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-Lãm-Mĩm-Ṣãd.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Alif. Lam. Mim. Sad.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Alif Lam Mim Sad. ⁹⁸⁹

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

This is a combination of four Abbreviated Letters. For Abbreviated Letters generally, see Appendix I (at the end of Sura II). The combination here includes the three letters A.L.M., which occurred at the beginning of Sura II, and are discussed in n. 25 to ii. 1. The additional letter Sad occurs in combination here and in Sura xix, and by itself at the beginning of S. xxxviii, and nowhere else. The factor common to S. vii. S. xix, and S. xxxviii, is that in each case the core of the Sura consists in the stories (qisas) of the Prophets. In this Sura we have the Stories of Noah, Hud, Salih, Lot, Shu'aib, and Moses, leading up to Muhammad, and in S. xxxviii, the stories of David, Solomon, and Job similarly lead up to Muhammad, occupying three out of the five sections. Sura xix consists almost entirely of such stories. In this Sura vii, we have the religious history of mankind traced-the Beginning the Middle, and the End.

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

'This is' a Book sent down to you 'O Prophet'- do not let anxiety into your heart regarding it- so with it you may warn 'the disbelievers', and as a reminder to the believers.

  - Mustafa Khattab

(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

A Book revealed unto thee so let thy heart be oppressed no more by any difficulty on that account that with it thou mightest warn (the erring) and teach the believers. ⁹⁹⁰

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Heart: in the original, breast. I have used the word most appropriate to the English idiom. The meaning is that Al-Mustafa is consoled for all the difficulties which he encountered in his mission, with the fact that he had clear guidance in the Book for his preaching.

"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

Follow what has been sent down to you from your Lord, and do not take others as guardians besides Him. How seldom are you mindful!

  - Mustafa Khattab

(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

Follow (O men!) the revelation given unto you from your Lord and follow not as friends or protectors other than Him. Little it is ye remember of admonition. ⁹⁹¹

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

This is added in order that men might not be puffed up with such little knowledge as they possessed, for there are great heights to be scaled in the spiritual kingdom.

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

'Imagine' how many societies We have destroyed! Our torment took them by surprise 'while sleeping' at night or midday.

  - Mustafa Khattab

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

How many towns have We destroyed (for their sins)? Our punishment took them on a sudden by night or while they slept for their afternoon rest.

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

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

Their only cry- when overwhelmed by Our torment- was, 'We have indeed been wrongdoers.'

  - Mustafa Khattab

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

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

When (thus) our punishment took them no cry did they utter but this "indeed we did wrong." ⁹⁹²

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The religious story of man begins with a prelude. Think of the towns and nations ruined by their iniquity. Allah gave them many opportunities, and sent them warners and teachers. But they arrogantly went on in their evil ways, till some dreadful calamity came and wiped out their traces. In a warm climate the disturbance in the heat of the midday rest is even more than the disturbance at night. It was when the catastrophe came that the people realised their sins, but it was too late.