Translation of the meanings of surah Al-A'raaf (1)

(1) (1) Alif, Lām, Meem, Ṣād.[363]

[363]- See footnote to 2:1.

(2) (2) [This is] a Book revealed to you, [O Muḥammad] - so let there not be in your breast distress therefrom - that you may warn thereby and as a reminder to the believers.

(3) (3) Follow, [O mankind], what has been revealed to you from your Lord and do not follow other than Him any allies. Little do you remember.

(4) (4) And how many cities have We destroyed, and Our punishment came to them at night or while they were sleeping at noon.

(5) (5) And their declaration when Our punishment came to them was only that they said, "Indeed, we were wrongdoers!"

(6) (6) Then We will surely question those to whom [a message] was sent, and We will surely question the messengers.

(7) (7) Then We will surely relate [their deeds] to them with knowledge, and We were not [at all] absent.

(8) (8) And the weighing [of deeds] that Day will be the truth. So those whose scales are heavy - it is they who will be the successful.

(9) (9) And those whose scales are light - they are the ones who will lose themselves for what injustice they were doing toward Our verses.

(10) (10) And We have certainly established you upon the earth and made for you therein ways of livelihood. Little are you grateful.

(11) (11) And We have certainly created you, [O mankind], and given you [human] form. Then We said to the angels, "Prostrate to Adam"; so they prostrated, except for Iblees.[364] He was not of those who prostrated.

[364]- Satan. See footnote to 2:34.

(12) (12) [Allāh] said, "What prevented you from prostrating when I commanded you?" [Satan] said, "I am better than him. You created me from fire and created him from clay [i.e., earth]."

(13) (13) [Allāh] said, "Descend from it [i.e., Paradise], for it is not for you to be arrogant therein. So get out; indeed, you are of the debased."

(14) (14) [Satan] said, "Reprieve me until the Day they are resurrected."

(15) (15) [Allāh] said, "Indeed, you are of those reprieved."

(16) (16) [Satan] said, "Because You have put me in error, I will surely sit in wait for them [i.e., mankind] on Your straight path.

(17) (17) Then I will come to them from before them and from behind them and on their right and on their left, and You will not find most of them grateful [to You]."

(18) (18) [Allāh] said, "Depart from it [i.e., Paradise], reproached and expelled. Whoever follows you among them - I will surely fill Hell with you, all together."

(19) (19) And "O Adam, dwell, you and your wife, in Paradise and eat from wherever you will but do not approach this tree, lest you be among the wrongdoers."

(20) (20) But Satan whispered to them to make apparent to them that which was concealed from them of their private parts. He said, "Your Lord did not forbid you this tree except that you become angels or become of the immortal."

(21) (21) And he swore [by Allāh] to them, "Indeed, I am to you from among the sincere advisors."

(22) (22) So he made them fall, through deception. And when they tasted of the tree, their private parts became apparent to them, and they began to fasten together over themselves from the leaves of Paradise. And their Lord called to them, "Did I not forbid you from that tree and tell you that Satan is to you a clear enemy?"

(23) (23) They said, "Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves, and if You do not forgive us and have mercy upon us, we will surely be among the losers."

(24) (24) [Allāh] said, "Descend, being to one another enemies. And for you on the earth is a place of settlement and enjoyment [i.e., provision] for a time."

(25) (25) He said, "Therein you will live, and therein you will die, and from it you will be brought forth."

(26) (26) O children of Adam, We have bestowed upon you clothing to conceal your private parts and as adornment. But the clothing of righteousness - that is best. That is from the signs of Allāh that perhaps they will remember.

(27) (27) O children of Adam, let not Satan tempt you as he removed your parents from Paradise, stripping them of their clothing[365] to show them their private parts. Indeed, he sees you, he and his tribe, from where you do not see them. Indeed, We have made the devils allies to those who do not believe.

[365]- The garments of Paradise.

(28) (28) And when they commit an immorality, they say, "We found our fathers doing it, and Allāh has ordered us to do it." Say, "Indeed, Allāh does not order immorality. Do you say about Allāh that which you do not know?"

(29) (29) Say, [O Muḥammad], "My Lord has ordered justice and that you direct yourselves [to the Qiblah] at every place [or time] of prostration, and invoke Him, sincere to Him in religion." Just as He originated you, you will return [to life] -

(30) (30) A group [of you] He guided, and a group deserved [to be in] error. Indeed, they [i.e., the latter] had taken the devils as allies instead of Allāh while they thought that they were guided.

(31) (31) O children of Adam, take your adornment [i.e., wear your clothing] at every masjid,[366] and eat and drink, but be not excessive. Indeed, He likes not those who commit excess.

[366]- Literally, "place of prostration," meaning any place that a Muslim prays upon the earth. The term may also refer specifically to a mosque.

(32) (32) Say, "Who has forbidden the adornment of [i.e., from] Allāh which He has produced for His servants and the good [lawful] things of provision?" Say, "They are for those who believed during the life of this world, exclusively [for them] on the Day of Resurrection." Thus do We detail the verses for a people who know.

(33) (33) Say, "My Lord has only forbidden immoralities - what is apparent of them and what is concealed - and sin,[367] and oppression without right, and that you associate with Allāh that for which He has not sent down authority, and that you say about Allāh that which you do not know."

[367]- Any unlawful deed.

(34) (34) And for every nation is a [specified] term. So when their time has come, they will not remain behind an hour, nor will they precede [it].

(35) (35) O children of Adam, if there come to you messengers from among you relating to you My verses [i.e., scriptures and laws], then whoever fears Allāh and reforms - there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.

(36) (36) But the ones who deny Our verses and are arrogant toward them - those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally.

(37) (37) And who is more unjust than one who invents about Allāh a lie or denies His verses? Those will attain their portion of the decree[368] until, when Our messengers [i.e., angels] come to them to take them in death, they will say, "Where are those you used to invoke besides Allāh?" They will say, "They have departed from us," and will bear witness against themselves that they were disbelievers.

[368]- What is decreed for them.

(38) (38) [Allāh] will say, "Enter among nations which had passed on before you of jinn and mankind into the Fire." Every time a nation enters, it will curse its sister[369] until, when they have all overtaken one another therein, the last of them[370] will say about the first of them,[371] "Our Lord, these had misled us, so give them a double punishment of the Fire." He will say, "For each is double, but you do not know."

[369]- The nation preceding it. [370]- The followers of evil leaders. [371]- Their leaders.

(39) (39) And the first of them will say to the last of them, "Then you had not any favor over us, so taste the punishment for what you used to earn."

(40) (40) Indeed, those who deny Our verses and are arrogant toward them - the gates of Heaven will not be opened for them, nor will they enter Paradise until a camel enters into the eye of a needle [i.e., never]. And thus do We recompense the criminals.

(41) (41) They will have from Hell a bed and over them coverings [of fire]. And thus do We recompense the wrongdoers.

(42) (42) But those who believed and did righteous deeds - We charge no soul except [within] its capacity. Those are the companions of Paradise; they will abide therein eternally.

(43) (43) And We will have removed whatever is within their breasts of resentment,[372] [while] flowing beneath them are rivers. And they will say, "Praise to Allāh, who has guided us to this; and we would never have been guided if Allāh had not guided us. Certainly the messengers of our Lord had come with the truth." And they will be called, "This is Paradise, which you have been made to inherit for what you used to do."

[372]- i.e., ill will or sense of injury for what was inflicted upon them during worldly life.

(44) (44) And the companions of Paradise will call out to the companions of the Fire, "We have already found what our Lord promised us to be true. Have you found what your Lord promised to be true?" They will say, "Yes." Then an announcer will announce among them, "The curse of Allāh shall be upon the wrongdoers

(45) (45) Who averted [people] from the way of Allāh and sought to make it [seem] deviant while they were, concerning the Hereafter, disbelievers."

(46) (46) And between them will be a partition [i.e., wall], and on [its] elevations are men[373] who recognize all[374] by their mark. And they call out to the companions of Paradise, "Peace be upon you." They have not [yet] entered it, but they long intensely.

[373]- Those whose scales are balanced between good and evil deeds. [374]- Both the inhabitants of Paradise and those of Hell.

(47) (47) And when their eyes are turned toward the companions of the Fire, they say, "Our Lord, do not place us with the wrongdoing people."

(48) (48) And the companions of the Elevations will call to men [within Hell] whom they recognize by their mark, saying, "Of no avail to you was your gathering[375] and [the fact] that you were arrogant."

[375]- i.e., great numbers or gathering of wealth.

(49) (49) [Allāh will say], "Are these[376] the ones whom you [inhabitants of Hell] swore that Allāh would never offer them mercy? Enter Paradise, [O people of the Elevations]. No fear will there be concerning you, nor will you grieve."

[376]- The humble believers who are now in Paradise. Another interpretation regards them as the people on the elevated partition.

(50) (50) And the companions of the Fire will call to the companions of Paradise, "Pour upon us some water or from whatever Allāh has provided you." They will say, "Indeed, Allāh has forbidden them both to the disbelievers

(51) (51) Who took their religion as distraction and amusement and whom the worldly life deluded." So today We will forget them just as they forgot the meeting of this Day of theirs and for having rejected Our verses.

(52) (52) And We had certainly brought them a Book which We detailed by knowledge - as guidance and mercy to a people who believe.

(53) (53) Do they await except its result?[377] The Day its result comes, those who had ignored it before will say, "The messengers of our Lord had come with the truth, so are there [now] any intercessors to intercede for us or could we be sent back to do other than what we used to do?" They will have lost themselves, and lost from them is what they used to invent.

[377]- The fulfillment of what is promised in the Qur’ān.

(54) (54) Indeed, your Lord is Allāh, who created the heavens and earth in six days and then established Himself above the Throne.[378] He covers the night with the day, [another night] chasing it rapidly; and [He created] the sun, the moon, and the stars, subjected by His command. Unquestionably, His is the creation and the command; blessed is Allāh, Lord of the worlds.

[378]- There are several linguistic meanings of the words "istawā ʿalā," among them: to settle upon, to assume ascendancy above, and to assert authority over. However, it is known that all the attributes of Allāh are eternal, i.e., they have always existed and were present before He created. Thus, it cannot be said that He "rose" above the Throne, as Allāh has always been ascendant. Because the Creator may not be compared to His creation, the Prophet's companions and early scholars refused speculation as to how His actions could be interpreted, considering any such attempt unlawful. Similarly, the true nature of the Throne is known only to Allāh, the Exalted.

(55) (55) Call upon your Lord in humility and privately; indeed, He does not like transgressors.[379]

[379]- In supplication or otherwise.

(56) (56) And cause not corruption upon the earth after its reformation. And invoke Him in fear and aspiration. Indeed, the mercy of Allāh is near to the doers of good.

(57) (57) And it is He who sends the winds as good tidings before His mercy [i.e., rainfall] until, when they have carried heavy rainclouds, We drive them to a dead land and We send down rain therein and bring forth thereby [some] of all the fruits. Thus will We bring forth the dead; perhaps you may be reminded.

(58) (58) And the good land - its vegetation emerges by permission of its Lord; but that which is bad - nothing emerges except sparsely, with difficulty. Thus do We diversify the signs for a people who are grateful.

(59) (59) We had certainly sent Noah to his people, and he said, "O my people, worship Allāh; you have no deity other than Him. Indeed, I fear for you the punishment of a tremendous Day."

(60) (60) Said the eminent among his people, "Indeed, we see you in clear error."

(61) (61) [Noah] said, "O my people, there is not error in me, but I am a messenger from the Lord of the worlds.

(62) (62) I convey to you the messages of my Lord and advise you; and I know from Allāh what you do not know.

(63) (63) Then do you wonder that there has come to you a reminder from your Lord through a man from among you, that he may warn you and that you may fear Allāh so you might receive mercy?"

(64) (64) But they denied him, so We saved him and those who were with him in the ship. And We drowned those who denied Our signs. Indeed, they were a blind people.[380]

[380]- For a more detailed account, see 11:25-48.

(65) (65) And to the ʿAad [We sent] their brother Hūd. He said, "O my people, worship Allāh; you have no deity other than Him. Then will you not fear Him?"

(66) (66) Said the eminent ones who disbelieved among his people, "Indeed, we see you in foolishness, and indeed, we think you are of the liars."

(67) (67) [Hūd] said, "O my people, there is not foolishness in me, but I am a messenger from the Lord of the worlds.

(68) (68) I convey to you the messages of my Lord, and I am to you a trustworthy adviser.

(69) (69) Then do you wonder that there has come to you a reminder from your Lord through a man from among you, that he may warn you? And remember when He made you successors after the people of Noah and increased you in stature extensively. So remember the favors of Allāh that you might succeed."

(70) (70) They said, "Have you come to us that we should worship Allāh alone and leave what our fathers have worshipped? Then bring us what you promise us,[381] if you should be of the truthful."

[381]- i.e., Allāh's punishment.

(71) (71) [Hūd] said, "Already have defilement and anger fallen upon you from your Lord. Do you dispute with me concerning [mere] names you have named them,[382] you and your fathers, for which Allāh has not sent down any authority? Then wait; indeed, I am with you among those who wait."

[382]- The false objects of worship which you have called "gods."

(72) (72) So We saved him and those with him by mercy from Us. And We eliminated those who denied Our signs, and they were not [at all] believers.

(73) (73) And to the Thamūd [We sent] their brother Ṣāliḥ. He said, "O my people, worship Allāh; you have no deity other than Him. There has come to you clear evidence from your Lord. This is the she-camel of Allāh [sent] to you as a sign. So leave her to eat within Allāh's land and do not touch her with harm, lest there seize you a painful punishment.

(74) (74) And remember when He made you successors after the ʿAad and settled you in the land, [and] you take for yourselves palaces from its plains and carve from the mountains, homes. Then remember the favors of Allāh and do not commit abuse on the earth, spreading corruption."

(75) (75) Said the eminent ones who were arrogant among his people to those who were oppressed - to those who believed among them, "Do you [actually] know that Ṣāliḥ is sent from his Lord?" They said, "Indeed we, in that with which he was sent, are believers."

(76) (76) Said those who were arrogant, "Indeed we, in that which you have believed, are disbelievers."

(77) (77) So they hamstrung the she-camel and were insolent toward the command of their Lord and said, "O Ṣāliḥ, bring us what you promise us, if you should be of the messengers."

(78) (78) So the earthquake seized them, and they became within their home [corpses] fallen prone.

(79) (79) And he [i.e., Ṣāliḥ] turned away from them and said, "O my people, I had certainly conveyed to you the message of my Lord and advised you, but you do not like advisors."

(80) (80) And [We had sent] Lot when he said to his people, "Do you commit such immorality as no one has preceded you with from among the worlds [i.e., peoples]?

(81) (81) Indeed, you approach men with desire, instead of women. Rather, you are a transgressing people."

(82) (82) But the answer of his people was only that they said, "Evict them from your city! Indeed, they are men who keep themselves pure."

(83) (83) So We saved him and his family, except for his wife; she was of those who remained [with the evildoers].

(84) (84) And We rained upon them a rain [of stones]. Then see how was the end of the criminals.

(85) (85) And to [the people of] Madyan [We sent] their brother Shuʿayb. He said, "O my people, worship Allāh; you have no deity other than Him. There has come to you clear evidence from your Lord. So fulfill the measure and weight and do not deprive people of their due and cause not corruption upon the earth after its reformation. That is better for you, if you should be believers.

(86) (86) And do not sit on every path, threatening and averting from the way of Allāh those who believe in Him, seeking to make it [seem] deviant. And remember when you were few and He increased you. And see how was the end of the corrupters.

(87) (87) And if there should be a group among you who has believed in that with which I have been sent and a group that has not believed, then be patient until Allāh judges between us. And He is the best of judges."

(88) (88) Said the eminent ones who were arrogant among his people, "We will surely evict you, O Shuʿayb, and those who have believed with you from our city, or you must return to our religion." He said, "Even if we were unwilling?

(89) (89) We would have invented against Allāh a lie if we returned to your religion after Allāh had saved us from it. And it is not for us to return to it except that Allāh, our Lord, should will. Our Lord has encompassed all things in knowledge. Upon Allāh we have relied. Our Lord, decide between us and our people in truth, and You are the best of those who give decision."

(90) (90) Said the eminent ones who disbelieved among his people, "If you should follow Shuʿayb, indeed, you would then be losers."

(91) (91) So the earthquake seized them, and they became within their home [corpses] fallen prone.

(92) (92) Those who denied Shuʿayb - it was as though they had never resided there. Those who denied Shuʿayb - it was they who were the losers.

(93) (93) And he [i.e., Shuʿayb] turned away from them and said, "O my people, I had certainly conveyed to you the messages of my Lord and advised you, so how could I grieve for a disbelieving people?"

(94) (94) And We sent to no city a prophet [who was denied] except that We seized its people with poverty and hardship that they might humble themselves [to Allāh].

(95) (95) Then We exchanged in place of the bad [condition], good, until they increased [and prospered] and said, "Our fathers [also] were touched with hardship and ease."[383] So We seized them suddenly while they did not perceive.[384]

[383]- Instead of being grateful to Allāh for His blessings, they merely attributed them to the changing fortunes of time. [384]- That they had been tried and tested.

(96) (96) And if only the people of the cities had believed and feared Allāh, We would have opened [i.e., bestowed] upon them blessings from the heaven and the earth; but they denied [the messengers], so We seized them for what they were earning.[385]

[385]- Of blame for their sin.

(97) (97) Then, did the people of the cities feel secure from Our punishment coming to them at night while they were asleep?

(98) (98) Or did the people of the cities feel secure from Our punishment coming to them in the morning while they were at play?[386]

[386]- i.e., occupied with such activities that have no benefit.

(99) (99) Then, did they feel secure from the plan of Allāh? But no one feels secure from the plan of Allāh except the losing people.

(100) (100) Has it not become clear to those who inherited the earth after its [previous] people that if We willed, We could afflict them for their sins? But We seal over their hearts so they do not hear.[387]

[387]- They do not benefit from what they hear.

(101) (101) Those cities - We relate to you, [O Muḥammad], some of their news. And certainly did their messengers come to them with clear proofs, but they were not to believe in that which they had denied before.[388] Thus does Allāh seal over the hearts of the disbelievers.

[388]- i.e., they persistently denied every warning given them.

(102) (102) And We did not find for most of them any covenant;[389] but indeed, We found most of them defiantly disobedient.

[389]- i.e., they were found to be unfaithful and negligent of Allāh's covenant.

(103) (103) Then We sent after them Moses with Our signs to Pharaoh and his establishment, but they were unjust toward them.[390] So see how was the end of the corrupters.

[390]- i.e., they rejected and opposed the signs.