7. al-Araf [the height]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

الَّذِينَ اتَّخَذُواْ دِينَهُمْ لَهْوًا وَلَعِبًا وَغَرَّتْهُمُ الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا...

7: 51. "Such as took their religion to be mere amusement and play, and were deceived by the life of the world."

...فَالْيَوْمَ نَنسَاهُمْ كَمَا نَسُواْ لِقَاء يَوْمِهِمْ هَـذَا...

That day shall We forget them as they forgot the meeting of this day of theirs,

C1029. "Forgetfulness" may be involuntary, from a defect of memory, or figuratively, a deliberate turning away from, or ignoring of, something we do not want, as when we say in an argument, "you conveniently forget that so- and-so is so-and-so." Here the latter kind is meant.

If men deliberately ignored the Hereafter in spite of warnings, can they expect to be received by Allah, Whom they themselves rejected?

...وَمَا كَانُواْ بِآيَاتِنَا يَجْحَدُونَ ﴿٥١﴾

and as they were wont to reject Our signs.

وَلَقَدْ جِئْنَاهُم بِكِتَابٍ فَصَّلْنَاهُ عَلَى عِلْمٍ...

7: 52. For We had certainly sent unto them a Book, based on knowledge, which We explained in detail,

...هُدًى وَرَحْمَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿٥٢﴾

a guide and a mercy to all who believe.

هَلْ يَنظُرُونَ إِلاَّ تَأْوِيلَهُ ...

7: 53. Do they just wait for the final fulfillment of the event?

... يَوْمَ يَأْتِي تَأْوِيلُهُ...

On the day the event is finally fulfilled,

C1030. If those without Faith want to wait and see what happens in the Hereafter, they will indeed learn the truth, but it will be too late for them to profit by it then. All the false ideals and false gods which they put their trust upon will leave them in the lurch.

If they thought that the goodness or greatness of others would help them, they will be undeceived on the day when their personal responsibility will be enforced. There will be no salvation except on their own record. How they will then wish that they had another chance! But their chance will be gone.

...يَقُولُ الَّذِينَ نَسُوهُ مِن قَبْلُ قَدْ جَاءتْ رُسُلُ رَبِّنَا بِالْحَقِّ...

those who disregarded it before will say:

"The Messengers of our Lord did indeed bring true (tidings).

...فَهَل لَّنَا مِن شُفَعَاء فَيَشْفَعُواْ لَنَا أَوْ نُرَدُّ فَنَعْمَلَ غَيْرَ الَّذِي كُنَّا نَعْمَلُ...

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."

...قَدْ خَسِرُواْ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَضَلَّ عَنْهُم مَّا كَانُواْ يَفْتَرُونَ ﴿٥٣﴾

In fact they will have lost their souls, and the things they invented will leave them in the lurch.

Pickthall’s Version:

7: 51

Pickthall Who took their religion for a sport and pastime, and whom the life of the world beguiled. So this day We have forgotten them even as they forgot the meeting of this Day and as they used to deny Our tokens.

Transliteration Allazinattakhazu_ dinahum lahwaw wa la'ibaw wa garrathumul haya_tud dunya_, fal yauma nansa_hum kama_ nasu_ liqa_'a yaumihim ha_za_, wa ma_ ka_nu_ bi a_ya_tina_ yajhadu_n(a).

7: 52

Pickthall Verily We have brought them a Scripture which We expound with knowledge, a guidance and a mercy for a people who believe.

Transliteration Wa laqad ji'na_kum bi kita_bin fassalna_hu 'ala_ 'ilmin hudaw wa rahmatal liqaumiy yu'minu_n(a).

7: 53

Pickthall Await they aught save the fulfillment thereof? On the day when the fulfillment thereof cometh, those who were before forgetful thereof will say: The messengers of our Lord did bring the Truth! Have we any intercessors, that they may intercede for us? Or can we be returned (to life on earth), that we may act otherwise than we used to act? They have lost their souls, and that which they devised hath failed them.

Transliteration Hal yanzuru_na illa_ ta'wilah(a_), yauma ya'ti ta'wiluhu_ yaqu_lul lazina nasu_hu min qablu qad ja_'at rusulu rabbina_ bil haqq(i), fahal lana_ min syufa'a_'a fa yasyfa'u_ lana_ au nuraddu fa na'mala gairal lazi kunna_ na'mal(u), qad khasiru_ anfusahum wa dalla 'anhum ma_ ka_nu_ yaftaru_n(a).