7. Sura al-Araf

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَنَادَى أَصْحَابُ الأَعْرَافِ رِجَالاً يَعْرِفُونَهُمْ بِسِيمَاهُمْ...

7: 48. The men on the heights will call to certain men whom they will know from their marks,

...قَالُواْ مَا أَغْنَى عَنكُمْ جَمْعُكُمْ وَمَا كُنتُمْ تَسْتَكْبِرُونَ ﴿٤٨﴾

saying: "Of what profit to you were you hoards and your arrogant ways?

C1027. This speech is in three parts:

1. the last lines of this verse are addressed to the Companions of the Fire, reminding them (as a bench of judges might speak to a prisoner) of the futility of their wealth and riches and arrogance in their earthly life:

2. the second part, in the first half of verse 49, recalls to their minds how false was their contempt of the good but lowly men who are now to be the inheritors of heaven: and

3. the latter part of verse 49, "enter ye the Garden" is addressed to the Blessed, to give them a welcome to their state of felicity.

أَهَـؤُلاء الَّذِينَ أَقْسَمْتُمْ لاَ يَنَالُهُمُ اللّهُ بِرَحْمَةٍ...

7: 49. "Behold! are these not the men whom you swore that Allah with His mercy would never bless?

...ادْخُلُواْ الْجَنَّةَ لاَ خَوْفٌ عَلَيْكُمْ وَلاَ أَنتُمْ تَحْزَنُونَ ﴿٤٩﴾

Enter ye the garden:

no fear shall be on you, nor shall ye grieve."

وَنَادَى أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ أَصْحَابَ الْجَنَّةِ أَنْ أَفِيضُواْ عَلَيْنَا مِنَ الْمَاء أَوْ مِمَّا رَزَقَكُمُ اللّهُ...

7: 50. The companions of the fire will call to the companions of the garden;

"Pour down to us water or anything that Allah doth provide for your sustenance."

...قَالُواْ إِنَّ اللّهَ حَرَّمَهُمَا عَلَى الْكَافِرِينَ ﴿٥٠﴾

They will say:

"Both these things hath Allah forbidden to those who rejected Him.

C1028. The Companions of the Fire will thirst for water and not get it, and for sustenance which will not be theirs, while the Companions of the Garden will have the crystal waters of the springs and rivers and they will enjoy the bliss of Allah's Countenance, which will be their supreme nourishment and the fruit of their life of probation and seeking. These things will not be transferable.

Cf. also 37:41-47, 62-67. (R).

Other versions:

7: 48

Asad And they who [in life] has possessed this faculty of discernment will call out to those…….”What has your amassing [of wealth] availed you, and all the false pride of your past?”

Yusuf Ali The men on the heights will call to certain men whom they will know from their marks saying: "Of what profit to you were you hoards and your arrogant ways?

Pickthall And the dwellers on the Heights call unto men whom they know by their marks, (saying): What did your multitude and that in which ye took your pride avail you?

Transliteration Wa na_da_ asha_bul a'ra_fi rija_lay ya'rifu_nahum bi sima_hum qa_lu_ ma_ agna_ 'ankum jam'ukum wa ma_ kuntum tastakbiru_n(a).

[[ Ruby’s comment – I disagree with Asad here: this faculty of discernment is given to everyone, each human being, whether they use it or not that is a different question. I do not know this meaning of the word “araf” is appropriate here or not. ]]

7: 49

Yusuf Ali "Behold! are these not the men whom you swore that Allah with his mercy would never bless? Enter ye the garden: no fear shall be on you nor shall ye grieve."

Pickthall Are these they of whom ye swore that Allah would not show them mercy? (Unto them it hath been said): Enter the Garden. No fear shall come upon you nor is it ye who will grieve.

Transliteration Aha_'ula_'il lazina aqsamtum la_ yana_luhumulla_hu bi rahmah(tin), udkhulul jannata la_ khaufun 'alaikum wa la_ antum tahzanu_n(a).

7: 50

Yusuf Ali The companions of the fire will call to the companions of the garden; "pour down to us water or anything that Allah doth provide for your sustenance." They will say: "Both these things hath Allah forbidden to those who rejected Him.

Pickthall And the dwellers of the Fire cry out unto the dwellers of the Garden; Pour on us some water or some of that where with Allah hath provided you. They say: Lo! Allah hath forbidden both to disbelievers (in His guidance),

Transliteration Wa na_da_ asha_bun na_ri asha_bal jannati an afidu_ 'alaina_ minal ma_'i au mimma_ razaqakumulla_h(u), qa_lu_ innalla_ha harramahuma_ 'alal ka_firin(a).