7. Sura al-Araf

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

فَخَلَفَ مِن بَعْدِهِمْ خَلْفٌ وَرِثُواْ الْكِتَابَ يَأْخُذُونَ عَرَضَ هَـذَا الأدْنَى...

7: 169. After them succeeded an (evil) generation:

they inherited the Book, but they chose (for themselves) the vanities of this world,

C1142. Merely inheriting a Book, or doing lip service to it, does not make a nation righteous. If they succumb to the temptations of the world, their hypocrisy becomes all the more glaring. "High finance" is one of these temptations.

Cf. also 2:80: "the Fire shall not touch us except for a few numbered days":

and 2:88, about their blasphemous self-sufficiency.

...وَيَقُولُونَ سَيُغْفَرُ لَنَا...

saying (for excuse):

"(everything) will be forgiven us."

...وَإِن يَأْتِهِمْ عَرَضٌ مُّثْلُهُ يَأْخُذُوهُ...

(Even so), if similar vanities came their way, they would (again) seize them.

...أَلَمْ يُؤْخَذْ عَلَيْهِم مِّيثَاقُ الْكِتَابِ أَن لاَّ يِقُولُواْ عَلَى اللّهِ إِلاَّ الْحَقَّ ...

Was not the Covenant of the Book taken from them, that they would not ascribe to Allah anything but the truth?

C1143. Cf. Exod. 19:5-8; 24:3; 34:27; and many other passages.

... وَدَرَسُواْ مَا فِيهِ...

And they study what is in the Book.

...وَالدَّارُ الآخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ لِّلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ أَفَلاَ تَعْقِلُونَ ﴿١٦٩﴾

But best for the righteous is the home in the hereafter:

will ye not understand?

وَالَّذِينَ يُمَسَّكُونَ بِالْكِتَابِ وَأَقَامُواْ الصَّلاَةَ إِنَّا لاَ نُضِيعُ أَجْرَ الْمُصْلِحِينَ ﴿١٧٠﴾

7: 170. As to those who hold fast by the Book and establish regular prayer; never shall We suffer the reward of the righteous to perish.

Other versions:

7: 169 [al-Araf, Mecca 39]

Asad

Yusuf Ali After them succeeded an (evil) generation: they inherited the Book but they chose (for themselves) the vanities of this world saying (for excuse): "(everything) will be forgiven us." (Even so) if similar vanities came their way they would (again) seize them. Was not the covenant of the Book taken from them that they would not ascribe to Allah anything but the truth? And they study what is in the Book. But best for the righteous is the home in the hereafter: will ye not understand?

Pickthall And a generation hath succeeded them who inherited the Scriptures. They grasp the goods of this low life (as the price of evil doing) and say: It will be forgiven us. And if there came to them (again) the offer of the like, they would accept it (and would sin again). Hath not the covenant of the Scripture been taken on their behalf that they should not speak aught concerning Allah save the truth? And they have studied that which is therein. And the abode of the Hereafter is better, for those who ward off (evil). Have ye then no sense?

Transliteration Fa khalafa mim ba'dihim khalfuw warisul kita_ba ya'khuzu_na 'arada ha_zal adna_ wa yaqu_lu_na sayugfaru lana_, wa iy ya'tihim 'aradum misluhu_ ya'khuzu_h(u), alam yu'khaz'alaihim misa_qul kita_bi alla_ yaqu_lu_ 'alalla_hi illal haqqa wa darasu_ ma_ fih(i), wad da_rul a_khiratu khairul lillazina yattaqu_n(a), afala_ ta'qilu_n(a).

7: 170

Yusuf Ali As to those who hold fast by the Book and establish regular prayer; never shall We suffer the reward of the righteous to perish.

Pickthall And as for those who make (men) keep the Scripture, and establish worship--lo! We squander not the wages of reformers.

Transliteration Wallazina yumassiku_na bil kita_bi wa aqa_mus sala_h(ta), inna_ la_ nudi'u ajral muslihin(a).

[[ Ali’s notes - 1144 Cf. ii. 63 and n. (7.171)

1145. Therein = in the Book or Revelation, in "what We have given you." (7.171) ]]