Surah 7. Al-A'raf, Ayah 129
| قَالُوا أُوذِينَا مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ تَأْتِيَنَا وَمِنْ بَعْدِ مَا جِئْتَنَا ۚ قَالَ عَسَىٰ رَبُّكُمْ أَنْ يُهْلِكَ عَدُوَّكُمْ وَيَسْتَخْلِفَكُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَيَنْظُرَ كَيْفَ تَعْمَلُونَ |
| Transliteration | : | qaalo 'odhenaa min qabli 'an ta'tiya -naa wa- min bacdi maa ji'ta -naa qaala casaa rabb -kum 'an yuhlik cadow -kum wa- yastakhlif -kum fe al- 'ard. fa- yanz.ur kayfa tacmalon |
| Pickthall | : | They said : We suffered hurt before thou camest unto us, and since thou hast come unto us. He said: it may be that your Lord is going to destroy your adversary and make you viceroys in the earth, that He may see how ye behave. |
| Asad | : | [But the children of Israel] said: "We have suffered hurt ere thou camest to us and since thou hast come to us!"93 [Moses] replied: "It may well be that your Sustainer will destroy your foe and make you inherit the earth: and thereupon he will behold how you act."94 |
| Malik | : | They said: "We were oppressed before you came to us and since you have come to us." He replied: "It is quite possible that your Rabb may destroy your enemy and make you vicegerent in the land; then He will see how you act." |
| Yusuf Ali | : | They said: "We have had (nothing but) trouble both before and after thou comest to us." He said: "It may be that your Lord will destroy your enemy and make you inheritors in the earth; that so He may try you by your deeds." 1086 1087 |
Note - 93This is, in the above context, the first hint of the
inconstancy and weakness of faith for which the Qur'an so
often blames the children of Israel: and this, together
with what follows in verses {138-140} and {148} ff., is
the reason why the story of Moses has been included here
among the stories of the earlier prophets whose warnings
were neglected by their communities.
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Note - 94I.e., "He will judge you by your actions". As is evident
from the reference, in verse {137} below, to the
"patience in adversity" which the children of Israel
subsequently displayed, it would seem that the hope held
out to them by Moses helped them, once again, to overcome
their moral weakness; but, at the same time, his words
"God will behold how you act" imply a distinct warning.
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Note - 1086There is a slight note of querulousness in the people's
answer. But Moses allays it by his own example and
courage, and his vision of the future: which was amply
fulfilled in time. See verse 137 below.
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Note - 1087The Israelites, despised and enslaved, were to be rescued
and made rulers in Palestine. David and Solomon were
great kings and played a notable part in history. But the
greatness of Israel was conditional: they were to be
judged by their deeds. When they fell from grace, other
people were given honour and power. And so it came to be
the turn of the Muslims, and so on. Allah gives His gifts
to those who are righteous and obey His Law.
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This is, in the above context, the first hint of the inconstancy and weakness of faith for which the Qur'an so often blames the children of Israel: and this, together with what follows in verses {138-140} and {148} ff., is the reason why the story of Moses has been included here among the stories of the earlier prophets whose warnings were neglected by their communities. |
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I.e., "He will judge you by your actions". As is evident from the reference, in verse {137} below, to the "patience in adversity" which the children of Israel subsequently displayed, it would seem that the hope held out to them by Moses helped them, once again, to overcome their moral weakness; but, at the same time, his words "God will behold how you act" imply a distinct warning. |
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There is a slight note of querulousness in the people's answer. But Moses allays it by his own example and courage, and his vision of the future: which was amply fulfilled in time. See verse 137 below. |
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The Israelites, despised and enslaved, were to be rescued and made rulers in Palestine. David and Solomon were great kings and played a notable part in history. But the greatness of Israel was conditional: they were to be judged by their deeds. When they fell from grace, other people were given honour and power. And so it came to be the turn of the Muslims, and so on. Allah gives His gifts to those who are righteous and obey His Law. |
