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Surah 7. Al-A'raf

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7:56
وَلَا تُفْسِدُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ بَعْدَ إِصْلَـٰحِهَا وَٱدْعُوهُ خَوْفًا وَطَمَعًا ۚ إِنَّ رَحْمَتَ ٱللَّهِ قَرِيبٌ مِّنَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ Wal a tufsidoo fee alar d i baAAda i s l ah ih a wa o dAAoohu khawfan wa t amaAAan inna ra h mata All a hi qareebun mina almu h sineen a
hence, do not spread corruption on earth after it has been so well ordered. And call unto Him with fear and longing: verily, God's grace is ever near unto the doers of good!
  - Mohammad Asad
Do not create mischief in the land after it has been set in order. Pray to Him with fear and hope. Surely the mercy of Allah is always close to those who do good to others.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
Do not spread corruption in the land after it has been set in order. And call upon Him with hope and fear. Indeed, Allah's mercy is always close to the good-doers.
  - Mustafa Khattab
Work not confusion in the earth after the fair ordering (thereof), and call on Him in fear and hope. Lo! the mercy of Allah is nigh unto the good.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
Do no mischief on the earth after it hath been set in order but call on Him with fear and longing (in your hearts): for the mercy of Allah is (always) near to those who do good. 1034 1035
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The man who prays with humility and earnestness finds the ground prepared by Allah for his spiritual advancement. It is all set in order, and cleared of weeds. He does not, like the wicked, upset that order, to introduce evil or mischief into it.

Fear and longing: the fear of Allah is really a fear lest we should diverge from His Will, or do anything which would not be pleasing to Him: unlike ordinary fear, it therefore brings us nearer to Allah, and in fact nourishes our longing and desire for Him.

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7:57
وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى يُرْسِلُ ٱلرِّيَـٰحَ بُشْرًۢا بَيْنَ يَدَىْ رَحْمَتِهِۦ ۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَآ أَقَلَّتْ سَحَابًا ثِقَالًا سُقْنَـٰهُ لِبَلَدٍ مَّيِّتٍ فَأَنزَلْنَا بِهِ ٱلْمَآءَ فَأَخْرَجْنَا بِهِۦ مِن كُلِّ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نُخْرِجُ ٱلْمَوْتَىٰ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ Wahuwa alla th ee yursilu a l rriy ah a bushran bayna yaday ra h matihi h att a i tha aqallat sa ha ban thiq a lan suqn a hu libaladin mayyitin faanzaln a bihi alm a a faakhrajn a bihi min kulli a l ththamar a ti ka tha lika nukhriju almawt a laAAallakum ta th akkaroon a
And He it is who sends forth the winds as a glad tiding of His coming grace - so that, when they have brought heavy clouds, We may drive them towards dead land and cause thereby water to descend; and by this means do We cause all manner of fruit to come forth. Even thus shall We cause the dead to come forth: [and this] you ought to keep in mind.44
  - Mohammad Asad

This is the key-sentence of the parable set forth in verses {57-58}: by the exercise of the same life-giving power by which God causes plants to grow, He will resurrect the dead at the end of time. The next sentence continues the parable by likening those whose hearts are open to the voice of truth to fertile earth, and those who are bent on denying it, to barren earth.

He is the One Who sends the winds bearing good news of His blessings, so when they lift up heavy clouds, We drive them along to a dead countryside and make the rain fall upon it and bring forth all kinds of fruits from the same dead land. Likewise We will raise the dead to life; this example is given so that you may learn a lesson from this observation.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
He is the One Who sends the winds ushering in His mercy. When they bear heavy clouds, We drive them to a lifeless land and then cause rain to fall, producing every type of fruit. Similarly, We will bring the dead to life, so perhaps you will be mindful.
  - Mustafa Khattab
And He it is Who sendeth the winds as tidings heralding His mercy, till, when they bear a cloud heavy (with rain), We lead it to a dead land, and then cause water to descend thereon, and thereby bring forth fruits of every kind. Thus bring We forth the dead. Haply ye may remember.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
It is He who sendeth the winds like heralds of glad tidings going before His mercy: when they have carried the heavy-laden clouds We drive them to a land that is dead make rain to descend thereon and produce every kind of harvest therewith: thus shall We raise up the dead: perchance ye may remember. 1036
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The Parable is complete in its triple significance. (1) In the physical world the winds go like heralds of glad tidings; they are the advance guard, behind which is coming the great army of winds driving heavily laden clouds before it; the wise Providence of Allah is their General, who directs them towards a parched land, on which the clouds deliver their gladdening showers of mercy, which convert the dead land into a living, fertile, and beautiful land bearing a rich harvest. (2) In the spiritual world, the winds are the great motive forces in the mind of man, or in the world around him, that bring the clouds or instruments of Allah's Mercy, which descend and fertilise souls hitherto spiritually dead. (3) If we can see or experience such things in our life here below, can we doubt the resurrection?

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7:58
وَٱلْبَلَدُ ٱلطَّيِّبُ يَخْرُجُ نَبَاتُهُۥ بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِۦ ۖ وَٱلَّذِى خَبُثَ لَا يَخْرُجُ إِلَّا نَكِدًا ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نُصَرِّفُ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَشْكُرُونَ Wa a lbaladu a l tt ayyibu yakhruju nab a tuhu bii th ni rabbihi wa a lla th ee khabutha l a yakhruju ill a nakidan ka tha lika nu s arrifu al a y a ti liqawmin yashkuroon a
As for the good land, its vegetation comes forth [in abundance] by its Sustainer's leave, whereas from the bad it comes forth but poorly. Thus do We give many facets to Our messages for [the benefit of] people who are grateful!
  - Mohammad Asad
The good soil yields rich produce by the permission of Allah and barren soil yields nothing but poor produce. Thus do We explain Our revelations over and over again for those who pay thanks.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
The fertile land produces abundantly by the Will of its Lord, whereas the infertile land hardly produces anything. This is how We vary 'Our' lessons to those who are thankful.
  - Mustafa Khattab
As for the good land, its vegetation cometh forth by permission of its Lord; while as for that which is bad, only evil cometh forth (from it) . Thus do We recount the tokens for people who give thanks.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
From the land that is clean and good by the will of its cherisher springs up produce (rich) after its kind: but from the land that is bad spring up nothing but that which is niggardly: thus do We explain the signs by various (symbols) to those who are grateful. 1037 1038
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The triple parable explained in the last note is here continued. (1) In the physical world, the fertilising showers of rain yield a rich harvest on good soil, but bad soil yields little or nothing. (2) In the spiritual world, also, Allah's Mercies evoke no response in some souls which have chosen evil. (3) In the final reckoning, though all will be raised, not all will achieve the fulfilment of their lives.

Those who are grateful are those who joyfully receive Allah's Message, and respond to it by deeds of righteousness.

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7:59
لَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا نُوحًا إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِۦ فَقَالَ يَـٰقَوْمِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَـٰهٍ غَيْرُهُۥٓ إِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ Laqad arsaln a noo h an il a qawmihi faq a la y a qawmi oAAbudoo All a ha m a lakum min il a hin ghayruhu innee akh a fu AAalaykum AAa tha ba yawmin AAa th eem in
INDEED, We sent forth Noah unto his people,45 and he said: "O my people! Worship God alone: you have no deity other than Him. Verily, I fear lest suffering befall you on an awesome Day!"46
  - Mohammad Asad

In continuation of the stress, in the preceding passages, on God's omnipotence and transcendental oneness, verses {59-93} refer to several of the earlier prophets, who preached the same truth, and whose names were familiar to the Arabs before the revelation of the Qur'an. Their stories - beginning with that of Noah, who is considered the first apostle ever sent to mankind - are reduced here to the warnings with which they unsuccessfully tried to persuade their people to worship God alone and to live righteously.

This refers either to the Day of Judgment or to the approaching deluge.

Indeed We selected Nuh for the guidance of his people, and he said: "O my people! Worship Allah, you have no god but Him. If you do not listen to what I say, I fear for you the punishment of a Mighty Day."
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
Indeed, We sent Noah to his people. He said, 'O my people! Worship Allah- you have no other god except Him. I truly fear for you the torment of a tremendous Day.'
  - Mustafa Khattab
We sent Noah (of old) unto his people, and he said: O my people! Serve Allah. Ye have no other God save Him. Lo! I fear for you the retribution of an Awful Day.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
We sent Noah to his people. He said: "O my people! worship Allah! ye have no other god but Him. I fear for you the punishment of a dreadful day! 1039
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The story of Noah in greater detail will be found in xi. 25-49. Here the scheme is to tell briefly the stories of some of the Prophets between Noah and Moses, and lead up thus to a lesson for the contemporaries of the Prophet Muhammad himself. When Noah attacked the wickedness of his generation, he was laughed at for a madman, for he mentioned the Great Day to come in the Hereafter. Allah's retribution came soon afterwards-the great Flood, in which his unbelieving people were drowned, but he and those who believed in him and came into the Ark were saved.

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7:60
قَالَ ٱلْمَلَأُ مِن قَوْمِهِۦٓ إِنَّا لَنَرَىٰكَ فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ مُّبِينٍ Q a la almalao min qawmihi inn a lanar a ka fee d al a lin mubeen in
The great ones among his people replied: "Verily, we see that thou art obviously lost in error!"
  - Mohammad Asad
The chiefs of his nation said: "Surely we see that you are in evident error."
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
But the chiefs of his people said, 'We surely see that you are clearly misguided.'
  - Mustafa Khattab
The chieftains of his people said: Lo! we see thee surely in plain error.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
The leaders of his people said: "Ah! we see thee evidently wandering (in mind)."
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

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7:61
قَالَ يَـٰقَوْمِ لَيْسَ بِى ضَلَـٰلَةٌ وَلَـٰكِنِّى رَسُولٌ مِّن رَّبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ Q a la y a qawmi laysa bee d al a latun wal a kinnee rasoolun min rabbi alAA a lameen a
Said [Noah]: "O my people! There is no error in me, but I am an apostle from the Sustainer of all the worlds.
  - Mohammad Asad
He replied: "O my people! I am not in error; on the contrary, I am a Rasool from the Rabb of the worlds.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
He replied, 'O my people! I am not misguided! But I am a messenger from the Lord of all worlds,
  - Mustafa Khattab
He said: O my people! There Is no error in me, but I am a messenger from the Lord of the Worlds.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
He said: "O my people! no wandering is there in my (mind): on the contrary I am an apostle from the Lord and Cherisher of the worlds!
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

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7:62
أُبَلِّغُكُمْ رِسَـٰلَـٰتِ رَبِّى وَأَنصَحُ لَكُمْ وَأَعْلَمُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ Oballighukum ris a l a ti rabbee waan s a h u lakum waaAAlamu mina All a hi m a l a taAAlamoon a
I am delivering unto you my Sustainer's messages and giving you good advice: for I know [through revelation] from God what you do not know.
  - Mohammad Asad
I am appointed to deliver the message of my Rabb and give you friendly advice for I know from Allah something that you do not know.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
conveying to you my Lord's messages and giving you 'sincere' advice. And I know from Allah what you do not know.
  - Mustafa Khattab
I convey unto you the messages of my Lord and give good counsel unto you, and know from Allah that which ye know not.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
"I but fulfil towards you the duties of my Lord's mission: sincere is my advice to you and I know from Allah something that ye know not.
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

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7:63
أَوَعَجِبْتُمْ أَن جَآءَكُمْ ذِكْرٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ عَلَىٰ رَجُلٍ مِّنكُمْ لِيُنذِرَكُمْ وَلِتَتَّقُوا۟ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ AwaAAajibtum an j a akum th ikrun min rabbikum AAal a rajulin minkum liyun th irakum walitattaqoo walaAAallakum tur h amoon a
Why, do you deem it strange that a tiding from your Sustainer should have come unto you through a man from among yourselves, so that he might warn you, and that you might become conscious of God, and that you might be graced with His mercy?"
  - Mohammad Asad
Do you wonder that there has come to you a message from your Rabb through a man from among yourselves to warn you, so that you may fear Allah in order to receive His mercy?"
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
Do you find it astonishing that a reminder should come to you from your Lord through one of your own, warning you, so you may beware and perhaps be shown mercy?'
  - Mustafa Khattab
Marvel ye that there should come unto you a Reminder from your Lord by means of a man among you, that he may warn you, and that ye may keep from evil, and that haply ye may find mercy.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
"Do ye wonder that there hath come to you a message from your Lord through a man of your own people to warn you so that ye may fear Allah and haply receive his mercy?"
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

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7:64
فَكَذَّبُوهُ فَأَنجَيْنَـٰهُ وَٱلَّذِينَ مَعَهُۥ فِى ٱلْفُلْكِ وَأَغْرَقْنَا ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَآ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ قَوْمًا عَمِينَ Faka thth aboohu faanjayn a hu wa a lla th eena maAAahu fee alfulki waaghraqn a alla th eena ka thth aboo bi a y a tin a innahum k a noo qawman AAameen a
And yet they gave him the lie! And so We saved him and those who stood by him, in the ark, the while We caused those who had given the lie to Our messages to drown: verily, they were blind folk!47
  - Mohammad Asad

Explaining this verse in his translation of the Qur'an, Muhammad Ali rightly points out the latter "does not support the theory of a world deluge, for it plainly states ... that only people to whom Noah had delivered his message called him a liar, and ... were drowned .... Hence the deluge affected the territory of Noah's people, not the whole world, as the Bible would have us believe." To this may be added that the deluge spoken of in the Bible, in the myths of Sumeria and Babylonia, and, finally, in the Qur'an, most probably represents the inundation, during the Ice Age, of the huge basin which today is covered by the Mediterranean: an inundation which was due to the break-in of the Atlantic through the land-barrier at the modern Gibraltar, and of the Black Sea through what is now the Dardanelles.

But they denied him, as a result We saved him and all who were with him in the ark, and drowned those who denied Our revelations. Surely they were a blind nation.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
But they rejected him, so We saved him and those with him in the Ark, and drowned those who rejected Our signs. They were certainly a blind people.
  - Mustafa Khattab
But they denied him, so We saved him and those with him in the ship, and We drowned those who denied Our token. Lo! they were blind folk.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
But they rejected him and We delivered him and those with him in the ark: But We overwhelmed in the flood those who rejected our signs. They were indeed a blind people!
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

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7:65
وَإِلَىٰ عَادٍ أَخَاهُمْ هُودًا ۗ قَالَ يَـٰقَوْمِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَـٰهٍ غَيْرُهُۥٓ ۚ أَفَلَا تَتَّقُونَ Wail a AA a din akh a hum hoodan q a la y a qawmi oAAbudoo All a ha m a lakum min il a hin ghayruhu afal a tattaqoon a
AND UNTO [the tribe of] 'Ad [We sent] their brother Hud.48 He said: "O my people! Worship God alone: you have no deity other than Him. Will you not, then, be conscious of Him?"
  - Mohammad Asad

Hud is said to have been the first Arabian prophet. He may be identical with the Biblical 'Eber, the ancestor of the Hebrews ('Ibrim) who - like most of the Semitic tribes - had probably originated in South Arabia. (References to 'Eber are found in Genesis x, 24-25 and xi, 14ff.) The ancient Arabian name Hud is still reflected in that of Jacob's son Judah (Yahudah in Hebrew) which provided the subsequent designation of the Jews. The name 'Eber - both in Hebrew and in its Arabic form 'Abir - signifies "one who crosses over" (i.e., from one territory to another), and may be a Biblical echo of the fact that this tribe "crossed over" from Arabia to Mesopotamia in pre-Abrahamic times. - The tribe of 'Ad, to which Hud belonged ("their brother Hud"), inhabited the vast desert region known as Al-Ahqaf, between 'Uman and Hadramawt, and was noted for its great power and influence (see 89:8 - "the like of whom has never been reared in all the land"). It disappeared from history many centuries before the advent of Islam, but its memory always remained alive in Arabian tradition.

For the people of 'Ad We selected their brother Hud, who said: "O my people! Worship Allah! You have no god but Him. Will you not fear Him?"
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
And to the people of 'Âd We sent their brother Hûd. He said, 'O my people! Worship Allah- you have no other god except Him. Will you not then fear Him?'
  - Mustafa Khattab
And unto (the tribe of) Aad (We sent) their brother, Hud. He said : O my people! Serve Allah. Ye have no other God save Him. Will ye not ward off (evil)?
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
To the Ad people (We sent) Hud one of their (own) brethren: He said: "O my people! worship Allah! ye have no other god but Him. Will yet not fear (Allah)?" 1040
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The 'Ad people, with their prophet Had, are mentioned in many places. See especially xxvi. 123-140, and xivi. 21-26. Their story belongs to Arabian tradition. Their eponymous ancestor 'Ad was fourth in generation from Noah, having been a son of 'Aus, the son of Aram, the son of Sam, the son of Noah. They occupied a large tract of country in Southern Arabia, extending from Umman at the mouth of the Arabian Gulf to Hadhramaut and Yemen at the southern end of the Red Sea. The people were tall in stature and were great builders. Probably the long, winding tracts of sands (ahqaf) in their dominions (xivi. 21) were irrigated with canals. They forsook the true God, and oppressed their people. A three years famine visited them, but yet they took no warning. At length a terrible blast of wind destroyed them and their land, but a remnant, known as the second 'Ad or the Thamud (see below) were saved, and afterwards suffered a similar fate for their sins. The tomb of the Prophet Hud (qabr Nabi Hud) is still traditionally shown in Hadhramaut, latitude 16 N, and longitude 49 1/2 E', about 90 miles north of Mukalla. There are ruins and inscriptions in the neighbourhood. See "Hadhramaut, Some of its Mysteries Unveiled," by D. van der Meulen and H. von Wissmann, Leyden, 1932.

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7:66
قَالَ ٱلْمَلَأُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِن قَوْمِهِۦٓ إِنَّا لَنَرَىٰكَ فِى سَفَاهَةٍ وَإِنَّا لَنَظُنُّكَ مِنَ ٱلْكَـٰذِبِينَ Q a la almalao alla th eena kafaroo min qawmihi inn a lanar a ka fee saf a hatin wainn a lana th unnuka mina alk ath ibeen a
Said the great ones among his people, who refused to acknowledge the truth: "Verily, we see that thou art weak-minded; and, verily, we think that thou art a liar!"49
  - Mohammad Asad

They considered him "weak-minded" because he expected them to give up their traditional beliefs and deities; and a "liar", because he claimed to be a prophet of God.

The chiefs of his nation who denied his message said: "We can see that you are crazy and we think that you are lying."
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
The disbelieving chiefs of his people responded, 'We surely see you as a fool, and we certainly think you are a liar.'
  - Mustafa Khattab
The chieftains of his people, who were disbelieving, said: Lo! we surely see thee in foolishness, and lo! we deem thee of the liars.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
The leaders of the unbelievers among his people said: "Ah! we see thou art an imbecile!" and "we think thou art a liar!"
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

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7:67
قَالَ يَـٰقَوْمِ لَيْسَ بِى سَفَاهَةٌ وَلَـٰكِنِّى رَسُولٌ مِّن رَّبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ Q a la y a qawmi laysa bee saf a hatun wal a kinnee rasoolun min rabbi alAA a lameen a
Said [Hud]: "O my people! There is no weak-mindedness in me, but I am an apostle from the Sustainer of all the worlds.
  - Mohammad Asad
He replied: "O my people! I am not crazy, on the contrary I am a Rasool from the Rabb of the worlds.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
Hûd replied, 'O my people! I am no fool! But I am a messenger from the Lord of all worlds,
  - Mustafa Khattab
He said : O my people; There is no foolishness in me, but I am a messenger from the Lord of the Worlds.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
He said: "O my people! I am not imbecile but (I am) an apostle from the Lord and Cherisher of the worlds!
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

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7:68
أُبَلِّغُكُمْ رِسَـٰلَـٰتِ رَبِّى وَأَنَا۠ لَكُمْ نَاصِحٌ أَمِينٌ Oballighukum ris a l a ti rabbee waan a lakum n as i h un ameen un
I am delivering unto you my Sustainer's messages and advising you truly and well.50
  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "I am a trustworthy adviser to you".

I am conveying the message of my Rabb to you, and I am an honest adviser to you.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
conveying to you my Lord's messages. And I am your sincere advisor.
  - Mustafa Khattab
I convey unto you the messages of my Lord and am for you a true adviser.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
"I but fulfil towards your the duties of my Lord's mission: I am to you a sincere and trustworthy adviser.
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

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7:69
أَوَعَجِبْتُمْ أَن جَآءَكُمْ ذِكْرٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ عَلَىٰ رَجُلٍ مِّنكُمْ لِيُنذِرَكُمْ ۚ وَٱذْكُرُوٓا۟ إِذْ جَعَلَكُمْ خُلَفَآءَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ قَوْمِ نُوحٍ وَزَادَكُمْ فِى ٱلْخَلْقِ بَصْۜطَةً ۖ فَٱذْكُرُوٓا۟ ءَالَآءَ ٱللَّهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ AwaAAajibtum an j a akum th ikrun min rabbikum AAal a rajulin minkum liyun th irakum wa o th kuroo i th jaAAalakum khulaf a a min baAAdi qawmi noo h in waz a dakum fee alkhalqi bas t atan fa o th kuroo a l a a All a hi laAAallakum tufli h oon a
Why, do you deem it strange that a tiding from your Sustainer should have come unto you through a man from among yourselves, so that he might warn you? Do but remember how He made you heirs to Noah's people, and endowed you abundantly with power:51 remember, then, God's blessings, so that you might attain to a happy state!"
  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "successors after Noah's people" - i.e., the most numerous and powerful of all the tribes that descended from Noah - "and increased you abundantly in respect of [your] natural endowment (khalq)". The latter term also signifies "power" (Razi).

Do you wonder that a reminder from your Rabb has come to you through one of your own men to warn you? Remember that he made you successors after the people of Nuh and gave you a tall stature as compared to other people. Therefore, remember the favors that you have received from Allah, so that you may prosper."
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
Do you find it astonishing that a reminder should come to you from your Lord through one of your own so he may warn you? Remember that He made you successors after the people of Noah and increased you greatly in stature. So remember Allah's favours, so you may be successful.'
  - Mustafa Khattab
Marvel ye that there should come unto you a Reminder from your Lord by means of a man among you, that he may warn you? Remember how He made you viceroys after Noah's folk, and gave you growth of stature. Remember (all) the bounties of your Lord, that haply ye may be successful.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
"Do ye wonder that there hath come to you a message from your Lord through a man of your own people to warn you? call in remembrance that he made you inheritors after the people of Noah and gave you a stature tall among the nations. Call in remembrance the benefits (ye have received) from Allah: that so Ye may prosper."
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

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7:70
قَالُوٓا۟ أَجِئْتَنَا لِنَعْبُدَ ٱللَّهَ وَحْدَهُۥ وَنَذَرَ مَا كَانَ يَعْبُدُ ءَابَآؤُنَا ۖ فَأْتِنَا بِمَا تَعِدُنَآ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ Q a loo ajitan a linaAAbuda All a ha wa h dahu wana th ara m a k a na yaAAbudu a b a on a fatin a bim a taAAidun a in kunta mina a l ssa diqeen a
They answered: "Hast thou come to us [with the demand] that we worship God alone, and give up all that our forefathers were wont to worship? Bring about, then, that [punishment] with which thou hast threatened us, if thou art a man of truth!"
  - Mohammad Asad
They replied: "Have you come to us with the demand that we should worship Allah Alone and give up those whom our forefathers used to worship? Well, bring us what you are threatening us with if what you say is true!"
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
They said, 'Have you come to us so that we would worship Allah alone and abandon what our forefathers used to worship? Then bring us what you threaten us with, if what you say is true!'
  - Mustafa Khattab
They said: Hast come unto us that we should serve Allah alone, and forsake what our fathers worshipped? Then bring upon us that wherewith thou threatenest us if thou art of the truth.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
They said: "Comest thou to us that we may worship Allah alone and give up the cult of our fathers? Bring us what thou threatenest us with if so be that thou tellest the truth!"
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

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7:71
قَالَ قَدْ وَقَعَ عَلَيْكُم مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ رِجْسٌ وَغَضَبٌ ۖ أَتُجَـٰدِلُونَنِى فِىٓ أَسْمَآءٍ سَمَّيْتُمُوهَآ أَنتُمْ وَءَابَآؤُكُم مَّا نَزَّلَ ٱللَّهُ بِهَا مِن سُلْطَـٰنٍ ۚ فَٱنتَظِرُوٓا۟ إِنِّى مَعَكُم مِّنَ ٱلْمُنتَظِرِينَ Q a la qad waqaAAa AAalaykum min rabbikum rijsun wagha d abun atuj a diloonanee fee asm a in sammaytumooh a antum wa a b a okum m a nazzala All a hu bih a min sul ta nin fa i nta th iroo innee maAAakum mina almunta th ireen a
Said [Hud]: "You are already beset by loathsome evil52 and by your Sustainer's condemnation! Do you argue with me about the [empty] names which you have invented53 - you and your forefathers - for which God has bestowed no warrant from on high? Wait, then, [for what will happen:] verily, I shall wait with you!"54
  - Mohammad Asad

A reference to their idolatry and obstinacy.

Lit., "names which you have named" - i.e., the false deities, which have no real existence.

Lit., "I shall be, together with you, among those who wait."

Hud said: "You have already incurred the blight and wrath of your Rabb. Would you dispute with me about mere names which you and your forefathers have invented, and for which Allah has revealed no sanction? If so then wait for the decision of Allah, I too will wait with you."
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
He said, 'You will certainly be subjected to your Lord's torment and wrath. Do you dispute with me regarding the so-called gods which you and your forefathers have made up- a practice Allah has never authorized? Then wait! I too am waiting with you.'
  - Mustafa Khattab
He said: Terror and wrath from your Lord have already fallen on you. Would ye wrangle with me over names which ye have named, ye and your fathers, for which no warrant from Allah hath been revealed? Then await (the consequence), lo! I (also) am of those awaiting (it).
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
He said: "punishment and wrath have already come upon you from your Lord: dispute ye with me over names which ye have devised ye and your fathers without authority from Allah? Then wait: I am amongst you also waiting." 1041 1042
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The past tense may be understood in three ways. (1) A terrible famine had already afflicted the 'Ad as a warning before they were overwhelmed in the final blast of hot wind (see the last note). (2) The terrible insolence and sin into which they had fallen was itself a punishment. (3) The prophetic past is used, as much as to say: "Behold! I see a dreadful calamity: it is already on you!"

Why dispute over names and imaginary gods, the inventions of your minds? Come to realities. If you ask for the punishment and are waiting in insolent defiance, what can I do but also wait?-in fear and trembling for you, for I know that Allah's punishment is sure!

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7:72
فَأَنجَيْنَـٰهُ وَٱلَّذِينَ مَعَهُۥ بِرَحْمَةٍ مِّنَّا وَقَطَعْنَا دَابِرَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا ۖ وَمَا كَانُوا۟ مُؤْمِنِينَ Faanjayn a hu wa a lla th eena maAAahu bira h matin minn a waqa t aAAn a d a bira alla th eena ka thth aboo bi a y a tin a wam a k a noo mumineen a
And so, by Our grace, We saved him and those who stood by him, the while We wiped out the last remnant of those who gave the lie to Our messages and would not believe.55
  - Mohammad Asad

As is shown in {69:6-8}, this destruction came about through a violent sandstorm raging without a break for seven nights and eight days.

We saved him and his companions by Our mercy and We cut off the roots of (annihilated) those who denied Our revelations and did not become believers.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
So We saved him and those with him by Our mercy and uprooted those who denied Our signs. They were not believers.
  - Mustafa Khattab
And We saved him and those with him by a mercy from Us, and We cut the root of those who denied Our revelations and were not believers.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
We saved him and those who adhered to him by our mercy and We cut off the roots of those who rejected our signs and did not believe.
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

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7:73
وَإِلَىٰ ثَمُودَ أَخَاهُمْ صَـٰلِحًا ۗ قَالَ يَـٰقَوْمِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَـٰهٍ غَيْرُهُۥ ۖ قَدْ جَآءَتْكُم بَيِّنَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ ۖ هَـٰذِهِۦ نَاقَةُ ٱللَّهِ لَكُمْ ءَايَةً ۖ فَذَرُوهَا تَأْكُلْ فِىٓ أَرْضِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَلَا تَمَسُّوهَا بِسُوٓءٍ فَيَأْخُذَكُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ Wail a thamooda akh a hum sa li h an q a la y a qawmi oAAbudoo All a ha m a lakum min il a hin ghayruhu qad j a atkum bayyinatun min rabbikum h ath ihi n a qatu All a hi lakum a yatan fa th arooh a takul fee ar d i All a hi wal a tamassooh a bisooin fayakhu th akum AAa tha bun aleem un
AND UNTO [the tribe of] Thamud [We sent] their brother Salih.56 He said: "O my people! Worship God alone: you have no deity other than Him. Clear evidence of the truth has now come unto you from your Sustainer. "This she-camel belonging to God shall be a token for you: so leave her alone to pasture on God's earth, and do her no harm, lest grievous chastisement befall you.57
  - Mohammad Asad

The Nabataean tribe of Thamud descended from the tribe of 'Ad mentioned in the preceding passage, and is, therefore, often referred to in pre-Islamic poetry as the "Second 'Ad". Apart from Arabian sources, "a series of older references, not of Arabian origin, confirm the historical existence of the name and people of Thamud. Thus the inscription of Sargon of the year 715 B.C. mentions the Thamad among the people of eastern and central Arabia subjected by the Assyrians. We also find the Thamudaei, Thamudenes mentioned in Aristo, Ptolemy, and Pliny" (Encyclopaedia of Islam IV, 736). At the time of which the Qur'an speaks, the Thamud were settled in the northernmost Hijaz, near the confines of Syria. Rock-inscriptions attributed to them are still extant in the region of Al-Hijr. - As in the case of the 'Adite prophet Hud - and the prophet Shu'ayb spoken of in verses {85-93} of this surah - Salih is called the "brother" of the tribe because he belonged to it.

The commentators cite various legends to the effect that this she-camel was of miraculous origin. Since neither the Qur'an nor any authentic Tradition provides the least support for these legends, we must assume that they are based on the expression naqat Allah ("God's she-camel"), which has led some pious Muslims to fantastic conjectures. However, as Rashid Rida' points out (Manar VIII, 502), this expression denotes merely the fact that the animal in question was not owned by any one person, and was therefore to be protected by the whole tribe; a further, analogous expression is found in the words "God's earth" in the same verse: an illustration of the fact that everything belongs to God. The particular stress placed by Salih on good treatment of this ownerless animal - referred to in several places in the Qur'an - was obviously due to the cruel high-handedness displayed by the tribe, who, as the next two verses show, were wont to "act wickedly on earth by spreading corruption" and "gloried in their arrogance towards all who were deemed weak": in other words, their treatment of the defenceless animal was to be a "token" of their change of heart or (as is made clear in 54:27 ) "a test for them".

For the people of Thamud We selected their brother Saleh, who said: "O my people! Worship Allah; you have no other god but Him. Now a clear proof has come to you from your Rabb; here is Allah's she-camel as a sign for you, therefore leave her alone to pasture on Allah's land and do not touch her with bad intentions, lest you incur a painful punishment.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
And to the people of Thamud We sent their brother Salih. He said, 'O my people! Worship Allah- you have no other god except Him. A clear proof has come to you from your Lord: this is Allah's she-camel as a sign to you. So leave her to graze 'freely' on Allah's land and do not harm her, or else you will be overcome by a painful punishment.
  - Mustafa Khattab
And to (the tribe of) Thamud (We sent) their brother Salih. He said: O my people! Serve Allah. Ye have no other God save Him. A wonder from your Lord hath come unto you. Lo! this is the camel of Allah, a token unto you; so let her feed in Allah's earth, and touch her not with hurt lest painful torment seize you.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
To the Thamud people (We sent) Saleh one of their own brethren: he said: "O my people! worship Allah; ye have no other god but Him. Now hath come unto you a clear (sign) from your Lord! This she-camel of Allah is a sign unto you: so leave her to graze in Allah's earth and let her come to no harm or ye shall be seized with a grievous punishment. 1043 1044
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The Thamud people were the successors to the culture and civilization of the 'Ad people, for whom see n. 1040 and vii. 65 above. They were cousins to the 'Ad, apparently a younger branch of the same race. Their story also belongs to Arabian tradition, according to which their eponymous ancestor Thamud was a son of 'Abir (a brother of Aram), the son of Sam, the son of Noah. Their seat was in the north-west corner of Arabia (Arabia Petraea), between Madinah and Syria. It included both rocky country (hijr. xv. 80), and the spacious fertile valley (Wadi) and plains country of Qura, which begins just north of the City of Madinah and is traversed by the Hijaz Railway. When the holy Prophet in the 9th year of the Hijra led his expedition to Tabuk (about 400 miles north of Madinah) against the Roman forces, on a reported Roman invasion from Syria, he and his men came across the archaeological remains of the Thamud. The recently excavated rock city of Petra, near Maan, may go back to the Thamud, though its architecture has many features connecting it with Egyptian and Graeco-Roman culture overlaying what is called by European writers Nabataean Culture. Who were the Nabataeans? They were an old Arab tribe which played a considerable part in history after they came into conflict with Antigonus I in 312 B.C. Their capital was Petra, but they extended their territory right up to the Euphrates. In 85 B.C. they were lords of Damascus under their king Haritha (Aretas of Roman history). For some time they were allies of the Roman Empire and held the Red Sea littoral. The Emperor Trajan reduced them and annexed their territory in A.D. 105. The Nabataeans succeeded the Thamud of Arabian tradition. The Thamud are mentioned by name in an inscription of the Assyrian King Sargon, dated 715 B.C., as a people of Eastern and Central Arabia (Encyclopaedia of Islam). See also Appendix VII to S. xxvi. With the advance of material civilisation, the Thamud people became godless and arrogant, and were destroyed by an earthquake. Their prophet and warner was Salih, and the crisis in their history is connected with the story of a wonderful she-camel: see next note.

The story of this wonderful she-camel, that was a sign to the Thamud, is variously told in tradition. We need not follow the various versions in the traditional story. What we are told in the Qur-an is: that (1) she was a Sign or Symbol, which the prophet Salih, used for a warning to the haughty oppressors of the poor: (2) there was scarcity of water, and the arrogant or privileged classes tried to prevent the access of the poor or their cattle to the springs, while Salih intervened on their behalf (xxvi. 155, liv. 28); (3) like water, pasture was considered a free gift of nature, in this spacious earth of Allah (vii. 73), but the arrogant ones tried to monopolise the pasture also; (4) this particular she-camel was made a test case (liv. 27) to see if the arrogant ones would come to reason; (5) the arrogant ones, instead of yielding to the reasonable rights of the people, ham-strung the poor she- camel and slew her, probably secretly (xci. 14, liv. 29): the cup of their iniquities was full, and the Thamud people were destroyed by a dreadful earthquake, which threw them prone on the ground and buried them with their houses and their fine buildings.

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7:74
وَٱذْكُرُوٓا۟ إِذْ جَعَلَكُمْ خُلَفَآءَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ عَادٍ وَبَوَّأَكُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ تَتَّخِذُونَ مِن سُهُولِهَا قُصُورًا وَتَنْحِتُونَ ٱلْجِبَالَ بُيُوتًا ۖ فَٱذْكُرُوٓا۟ ءَالَآءَ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا تَعْثَوْا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مُفْسِدِينَ Wa o th kuroo i th jaAAalakum khulaf a a min baAAdi AA a din wabawwaakum fee alar d i tattakhi th oona min suhoolih a qu s ooran watan h itoona aljib a la buyootan fa o th kuroo a l a a All a hi wal a taAAthaw fee alar d i mufsideen a
"And remember how He made you heirs to [the tribe of] 'Ad58 and settled you firmly on earth, so that you [are able to] build for yourselves castles on its plains and hew out mountains [to serve you] as dwellings:59 remember, then, God's blessings, and do not act wickedly on earth by spreading corruption."
  - Mohammad Asad

Cf. the parallel expression in verse {69} above - "heirs to Noah's people" - and the corresponding note. From all the historical references to the Thamud it is apparent that they were one of the greatest and most powerful Arab tribes of their time.

A reference to the elaborate rock-dwellings or tombs - to be seen to this day - which the Thamud carved out of the cliffs west of Al-Hijr, in northern Hijaz, and embellished with sculptures of animals as well as many inscriptions attesting to the comparatively high degree of their civilization and power. In popular Arabian parlance, these rock-dwellings are nowadays called Mada'in Salih ("The Towns of Salih").

Remember how you were made the heirs of 'Ad and settled in the land, capable of building mansions in the valleys and carving out homes in the mountains. Therefore, remember the favors of Allah and do not spread mischief in the land."
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
Remember when He made you successors after 'Ad and established you in the land- 'and' you built palaces on its plains and carved homes into mountains. So remember Allah's favours, and do not go about spreading corruption in the land.'
  - Mustafa Khattab
And remember how He made you viceroys after 'Aad and gave you station in the earth. Ye choose castles in the plains and hew the mountains into dwellings. So remember (all) the bounties of Allah and do not evil, making mischief in the earth.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
"And remember how He made you inheritors after the Ad people and gave you habitations in the land: ye build for yourselves palaces and castles in (open) plains and carve out homes in the mountains; so bring to remembrance the benefits (ye have received) from Allah and refrain from evil and mischief on the earth."
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

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7:75
قَالَ ٱلْمَلَأُ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ مِن قَوْمِهِۦ لِلَّذِينَ ٱسْتُضْعِفُوا۟ لِمَنْ ءَامَنَ مِنْهُمْ أَتَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّ صَـٰلِحًا مُّرْسَلٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ ۚ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا بِمَآ أُرْسِلَ بِهِۦ مُؤْمِنُونَ Q a la almalao alla th eena istakbaroo min qawmihi lilla th eena istu d AAifoo liman a mana minhum ataAAlamoona anna sa li h an mursalun min rabbihi q a loo inn a bim a orsila bihi muminoon a
The great ones among his people, who gloried in their arrogance towards all who were weak, said unto the believers among them: "Do you [really] know that Salih has been sent by his Sustainer?" They answered "Verily, we believe in the message which he bears."60
  - Mohammad Asad

The contents of his message (lit., "that with which he has been sent") appeared to them justification enough to accept it on its merits, without the need of any esoteric "proof" of Salih's mission. In a subtle way, this statement of faith has a meaning which goes far beyond the story of the Thamud. It is an invitation to the sceptic who is unable to believe in the divine origin of a religious message, to judge it on its intrinsic merits and not to make his acceptance dependent on extraneous, and objectively impossible, proofs of its origin: for only through the contents of a message can its truth and validity be established.

The arrogant leaders from his nation asked the oppressed among them who have believed: "Do you really believe that Saleh is a Rasool from his Rabb?" They replied: "We do indeed believe in the revelation which he has been sent."
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
The arrogant chiefs of his people asked the lowly who believed among them, 'Are you certain that Salih has been sent by his Lord?' They replied, 'We certainly believe in what he has been sent with.'
  - Mustafa Khattab
The chieftains of his people, who were scornful, said unto those whom they despised, unto such of them as believed: Know ye that Salih is one sent from his Lord? They said : Lo! In that wherewith he hath been sent we are believers.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
The leaders of the arrogant party among his people said to those who were reckoned powerless those among them who believe: "know ye indeed that Saleh is an apostle from his Lord?" They said: "We do indeed believe in the revelation which hath been sent through him." 1045 1046
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

As usually happens in such cases, the Believers were the lowly and the humble, and the oppressors were the arrogant, who in selfishly keeping back nature's gifts (which are Allah's gifts) from the people, were deaf to the dictates of justice and kindness. Salih took the side of the unprivileged, and was therefore himself attacked.

Notice the relation between the question and the answer. The godless chiefs wanted to discredit Salih, and put a personal question, as much as to say, "Is he not a liar?" The Believers took back the issue to the higher plane, as much as to say. "We know he is a man of Allah, but look at the justice for which he is making a stand: to resist it is to resist Allah". The answer of the godless was to reject Allah in words, and in action to commit a further act of cruelty and injustice in ham-stringing and killing the she-camel, at the same time hurling defiance at Salih and his God.

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