's folk) after the destruction of the people of Noah, (and gave you growth of stature) the virtue of heights and bodies. (Remember (all) the bounties of your Lord) and believe in Him, (that haply ye may be successful) that haply you may escape Allah's wrath and torment.