7. Sura al-Araf

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَإِذْ قِيلَ لَهُمُ اسْكُنُواْ هَـذِهِ الْقَرْيَةَ وَكُلُواْ مِنْهَا حَيْثُ شِئْتُمْ ...

7: 161. And remember it was said to them:

"Dwell in this town and eat therein as ye wish,

C1135. As in 7:19, we may construe "eat" here to mean not only eating literally, but enjoying the good things of life.

...وَقُولُواْ حِطَّةٌ وَادْخُلُواْ الْبَابَ سُجَّدًا نَّغْفِرْ لَكُمْ خَطِيئَاتِكُمْ... ...

but say the word of humility and enter the gate in a posture of humility; We shall forgive you your faults;

...سَنَزِيدُ الْمُحْسِنِينَ ﴿١٦١﴾

We shall increase (the portion of) those who do good."

فَبَدَّلَ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ مِنْهُمْ قَوْلاً غَيْرَ الَّذِي قِيلَ لَهُمْ...

7: 162. But the transgressors among them changed the word from that which had been given them;

...فَأَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ رِجْزًا مِّنَ السَّمَاء بِمَا كَانُواْ يَظْلِمُونَ ﴿١٦٢﴾

so We sent on them a plague from heaven, for that they repeatedly transgressed.

C1136. Cf. 2:58-59, and n. 72.

The story is here told by way of parable for the times of Islam. Hence we have a few verbal changes: e.g., "dwell in this town" instead of "enter this town." etc.

Other versions:

7: 161

Asad …………….enter the gate humbly -……….

Yusuf Ali And remember it was said to them: "Dwell in this town and eat therein as ye wish but say the word of humility and enter the gate in a posture of humility; We shall forgive you your faults; We shall increase (the portion of) those who do good."

Pickthall And when it was said unto them: Dwell in this township and eat therefrom whence ye will, and say "Repentance," and enter the gate prostrate; We shall forgive you your sins; We shall increase (reward) for the right-doers.

Transliteration Wa iz qila lahumuskunu_ ha_zihil qaryata wa kulu_ minha_ haisu syi'tum wa qu_lu_ hittatuw wadkhulul ba_ba sujjadan nagfir lakum khati'a_tikum, sanazidul muhsinin(a).

7: 162

Yusuf Ali But the transgressors among them changed the word from that which had been given them; so We sent on them a plague from heaven for that they repeatedly transgressed.

Pickthall But those of them who did wrong changed the word which had been told them for another saying, and We sent down upon them wrath from heaven for their wrongdoing.

Transliteration Fa baddalal lazina zalamu_ minhum qaulan gairal lazi qila lahum fa arsalna_ 'alaihim rijzam minas sama_'i bima_ ka_nu_ yazlimu_n(a).

[[ Asad’s note 128 – For an explanation of this and the preceding verse, see 2:58-59, and the corresponding notes.]]

[[ Ali’s notes - 1135 As in vii. 19, we may construe "eat" here to mean not only eating literally, but enjoying the good things of life. (7.161)

1136 Cf. ii, 58-59, and n. 72. The story is here told by way of parable for the times of Islam. Hence we have a few verbal changes: e.g., "dwell in this town" instead of "enter this town." etc. (7.162) ]]