7. Sura al-Araf

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَكَم مِّن قَرْيَةٍ أَهْلَكْنَاهَا فَجَاءهَا بَأْسُنَا بَيَاتًا أَوْ هُمْ قَآئِلُونَ ﴿٤﴾

7: 4. How many towns have We destroyed (for their sins)?

Our punishment took them on a sudden by night or while they slept for their afternoon rest.

فَمَا كَانَ دَعْوَاهُمْ إِذْ جَاءهُمْ بَأْسُنَا إِلاَّ أَن قَالُواْ إِنَّا كُنَّا ظَالِمِينَ ﴿٥﴾

7: 5. When (thus) our punishment took them, no cry did they utter but this:

"Indeed we did wrong."

C992. The spiritual story of man begins with a prelude. Think of the towns and nations ruined by their iniquity. Allah gave them many opportunities, and sent them warners and teachers. But they arrogantly went on in their evil ways, till some dreadful calamity came and wiped out their traces.

In a warm climate the disturbance in the heat of the midday rest is even more than the disturbance at night. It was when the catastrophe came that the people realized their sins, but it was too late.

Other versions:

7: 4 [al-Araf, Mecca 39]

Yusuf Ali How many towns have We destroyed (for their sins)? Our punishment took them on a sudden by night or while they slept for their afternoon rest.

Pickthall How many a township have We destroyed! As a raid by night, or while they slept at noon, Our terror came unto them.

Transliteration Wa kam min qaryatin ahlakna_ha_ faja_'aha_ ba'suna_ baya_tan au hum qa_'ilu_n(a).

7: 5

Asad And when Our punishment came upon them, they had nothing to say for themselves, and could only cry, “Verily, we were wrongdoers!”

Yusuf Ali When (thus) our punishment took them no cry did they utter but this "indeed we did wrong."

Pickthall No plea had they, when Our terror came unto them, save that they said: Lo! We were wrongdoers.

Transliteration Fama_ ka_na da'wa_hum iz ja_'ahum ba'suna_ illa_ an qa_lu_ inna_ kunna_ za_limin(a).

[[ Ruby’s note – When the punishment came the people understood that it is as a consequence of their wrong-doings. From the way it is expressed the wrong-doing seems to be serious and not usual failings. Only when a community transgresses beyond limits and continues doing so completely disregarding the moral code of God this kind of consequences come even in this life. This is meant as a warning to the community then and for all communities to come in the future. ]]