7. Surah al-Araf
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَلاَ
تُفْسِدُواْ
فِي
الأَرْضِ
بَعْدَ
إِصْلاَحِهَا
...
7: 56. Do no mischief on the earth, after it hath been set in order,
C1034. The man who prays with humility and earnestness finds the ground prepared by Allah for his spiritual advancement. It is all set in order, and cleared of weeds. He does not, like the wicked, upset that order, to introduce evil or mischief into it.
... وَادْعُوهُ خَوْفًا وَطَمَعًا...
but call on Him with fear and longing (in your hearts):
C1035. Fear and longing: the fear of Allah is really a fear lest we should diverge from His Will, or do anything which would not be pleasing to Him:
unlike ordinary fear, it therefore brings us nearer to Allah, and in fact nourishes our longing and desire for Him.
...إِنَّ رَحْمَتَ اللّهِ قَرِيبٌ مِّنَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ ﴿٥٦﴾
for the mercy of Allah is (always) near to those who do good.
وَهُوَ
الَّذِي
يُرْسِلُ
الرِّيَاحَ
بُشْرًا
بَيْنَ
يَدَيْ
رَحْمَتِهِ...
7: 57. It is He who sendeth the winds like heralds of glad tidings, going before His mercy:
C1036. The Parable is complete in its triple significance.
1. In the physical world the winds go like heralds of glad tidings; they are the advance guard, behind which is coming the great army of winds driving heavily laden clouds before it; the wise Providence of Allah is their General, who directs them towards a parched land, on which the clouds deliver their gladdening showers of mercy, which convert the dead land into a living, fertile, and beautiful land bearing a rich harvest.
2. In the spiritual world, the winds are the great motive forces in the mind of man, or in the world around him, that bring the clouds or instruments of Allah's Mercy, which descend and fertilize souls hitherto spiritually dead.
3. If we can see or experience such things in our life here below, can we doubt the resurrection?
...حَتَّى إِذَا أَقَلَّتْ سَحَابًا ثِقَالاً سُقْنَاهُ لِبَلَدٍ مَّيِّتٍ...
when they have carried the heavy-laden clouds, We drive them to a land that is dead,
...فَأَنزَلْنَا بِهِ الْمَاء فَأَخْرَجْنَا بِهِ مِن كُلِّ الثَّمَرَاتِ...
make rain to descend thereon, and produce every kind of harvest therewith:
...كَذَلِكَ نُخْرِجُ الْموْتَى لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ ﴿٥٧﴾
thus shall We raise up the dead:
perchance ye may remember.
وَالْبَلَدُ
الطَّيِّبُ
يَخْرُجُ
نَبَاتُهُ
بِإِذْنِ
رَبِّهِ...
7: 58. From the land that is clean and good, by the will of its Cherisher, springs up produce, (rich) after its kind:
C1037. The triple parable explained in the last note is here continued.
1. In the physical world, the fertilising showers of rain yield a rich harvest on good soil, but bad soil yields little or nothing.
2. In the spiritual world, also, Allah's Mercies evoke no response in some souls which have chosen evil.
3. In the final reckoning, though all will be raised, not all will achieve the fulfilment of their lives.
...وَالَّذِي خَبُثَ لاَ يَخْرُجُ إِلاَّ نَكِدًا...
but from the land that is bad, spring up nothing but that which is niggardly:
...كَذَلِكَ نُصَرِّفُ الآيَاتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَشْكُرُونَ ﴿٥٨﴾
thus do We explain the signs by various (symbols) to those who are grateful.
C1038. Those who are grateful are those who joyfully receive Allah's Message, and respond to it by deeds of righteousness.
7: 56
Asad hence, do not spread corruption on earth after it has been so well ordered. And call unto Him with fear and longing: verily, God’s grace is ever near unto the doers of good!
Pickthall Work not confusion in the earth after the fair ordering (thereof), and call on Him in fear and hope. Lo! the mercy of Allah is nigh unto the good.
Transliteration Wa la_ tufsidu_ fil ardi ba'da isla_hiha_ wad'u_hu khaufaw wa tama'a_(n), inna rahmatalla_hi qaribum minal muhsinin(a).
[[ Ruby’s comment – If human beings do not do mischief and comply with God’s moral laws, He/she would find this life and reality in good order and functions well. Only when humans do mischief and do not comply with God’s laws this reality become difficult and disorderly with disturbances and violence.]
It is also to note the reference of the physical things such as the creation of the heaven and the earth, night and day, moon, stars, wind, heavy clouds, etc mentioned before and after this verse seems to imply that it is human responsibility not to corrupt or disrupt the working of things with excessiveness and transgression of human action. Is this indicating the stewardship of the environment as human responsibility? ]
[[ Ali’s notes - 1034 The man who prays with humility and earnestness finds the ground prepared by Allah for his spiritual advancement. It is all set in order, and cleared of weeds. He does not, like the wicked, upset that order, to introduce evil or mischief into it. (7.56)
1035 Fear and longing: the fear of Allah is really a fear lest we should diverge from His Will, or do anything which would not be pleasing to Him: unlike ordinary fear, it therefore brings us nearer to Allah, and in fact nourishes our longing and desire for Him. (7.56)]]
7: 57
Pickthall And He it is Who sendeth the winds as tidings heralding His mercy, till, when they bear a cloud heavy (with rain), We lead it to a dead land, and then cause water to descend thereon, and thereby bring forth fruits of every kind. Thus bring We forth the dead. Haply ye may remember.
Transliteration Wa huwal lazi yursilur riya_ha busyram baina yadai rahmatih(i), hatta_ iza_ aqallat saha_ban siqa_lan suqna_hu labaladim mayyitin fa anzalna_ bihil ma_'a fa akhrajna_ bihi min kulis samara_t(i), kaza_lika nukhrijul mauta_ la'allakum tazakkaru_n(a).
7: 58
Pickthall As for the good land, its vegetation cometh forth by permission of its Lord; while as for that which is bad, only evil cometh forth (from it) . Thus do We recount the tokens for people who give thanks.
Transliteration Wal baladut tayyibu yakhruju naba_tuhu_ bi izni rabbih(i), wallazi khabusa la_ yakhruju illa_ nakida_(n), kaza_lika nusarriful a_ya_ti liqaumiy yasykuru_n(a).