Surah al-A`raf (The Elevated Places) 7 : 50

Overview (Verse 50 - 53)

Then from the direction of the fire we hear a voice, begging, imploring: “And the inmates of the Fire will cry out to the dwellers of Paradise: ‘Pour some water on us, or give us some of the sustenance God has provided for you.’” (Verse 50). From the other side comes a reproachful reminder in reply: “God has forbidden both to the nonbelievers, who have taken their religion for a pastime and an idle sport, and who have been beguiled by the life of this world.” (Verses 50-51)

All human voices then die down and the Almighty, the Lord of the universe whose rule is final, gives His judgement: “ And the inmates of the Fire will cry out to the dwellers of Paradise: ‘Pour some water on us, or give us some of the sustenance God has provided for you. Today We shall be oblivious of them as they were oblivious of the meeting on this day of theirs, and as they used to deny Our revelations. We have indeed given them a Book which We have clearly and wisely spelled out, a guidance and a grace for people who have faith. Are they waiting for its final meaning to unfold? On this Day when its final meaning unfolds, those who previously were oblivious of it will say: ‘Our Lord’s messengers have surely told us the Truth. Have we, then, any intercessors who could plead on our behalf? Or could we live our lives again, so that we may act differently from the way we used to act.’ They have lost their souls and all that which they invented has failed them.” (Verses 50-53)

The scene moves in quick succession, with a glimpse of what happens in the hereafter and a glimpse of what takes place in this world. At one moment we see the sufferers in hell who have been forgotten because they themselves forgot about the meeting on the Day of Judgement and because they denied God’s revelations which were given to them in a clearly spelled out book. It is God Himself who has stated it clearly on the basis of His knowledge, but they nevertheless abandoned it and preferred to follow their caprice and held on to their own misconceptions. Then we look at them again when they are still in this world waiting for the final outcome of this book and whether its warnings will come true. But they are warned against this final outcome, because it is exactly what they are made to see in this scene. It is certainly a remarkable scene which cannot be so vividly painted except in this miracle of a book.

Thus this panoramic preview comes to a close, followed by comments that are in complete harmony with the opening. We have a reminder of the Day of Judgement and its awesome scenes, and a warning against denying God’s revelations and taking a hostile attitude towards His messengers. There is also a warning against waiting for the full meaning of this book, the Qur’ān, to unfold, because once it is unfolded, there will be no time for repentance, no return for a retest and there will be no intercession on behalf of anyone to reduce his or her sufferings.

As the panoramic preview is over, we come back to ourselves after having been fully absorbed in contemplation of a spectacular scene. We find ourselves back in this present life, after having made a very long return trip. It is the trip of this whole life, as well as the gathering, resurrection, reckoning and reward that follow it. At the beginning we saw man as he was created and then we witnessed his fall to this world and his life on it.