Surah 7 Al-A'raf

Allah said, "Be among those who have respite."

Then, Satan began to whisper suggestions to them, bringing openly before their minds all the shame that was hidden from them before.  He said, "Your Lord only forbade you this tree, less you should become angels or such beings that live forever." And he swore to them both, that he was their best adviser.
 

So by deceit he brought about their fall.  Then, they tasted of the tree, and their shame became manifest to them.  So, they began to sew together the leaves of the Garden over their bodies. And, their Lord called unto them, "Did I not forbid you that tree, and tell you that Satan was an avowed enemy to you?"

They replied, "Our Lord! We have wronged our own souls.  If you do not forgive us and bestow Your Mercy upon us, we shall certainly be Lost."

God said, "You have brought down wrath upon yourselves. On earth will be your dwelling-place and your means of livelihood, for a set term."

He said,  "Therein shall you live, and therein shall you die. 

But, from it you shall be taken out at last on the Day."

O you Children of Adam! Do not let Satan seduce you, in the same manner as he did your parents out of the Garden, stripping them of their clothing, to expose their shame.  For he and his tribe watch you from a position where you cannot see them.  We made The Evil One friends only to those without Faith in God.

When they do things that are shameful, they say,  "We saw our fathers doing this," and further they say, "God commanded us to do this."  Say: "No, God never commands anything that is shameful.  Do you say of God what you do not know?"

Say: "My Lord has commanded justice; and that you submit your whole beings to Him at every time and place of prayer, and call upon Him alone, making your devotion sincere in His sight.  Such as He created you in the beginning, and so shall you return."

Some He has Guided: others have by their own choice deserved the loss of their way in that they took the Evil One, in preference to Allah, for their friend and protector, and think that they may receive guidance from Satan.

O Children of Adam! Wear your best clothing at every time and place of prayer.  Eat and drink of sustenance provided by God. But, do not waste food, nor be excessive, for God does not Loves those who are wasteful.
 

Say: "The things that my Lord has indeed forbidden are shameful deeds, whether open or secret; sins and trespasses against truth or reason; such as the assigning of partners to Allah for which there is no given authority; and saying things about God of that which you have no knowledge."

To every person is an appointed term.  When their end is reached, not an hour can they cause delay, nor an hour can they advance it in anticipation thereof.
 

O you Children of Adam! Whenever there come to you Messengers from amongst you, rehearsing My Signs unto you, those who are Righteous and mend their lives, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.

Who is more unjust than one who invents a lie against God, or rejects His Signs? For such, their term appointed must reach them from the Book of Decrees.  Until, when our Messengers of death arrive, and take their souls, saying: "Where are the deities that you used to invoke besides God now?" They will reply, "They have left us in the lurch." And, the people will have to bear witness against themselves, because they had rejected God.

He will say: "Enter in the company of the people who passed away before you, mankind and jinns, into the Fire." Every time a new people enters, it curses its sister-people that went before it, until they follow each other, all into the Fire. Said the last people about the first one, "Our Lord! It is these people that misled us. so give them a double punishment in the Fire." He will say, "Doubled for all," but this you do not understand.

Then the first will say to the last: "See then! No advantage have you over us; so taste of the punishment for all that you did!"
 

To those who reject God's Signs and treat them with arrogance, no opening will there be for them at of the Gates of Heaven, nor will they enter the Garden, until the camel can pass through the eye of the needle. Such is God's punishment for those in sin.

For them there is Hell, covering them.  Such is the requital for those who do wrong.

And, God shall remove from their hearts any lingering sense of injury. Beneath them will be rivers flowing; and they shall say: "Praise be to Allah, who has Guided us to this happiness.  Never could we have found Guidance, had it not been for the Guidance of Allah. Indeed, it was the Ttruth, that the Messengers of our Lord brought unto us." And they shall hear the cry: "Behold! The Garden before you! You have been made its inheritors, for your deeds of Righteousness."

The Companions of the Garden will call out to the Companions of the Fire: "We have indeed found the promises of our Lord to us to be true.  Have you also found Your Lord's promises true?" They shall say, "Yes"; but a crier shall proclaim between them: "The curse of God is on the wrongdoers."
 

Between them shall be a veil, and on the heights will be people who would know everyone by his marks.  They will call out to the Companions of the Garden, "Peace on you."  They will not have entered, but they will have an assurance thereof.

When their eyes shall be turned towards the Companions of the Fire, they will say: "Our Lord! Do not send us to the company of the wrongdoers."

The people on the heights will call to other certain people, whom they will know from their marks, saying, "Of what profit to you were your hoards of money, and your arrogant ways?"

"Behold! Are these not the people whom you swore that Allah with His Mercy would never bless? Enter the Garden.  No fear shall be upon you, nor shall you grieve."

The Companions of the Fire will call to the Companions of the Garden,  "Pour down to us water or anything that Allah does provide for your sustenance." They will say, "Both these things have Allah forbidden to those who rejected Him, those who took their religion to be mere amusement and play, and were deceived by the life of this world."

That Day they will be Lost, forgotten, as they forgot the meeting of this Day of theirs, and as they rejected God's Signs.
 

For, God had certainly sent unto them a Book, based on Knowledge, which the angels explained in detail, a Guide and a Mercy to all who Believe.

Do they just wait for the final fulfillment of the event? On the Day the event is finally fulfilled, those who disregarded it before will say: "The Messengers of our Lord did indeed bring true tidings. Have we no intercessors now to intercede on our behalf? Or could we be sent back? Then, should we behave differently from our behavior in the past." In fact, they will have lost their souls, and the things they invented will leave them in the lurch.
 

Do not do mischief on the earth, after it has 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.
 

It is He who sends the winds like heralds of glad tidings, going before His Mercy.  Then they have carried the heavy rain laden clouds, and the angels drive them to a land that is dead, make rain to descend thereon, and produce every kind of harvest therewith.  Thus, shall God raise up the dead.  Maybe you may remember.

From the land that is clean and good, by the Will of its Cherisher, springs up produce, rich and of every kind.  But, from the land that is barren, springs up nothing but that which is unfruitful.  Thus, do we explain the Signs by various symbols to those who are grateful.

We sent Noah to his people. He said, "O my people! Worship Allah. You have no other God but Him. I fear for you the punishment of a dreadful day!"

The leaders of his people said, "Ah! We see you are evidently wandering idly
 in your mind."
 

He said, "O my people! No wandering is there in my mind.  On the contrary, I am a Messenger from the Lord and Cherisher of the worlds!"
 

"Do you wonder that there has come to you a Message from your Lord, through a man of your own people, to warn you, so that you may fear God and happily receive His Mercy?"

But, they rejected him, and God delivered him, and those with him, in the Ark.  But, those who rejected God's Signs were overwhelmed in the flood. They were indeed a people without vision!

To the 'Ad people, We sent Hud, one of their own brethren as well.  He said, "O my people! Worship God. You have no other God but Him, will you not fear Him then?'
 

He said, "O my people! I am no idiot, I am a Messenger from the Lord and Cherisher of all the worlds!

He said, "Punishment and wrath have already come upon you from your Lord.  You dispute with me over names which you have devised - you and your fathers, without authority from God. Then wait. I am among you, also waiting."

We saved him and those who adhered to him. By God's Great Mercy, and cut off the roots of those who rejected The Signs and did not Believe.

To the Thamud people God sent Salih, one of their own brethren.  He said, "O my people! Worship Allah. You have no other God but Him. Now has 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 you shall be seized with a grievous punishment."

The leaders of the arrogant party among his people said to those who were reckoned powerless. Those among them who Believed said, "Indeed you know that Salih is a Messenger from his Lord?" They said, "We do indeed Believe in the Revelation which has been sent through him."

The arrogant people said,  "For our part, we reject what you Believe in."

Then, they ham-strung the she-camel, and insolently defied the order of their Lord, saying, "O Salih! Bring about your threats, if you are a Messenger of Allah!" So the earthquake took them unaware, and they did not lay in their homes in the morning!

So Salih left them, saying, "O my people! I did indeed convey to you the Message that I was sent by my Lord.  I gave you good counsel, but you do not love good counselors!"

We also sent Lut.  He said to his people, "Do you commit lewdness such as no people before you?

"For you practice sodomy with your men, in preference to women.  You are indeed a people transgressing beyond bounds."

And his people gave no answer but this.  They said, "Drive them out of your city.  These are indeed men who want to be clean and pure!"

But, we saved him and his family, except his wife.  She was of those who lagged behind.
 

To the Madyan people, God sent Shu'aib, one of their own brethren.  He said, "O my people! Worship Allah. You have no other God but Him. Now has come unto you a Clear Sign from your Lord! Give just measure and weight, nor withhold from the people the things that are their due; and do not do mischief on the earth after it has been set in order: that will be best for you, if you have Faith.

"And squat not on every road, breathing threats, hindering from the Path of God those who Believe in Him, nor seek in it something crooked.  Remember how you were little, and He gave you increase. And, hold in your mind's eye what was the end of those who did mischief."
 

"And if there is a party among you who Believes in the Message with which I have been sent, and a party does not Believe, be patient until Allah does decide between us.  For He is the best to decide."

The leaders, the arrogant party among his people, said, "O Shu'aib! we shall certainly drive you out of our city - you and those who Believe with you; or else you and they shall have to return to our ways and religion."
 
He said: "What! Even though we do detest them?"
 

The leaders, the UnBelievers among his people, said, "If you follow Shu'aib, be sure you are ruined!"
 

The men who rejected Shu'aib became as if they had never been in the homes where they had flourished.  The men who rejected Shu'aib - it was they who were ruined!

So Shu'aib left them, saying, "O my people! I did indeed convey to you the Messages I was sent by my Lord.  I gave you good counsel, but how shall I lament over a people who refuse to Believe!"

Then, God changed their suffering into prosperity, until they grew and multiplied, and began to say, "Our fathers too were touched by suffering and affluence" ... Behold! We called them to account all of a sudden, while they did not realize their peril.

If the people of the towns had but Believed and feared God, then indeed opened to them would be all kinds of blessings from heaven and earth.  But, they rejected the Truth, and God brought them to pay for their misdeeds.
 

Did the people of the towns feel secure against the coming of God's wrath by night while they were asleep?

Or else did they feel secure against its coming in broad daylight while they played about carefree? Did they then feel secure against the plan of God? But, no one can feel secure from God's best plans.  They are doomed to ruin!

To those who inherit the earth in succession from its previous possessors, is it not a guiding lesson that, if He so willed, He could punish them too for their sins, and seal up their hearts so that they could not hear the Truth in their hearts?

Such were the towns whose story I thus relate unto you.  There came indeed to them their Messengers with Clear Signs.  But, they would not Believe, and they continued to reject Faith as before. Thus, does God seal up the hearts of those who reject Faith.

Most of them God found people who were not true to their covenant.  Most of them God found to be rebellious and disobedient.

Then after them, God sent Moses with Signs to Pharaoh and his chiefs, but they wrongfully rejected them.  So, see what the end of those who made mischief was.

Moses said,  "O Pharaoh! I am a Messenger from the Lord of the worlds,

Then, Moses threw his rod, and behold! It was a serpent, plain for all to see!

And he drew out his hand, and behold! It was white to all beholders!

Said the Chiefs of the people of Pharaoh: "This is indeed a well-versed sorcerer.

"His plan is to get you out of your land.  Then what is it that you counsel?"

They said,  "Keep him and his brother here for a while; and send to the cities men to collect taxes. And, bring to me all of our well-versed sorcerers." So there came the sorcerers to Pharaoh.  They said, "Of course, we shall have a suitable reward if we win!"

He said, "You, and more, for you shall in that case shall be raised to posts nearest to me."
 

They said, "O Moses! Will you throw first, or shall we have the first throw?"

Moses said, "You throw first." So when they threw, they bewitched the eyes of the people, and struck terror into them, for they showed a great feat of magic.

We put it into Moses' mind by inspiration, "Now, throw down your rod", and behold! It swallows up straight away all the lies that they lied about!
 

So the great ones were vanquished there and then, and were made to look small.

But, the sorcerers fell down prostrate in adoration.

They said, "For us, We are but sent back unto our Lord.

And, Moses said to his people, "Pray for help from God, and wait with patience and steadfastness.  For the earth is God's, to give as a heritage to such of His servants as He pleases.  And, the end is best for the Righteous.
 

They said, "We have had nothing but trouble, both before and after you came 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."
 
Indeed, Pharaoh's people were punished with years of droughts and shortness of crops; that they might receive admonition for their sins.

But when good times came, they said, "This is due to us." When gripped by calamity, they ascribed it to evil omens connected with Moses and those with him! Behold! In truth the omens of evil are theirs in Allah's sight, but most of them do not Understand!

They said to Moses, "Whatever the Signs are that you bring, to work there with your sorcery on us, we shall never believe in you."

So plagues beset them:  death, locusts, lice, frogs, and blood.  Signs openly self-explained.  But they were steeped in arrogance, a people given to sin.

Every time punishment befell them, they said, "O Moses! On your behalf call on your Lord in virtue of His promise to you.  If you will remove the punishment from us, we shall truly Believe, and we shall send away the Children of Israel with you."

But every time We removed the punishment from them according to a fixed term which they had to fulfill, Behold! They broke their word!

So, retribution befell them. They drowned in the sea, because they rejected God's Signs, and failed to take warning from them.

And, God made a people, considered weak and of no account, inheritors of lands in both east and west, lands whereon blessings descended. The fair promise of your Lord was fulfilled for the Children of Israel, because they were patient and steadfast, and leveled to the ground were the great works and fine buildings which Pharaoh and his people erected with such arrogance.

We took the Children of Israel with safety across the sea. They came upon a people devoted entirely to some idols they had made. They said, "O Moses! Fashion for us a god like unto the gods they have." He said, "Surely you are a people without Knowledge of the Truth.
 

He said, "Shall I seek for you a god other than The One True God, when it is God who has endowed you with gifts above the nations?"
 

And, remember, God rescued you from Pharaoh's people, who afflicted you with the worst of punishment, who killed your boy children, and kept their mothers alive.  In that was a momentous trial from your Lord.

The angels gave Moses thirty nights, and completed the period with ten more.  Thus was completed the term of communion with his Lord, forty nights. And Moses had charged his brother Aaron before he went up, "Act for me on my behalf before my people. Do right, and do not follow the way of those who do mischief."

When Moses came to the place appointed by the angels, and his Lord addressed him, he said, "O my Lord! Show Yourself to me, that I may look upon you." Allah said, "By no means can you see Me directly.  But, look upon the mount.  If it abides in its place, then shall you see Me." When his Lord manifested His Glory on the Mount, He made it as dust.

And Moses fell down in awe. When he recovered his senses he said, "Glory be to You! To You I turn in repentance, and I am the first to Believe in You Lord God."

Allah said, "O Moses! I have chosen you above other men, by the mission I have given you and the words I have spoken to you.  Take then the Revelation which I give you, and be of those who give thanks."

And, God ordained laws for him in the tablets in all matters, both commanding and explaining all things, and said, "Take and hold onto these truths steadfastly, and enjoin your people to hold fast onto as well.  Soon, I shall show you the homes of the wicked, how they lie desolate."

Those who behave arrogantly on the earth in defiance of right - they turn away from My Signs.  Even if they see all the Signs, they will not Believe in them.  And, if they see the way of right conduct, they will not adopt it as the Right Way.  But, if they see the way of error, that is the way they will adopt.

For they have rejected God's Signs, and failed to take warning from them.
 

Those who reject His Signs, and the meeting in the Hereafter, vain are their deeds.  Can they expect to be rewarded except as they have earned?

The people of Moses made, in his absence, out of their ornaments, the image of a calf for worship.  It seemed so lowly to be something of worship.  Did they not see that it could neither speak to them, nor show them the Right Path? They mistakenly took the idol for worship and they did wrong.

When they repented, and saw that they had erred, they said, "If our Lord does not have Mercy upon us and forgive us, we shall indeed be of those who perish."

When Moses came back to his people, angry and grieved, he said, "You have done evil in my place in my absence.  Are you trying to bring on the Judgment of your Lord?"

He put down the tablets, seized his brother by the hair of his head, and dragged him towards him. Aaron said, "Son of my mother! The people did indeed reckon me to do so, and went near to killing me! Please do not make my enemies rejoice over my misfortune, nor do not count me among the people of sin."

Moses prayed,  "O my Lord! Forgive me and my brother! Admit us to Your Mercy! For You are the Most Merciful of the Merciful!"
 

But, those who do wrong, but repent thereafter and truly Believe, indeed your Lord is thereafter, the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful.

When the anger of Moses was appeased, he took up the tablets.  From the writing thereon there was Guidance and Mercy for such as fear their Lord.

And, Moses chose seventy of his people for Our place of meeting.  When they were seized with violent quaking, he prayed, "O my Lord! If it had been Your will You could have destroyed us, long before, both them and me.  Would You destroy us for the deeds of the foolish ones among us? This is no more than Your trial.  By it, You cause whom You will to stray, and lead whom You will onto the Right Path. You are our Protector.  So forgive us, and give us Your Mercy.  For You are the most entitled to Forgive.
 

Of the people of Moses there are some of them that guide and do justice in the light of Truth.

We divided them into twelve tribes or nations. The angels directed Moses by inspiration, when his thirsty people asked him for water, "Strike the rock with your staff."  Out of it there gushed forth twelve springs.  Each group found its own place for water. We gave them the shade of clouds, and sent down to them manna and quails, saying, "Eat of the good things We have provided for you."  But, they rebelled.  To God they did no harm, but they harmed their own souls.

And, remember it was said to them, "Dwell in this town and eat therein as you wish, but speak humbly and enter the gate in a posture of humility.  We shall forgive you your faults.  We shall increase the lot of those who do good."
 

Ask them concerning the town standing close by the sea. Behold! They transgressed in the matter of the Sabbath. For on the day of their Sabbath their fish did come to them, openly holding up their heads, but on the day they had no Sabbath, they did not come.  Thus, did We make a trial of them, for they were given to transgression and idolatry.

When some of them said, "Why do you preach to a people whom God will inflict a terrible punishment?" The preachers said, "To discharge our duty to your Lord, and maybe they may come to fear Him."

When they disregarded the warnings that had been given them, the angels rescued those who forbade evil.  However, the wrongdoers were given a grievous punishment because they were given to sin.
 

When in their insolence they transgressed beyond all bounds, the angels said to them, "Be you apes, despised and rejected."

Behold! Your Lord did declare that He would send against them, to the Day of Judgment, those who would afflict them with grievous punishment. Your Lord is quick in retribution to the UnBelievers, but He can also be the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful.

They were broken up into sections on this earth. There are among them some that are the righteous, and some that are just the oppositie. We have tried them with both prosperity and adversity, in order that they might turn to God and Belief.

After them succeeded an evil generation. They inherited the Book, but they chose for themselves the vanities of this world, saying for excuse, "Everything will be forgiven us."

Even so, if similar vanities came their way, they would again seize them. Was not the covenant of the Book taken from them that they would not ascribe to Allah anything but the Truth? And, they study what is in the Book. But, best for the Righteous is the home in the Hereafter. Will you not understand?
 

When God shook the Mount over them, as if it had been a canopy, and they thought it was going to fall on them, the angels said, "Hold firmly to what I have given you, and bring ever to remembrance what is therein.  Perhaps you may find Guidance and may fear God."

Relate to them the story of the man to whom We sent the Signs, but he passed them by.  So Satan followed him up, and he went astray.

If it had been God's Willl, he would have been elevated with God's Signs.  But, he inclined to the earth, and followed his own vain desires. His likeness is that of a dog: if you attack him, he lolls out his tongue, or if you leave him alone, he still lolls out his tongue. That is the likeness of those who reject God's Signs.  So relate the story; maybe they may reflect upon it and Believe. Evil as an example are people who reject Our signs and wrong their own souls.

Whom God Guides, he is on the Right Path.  Whom He rejects from His Guidance, such are the persons who perish.
 

The most beautiful Names belong to Allah. So call on Him by them.  But, shun such people as use profanity in His names.  For what they do, they will soon be punished.
 

 God's Plan is strong and unfailing.
 

Do they not reflect? Their companion is not seized with madness.  He is but a warner.

Do they see nothing in the governance of the Heavens and the earth and all that God has created? Do they not see that it may well be that their terms are soon drawing to an end? In what Message after this will they then Believe?

To those who reject God's Guidance, there can be no other guide.  He will leave them in their trespasses, wandering in distraction.
 

They ask you about the Final Hour - when will be its appointed time? Say: "The knowledge thereof is with my Lord alone.  None but He can reveal as to when it will occur. Heavy were its burden through the Heavens and the earth. Only, all of a sudden will it come to you."
 
They ask you as if you were eager in search thereof.  Say: "The knowledge thereof is with God alone, but most people do not Know it."

Say: "I have no power over any good or harm to myself except as Allah wills. If I had knowledge of the unseen, I would have multiplied all good, and no evil should have touched me.  I am but a warner, and a bringer of glad tidings to those who have Faith."

It is God who created you from a single person, and made his spouse of like nature, in order that he might dwell with her in love. When they are united, she bears a light burden and carries it about unnoticed.

When she grows heavy, they both pray to God, their Lord, saying, "If You give us a good child, we vow we shall ever be grateful to you."

But, when He gives them a healthy child, they ascribe to others a share in the gift they have received.  But, God is exalted high above the partners they ascribe to Him.

Do they indeed ascribe to Him as partners things that cannot create anything, but are themselves created? No aid can they give them, nor can they aid themselves!

If you call them to Guidance, they will not obey.  For you it is the same whether you call them or not!

Verily, those whom you call upon besides God are servants like unto you.  Call upon them, and let them listen to your prayer, if you are indeed truthful!

Have they feet to walk with? Or hands to lay hold with? Or eyes to see with? Or ears to hear with? Say: "Call your 'god-partners', and even if you scheme your worst against me, and give me no respite!

Hold steadfast to forgiveness.  Command what is right.  But, turn away from the ignoran and Disbelieving people.

If a suggestion from Satan comes to your mind, seek refuge with God for He hears and Knows all things.

Those who fear God, when an evil thought comes from Satan comes to them, they bring God into remembrance, when lo! They see aright!
 

When the Qur'an is read, listen to it with attention, and listen with peace, so
 so that you may receive God's Mercy.

And do you O reader, remember your Lord in your very soul, with humility and in reverence, without loudness in words, in the mornings and evenings?
  And, be not of those who are unheedful.

Those who are near to your Sovereign Lord God worship Him alone. They celebrate His Praises, and bow down in worship before Him.