7.Surah al-Araf

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

أَوَلَمْ يَهْدِ لِلَّذِينَ يَرِثُونَ الأَرْضَ مِن بَعْدِ أَهْلِهَا...

7; 100. To those who inherit the earth in succession to its (previous) possessors,

أَن لَّوْ نَشَاء أَصَبْنَاهُم بِذُنُوبِهِمْ...

is it not a guiding (lesson) that, if We so willed, We could punish them (too) for their sins,

...وَنَطْبَعُ عَلَى قُلُوبِهِمْ فَهُمْ لاَ يَسْمَعُونَ ﴿١٠٠﴾

and seal up their hearts so that they could not hear?

C1069. The stories which have been related should give a warning to present and future generations which have inherited the land, the power, or the experience of the past.

They should know that if they fall into the same sins they will meet with the same fate: when through their contumacy their hearts are hardened, they do not listen to the advice that falls on their ears.

تِلْكَ الْقُرَى نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ أَنبَآئِهَا...

7; 101. Such were the towns whose story We (thus) relate unto thee:

... وَلَقَدْ جَاءتْهُمْ رُسُلُهُم بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ فَمَا كَانُواْ لِيُؤْمِنُواْ بِمَا كَذَّبُواْ مِن قَبْلُ...

there came indeed to them their Messengers with clear (signs): but they would not believe what they had rejected before.

C1070. Those who have heard the Message and rejected it find it more difficult afterwards to retrace their steps. Evil has blocked the channels of Allah's grace to them. It begins with their breaking their Covenant with Allah; with each step afterwards they fall deeper and deeper into the mire.

...كَذَلِكَ يَطْبَعُ اللّهُ عَلَىَ قُلُوبِ الْكَافِرِينَ ﴿١٠١﴾

Thus doth Allah seal up the heart of those who reject faith.

وَمَا وَجَدْنَا لأَكْثَرِهِم مِّنْ عَهْدٍ...

7: 102. Most of them We found not men (true) to their covenant:

...وَإِن وَجَدْنَا أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَفَاسِقِينَ ﴿١٠٢﴾

but most of them We found rebellious and disobedient.

Others version:

7: 100

Pickthall Is it not an indication to those who inherit the land after its people (who thus reaped the consequence of evil doing) that, if We will, We can smite them for their sins and print upon their hearts so that they hear not?

Transliteration Awa lam yahdi lillazina yarisu_nal arda mim ba'di ahliha_ allau nasya_'u asabna_hum bi zunu_bihim, wa natba'u 'ala_ qulu_bihim fahum la_ yasma'u_n(a).

7: 101

Pickthall Such were the townships. We relate some tidings of them unto thee (Muhammad). Their messengers verily came unto them with clear proofs (of Allah's Sovereignty), but they could not believe because they had before denied. Thus doth Allah print upon the hearts of disbelievers (that they hear not).

Transliteration Tilkal qura_ naqussu 'alaika min amba_iha_, wa laqad ja_'athum rusuluhum bil bayyina_t(i), fama_ ka_nu_ liyu'minu_ bima_ kazzabu_ min qabl(u), kaza_lika yatba'ulla_hu 'ala_ qulu_bil ka_firin(a).

7: 102

Asad and in most of them We found no [inner] bond with anything that is right [note 83] – and most of them We found to be iniquitous indeed.

Pickthall We found no (loyalty to any) covenant in most of them. Nay, most of them We found wrong-doers.

Transliteration Wama_ wajadna_ li aksarihim min 'ahd(in), wa iw wajadna_ aksarahum lafa_siqin(a).

[[ Asad’s note 83 - Thus Raghib explains the term ‘ahd’ occurring in this sentence. its usual rendering as “covenant” or “loyalty to their covenant” is entirely meaningless in this context. …..in the above term man’s instinctive ability to discern between right and wrong and, thus, to follow the dictates of his own conscience (Manar lX, 33 ff.). Regarding the deeper implications of this expression, see surah 2, note 19.]

[[ Alis notes - 1069 The stories which have been related should give a warning to present and future generations which have inherited the land, the power, or the experience of the past. They should know that if they fall into the same sins they will meet with the same fate: when through their contumacy their hearts are hardened, they do not listen to the advice that falls on their ears. (7.100)

1070 Those who have heard the Message and rejected it find it more difficult afterwards to retrace their steps. Evil has blocked the channels of Allah's grace to them. It begins with their breaking their Covenant with Allah; with each step afterwards they fall deeper and deeper into the mire. (7.101)]]