7. Sura al-Araf, Mecca 39
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
يَا
بَنِي آدَمَ
لاَ يَفْتِنَنَّكُمُ
الشَّيْطَانُ
كَمَا أَخْرَجَ
أَبَوَيْكُم
مِّنَ الْجَنَّةِ...
7: 27. O ye children of Adam!
let not Satan seduce you, in the same manner as he got your parents out of the garden,
C1009. That is, by fraud and deceit, - by putting you off your guard and telling lies.
Adam's story here becomes an introduction to the later religious history of mankind: 7:20-22. In the Garden, Satan's deceit stripped off their raiment of honour and innocence.
In this life on a lower plane he seeks to strip us of the raiment of righteousness. And he can take up positions on a vantage ground of worldly power or influence or riches, in which he and his confederates are not seen in their true colours. They may assume a fair-seeming disguise of disinterested friendship or high motives of patriotism or public spirit, or loyalty to ancestors, when beneath it there is nothing but spite and selfishness.
...يَنزِعُ عَنْهُمَا لِبَاسَهُمَا لِيُرِيَهُمَا سَوْءَاتِهِمَا...
stripping them of their raiment, to expose their shame:
...إِنَّهُ يَرَاكُمْ هُوَ وَقَبِيلُهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لاَ تَرَوْنَهُمْ...
for he and his tribe watch you from a position where ye cannot see them:
...إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا الشَّيَاطِينَ أَوْلِيَاء لِلَّذِينَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿٢٧﴾
We made the evil ones friends (only) to those without faith.
7: 27
Asad O children of Adam! Do not allow Satan to seduce you in the same way as he caused your ancestors to be driven out of the garden: he deprived them of their garment [of God-consciousness] in order to make the aware their nakedness. Verily, he and his tribe are lying in wait for you where you cannot perceive them!” Verily, we have placed [all manner of ] satanic forces near unto those who do not [truly] believe; Verily, we have placed [all manner of] satanic forces near unto those who do not [truly] believe [note 20];
Pickthall O Children of Adam! Let not Satan seduce you as he caused your (first) parents to go forth from the Garden and tore off from them their robe (of innocence) that be might manifest their shame to them. Lo! he seeth you, he and his tribe, from whence ye see him not. Lo! We have made the devils protecting friends for those who believe not.
Transliteration Ya_ bani a_dama la_ yaftinannakumusy syaita_nu kama_ akhraja abawaikum minal jannati yanzi'u 'anhuma_ liba_sahuma_ liyuriyahuma_ sau'a_tihima_, innahu_ yara_kum huwa wa qabiluhu_ min haisu la_ taraunahum, inna_ ja'alnasy syaya_tina auliya_'a lillazina la_ yu'minu_n(a).
[[ Ruby’s note – This story is allegorical to convey something much deeper in meaning. This cannot be in actuality because God does not punish one for another’s sin and failure, God does not pass the blame for generations. Why the generations of human being would pay for the failure of two people in the beginning, it does not make any sense as far as justice is concerned. However if these expressions are taken to extract deeper meanings these make sense. However, as a metaphor it addresses to entire humanity and conveys something of primary essence. First, disobedience to God’s moral law exposes one to evilness and becoming evil. The word “garment” is allegorical here because right after this expression the same word “garment’ is used for God consciousness [“ but the garment of God consciousness” is conveying this metaphor. ]]
[[ Ali’s notes - 1008 The body: is pure and beautiful, as long as it is not defiled by misuse: its clothing and ornaments may be good or meretricious, according to the motives in the mind and character: if good, they arc the symbols of purity and beauty: but the best clothing and ornament we could have comes from righteousness, which covers the nakedness of sin, and adorns us with virtues. (7.26)
1009 That is, by fraud and deceit,-by putting you off your guard and telling lies. Adam's story here becomes an introduction to the later religious history of mankind: vii. 20-22. In the Garden, Satan's deceit stripped off their raiment of honor and innocence. In this life on a lower plane he seeks to strip us of the raiment of righteousness. And he can take up positions on a vantage ground of worldly power or influence or riches, in which he and his confederates are not seen in their true colours. They may assume a fair-seeming disguise of disinterested friendship or high motives of patriotism or public spirit, or loyalty to ancestors, when beneath it there is nothing but spite and selfishness. (7.27)
[[ Asad’s note 20 - …………As for the “satanic forces” [shayatin] it is to be remembered that this designation is applied in the Quran to al kinds of wicked impulse or propensities that are “near unto” (i.e., in the heart of) those who do not truly believe in God (see note 31 on 14:22); hence, the term Shayatin occurring in verse 30 below has been rendered as “evil impulses”.]]