7.surah Al-araf
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَلَمَّا
وَقَعَ
عَلَيْهِمُ
الرِّجْزُ
قَالُواْ
يَا
مُوسَى
ادْعُ
لَنَا
رَبَّكَ
بِمَا
عَهِدَ
عِندَكَ
...
7: 134. Every time the penalty fell on them, they said:
"O Moses! on our behalf call on thy Lord in virtue of his promise to thee:
...لَئِن
كَشَفْتَ
عَنَّا
الرِّجْزَ
لَنُؤْمِنَنَّ
لَكَ
وَلَنُرْسِلَنَّ
مَعَكَ
بَنِي
إِسْرَآئِيلَ
﴿١٣٤﴾
if thou wilt remove the penalty from us we shall truly believe in thee,
and we shall send away the children of Israel with thee."
C1092. The demand of Moses was two-fold:
- come to Allah and cease from oppression, and
- let me take Israel out of Egypt.
At first it was laughed at and rejected with scorn. When the Plagues came for punishment, each time the Egyptians suffered, they promised amendment and begged Moses to intercede and cause the plague to cease. But every time it ceased, they went back to their evil attitude, until the final retribution came.
This is a type of the sinner's attitude for all times.
فَلَمَّا
كَشَفْنَا
عَنْهُمُ
الرِّجْزَ
إِلَى
أَجَلٍ
هُم
بَالِغُوهُ
...
7: 135. But every time We removed the penalty from them according to a fixed term which they had to fulfil,
C1093. The intercession of Moses was to pray. Each plague or penalty had its appointed term in Allah's decree. That term was duly fulfilled before the plague ceased.
The intercession meant two things:
1. that Allah's name was invoked and His presence duly brought home to the mind and heart of the sinner who promised repentance, and
2. that the sinner was given a further chance when the prayer was accepted.
This again is a universal truth.
... إِذَا هُمْ يَنكُثُونَ ﴿١٣٥﴾
Behold! they broke their word!
فَانتَقَمْنَا
مِنْهُمْ...
7: 136. So We exacted retribution from them:
C1094. When at last Pharaoh let Israel go, they selected, not the highway to Canaan, along the Mediterranean and by Gaza, because they were unarmed and would have encountered immediate opposition there, but by way of the wilderness of Sinai.
They crossed the Red Sea, while Pharaoh's host which came in pursuit was drowned. Cf. 2:50. (R).
...فَأَغْرَقْنَاهُمْ فِي الْيَمِّ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَذَّبُواْ بِآيَاتِنَا وَكَانُواْ عَنْهَا غَافِلِينَ ﴿١٣٦﴾
We drowned them in the sea, because they rejected Our signs, and failed to take warning from them.
C1095. Where was the Council of Pharaoh held in which Moses addressed Pharaoh?
Egypt's primary capital in the XVIIIth Dynasty was Thebes (Not-Ammon), but that was more than 400 miles to the south of the Delta, in whose corner Israel dwelt. Memphis, on the apex of the Delta, a little south of where Cairo is now, was also over 100 miles from Israel's habitations.
The interview must have been either in a Palace near Goshen, where the Israelites dwelt, or in Zoan (Tanis), the Deltaic capital built by a former dynasty, which was of course still available for the reigning dynasty, and which was not far from the Israelite settlement.
Others version:
7: 134
Asad And whenever a plague struck them, they would cry: “O Mosesw, pray for us to thy Sustainer on the strength of the covenant……
Pickthall And when the terror fell on them they cried: O Moses! Pray for us unto thy Lord, because He hath a covenant with thee. If thou removest the terror from us we verily will trust thee and will let the Children of Israel go with thee.
Transliteration Wa lamma_ waqa'a 'alaihimur rijzu qa_lu_ ya_ mu_sad'u lana_ rabbaka bima_ 'ahida'indak(a), la'in kasyafta 'annar rijza lanu'minanna laka wa lanursilanna ma'aka bani isra_'il(a).
[[ Asad’s note 96 – For a description of these plagues, see Exodus vii-x]
[[ Ali’s notes - 1091 In xvii. 101, the reference is to nine Clear Signs. These are: (1) the Rod (vii. 107), (2) the Radiant Hand (vii. 108), (3) the years of drought or shortage of water (vii, 130), (4) short crops (vii. 130), and the five mentioned in this verse, viz., (5) epidemics among men and beasts, (6) locusts, (7) lice, (8) frogs, and (9) the water turning to blood. (7.133)
1092 The demand of Moses was two-fold: (1) come to Allah and cease from oppression, and (2) let me take Israel out of Egypt. At first it was laughed at and rejected with scorn. When the Plagues came for punishment, each time the Egyptians suffered, they promised amendment and begged Moses to intercede and cause the plague to cease. But every time it ceased, they went back to their evil attitude, until the final retribution came. This is a type of the sinner's attitude for all times. (7.134) ]]
7: 135
Pickthall But when We did remove from them the terror for a term which they must reach, behold! they broke their covenant.
Transliteration Fa lamma_ kasyafna_ 'anhumur rijza ila_ ajalin hum ba_ligu_hu iza_ hum yankusu_n(a).
7: 136
Pickthall Therefore We took retribution from them; therefore We drowned them in the sea: because they denied Our revelations and were heedless of them.
Transliteration Fantaqamna_ minhum fa agraqna_hum fil yammi bi annahum kazzabu_ bi a_ya_tina_ wa ka_nu_ 'anha_ ga_filin(a).