7. Sura al-Araf

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَأَوْرَثْنَا الْقَوْمَ الَّذِينَ كَانُواْ يُسْتَضْعَفُونَ مَشَارِقَ الأَرْضِ وَمَغَارِبَهَا الَّتِي بَارَكْنَا فِيهَا ...

7: 137. And We made a people, considered weak (and of no account), inheritors of lands in both east and west, lands whereon We sent down our blessings.

...وَتَمَّتْ كَلِمَتُ رَبِّكَ الْحُسْنَى عَلَى بَنِي إِسْرَآئِيلَ بِمَا صَبَرُواْ...

The fair promise of the Lord was fulfilled for the children of Israel, because they had patience and constancy,

...وَدَمَّرْنَا مَا كَانَ يَصْنَعُ فِرْعَوْنُ وَقَوْمُهُ وَمَا كَانُواْ يَعْرِشُونَ ﴿١٣٧﴾

and We levelled to the ground the great works and fine buildings which Pharaoh and his people erected (with such pride).

C1096. Israel, which was despised, became a great and glorious nation under Solomon. He had goodly territory, and was doubly blest. His land and people were prosperous, and he wits blessed with wisdom from Allah. His sway and his fame spread east and west. And thus Allah's promise to Israel was fulfilled.

Note that Syria and Palestine had once been under the sway of Egypt. At the same time the proud and rebellious Pharaoh and his people were brought low. The splendid monuments which they had erected with so much skill and pride were mingled with the dust. Their great cities-Thebes (or No-Ammon), Memphis (or Noph, sacred to the Bull of Osiris), and the other splendid cities, became as if they had not existed, and archaeologists have had to dig up their ruins from the sands.

The splendid monuments-temples, palaces, tombs, statues, columns, and stately structures of all kinds-were buried in the sands. Even monuments like the Great Sphinx, which seem to defy the ages, were partly buried in the sands, and owe their rescue to the comparatively recent researches of archaeologists.

As late as 1743 Richard Pococke in his Travels in Egypt (p. 41), remarked:

"Most of those pyramids are very much ruined." (R).

وَجَاوَزْنَا بِبَنِي إِسْرَآئِيلَ الْبَحْرَ ...

7: 138. We took the children of Israel (with safety) across the sea.

... فَأَتَوْاْ عَلَى قَوْمٍ يَعْكُفُونَ عَلَى أَصْنَامٍ لَّهُمْ...

They came upon a people devoted entirely to some idols they had.

C1097. Who were these people?

We are now in the Sinai Peninsula. Two conjectures are possible.

1. The Amalekites of the Sinai Peninsula were at perpetual war with the Israelites. They were probably an idolatrous nation, but we have very little knowledge of their cult.

2. From Egyptian history we know that Egypt had worked from very ancient times some copper mines in Sinai. An Egyptian settlement may have been here. Like all mining camps it contained from the beginning the dregs of the population.

When the mines ceased to be worked, the settlement, or what remained of it, must have degenerated further. Cut off from civilisation, its cult must have become still narrower, without the refining influences which a progressive nation applies even to its idolatry.

Perhaps Apis, the sacred bull of Memphis, lost all its allegorical meaning for them, and only gross and superstitious rites remained among them.

The text speaks of "some idols they had," implying that they had merely a detached fragment of a completer religion.

This was a snare in the path of the Israelites, whom many generations of slavery in Egypt had debased into ignorance and superstition.

...قَالُواْ يَا مُوسَى اجْعَل لَّنَا إِلَـهًا كَمَا لَهُمْ آلِهَةٌ...

They said: "O Moses! fashion for us a god like unto the gods they have."

...قَالَ إِنَّكُمْ قَوْمٌ تَجْهَلُونَ ﴿١٣٨﴾

He said: "Surely ye are a people without knowledge.

إِنَّ هَـؤُلاء مُتَبَّرٌ مَّا هُمْ فِيهِ ...

7: 139. "As to these folk, the cult they are in is (but) a fragment of a ruin,

C1098. If conjecture 2 in the last note is correct, this idolatrous worship was but the fragment of a ruin from Egypt, and Moses' reproach is biting:

"You, who have been rescued from the bondage of living Egypt, -do you hanker after the bondage of a dead cult debased even from that from which you have been rescued?"

Mutabbar: broken in pieces, smashed into fragments, destroyed.

... وَبَاطِلٌ مَّا كَانُواْ يَعْمَلُونَ ﴿١٣٩﴾

and vain is the (worship) which they practice."

قَالَ أَغَيْرَ اللّهِ أَبْغِيكُمْ إِلَـهًا...

7: 140. He said:

"Shall I seek for you a god other than the (true) Allah,

...وَهُوَ فَضَّلَكُمْ عَلَى الْعَالَمِينَ ﴿١٤٠﴾

when it is Allah who hath endowed you with gifts above the nations?"

وَإِذْ أَنجَيْنَاكُم مِّنْ آلِ فِرْعَونَ يَسُومُونَكُمْ سُوَءَ الْعَذَابِ...

7: 141. And remember, We rescued you from Pharaoh's people, who afflicted you with the worst of penalties,

...يُقَتِّلُونَ أَبْنَاءكُمْ وَيَسْتَحْيُونَ نِسَاءكُمْ...

who slew your male children and saved alive your females:

...وَفِي ذَلِكُم بَلاء مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ عَظِيمٌ ﴿١٤١﴾

in that was a momentous trial from your Lord.

C1099. This is Allah's reminder to Israel through the mouth of Moses. There was a double trial:

1. while the bondage lasted, the people were to learn patience and constancy in the midst of affliction:

2. when they were rescued, they were to learn humility; justice, and righteous deeds of prosperity.

Other versions:

7: 137

Asad ……We gave as their heritage the eastern and western parts of the land that We had blessed.

Yusuf Ali And We made a people considered weak (and of no account) inheritors of lands in both east and west lands whereon We sent down our blessings. The fair promise of the Lord was fulfilled for the children of Israel because they had patience and constancy and We levelled to the ground the great works and fine buildings which Pharaoh and his people erected (with such pride).

Pickthall And We caused the folk who were devised to inherit the eastern parts of the land and the western parts thereof which We had blessed. And the fair word of the Lord was fulfilled for the Children of Israel because of their endurance; and We annihilated (all) that Pharaoh and his folk had done and that they had contrived.

Transliteration Wa aurasnal qumal lazina ka_nu_ yustad'afu_na masya_riqal ardi wa maga_ribahal lati ba_rakna_ fiha_, wa tammat kalimatu rabbikal husna_ 'ala_ bani isra_'ila bima_ sabaru_, wa dammarna_ ma_ ka_na yasna'u fir'aunu wa qaumuhu_ wa ma_ ka_nu_ ya'risyu_n(a).

[[ Asad’s note 98 – Palestine is spoken of as “blessed” ……

Note 100 - The story of the suffering of the Israelites during their bondage in Egypt, their deliverance through Moses, their crossing of the Red Sea (or …the Gulf of Suez)…….is narrated in considerable detail in the Bible (Exodus i-xiv). The Quran, on the other hand, does not give us a consecutive narrative: for ……………it does so exclusively with a view to bringing out elements that are relevant to the ethical teachings which it propounds. ]]

7: 138

Yusuf Ali We took the children of Israel (with safety) across the sea. They came upon a people devoted entirely to some idols they had. They said: "O Moses! fashion for us a god like unto the gods they have." He said: "surely ye are a people without knowledge.

Pickthall And We brought the Children of Israel across the sea, and they came unto a people who were given up to idols which they had. They said: O Moses! Make for us a god even as they have gods. He said: Lo! ye are a folk who know not.

Transliteration Wa ja_wazna_ bi bani isra_'ilal bahra fa atau 'ala_ qaumiy ya'kufu_na 'ala_ asna_mil lahum, qa_lu_ ya_ mu_saj'al lana_ ila_han kama_ lahum a_lihah(tun), qa_la innakum qaumun tajhalu_n(a).

7: 139

Asad As for these here- verily, their way of life is bound to lead to destruction; and worthless is all that hey have ever done!”

Yusuf Ali "As to these folk the cult they are in is (but) a fragment of a ruin and vain is the (worship) which they practice."

Pickthall Lo! as for these, their way will be destroyed and all that they are doing is in vain.

Transliteration Inna ha_'ula_'i mutabbarum ma_ hum fihi wa ba_tilum ma_ ka_nu_ ya'malu_n(a).

7: 140

Asad [And] he said: “Am I to seek for you a deity other than God, although it is He who has favored you above all other people? [note 102]

Yusuf Ali He said: "Shall I seek for you a god other than the (true) Allah when it is Allah who hath endowed you with gifts above the nations?"

Pickthall He said : Shall I seek for you a god other than Allah when He hath favored you above (all) creatures?

Transliteration Qa_la agairalla_hi abgikum ila_haw wa huwa faddalakum 'alal 'a_lamin(a).

[[ Asad’s note 102 – I.e., by having raised so many prophets out of their midst.]]

[[ Ruby’s note – It is not clear what is meant by this special favor to Jews. It is possible what Asad points out in his note 102. However, it may be that at that time Moses was sent to them and not another people. And through Moses Israelites were saved from the Egyptian bondage. It is not clear this special “status” or endowment took place only at that time and in the past or it is meant for all time to come? From historical point of view Jews actually have not been a dominant power or culture in the world. Most of the history they did not have a land to rule, the religion did not spread worldwide as Christianity and Islam, they have been repeatedly persecuted and suffered at the hands of others and dominated by others. Therefore the highest favor or gift that is implied could only belong to at the time of Moses. Also may be the special favor was taken away because of their arrogance and corruption of God’s message later down the line.]]

7: 141

Asad And [he reminded them of this word of God]: Lo, We saved you from Pharaoh’s people who afflicted you with cruel suffering, slaying your sons in great numbers and sparing [only] your women – which was an awesome trial from your Sustainer [note 103].”

Yusuf Ali And remember We rescued you from Pharaoh's people who afflicted you with the worst of penalties who slew your male children and saved alive your females: in that was a momentous trial from your Lord.

Pickthall And (remember) when We did deliver you from Pharaoh's folk who were afflicting you with dreadful torment, slaughtering your sons and sparing your women. That was a tremendous trial from your Lord.

Transliteration Wa iz anjaina_kum min a_li fir'auna yasu_mu_nakum su_'al 'aza_b(i), yuqattilu_na abna_'akum wa yastahyu_na nisa_'akum, wa fi za_likum bala_'um mir rabbikum 'azim(un).

[[ Ali’s note-1099 This is Allah's reminder to Israel through the mouth of Moses. There was a double trial: (1) while the bondage lasted, the people were to learn patience and constancy in the midst of affliction: (2) when they were rescued, they were to learn humility; justice, and righteous deeds of prosperity. (7.141)]]

[[ Ali’s notes - 1088 Their superstition ascribed the punishment of their own wickedness to some evil omen. They thought Moses and his people brought them ill-luck. They did not look within themselves to see the root of evil, and the cause of their punishment! So it happens in all ages. People blame the righteous for something which they do, different from other men, instead of searching out their own lapses from rectitude, which are punished by Allah. (7.131)

1089 A type of obstinacy and resistance to Allah's message. As they believed in sorcery and magic, they thought anything unusual was but sorcery and magic, and hardened their hearts against Truth. (7.132)

1090 Tufan = a widespread calamity, causing wholesale death and destruction. It may be a flood, or a typhoon, or an epidemic, among men or cattle. Perhaps the last is meant, if we may interpret by the Old Testament story. See also Exod. ix. 3, 9, 15; xii. 29. (7.133)

1093 The intercession of Moses was to pray. Each plague or penalty had its appointed term in Allah's decree. That term was duly fulfilled before the plague ceased. The intercession meant two things: (1) that Allah's name was invoked and His presence duly brought home to the mind and heart of the sinner who promised repentance, and (2) that the sinner was given a further chance when the prayer was accepted. This again is a universal truth. (7.135)

1094 When at last Pharaoh let Israel go, they selected, not the highway to Canaan, along the Mediterranean and by Gaza, because they were unarmed and would have encountered immediate opposition there, but by way of the wilderness of Sinai. They crossed the Red Sea, while Pharaoh's host which came in pursuit was drowned. Cf. ii. 50. (7.136)

1095 Where was the Council of Pharaoh held in which Moses addressed Pharoah? Egypt's primary capital in the XVIIIth Dynasty was Thebes (=Not-Ammon), but that was more than 400 miles to the south of the Delta, in whose corner Israel dwelt. Memphis, on the apex of the Delta, a little south of where Cairo is now, was also over 100 miles from Israel's habitations. The interview must have been either in a Palace near Goshen, where the Israelites dwelt, or in Zoan (=Tanis), the Deltaic capital built by a former dynasty, which was of course still available for the reigning dynasty, and which was not far from the Israelite settlement. (7.136)

1096 Israel, which was despised, became a great and glorious nation under Solomon. He had goodly territory, and was doubly blest. His land and people were prosperous, and he was blessed with wisdom from Allah. His sway and his fame spread east and west. And thus Allah's promise to Israel was fulfilled. Note that Syria and Palestine had once been under the sway of Egypt. At the same time the proud and rebellious Pharaoh and his people were brought low. The splendid monuments which they had erected with so much skill and pride were mingled with the dust. Their great cities-Thebes (or No-Ammon), Memphis (or Noph, sacred to the Bull of Osiris), and the other splendid cities, became as if they had not existed, and archaeologists have had to dig up their ruins from the sands. The splendid monuments-temples, palaces, tombs, statues, columns, and stately structures of all kinds-were buried in the sands. Even monuments like the Great Sphinx, which seem to defy the ages, were partly buried in the sands, and owe their rescue to the comparatively recent researches of archaeologists. As late as 1743 Richard Pococke in his Travels in Fgypt (p. 41), remarked: "Most of those pyramids are very much ruined." (7.137)

1097 Who were these people? We are now in the Sinai Peninsula. Two conjectures are possible. (1) The Amalekites of the Sinai Peninsula were at perpetual war with the Israelites. They were probably an idolatrous nation, but we have very little knowledge of their cult. (2) From Egyptian history we know that Egypt had worked from very ancient times some copper mines in Sinai. An Egyptian settlement may have been here. Like all mining camps it contained from the beginning the dregs of the population. When the mines ceased to be worked, the settlement, or what remained of it, must have degenerated further. Cut off from civilisation, its cult must have become still narrower, without the refining influences which a progressive nation applies even to its idolatry. Perhaps Apis, the sacred bull of Memphis, lost all its allegorical meaning for them, and only gross and superstitious rites remained among them. The text speaks of "some idols they had," implying that they had merely a detached fragment of a completer religion. This was a snare in the path of the Israelites, whom many generations of slavery in Egypt had debased into ignorance and superstition. (7.138)

1098 If conjecture 2 in the last note is correct, this idolatrous worship was but the fragment of a ruin from Egypt, and Moses's reproach is biting: "You, who have been rescued from the bondage of living Egypt,-do you hanker after the bondage of a dead cult debased even from that from which you have been rescued?" Mutabbar = broken in pieces, smashed into fragments, destroyed. (7.139) ]]