Surah 7. Al-A'raf

Verily, they who are conscious of God bethink themselves [of Him] whenever any dark suggestion from Satan touches them¹⁶⁵ - whereupon, lo! they begin to see [things] clearly,

  - Mohammad Asad

The noun ta'if (also forthcoming in the forms tayf and tayyif denotes any ungraspable phantom, image or suggestion, as in a dream, or "an imperceptible obsession which obscures the mind" (Taj al-'Arus). Since, in the above context, it is described as coming from Satan, "a dark suggestion" seems to be an appropriate rendering.

Those who fear Allah, when they are tempted by Shaitan, they have but to remember Allah and they shall see the light (right course of action)!

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Indeed, when Satan whispers to those mindful 'of Allah', they remember 'their Lord' then they start to see 'things' clearly.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Lo! those who ward off (evil), when a glamour from the devil troubleth them, they do but remember (Allah's guidance) and behold them seers!

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Those who fear Allah when a thought of evil from satan assaults them bring Allah to remembrance when lo! they see (aright)! ¹¹⁷²

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Allah protects His own, as no one else can. He is the sure refuge-and the only one-for men of faith. If we are confused or angry, being blinded by this world, He will open our eyes.

even though their [godless] brethren would [like to] draw them into error:¹⁶⁶ and then they cannot fail [to do what is right].

  - Mohammad Asad

I.e., by goading them to anger or trying to engage them in futile argument. "Their brethren" are those who wilfully remain ignorant of the truth (with the pronoun referring to the God-conscious). The conjunctive particle wa preceding this clause has here the meaning of "although" or "even though".

As for Shaitan's brothers, they drag them deeper into error and never relax their efforts.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

But the devils persistently plunge their 'human' associates¹ deeper into wickedness, sparing no effort.

  - Mustafa Khattab

 lit., their brothers.

Their brethren plunge them further into error and cease not.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

But their brethren (the evil ones) plunge them deeper into error and never relax (their efforts). ¹¹⁷³

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

We go back to consider the ungodly, whom we left at verse 198, in order to be taught our behaviour towards evil. The forces of evil never relax their efforts to draw their "brethren" (those who go into their family) deeper and deeper into the mire of sin and destruction.

And yet, when thou [O Prophet] dost not produce any miracle for them, some [people] say, "Why dost thou not seek to obtain it [from God]?"¹⁶⁷ Say: "I only follow whatever is being revealed to me by my Sustainer: this [revelation] is a means of insight from your Sustainer, and a guidance and grace unto people who will believe.

  - Mohammad Asad

Sc., "if thou art really His apostle" (cf. 6:37 and {109}, and the corresponding notes). Some of the commentators assume that the term ayah - translated by me as "miracle" - denotes here a verbal "message" which would answer the objections of those who did not believe in the Prophet. Since, however, the continuous revelation of the Qur'an was full of such messages, the demand of the unbelievers must have related to some particular manifestation or "proof" of his divinely-inspired mission: namely, to a concrete miracle which would establish the truth of his claim in a supposedly "objective" manner. In its wider implication, the above verse relates to the primitive mentality of all who regard miracles, and not the message itself, as the only valid "proof" of prophethood.

When you, O Muhammad, do not bring them a revelation, they say: "Have you not yet invented?" Tell them: "I follow only what is revealed to me from my Rabb. This Book contains veritable insight from your Rabb, a guidance and blessing for the true believers."

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

If you 'O Prophet' do not bring them a sign 'which they demanded', they ask, 'Why do you not make it yourself?' Say, 'I only follow what is revealed to me from my Lord. This 'Quran' is an insight from your Lord- a guide and a mercy for those who believe.'

  - Mustafa Khattab

And when thou bringest not a verse for them they say: Why hast thou not chosen it? Say: I follow only that which is inspired in me from my Lord. This (Qur'an) is insight from your Lord, and a guidance and a mercy for a people that believe.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

If thou bring them not a revelation they say: "Why hast thou not got it together?" Say: "I but follow what is revealed to me from my Lord: This is (nothing but) lights from your Lord and guidance and mercy for any who have faith." ^{1174 1175}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

"Ayat" here, I think, means specially an Ayat of the Holy Qur-an. The infidels did not believe in revelation, and used to taunt the Holy Prophet, as much as to say that he used to put together words and promulgate them as revelation. The answer is contained in the sentence that follows. No human composition could contain the beauty, power, and spiritual insight of the Qur-An. Without inspiration it is impossible to suppose that a man, with or without literary and philosophic training could produce such a book as the Qur-an. Commentators of the Qur-An, however, consider Ayah here to refer to miracle as the context seems to evidence.

"Lights": eyes, faculty of spiritual insight. The revelation is for us (1) spiritual eyes, (2) guidance, and (3) mercy, (1) is the highest in degree: just as a blind man, if he is given eyes and the faculty of sight, is at once removed into an entirely new world, so those who can reach the stage of spiritual insight pass into and become citizens of a wholly new spiritual World, (2) is next in degree; the man of the world can act up to the teaching about right conduct and prepare for the Hereafter, (3) is the Mercy of Allah, free to every one, saint and sinner, who sincerely believes and puts his trust in Allah.

Hence, when the Qur'an is voiced, hearken unto it, and listen in silence, so that you might be graced with [God's] mercy."

  - Mohammad Asad

When the Qur'an is recited, listen to it with complete silence so that you may be shown mercy.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

When the Quran is recited, listen to it attentively and be silent, so you may be shown mercy.

  - Mustafa Khattab

And when the Qur'an is recited, give ear to it and pay heed, that ye may obtain mercy.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

When the Qur'an is read listen to it with attention and hold your peace: that ye may receive Mercy.

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

And bethink thyself of thy Sustainer humbly and with awe, and without raising thy voice, at morn and at evening; and do not allow thyself to be heedless.

  - Mohammad Asad

Bring your Rabb to remembrance deep in your soul with humility and in reverence without raising your voice, both in the mornings and in the evenings; and be not of those who are heedless.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Remember your Lord inwardly with humility and reverence and in a moderate tone of voice, both morning and evening. And do not be one of the heedless.

  - Mustafa Khattab

And do thou [O Muhammad) remember thy Lord within thyself humbly and with awe, below thy breath, at morn and evening. And be thou not of the neglectful.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

And do thou (O reader!) bring thy Lord to remembrance in thy (very) soul with humility and in reverence without loudness in words in the mornings and evenings; and be not thou of those who are unheedful.

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Behold, those who are near unto thy Sustainer¹⁶⁸ are never too proud to worship Him; and they extol His limitless glory, and prostrate themselves before Him [alone].

  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "those who are with thy Sustainer": a metaphorical description of utter God-consciousness.

Surely those who are close to your Rabb do not feel too proud to worship Him; they declare His glory and prostrate themselves before Him.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Surely those 'angels' nearest to your Lord are not too proud to worship Him. They glorify Him. And to Him they prostrate.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Lo! those who are with thy Lord are not too proud to do Him service, but they praise Him and adore Him.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Those who are near to thy Lord disdain not to do Him worship: They celebrate His praises and bow down before Him. ^{1176 1177}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The higher you are in spiritual attainment, the more is your desire and your opportunity to serve and worship your Lord and Cherisher and the Lord and Cherisher of all the worlds: and the greater is your pride in that service and that worship.

At this stage a Sajda or prostration is indicated, as a sign of our humble acceptance of the privilege of serving and worshipping Allah,-a fitting close to Sura in which we are led, through a contemplation of the stories of the Messengers of Allah, to the meaning of revelation and its relation to our moral and spiritual progress.