[Al-Quran 50:6-8] Have they not looked at the heaven above them - how We structured it and adorned it and how it has no rifts? And the earth - We spread it out and cast therein firmly set mountains and made grow therein [something] of every beautiful kind, Giving insight and a reminder for every servant who turns [to Allah].

Saturday, November 2, 2024

Surah al-A'raf, ... the narratives

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Surah al-A'raf begins with the general mention about prospering communities disbelieving, and eventually meeting their fate. When the punishment comes to them, they admit that they themselves were the zalimeen. 

Then it goes on to narrate some specific events: 


Adam & Iblis (Q7:11-27

The first narration begins with the creation of humans, giving them shape and form, and then the command to the angels to prostrate to Adam. They all prostrated except Iblis. He refused to obey the command of Allah. His arrogance is based on the material he has been created with. He believes the 'naar' he has been created with is better than 'teen' that Adam has been created with. For his arrogance, he gets expelled, degraded. He prays for reprieve until the Day of Resurrection. His prayer is granted. He blames Allah for the legal error he made, and states that he will surely sit on Allah's Straight Path in wait for humans, to hinder them from before, behind, right and left, and that most them won't be grateful. He is commanded to depart, reproached and expelled, and that whoever follows him, hell will be filled with them all. 

Adam and his wife were told to dwell (uskun) in the Garden, eat from whatever you will, but forbidden from even going near this tree, lest you become of those in the darkness (zalimeen). 

Shaitan whispered to them, to make apparent to them that which was concealed from them of their private parts. He said that their Lord had not forbidden this tree except that they become angels or become immortals. 

وَقَاسَمَهُمَاۤ اِنِّىۡ لَـكُمَا لَمِنَ النّٰصِحِيۡنَۙ‏ ٢١

He promised solemnly to them both, that he was to them both, from their sincere advisors. 

— Samiya Illias 

So, he misled them both through deception. So, when they both tasted from the tree, their hidden parts became manifest, and they began to cover / attach upon themselves the leaves of the Garden. And their Lord called out to them, 'didn't I forbid you from this tree? and tell you that Shaitan is your clear enemy?'   


قَالَا رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَآ أَنفُسَنَا وَإِن لَّمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلْخَـٰسِرِينَ ٢٣

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."

— Saheeh International

They said: "Our Lord! We have wronged ourselves. If You forgive us not, and bestow not upon us Your Mercy, we shall certainly be of the losers."

— Al-Hilali & Khan

They said: 'Our Rabb (Lord-Sustainer), we have put our nafs in darkness (zlm), and if You do not cover us and if You do not have mercy upon us, we will surely be among the losers'.

Samiya Illias


They were commanded to descend from there (The Garden) as enemies to each other, and that upon the Earth will be your place of dwelling and your means of livelihood for a time. There you will live, there you will die, and from there you will be resurrected. 

The next two ayaat inform Bani Adam that libas (clothing) has been bestowed upon them to hide their shame, and as an adornment. The libas-e-taqwa (their original natural clothing, which they lost by not keeping their duty to Allah) was better. That this is from the Signs of Allah, perhaps you will remember. The Bani Adam are warned to not to let Shaitan (Satan) put you in trial as he put your parents in trial, getting them expelled from The Garden, stripping off their libas (clothing) from them, to expose their concealed parts. Indeed, he (Satan) and his tribe watches you from where you cannot see them. Indeed, We have made the shayateen (satans) the allies of those who do not believe. 


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DRAFT 

Q7:53

Common Theme

Certainly Noah, Hud, Saleh, Lot, Shoaib, and Moses were sent to their people. Each called upon them to keep their taqwa (duty to Allah). The ruling class / chieftains / leaders (الۡمَلَاُ) of the nation rejected the message. Most of the people followed their leaders and adhered to their false religion. Very few hearkened to the Messenger of Allah. Eventually, they were punished for their crimes. 


Messenger Noah  & His People (Q7:59-64)

Certainly, We sent Noah to his people. He said, O my people, worship Allah, you have no other deity except him. I fear for you the punishment of a tremendous day. But the leaders of his people said, we surely see that you are surely misguided. He said, O my people, there is no misguidance in me, but I am a Messenger from the Lord of the Worlds. I convey to you the messages of my Lord, and I advise you, and I know from Allah what you do not know. Do you wonder that there has come to you reminder from your Lord, upon a man from among you, that he may warn you, and that you may keep your taqwa (duty to Allah), so you might receive mercy? But they rejected him, so We saved him and those with him, in a ship, and We drowned those who denied Our signs, indeed, they were a people blind. 


Messenger Hud  & The Aad (Q7:65-72)

And to the Aad, We sent their brother Hud. He said, O my people, worship Allah, you have no other god but Him. Then, will you not keep your taqwa (duty towards Allah)? Said the leaders who disbelieved from his people, Indeed we see you in foolishness, and indeed we think you are of the liars. He said, O my people, there is no foolishness in me, but I am a Messenger from the Lord of the Worlds. I convey to you the messages of my Lord, and I am to you a trustworthy advisor. Do you wonder that there has come to you reminder from your Lord, upon a man from among you, that he may warn you, and remember He made you successors (khulafaa) after the people of Noah, and increased you in stature extensively. So, remember the favours of Allah, that you may succeed. They said, have you come to us so that we worship Allah alone, and leave what our fathers worshipped? Then bring to us what you promise, if you are truthful. He said, already has fallen upon you, from your Lord, impurity and anger. Do you dispute with me regarding the names you have named, you and your fathers, for which Allah has sent down no authority? Then wait, indeed, I am with you among those who wait. So, We saved him and those with him, through Our mercy, and cut the root of those who denied Our signs, and they were not believers. 


Messenger Saleh  & The Thamud (Q7:73-79)

And to the Thamud, their brother Saleh. He said, O my people, worship Allah, you have no other god but Him. There has come to you clear evidence from your Lord: this is Allah's she-camel (naqatu-Allah), as a sign for you. So let her freely eat from Allah's land, and do not touch her with harm, lest seizes you a painful  punishment. And remember when He made you successors (khulafaa) after the Aad, and gave you  station in the Earth. And you choose palaces in the plains, and hew homes for yourselves in the mountains. So, remember the favours of Allah, and do not commit evil in the Earth, as corrupters. Said the leaders who were arrogant among their people to those who were weak who had believed among them, 'do you actually know that Saleh has been sent from your Lord?' they replied, 'indeed we, in that which he has been sent with, are believers'. Said those who were arrogant, 'indeed we, in that which you believe, are disbelievers'. So, they made barren (aqaru) the she-camel (naqata), defying the command of their Lord, and said, O Saleh, bring us what you promise us, if you are indeed from those sent. So, seized them the earthquake, so they became in their homes, fallen prone. So he turned away from them saying, O my people, I had certainly conveyed to you the message of my Lord, and advised you, but you do not love the advisors. 


Messenger Lot  & his people (Q7:80-84)

And Lot, when said he to his people, 'do you commit such immorality (al-fahisha) that has preceded you with it no one in the worlds (al-aalameen)? you lust after men instead of women, you are indeed abusers (musrifoon).' And not responded his people except they said, 'expel them from your land, they are a people who remain pure'. So, we saved him and his family, except his woman, she was of those who got covered in or became dust (al-ghabireen), and We rained upon them a rain (or stones). So see what was the end of the criminals.    


Messenger Shoaib  & his people (Q7:85-93)

And to the Madyan, We sent their brother Shoaib. He said, O my people, worship Allah, you have no other god but Him. There has come to you clear evidence from your Lord. So give just measure (فَاَوۡفُوا الۡكَيۡلَ) and weight (وَالۡمِيۡزَانَ), and do not deprive people of their things (النَّاسَ اَشۡيَآءَهُمۡ), and do not spread corruption (تُفۡسِدُوۡا) in the Earth after it has been reformed (بَعۡدَ اِصۡلَاحِهَا​), that is better for you, if you should be believers. And do not sit on every path (صِرَاطٍ), threatening and hindering from Allah's Way (سَبِيۡلِ اللّٰهِ), 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 (عَاقِبَةُ الۡمُفۡسِدِيۡنَ‏). 

And if a group of you believes in what I am sent with, and a group does not believe, have patience till Allah judges between us, and He is the Best to decide (وَهُوَ خَيۡرُ الۡحٰكِمِيۡنَ‏). 

Said the leaders who were arrogant from his people, Certainly we will expel you, O Shoaib, and those with have believed, with you, from our town, or certainly you must return to our religious persuasion (مِلَّتِنَا​). He said, Even if we are unwilling? We would certainly be fabricating a lie Upon Allah if we return to your religious persuasion after Allah has saved us from it, and not it is for us to return to it unless if Wills Allah, He is our Lord, encompasses our Lord everything in His Knowledge, Upon Allah we put our trust, our Lord decide between us and our people with right (بِالۡحَـقِّ), and You are the Best to decide (خَيۡرُ الۡفٰتِحِيۡنَ‏).  

Said the leaders who disbelieved from his people, If you follow Shoaib, you will surely be losers. 

So, seized them the earthquake, so they became in their homes, fallen prone. Those who had falsified Shoaib were wiped out as if they had never flourished there, those who had falsified Shoaib, they were the losers. 

So he 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 can I grieve for a disbelieving people. 




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Messenger Moses, the Pharaoh  & his chiefs (Q7:103-136)

Then, after them, We resurrected/ raised/ appointed/ sent (بَعَثۡنَا) Moses with Our Signs, towards Pharaoh and his religious rulers/ leaders (مَلَا۟ئِهٖ), but they dealt with Our Signs unjustly/ darkly (فَظَلَمُوۡا بِهَا​), so look how was the end/ penalty/ fate (عَاقِبَةُ) of the corrupters (الۡمُفۡسِدِيۡنَ‏). 

And Moses said, O Pharaoh, indeed I am a Messenger from the Lord-Sustainer of all the worlds. Obligated to say nothing about Allah except the truth, I have brought to you with clear evidence from your Lord-Sustainer, so send with me Bani Israel. 

He said, if you have brought a sign, then bring it forth, if you are of those who speak the truth. 

So, he threw his staff, and it became a serpent, evident. 

And he drew out his hand, so it was white for all to see. 

Said the chiefs of the people of Pharaoh, indeed this is a magician/ sorcerer, learned/ knowledgable. 

Who seeks to evict you from your land. So what do you instruct? 

They said, postpone/ delay him and his brother, and send in all the cities, gatherers 

To bring you every magician/ sorcerer, learned/ knowledgable. 

And came all the magicians/ sorcerers to Pharaoh, they said, indeed for us a reward if we overcome? 

He replied, Yes, and certainly you will be among those closest to me. 

They asked, O Moses, either you throw, or shall we be the first throwers? 

He said, throw. So when they threw, they enchanted the eyes of the people, and struck them with awe, and brought a magic (spell), mighty

Then We inspired Moses that throw your staff, so it it devoured that which they were faking.  

So was established reality, and vanished what they were doing. 

So they were overcome there, and returned degraded.  

And threw themselves down the magicians/ sorcerers, in prostration

They said, we believe in the Lord-Sustainer of the worlds

Lord-Sustainer of Moses and Aaron

Said Pharaoh, you believed in Him before I gave you permission! this is a plan which you have planned in the city, to evict those who live in it, so soon you will know.

Certainly I will cut-off your hands and feet, from opposite sides, then I will crucify you all. 

They said, Surely to our Lord-Sustainer we will return 

and not you take vengeance on us except that we have believed in the signs of our Lord-Sustainer when they came to us, Our Lord-Sustainer, pour upon us patience, and cause us to die Muslims.  




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Messenger Moses & the Bani Israel post-Exodus (Q7:137-171)










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The Witnessing by the Bani Adam (Q7:172-174)









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The First Humans (Q7:189-190)








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