Surah 7. Al-A'raf

Alif. Lam. Mim. Sad.¹

  - Mohammad Asad

See Appendix II.

Alif L'am M'im Suad.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Alif. Lam. Mim. Sad.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

A DIVINE WRIT has been bestowed from on high upon thee - and let there be no doubt about this in thy heart - in order that thou mayest warn [the erring] thereby, and [thus] admonish the believers:²

  - Mohammad Asad

The expression haraj (lit., "straitness" or "tightness") is often used idiomatically to denote "doubt": and this is, according to Ibn 'Abbas, Mujahid and Qatadah, the meaning of the term here (see Tabari, Zamakhshari, Baghawi, Razi, Ibn Kathir). The construction of the whole sentence makes it clear that the "doubt" does not relate to the origin of the divine writ but to its purpose: and thus, although ostensibly addressed to the Prophet, the above passage is meant to draw the attention of all whom the Qur'anic message may reach to the fact that it has a twofold objective - namely, to warn the rejectors of the truth and to guide those who already believe in it. Both the warning and the admonition are summarized in the sequence.

This Book is revealed to you; let there be no hesitation in your heart about it so that you may thereby warn the unbelievers and remind the believers.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

(It is) a Scripture that is revealed unto thee (Muhammad) so let there be no heaviness in thy heart therefrom that thou mayest warn thereby, and (it is) a Reminder unto believers.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

"Follow what has been sent down unto you by your Sustainer, and follow no masters other than Him."³ How seldom do you keep this in mind!

  - Mohammad Asad

Some of the great Muslim thinkers, and particularly Ibn Hazm and Ibn Taymiyyah, maintain that the expression awliya' (here rendered as "masters") denotes, in this context "authorities" in the religious sense of the word, implying a prohibition of attributing legal validity - side by side with Qur'anic ordinances - to the subjective opinions of any person below the Prophet. See in this connection 5:101 , and the corresponding notes.

Say: "O people, follow what has been brought down to you from your Rabb and do not follow other patrons besides Him." Yet little do they take admonition.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

(Saying): Follow that which is sent down unto you from your Lord, and follow no protecting friends beside Him. Little do ye recollect!

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

And how many a [rebellious] community have We destroyed, with Our punishment coming upon it by night, or while they were resting at noontide!⁴

  - Mohammad Asad

I.e., suddenly, when the people felt completely secure and at ease. This passage connects with the obligation, laid down in the preceding two verses, to follow God's revealed messages.

How many towns have We destroyed for their sins? Our scourge took them all of a sudden at night or while they were taking their afternoon rest,

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

How many a township have We destroyed! As a raid by night, or while they slept at noon, Our terror came unto them.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

And when Our punishment came upon them, they had nothing to say for themselves, and could only cry,⁵ "Verily, we were wrongdoers!"

  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "their plea was nothing but that they said".

and when our scourge fell upon them, their only cry was: "We have indeed been wrongdoers."

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

No plea had they, when Our terror came unto them, save that they said: Lo! We were wrongdoers.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall