Overview - Surah 7: al-A`raf (The Elevated Places)
The basic theme of this Surah is Risalah, i.e. Allah's message as it was sent through many messengers. Several Prophets and parts of their stories are mentioned to emphasize Prophets’ mission and their struggle with their people. The Surah tells us that Allah's Prophets suffered for the cause of truth. Their enemies tried to harm them, but then Allah helped his prophets and defeated their enemies. The Surah emphasizes that the true message must be presented under all circumstances. After the Prophets it is the duty of the Believers to convey the message of Allah to all people.
Sections:
- The Qur’an is revealed to remind the believers and to warn humankind about the consequences of their actions. The judgment will indeed take place.
- The story of Man's creation and Satan's opposition to Man.
- Warning to the Children of Adam to be aware of Satan's plots.
- Allah's messengers came to guide people.
- The end of those who denied the message and those who accepted the message.
- Cries of the wicked in the hellfire.
- The righteous will prosper.
- Some lessons from the story of Prophet Noah - peace be upon him.
- Some lessons from the story of Prophet Hud- peace be upon him.
- Some lessons from the story of Prophets Salih and Lot - peace be upon them.
- Some lessons from the story of Prophet Shu'aib - peace be upon him.
- Warnings against those who deny the Prophets and Messengers of Allah.
- Prophet Moses -peace be upon him- and his encounter with Pharaoh of Egypt.
- Pharaoh and his magicians were defeated.
- Pharaoh continued in his persecution of the Israelites.
- Some more signs were shown to Pharaoh and his people.
- The Torah was given to Prophet Moses- peace be upon him.
- Some Israelites started Calf worship.
- The Torah and Injil speak about the coming of Prophet Muhammad (saw). Allah's promise for those who will follow the last Prophet.
- Prophet Muhammad is the Universal Prophet. Some among the people of Prophet Moses were guided by the truth and lived with justice.
- Some Israelites transgressed Allah's laws and they suffered the consequences.
- The eternal covenant of Allah was taken from all human beings.
- The coming of the Last Hour
- Shirk has no logic. Ignore the wrongdoers, but invite to Allah with kindness. Listen to the Qur'an and always remember Allah.
The Surah is named after the story of the men awaiting on the “Elevations” between Paradise and Hell.
It comprises of 206 Ayat.
Overview
| Total Ayat | 206 |
| Total Words * | 3320 |
| Root Words * | 489 |
| Unique Root Words * | 14 |
| Makki / Madani | Makki |
| Chronological Order* | 39th (according to Ibn Abbas) |
| Year of Revelation* | 13th year of Prophethood |
| Events during/before this Surah*
, 2nd Pledge of Aqabah, 1st Pledge of Aqabah, Death of Abu Talib - Death of Khadijah - Stoning at Ta'if - al-Isra wal Mi'raj - Night Journey, Boycott of Banu Hashim Yr 3, Boycott of Banu Hashim Yr 2, Boycott of Banu Hashim Yr 1, 2nd Migration to Abyssinia, Physical beating and torture of some Muslims - 1st Migration of Muslims to Abyssinia, Public Invitation to Islam - Persecution of Muslims; antagonism - ridicule - derision - accusation - abuse and false propaganda., Revelation begins - Private Invitation to Islam , Revelation begins - Private Invitation to Islam , Revelation begins - Private Invitation to Islam
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| Events during/after still to occur*
Migration from Makkah to Madinah - Building of Masjid Nabi in Madinah - Treaty with Jews of Madinah - Marriage of Prophet to Aishah,Change of Qiblah from Jerusalem to Makkah - Battle of Badr,Battle of Uhud,,Battle of Ahzab - Expedition of Banu Quraydhah,Treaty of Hudaiybiyah - Letters to Kings and Rulers,,Conquest of Makkah - Battle of Hunain,Hajj led by Abu Bakr - Expedition of Tabuk,Farewell Hajj by Prophet - Death of Prophet - End of Divine Revelation
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| Names of Prophets Mentioned
Adam, Nuh, Hud, Salih, Lut, Shuaib, Musa, Harun
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| Surah Index
‘Aad, Aaron, Adam, Adam (angels to prostrate before) , Adam (tree of knowledge) , Adam (banishment from Garden (no blame to Eve)) , Adversity (not burdened beyond capability to withstand) , Adversity (patience during) , God (made no laws regarding that of which He didn’t speak) , Apes (despicable) , Astronomy (celestial mechanics) , Children (of Israel) , Clothing, Commandments (general religious) , Disbelievers, Dogs, Earth, Earth (creation of) (in six days), Earth (rotation of) , Earthquake, Golden Calf, Gospel, Hell, Hud, Humankind (creation of) , Humankind (creation of) (from clay), Iblis, Jinn, Judgement (Day) , Knowledge (obligation upon man to obtain and impart) , Life (good things made lawful) , Lot, Madyan, Manna, Moses, Moses (bringing forth water from the rock) , Moses (duel by sorcery with Pharaoh’s magicians) , Moses (forty nights upon Mt. Sinai) , Moses (plagues) , Muhammad (not a madman) , Muhammad (only a prophet) , Muhammad (unlettered prophet) , Noah, Noah (ark) , Noah (flood) , Pharaoh, Prayer (beautify (adorn) yourselves for) , Prayer (prostration) , Pregnancy, Prophet (people who are false prophets are wicked) , Quail, Qur’an, Religion, Religion (is not play and transient delight) , Resurrection (Day) , Resurrection (of soul) , Revelation, Sabbath (breakers) , Salih, Sea, Shu’ayb, Sin, Ten Commandments, Thamud, Thamud (rock dwellings) , Thamud (she camel) , Thamud (she camel) (killing of), Thamud (she camel) (punishment for), Torah, Twelve tribes, Twelve tribes (scattering of) , Weather (clouds) , Weather (rain) , Weather (wind)
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The central theme of both Surah al-An’am and al-A’raf deal with the core issues of Faith but from different perspectives. Surah al-An’am presents the topic of Aqeedah and its realities by primarily focusing on the Jahilliyah [ignorance] of the Arabs whilst Surah al-A’raf deals with the Jahilliyah [ignorance] from a wider historical perspective, hence we find mention of Adam, Nuh People of Thamud, Lut, Madyan and Pharoah and his people.
Al-A'raf - The Elevations. Allah mentions Paradise and Hellfire and then speaks of the 'elevations' between them reserved for some amongst humanity. These people not knowing what will happen to them. The people of Hell-fire will be refused water as it will be prohibited for the disbelievers in the after-life.
Manuscripts / Inscriptions
14th Century
14th Century
8th century
8th century
7th century
7th century
14th Century
14th Century
18th Century
18th Century
1130 AH (1717 CE)
1130 AH (1717 CE)
1130 AH (1717 CE)
1130 AH (1717 CE)
1271 AH (1855 CE)
1271 AH (1855 CE)
1271 AH (1855 CE)
1271 AH (1855 CE)
1st Century Hijrah (7th Century CE)
1st Century Hijrah (7th Century CE)
Late 1st century / 2nd century of Hijrah
Late 1st century / 2nd century of Hijrah
1st century / 2nd century of Hijrah
1st century / 2nd century of Hijrah
1st century / 2nd century of Hijra.
1st century / 2nd century of Hijra.
The central theme of both Surah al-An’am and al-A’raf deal with the core issues of Faith but from different perspectives. Surah al-An’am presents the topic of Aqeedah and its realities by primarily focusing on the Jahilliyah [ignorance] of the Arabs whilst Surah al-A’raf deals with the Jahilliyah [ignorance] from a wider historical perspective, hence we find mention of Adam, Nuh People of Thamud, Lut, Madyan and Pharoah and his people.
Surah al-A’raf adopts a totally different approach as it discusses the same question of Faith. It provides for it with the panoramic setting of human history. It starts with mankind’s journey as it begins in heaven and where it aims to return. Along this great expanse, we see the procession of faith starting with the Prophet Adam to the last of all prophets and messengers, Muhammad (peace be upon him). The procession holds the banner of faith and advocates, throughout human history, that the only way to human happiness is for people to adopt the faith based on God’s oneness. The surah outlines what reception this call received in different periods of history; how the leaders of this procession put the message across to mankind, and the responses they received; how the people in power went about conducting their campaigns of opposition and how the procession of believers brushed them aside and went along its way. This surah also portrays the fate that befell opponents of faith in this life and the different destinies in the hereafter of both believers and unbelievers.
It is a very long journey, but the surah takes us along, stage by stage, making a stop at every landmark to indicate that the road is clearly demarcated with well known starting and finishing lines. All mankind travels along, aiming to return to the point where it started, in heaven, with the Supreme society. [REF: Qutb, Fi Dhilal al-Qur’an]
- The previous surahs contain the new Mithaq [covenant] between Allah and the Muslim Ummah. This surah chronicles just how the previous nation, Bani Israel behaved with this Mithaq and how a person from amongst them [7:175] detached himself from the Revelation and the consequences of such actions.
It has been reported that the Prophet reciting this surah during Salatul Maghrib. [Sunan an-Nisai al-Kubra no.1061, Tafsir al-Maudhui, Dr. Mustafah Muslim.]
- Interesting note in connection to the central theme: we find this surah has used the word قرية (Qaryah) [and its various grammitical forms – meaning city, town] 10 times – the most frequent compared to any other surah.
- We also find the word أمة (nation) used 8 times in its various forms – also more than any other surah. This is revealed in the last year of the Makkan period and on the eve of the creation of the Islamic state and birth of the Muslim Ummah – hence the most important lessons.
- This Surah has mentioned 'Adam' seven times - more than any other Surah.
- There are more mentions of Musa in this Surah than any other Surah of the Qur'an.
- Words derived from R-B-B- (Lord, owner, master) appear 65 times in this Surah. The highest frequency compared to any other Surah.
- The word M-L-A' - Cheifs/leaders appears 9 times in this Surah. The highest frequency compared to any other Surah.
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وَإِلَىٰ عَادٍ أَخَاهُمْ هُودًا ۗ قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّـهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَـٰهٍ غَيْرُهُ ۚ أَفَلَا تَتَّقُونَ "And to the 'Aad [We sent] their brother Hud. He said, "O my people, worship Allah; you have no deity other than Him. Then will you not fear Him?" (7:65)
This is the first mention of the Prophet Hud in the Qur'an (the Prophet Hud is mentioned most in Surah Hud, a total of five times).
- Interesting note in connection to the central theme: we find this surah has used the word قرية (Qaryah) [and its various grammitical forms – meaning city, town] 10 times – the most frequent compared to any other surah.
- We also find the word أمة (nation) used 8 times in its various forms – also more than any other surah. This is revealed in the last year of the Makkan period and on the eve of the creation of the Islamic state and birth of the Muslim Ummah – hence the most important lessons.
- This Surah has mentioned 'Adam' seven times - more than any other Surah.
- There are more mentions of Musa in this Surah than any other Surah of the Qur'an.
- Words derived from R-B-B- (Lord, owner, master) appear 65 times in this Surah. The highest frequency compared to any other Surah.
- The word M-L-A'- (Cheifs/leaders) appears 9 times in this Surah. The highest frequency compared to any other Surah.
Total Word Count per Ayat (shows how many words per Ayat) = 14* | ||
| # | Root Word | Frequency in Surah | Frequency in Qur'an |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | ق و ل | 110 | 1722 |
| 2. | ك و ن | 74 | 1390 |
| 3. | أ ل ه | 70 | 2851 |
| 4. | ٱلَّذِى | 67 | 1464 |
| 5. | ر ب ب | 65 | 980 |
| 6. | ق و م | 55 | 660 |
| 7. | أ م ن | 36 | 879 |
| 8. | ر س ل | 30 | 513 |
| 9. | إِلَىٰ | 29 | 742 |
| 10. | أ ي ي | 29 | 382 |
| Root Word | Frequency in Surah |
Frequency in Qur'an |
|---|---|---|
| ق و ل | 110 | 1722 |
| ك و ن | 74 | 1390 |
| أ ل ه | 70 | 2851 |
| ٱلَّذِى | 67 | 1464 |
| ر ب ب | 65 | 980 |
| ق و م | 55 | 660 |
| أ م ن | 36 | 879 |
| ر س ل | 30 | 513 |
| إِلَىٰ | 29 | 742 |
| أ ي ي | 29 | 382 |
A study of its contents clearly shows that the period of its revelation is about the same as that of Surah 6: al-An’am (The Grazing Livestock), i.e. the last year of the Prophet's life at Makkah, but it cannot be asserted with certainty which of these two were sent down earlier. The manner of its admonition clearly indicates that it belongs to the same period. [Ref: Mawdudi]
It is considered the longest surah revealed during the Makkan period. Some consider this surah to have been revealed after Surah 38: Sad. [Ref: Tafsir al-Maudheei, Dr. Mustafah Muslim, vol. 3, p. 2]
- An invitation is given to the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) to become Muslims.
- A warning is given to the unbelievers about the consequences of their denial through citing the example of punishments which were inflicted upon former people for their wrong attitude towards their Rasools.
- The Jews are warned about the consequences of their hypocritical conduct towards the Prophets.
- Commandment to propagate the message of Islam with wisdom.
- The fact that the Rasools as well as the people to whom they are sent will be questioned on the Day of Judgement.
- Commandment to the Believers that they should wear decent and proper dress and eat pure and good food.
- Dialogue between the residents of paradise, the inmates of hell and the people of A'raf (a place between the Paradise and hell).
- The fact that affluence and adversity are the reminders from Allah.
- The fact that Muhammad (pbuh) is the Rasool for the all of mankind.
- The fact that the advent of Muhammad (pbuh) was described in Torah and the Gospel (Bible).
- The fact that the Jews have fabricated a wrong belief about Allah's forgiveness.
- Mankind's testimony about Allah at the time of Adam's creation.
- The fact that Allah created all of mankind from a single soul.
- Allah's commandment to show forgiveness, speak for justice and avoid the ignorant.
- Allah's commandment about listening to the recitation of The Qur'an with complete silence.
Tafsir Zone
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Sayyid Qutb Overview (Verse 127) What Constitutes Corruption Let us now pickup the thread of the story as the curtains are drawn back to reveal a fourth scene where conspiracy is taking place. Pharaoh’s advisers felt that they simply could not allow Moses and those who believed with him, a small minority as they were, to go unpunished. They began to plot and instigate. They wanted Pharaoh to take strong action against Moses and his followers, raising before him the spectre of losing all his power and position, should he take a lenient attitude. They warned him against the possibility that the new faith, based on God’s oneness and Lordship of the universe, could be allowed to establish roots in society. Pharaoh was furious and began to issue his warnings feeling that he had the power to suppress the rebellion: “The great ones among Pharaoh’s people said: `Will you allow Moses and his people to spread corruption in the land and to forsake you and your gods?’ He replied: ‘We shall put their sons to death and shall spare only their women. We shall certainly overpower them.’” (Verse 127) Pharaoh did not claim Godhead in the sense that he was the creator and controller of the universe, or that he had power over natural forces. He simply claimed to be the god of his subjugated people, in the sense that he ruled them according to his own law and that they were subject to his will in all their affairs. This is still claimed by every ruler who enforces his own law and imposes his own will. This is lordship in both its linguistic and practical senses. Nor did the Egyptians serve Pharaoh in the sense that they addressed their worship rituals to him. They had their own deities as did Pharaoh himself. This is clearly understood from his aides’ statement where he is warned against being abandoned by Moses and his followers: “And to forsake you and your gods.” (Verse 127) This is also confirmed by what we know of the history of ancient Egypt. They served Pharaoh in the sense that they accepted his authority and never violated his law or disobeyed his orders. This is the practical and linguistic meaning of worship. Hence, if people in any community receive their laws from a human being and obey him, then they actually worship him. Indeed this is what the Prophet himself indicated when he interpreted the Qur’ānic verse which says in reference to the Jews and Christians: “They make of their clerics and monks lords besides God.” (9: 31) `Adiy ibn Ĥātim, who was formerly a Christian tribal chief, heard this verse at the time he accepted Islam. He said to the Prophet: “Messenger of God, they did not worship them.” The Prophet said to him: “Yes, indeed they did. They permitted them what was forbidden and forbade them what was lawful, and they accepted that. This is their worship of those clerics and monks.” (Related by al-Tirmidhī) At one time, Pharaoh says to the elders of his nation: “Nobles, you have no other God that I know of except myself” (28: 38) But this statement is interpreted by yet another reported in the Qur’ān: “My people, is the kingdom of Egypt not mine, and are these rivers which flow at my feet not mine also? Can you not see? Am I not better than this despicable wretch, who can scarcely make his meaning plain? Why have no bracelets of gold been given him, or angels sent down to accompany him?” (43: 51-52) It is clear that he was comparing his authority and the gold that he had as a king with Moses’s plain appearance. His proclamation, “You have no other God that I know of except myself” (28:38) was simply an assertion that he was the only one to have the authority to make any order, and that he was the one to be obeyed at all times. Exercising such power is, in the linguistic sense and in practical terms, a claim to Godhead. The one who legislates for people and imposes his will on them exercises Godhead, whether he claims it verbally or not. It is in this light that we should understand the instigation of Pharaoh’s aides as they said to him: “Will you allow Moses and his people to spread corruption in the land and to forsake you and your gods?” (Verse 127) In their view, to declare that God is the only Lord in the universe is to spread corruption, because it entails that Pharaoh’s regime is illegitimate and his rule invalid. That regime was founded on giving all sovereignty to Pharaoh, or, to use a synonymous term, making him lord of his people. Hence, to them, corruption is spread in the land by overthrowing that regime and destroying the social set-up based on the lordship of human beings in order to establish a totally different situation which assigns lordship only to God. It is for this reason that they equated Moses’ forsaking of Pharaoh and his gods with spreading corruption in the land. How the Truth Unnerves Tyrants Pharaoh used to derive his authority from the religion based on the worship of those gods, making out that he was the favourite son of those gods. It was not a physical parenthood, because people knew very well that Pharaoh was born to a human couple. It was a symbolic relationship, which ensured for him the authority to exercise his power. If Moses and his people were to worship God, the Lord of all the worlds, forsaking those deities worshipped by the Egyptians, then they are practically destroying the foundation of Pharaoh’s spiritual authority over his people. We must remember here that the people themselves were transgressors, and hence their obedience to Pharaoh, as God Himself states: “Thus did he make fools of his people, and they obeyed him. They were indeed transgressors.” (43: 54) This is indeed the correct interpretation of history. Pharaoh could not have been obeyed by his people when he made fools of them, had they not been transgressors. A believer simply does not allow tyranny to fool him and will not obey tyranny in any respect, because he knows such obedience cannot be endorsed by true faith. This was what represented a threat to Pharaoh’s regime and power, as Moses called on people to believe in God, the Lord of all the worlds. The threat was embodied by the sorcerers’ positive response, coupled with the acceptance of the new faith by a minority of Moses’s own people. Similarly, every social set-up established on the lordship of some human beings over others feels threatened by any call that aims to acknowledge the Lordship of God alone, or declaring that there is no deity other than God. We are speaking here of the true sense of this declaration which brings people into the fold of Islam, not its watered-down sense that prevails these days. We can now understand why Pharaoh was enraged by these words, feeling that his whole regime was seriously threatened. Hence, he made his brutal intentions clear: “We shall put their sons to death and shall spare only their women. We shall certainly overpower them.” (Verse 127) The Children of Israel suffered persecution on a similar scale by Pharaoh and his clique, as stated in Sūrah 28, The Story, in which we read: “Pharaoh made himself a tyrant in the land. He divided his people into casts, one group of which he persecuted, putting their sons to death and sparing only their daughters. Truly, he was an evildoer.” (28: 4) This is characteristic of tyranny everywhere, in all periods of history. It still resorts today to the same methods it employed centuries ago. Overview (Verse 127) What Constitutes Corruption Let us now pickup the thread of the story as the curtains are drawn back to reveal a fourth scene where conspiracy is taking place. Pharaoh’s advisers felt that they simply could not allow Moses and those who believed with him, a small minority as they were, to go unpunished. They began to plot and instigate. They wanted Pharaoh to take strong action against Moses and his followers, raising before him the spectre of losing all his power and position, should he take a lenient attitude. They warned him against the possibility that the new faith, based on God’s oneness and Lordship of the universe, could be allowed to establish roots in society. Pharaoh was furious and began to issue his warnings feeling that he had the power to suppress the rebellion: “The great ones among Pharaoh’s people said: `Will you allow Moses and his people to spread corruption in the land and to forsake you and your gods?’ He replied: ‘We shall put their sons to death and shall spare only their women. We shall certainly overpower them.’” (Verse 127) Pharaoh did not claim Godhead in the sense that he was the creator and controller of the universe, or that he had power over natural forces. He simply claimed to be the god of his subjugated people, in the sense that he ruled them according to his own law and that they were subject to his will in all their affairs. This is still claimed by every ruler who enforces his own law and imposes his own will. This is lordship in both its linguistic and practical senses. Nor did the Egyptians serve Pharaoh in the sense that they addressed their worship rituals to him. They had their own deities as did Pharaoh himself. This is clearly understood from his aides’ statement where he is warned against being abandoned by Moses and his followers: “And to forsake you and your gods.” (Verse 127) This is also confirmed by what we know of the history of ancient Egypt. They served Pharaoh in the sense that they accepted his authority and never violated his law or disobeyed his orders. This is the practical and linguistic meaning of worship. Hence, if people in any community receive their laws from a human being and obey him, then they actually worship him. Indeed this is what the Prophet himself indicated when he interpreted the Qur’ānic verse which says in reference to the Jews and Christians: “They make of their clerics and monks lords besides God.” (9: 31) `Adiy ibn Ĥātim, who was formerly a Christian tribal chief, heard this verse at the time he accepted Islam. He said to the Prophet: “Messenger of God, they did not worship them.” The Prophet said to him: “Yes, indeed they did. They permitted them what was forbidden and forbade them what was lawful, and they accepted that. This is their worship of those clerics and monks.” (Related by al-Tirmidhī) At one time, Pharaoh says to the elders of his nation: “Nobles, you have no other God that I know of except myself” (28: 38) But this statement is interpreted by yet another reported in the Qur’ān: “My people, is the kingdom of Egypt not mine, and are these rivers which flow at my feet not mine also? Can you not see? Am I not better than this despicable wretch, who can scarcely make his meaning plain? Why have no bracelets of gold been given him, or angels sent down to accompany him?” (43: 51-52) It is clear that he was comparing his authority and the gold that he had as a king with Moses’s plain appearance. His proclamation, “You have no other God that I know of except myself” (28:38) was simply an assertion that he was the only one to have the authority to make any order, and that he was the one to be obeyed at all times. Exercising such power is, in the linguistic sense and in practical terms, a claim to Godhead. The one who legislates for people and imposes his will on them exercises Godhead, whether he claims it verbally or not. It is in this light that we should understand the instigation of Pharaoh’s aides as they said to him: “Will you allow Moses and his people to spread corruption in the land and to forsake you and your gods?” (Verse 127) In their view, to declare that God is the only Lord in the universe is to spread corruption, because it entails that Pharaoh’s regime is illegitimate and his rule invalid. That regime was founded on giving all sovereignty to Pharaoh, or, to use a synonymous term, making him lord of his people. Hence, to them, corruption is spread in the land by overthrowing that regime and destroying the social set-up based on the lordship of human beings in order to establish a totally different situation which assigns lordship only to God. It is for this reason that they equated Moses’ forsaking of Pharaoh and his gods with spreading corruption in the land. How the Truth Unnerves Tyrants Pharaoh used to derive his authority from the religion based on the worship of those gods, making out that he was the favourite son of those gods. It was not a physical parenthood, because people knew very well that Pharaoh was born to a human couple. It was a symbolic relationship, which ensured for him the authority to exercise his power. If Moses and his people were to worship God, the Lord of all the worlds, forsaking those deities worshipped by the Egyptians, then they are practically destroying the foundation of Pharaoh’s spiritual authority over his people. We must remember here that the people themselves were transgressors, and hence their obedience to Pharaoh, as God Himself states: “Thus did he make fools of his people, and they obeyed him. They were indeed transgressors.” (43: 54) This is indeed the correct interpretation of history. Pharaoh could not have been obeyed by his people when he made fools of them, had they not been transgressors. A believer simply does not allow tyranny to fool him and will not obey tyranny in any respect, because he knows such obedience cannot be endorsed by true faith. This was what represented a threat to Pharaoh’s regime and power, as Moses called on people to believe in God, the Lord of all the worlds. The threat was embodied by the sorcerers’ positive response, coupled with the acceptance of the new faith by a minority of Moses’s own people. Similarly, every social set-up established on the lordship of some human beings over others feels threatened by any call that aims to acknowledge the Lordship of God alone, or declaring that there is no deity other than God. We are speaking here of the true sense of this declaration which brings people into the fold of Islam, not its watered-down sense that prevails these days. We can now understand why Pharaoh was enraged by these words, feeling that his whole regime was seriously threatened. Hence, he made his brutal intentions clear: “We shall put their sons to death and shall spare only their women. We shall certainly overpower them.” (Verse 127) The Children of Israel suffered persecution on a similar scale by Pharaoh and his clique, as stated in Sūrah 28, The Story, in which we read: “Pharaoh made himself a tyrant in the land. He divided his people into casts, one group of which he persecuted, putting their sons to death and sparing only their daughters. Truly, he was an evildoer.” (28: 4) This is characteristic of tyranny everywhere, in all periods of history. It still resorts today to the same methods it employed centuries ago. |
Ibn Kathir (English)
Sayyid Qutb
Sha'rawi
Al Jalalain
Mawdudi
الطبري - جامع البيان
ابن كثير - تفسير القرآن العظيم
القرطبي - الجامع لأحكام
البغوي - معالم التنزيل
ابن أبي حاتم الرازي - تفسير القرآن
ابن عاشور - التحرير والتنوير
ابن القيم - تفسير ابن قيّم
السيوطي - الدر المنثور
الشنقيطي - أضواء البيان
ابن الجوزي - زاد المسير
الآلوسي - روح المعاني
ابن عطية - المحرر الوجيز
الرازي - مفاتيح الغيب
أبو السعود - إرشاد العقل السليم
الزمخشري - الكشاف
البقاعي - نظم الدرر
الهداية إلى بلوغ النهاية — مكي ابن أبي طالب
القاسمي - محاسن التأويل
الماوردي - النكت والعيون
السعدي - تيسير الكريم الرحمن
عبد الرحمن الثعالبي - الجواهر الحسان
السمرقندي - بحر العلوم
أبو إسحاق الثعلبي - الكشف والبيان
الشوكاني - فتح القدير
النيسابوري - التفسير البسيط
أبو حيان - البحر المحيط
البيضاوي - أنوار التنزيل
النسفي - مدارك التنزيل
ابن جُزَيّ - التسهيل لعلوم التنزيل
علي الواحدي النيسابوري - الوجيز
السيوطي - تفسير الجلالين
المختصر في التفسير — مركز تفسير
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Overview (Verse 127) What Constitutes Corruption Let us now pickup the thread of the story as the curtains are drawn back to reveal a fourth scene where conspiracy is taking place. Pharaoh’s advisers felt that they simply could not allow Moses and those who believed with him, a small minority as they were, to go unpunished. They began to plot and instigate. They wanted Pharaoh to take strong action against Moses and his followers, raising before him the spectre of losing all his power and position, should he take a lenient attitude. They warned him against the possibility that the new faith, based on God’s oneness and Lordship of the universe, could be allowed to establish roots in society. Pharaoh was furious and began to issue his warnings feeling that he had the power to suppress the rebellion: “The great ones among Pharaoh’s people said: `Will you allow Moses and his people to spread corruption in the land and to forsake you and your gods?’ He replied: ‘We shall put their sons to death and shall spare only their women. We shall certainly overpower them.’” (Verse 127) Pharaoh did not claim Godhead in the sense that he was the creator and controller of the universe, or that he had power over natural forces. He simply claimed to be the god of his subjugated people, in the sense that he ruled them according to his own law and that they were subject to his will in all their affairs. This is still claimed by every ruler who enforces his own law and imposes his own will. This is lordship in both its linguistic and practical senses. Nor did the Egyptians serve Pharaoh in the sense that they addressed their worship rituals to him. They had their own deities as did Pharaoh himself. This is clearly understood from his aides’ statement where he is warned against being abandoned by Moses and his followers: “And to forsake you and your gods.” (Verse 127) This is also confirmed by what we know of the history of ancient Egypt. They served Pharaoh in the sense that they accepted his authority and never violated his law or disobeyed his orders. This is the practical and linguistic meaning of worship. Hence, if people in any community receive their laws from a human being and obey him, then they actually worship him. Indeed this is what the Prophet himself indicated when he interpreted the Qur’ānic verse which says in reference to the Jews and Christians: “They make of their clerics and monks lords besides God.” (9: 31) `Adiy ibn Ĥātim, who was formerly a Christian tribal chief, heard this verse at the time he accepted Islam. He said to the Prophet: “Messenger of God, they did not worship them.” The Prophet said to him: “Yes, indeed they did. They permitted them what was forbidden and forbade them what was lawful, and they accepted that. This is their worship of those clerics and monks.” (Related by al-Tirmidhī) At one time, Pharaoh says to the elders of his nation: “Nobles, you have no other God that I know of except myself” (28: 38) But this statement is interpreted by yet another reported in the Qur’ān: “My people, is the kingdom of Egypt not mine, and are these rivers which flow at my feet not mine also? Can you not see? Am I not better than this despicable wretch, who can scarcely make his meaning plain? Why have no bracelets of gold been given him, or angels sent down to accompany him?” (43: 51-52) It is clear that he was comparing his authority and the gold that he had as a king with Moses’s plain appearance. His proclamation, “You have no other God that I know of except myself” (28:38) was simply an assertion that he was the only one to have the authority to make any order, and that he was the one to be obeyed at all times. Exercising such power is, in the linguistic sense and in practical terms, a claim to Godhead. The one who legislates for people and imposes his will on them exercises Godhead, whether he claims it verbally or not. It is in this light that we should understand the instigation of Pharaoh’s aides as they said to him: “Will you allow Moses and his people to spread corruption in the land and to forsake you and your gods?” (Verse 127) In their view, to declare that God is the only Lord in the universe is to spread corruption, because it entails that Pharaoh’s regime is illegitimate and his rule invalid. That regime was founded on giving all sovereignty to Pharaoh, or, to use a synonymous term, making him lord of his people. Hence, to them, corruption is spread in the land by overthrowing that regime and destroying the social set-up based on the lordship of human beings in order to establish a totally different situation which assigns lordship only to God. It is for this reason that they equated Moses’ forsaking of Pharaoh and his gods with spreading corruption in the land. How the Truth Unnerves Tyrants Pharaoh used to derive his authority from the religion based on the worship of those gods, making out that he was the favourite son of those gods. It was not a physical parenthood, because people knew very well that Pharaoh was born to a human couple. It was a symbolic relationship, which ensured for him the authority to exercise his power. If Moses and his people were to worship God, the Lord of all the worlds, forsaking those deities worshipped by the Egyptians, then they are practically destroying the foundation of Pharaoh’s spiritual authority over his people. We must remember here that the people themselves were transgressors, and hence their obedience to Pharaoh, as God Himself states: “Thus did he make fools of his people, and they obeyed him. They were indeed transgressors.” (43: 54) This is indeed the correct interpretation of history. Pharaoh could not have been obeyed by his people when he made fools of them, had they not been transgressors. A believer simply does not allow tyranny to fool him and will not obey tyranny in any respect, because he knows such obedience cannot be endorsed by true faith. This was what represented a threat to Pharaoh’s regime and power, as Moses called on people to believe in God, the Lord of all the worlds. The threat was embodied by the sorcerers’ positive response, coupled with the acceptance of the new faith by a minority of Moses’s own people. Similarly, every social set-up established on the lordship of some human beings over others feels threatened by any call that aims to acknowledge the Lordship of God alone, or declaring that there is no deity other than God. We are speaking here of the true sense of this declaration which brings people into the fold of Islam, not its watered-down sense that prevails these days. We can now understand why Pharaoh was enraged by these words, feeling that his whole regime was seriously threatened. Hence, he made his brutal intentions clear: “We shall put their sons to death and shall spare only their women. We shall certainly overpower them.” (Verse 127) The Children of Israel suffered persecution on a similar scale by Pharaoh and his clique, as stated in Sūrah 28, The Story, in which we read: “Pharaoh made himself a tyrant in the land. He divided his people into casts, one group of which he persecuted, putting their sons to death and sparing only their daughters. Truly, he was an evildoer.” (28: 4) This is characteristic of tyranny everywhere, in all periods of history. It still resorts today to the same methods it employed centuries ago. |
- Surah Al-Araf (The Heights) Saad al Ghamidi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvJmEeRYGag&index=7&list=PLFBCB5C33480F350C
- Surah Al-Araf Mahmoud Khalil Al Hussary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAIqY4YG5v4&index=7&list=PLxpAkjlGauHfMFWX22VZWOKpzjr-vH_BM
- Surah Al-Araf Muhammad Al Luhaydan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PH63X7q_Wk&list=PLxpAkjlGauHfKAYuQLRNAZomoezhfhRZe&index=7
- Surah Araf Idris Akba https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MP1DvywAaoI
- Surah Al-Araf muhammad Minshawi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdAOUom0mP4&list=PLxpAkjlGauHdUcO_uc-8F8J2NUQRDZjPG&index=7
- Dr Israr Ahmed Tafsir Surah Al-An'am (130) to Surah Al-A'raf (1-37)2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMuuDJXS-0A&index=38&list=PLB4B8D1654A8BD263
- Dr Israr Ahmed Tafsir Surah Al-A'raf (38-131)1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XT223pGb-4k&index=39&list=PLB4B8D1654A8BD263
- Dr Israr Ahmed Tafsir Surah Al-A'raf (38-131)2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMsXRQtXN8w&index=40&list=PLB4B8D1654A8BD263
- Dr Israr Ahmed Tafsir Surah Al-A'raf (132-end)1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3s2AOg0EbWM&list=PLB4B8D1654A8BD263&index=41
- Dr Israr Ahmed Tafsir Surah Al-A'raf (132-end)2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lcwRd9aqOw&index=42&list=PLB4B8D1654A8BD263
