Surah Al-A’raf – Ayah No. 80 – 84
Surah Al-A’raf – Ayah # 80 – 84 (7:80 – 7:84)
A. TRANSLATION
٨٠ وَلُوطًا إِذْ قَالَ لِقَوْمِهِ أَتَأْتُونَ الْفَاحِشَةَ مَا سَبَقَكُمْ بِهَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ مِنَ الْعَالَمِينَ
[Quran 7:80] And Lut, when Qala (قَالَ) to his Quome (لِقَوْمِهِ), ‘Do you Atatuna (أَتَأْتُونَ) the Fahashat (الْفَاحِشَةَ) what Sabqakum (سَبَقَكُمْ) you with it from Ahadin (أَحَدٍ) from the A’alimeen (الْعَالَمِينَ)?’
٨١ إِنَّكُمْ لَتَأْتُونَ الرِّجَالَ شَهْوَةً مِنْ دُونِ النِّسَاءِ ۚ بَلْ أَنْتُمْ قَوْمٌ مُسْرِفُونَ
[Quran 7:81] ‘Indeed, so that you Ta’tuna (لَتَأْتُونَ) the Rijaal (الرِّجَالَ) Shahwatan (شَهْوَةً) from Doune (دُونِ) the Nisaa’a (النِّسَاءِ). Bala (بَلْ) you Quomun (قَوْمٌ) Musrefun (مُسْرِفُونَ).’
٨٢ وَمَا كَانَ جَوَابَ قَوْمِهِ إِلَّا أَنْ قَالُوا أَخْرِجُوهُمْ مِنْ قَرْيَتِكُمْ ۖ إِنَّهُمْ أُنَاسٌ يَتَطَهَّرُونَ
[Quran 7:82] And what Kana (كَانَ) Jawaba (جَوَابَ) his Quome (قَوْمِهِ) except that Qalu (قَالُوا), ‘Akhrajuhum (أَخْرِجُوهُمْ) them from your Qareeta (قَرْيَتِكُمْ). Indeed, they Anasu (أُنَاسٌ) they Yatat’ahrun (يَتَطَهَّرُونَ).’
٨٣ فَأَنْجَيْنَاهُ وَأَهْلَهُ إِلَّا امْرَأَتَهُ كَانَتْ مِنَ الْغَابِرِينَ
[Quran 7:83] Then, Anjaenahu (فَأَنْجَيْنَاهُ) him and his Ahalahu (وَأَهْلَهُ) except his Amaraat (امْرَأَتَهُ)- Kanat (كَانَتْ) from the Ghabereen (الْغَابِرِينَ).
٨٤ وَأَمْطَرْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ مَطَرًا ۖ فَانْظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الْمُجْرِمِينَ
[Quran 7:84] And Amt’arna (وَأَمْطَرْنَا) upon them Mut’aran (مَطَرًا). Then Anzur (فَانْظُرْ) how/ Kaufa (كَيْفَ) Kana (كَانَ) A’qebatu (عَاقِبَةُ) the Mujremeen (الْمُجْرِمِينَ).
B. THE CONCEPT:
THE CONTEXT
The earlier Ayahs of Surah Al-A’raf discuss the endeavors of Rasool of Quom-e- Nuh, Quom-e- Aad and Quom-e- S’amuud to establish and strengthen their nations. Through these stories, the earlier Ayahs have taught us How Humanity does Shirk: People get engulfed in their set routines, rituals, and practices, which were based upon them having taken up deities, whose laws they follow in matters of Deen. These laws are not only other than the laws of Allah, but are in fact in direct opposition, contradiction of and against the laws of Allah. Humanity ends up following these laws and practices in blind following and complete obedience. Through the years and generations, people take up deities from besides Allah, whose laws they follow in complete obedience as part of their Deen and religion by mistaking these as if they are Ayaat and Signs of Allah. These things, aspects, laws, practices, rituals, traditions, and elements are assumed to be, as if these are commandments of Allah and hence taken up as part of their Deen, whereas all of these are acts of Shirk, completely disconnected from Allah and have nothing to do with Allah.
These Acts of Shirk have Elements of Fasaad: These acts of Shirk have elements of Fasaad, unpleasant and uncomfortable to others in the society, with aim to create imbalance and destruction, disbalance, division and discord; undertaken with egoistic and selfish interests, through deceit and destruction for others, with aims to earn wealth and money at the cost of others; reflective of worst behavior towards others, not giving them respect, honor, dignity, justice or suppressing their due rights.
The Endeavors of Allah’s Rasool: Just like any other Rasool of Allah, Rasool Nuh, Huud and S’walih, all aimed to establish and strengthen their nations. All the Rasool of Allah strived towards three basic aspects (1) for their nations to follow the law of Allah in complete submission and obedience by coming out of their comfort zones and distancing themselves from such practices and rituals of Shirk; (2) Another basic purpose and endeavors of all of Allah’s Rasool is for their nations to discontinue, disengage and abolish the practices and acts of Shirk- so that somehow their nations do not let such practices advance and mature upon them; and (3) All of Allah’s Rasool endeavors are for their nations to understand and implement the Ayaat of Allah, take lessons from the stories of previous nations as narrated in Allah’s message, remember the blessings of Allah and be obedient of Allah’s Laws in utter and deep gratitude, especially the commandment of Allah and appointment of us as Khalifa on earth- as caretaker and trustee of the planet earth and all its habitants. This duty along with all its privileges and resources is inherited by each generation from their forefathers and must be upheld and honored as per the basic commandment of Allah.
Allah’s Amar of Being Khalifa on Earth versus Humanity’s creation of Fasaad from within: Instead of taking care of their duties and responsibilities, humanity exploits the resources and privileges of being Khalifa on earth by surrounding themselves from all sides as shield and protection, such comfort and ease that erode and incised the duties of being Khalifa on earth. They do this with the help of what they had created themselves i.e., acts, practices, cultures, laws and acts of shirk, that they follow instead of Allah’s laws and they took such practices as their secured resting places where they are at home with, in terms of them finding, ease, comfort and peace in such practices. As a result, humanity ends up causing destruction on the planet by becoming part of it, multiplying themselves, their impacts of Fasaad and causing destruction to the planet from within.
The earlier ayahs discuss the Two Distinct Segments of Society & their Approaches towards Allah’s Message: There are always two distinct groups in the society; 1) Such people who are magnified, promoted, proud, arrogant, dominating and elite segments and 2) Those who have received Allah’s message, including the Rasool; those who are suppressed, subjugated, exploited, dominated, and afflicted by the dominating ones in terms of non-provision of their basic human rights and free will; those who are in a state of peace and goodwill for others and who use their intellect and skills to seek knowledge to be at a state of deep and utter conviction. Not only the former group of people try to hide, conceal, and reject Allah’s message, they always come together in a joint collaborative manner against the latter group in a state of egoistic animosity with self-righteousness as if they are on the right path. In their utter state of pride, arrogance, self-confidence, and self-righteousness they fail to not only use their intellect or seek knowledge of Allah’s message, but also by being ungrateful of Allah’s blessings and taking all the privileges and the resources as if they are the ones who are the source of all this, their approach towards Allah’s Ayaat, Allah’s message, and the people of former segment, is that of pride, self-importance, condescension, and egotism.
The End result of such people: In their pride, egotism, and arrogance, these people get addicted and drowned in their rituals, traditions, and laws of their Shuraka’a, the deities who they have taken up from other than Allah. As a result, they went on extremes by exceeding all boundaries and became rebellious against the commandments of Allah to be Khalifa on earth. The appointment of perfect recompense and accountability for them could both be physical manifestation in terms of being shaken by an earthquake, tornado or another natural disaster that left them trembled or even in a metaphoric sense of being struck hard and shaken to the core by life. When people are not connected with Allah’s system of natural laws and laws of Deen, they go into a metaphoric state of war, with the whole universe uniting forces against them. Thus, the well-known and confirmed event of their perfect accountability for them based on their egoistic actions, deeds and choices, that they would have to face sooner or later, is to become lifelong companion of their stronghold position, an iron-grip like stature that persist and stayed with them as their permanent mindsets, and behaviors, even to the extend of turning away their Rasool, the only sincere and well-wisher for them.
CONCEPT OF THESE AYAHS
Ayah 7:80, “And Lut, when Qala (قَالَ) to his Quome (لِقَوْمِهِ), ‘Do you Atatuna (أَتَأْتُونَ) the Fahashat (الْفَاحِشَةَ) what Sabqakum (سَبَقَكُمْ) you with it from Ahadin (أَحَدٍ) from the A’alimeen (الْعَالَمِينَ)?’
And Lut, when reflected from conducts and speech (قَالَ) to those of his people who he was trying to establish and strengthen (لِقَوْمِهِ), ‘Do you commit to (أَتَأْتُونَ) crossing the boundaries of Deen and Allah’s laws (الْفَاحِشَةَ) what has surpassed, exceeded and exceled in doing by leaving behind completely by (سَبَقَكُمْ) you with it from whom there is no match or equivalency at all (أَحَدٍ) from any of the dominions, kingdoms and worlds (الْعَالَمِينَ)?’
After discussing the Quom-e Nuh, S’amuud and Aad, these Ayahs are now discussing the story of Quom-e-Lut. And the endeavors of the Rasool. This Ayah shows us that the people who he was trying to establish and strengthen, had in fact committed extreme acts of Fahashat in terms of them crossing all the boundaries of Allah’s laws, even to the extent of surpassing, exceeding and excelling by leaving everyone from all the dominions, kingdoms and the worlds behind completely. Thus, they had transgressed in such a manner that there was no match and no one was equivalent to them.
Ayah 7:81, “‘Indeed, so that you Ta’tuna (لَتَأْتُونَ) the Rijaal (الرِّجَالَ) Shahwatan (شَهْوَةً) from Doune (دُونِ) the Nisaa’a (النِّسَاءِ). Bala (بَلْ) you Quomun (قَوْمٌ) Musrefun (مُسْرِفُونَ).’”
‘Indeed, so that you in order to commit (لَتَأْتُونَ) the stronger segments of the community who are resourceful (الرِّجَالَ) in the exploitation, mis-use, abuse, and manipulation (شَهْوَةً) of, in addition to (دُونِ) those who are the weaker segments of the society and are starved of resources, therefore dependent on others for these resources (النِّسَاءِ). Thus, you’re been surrounded by these situations, because of which the real characteristic have become evident and known that (بَلْ) you are those people who establish and strengthen (قَوْمٌ) transgression, exceeding and going outside the defined boundaries (مُسْرِفُونَ).’
The extent of their transgression is then defined in this ayah which tells us that they were committed and set in their ways which included exploiting, mis-using, manipulating, and abusing not just the weaker segments who are dependent upon them for resources, but also those who were abundantly resourced and strong segment of the community. Additionally, they were also supporting and committing to the stronger segment in their exploitations of the weaker ones as well. Thus, they were involved in establishing the exceeding of all boundaries and have been committing this transgression in excessive manners.
Ayah 7:82, “And what Kana (كَانَ) Jawaba (جَوَابَ) his Quome (قَوْمِهِ) except that Qalu (قَالُوا), ‘Akhrajuhum (أَخْرِجُوهُمْ) them from your Qareeta (قَرْيَتِكُمْ). Indeed, they Anasu (أُنَاسٌ) they Yatat’ahrun (يَتَطَهَّرُونَ).’”
And what aimed to reach the destination through their conducts and behaviors (كَانَ) as an explicit response through their actions (جَوَابَ) those of his people who he was trying to establish and strengthen (قَوْمِهِ) except that reflected from conducts and speech (قَالُوا), ‘exit them out, throw them out (أَخْرِجُوهُمْ) from your community, residence, society, neighborhood (قَرْيَتِكُمْ). Indeed, they are a people (أُنَاسٌ) they want to make you lawful and law abiding (يَتَطَهَّرُونَ).’
Rasool Lut tried his best to show them the mirror as to their acts and deeds of transgression, to stop and prevent them to commit such atrocities, to make these people lawful and law abiding by asking them to remain within the boundaries of Allah’s laws and follow these laws. But in response to his endeavors, they exited him and expelled him and those with him from their community, society, and neighborhood.
Ayah 7:83, “Then, Anjaenahu (فَأَنْجَيْنَاهُ) him and his Ahalahu (وَأَهْلَهُ) except his Amaraat (امْرَأَتَهُ)- Kanat (كَانَتْ) from the Ghabereen (الْغَابِرِينَ).”
Then, saved and rescued (فَأَنْجَيْنَاهُ) him and those of his nation who were with him, who he was taking care of and was responsible for (وَأَهْلَهُ) except those of his nation, who were not aligned with him, were not supporting him, were disconnected, and opposed to him (امْرَأَتَهُ)- who aimed to reach the destination through their conducts and deeds to be (كَانَتْ) of those who become a thing of the past, became nonexistent and extinct (الْغَابِرِينَ).
Thus, Allah saved and rescued the Rasool and those of his nation who were with him, who he was taking care of and he was responsible for. However, those of his nation who were not aligned with him, were not supporting him, were disconnected, and opposed to him, could not be saved and rescued from their situations because of their own choices and transgression. Thus, through their own conducts and behaviors Quom-e-Lut become a thing of the past, became nonexistent and extinct, as this is the perfect accountability and recompense for their actions.
Ayah 7:84, “And Amt’arna (وَأَمْطَرْنَا) upon them Mut’aran (مَطَرًا). Then Anzur (فَانْظُرْ) how/ Kaufa (كَيْفَ) Kana (كَانَ) A’qebatu (عَاقِبَةُ) the Mujremeen (الْمُجْرِمِينَ).”
And a natural occurrence such as rain, thunder, floods, earthquakes, etc. (وَأَمْطَرْنَا) came upon them as natural disaster (مَطَرًا). Then think, watch with vigilant and observational approach, I.e., look but not just on the surface level of seeing something, but along with thinking, observing, closely watching and linking the vision with your knowledge and other aspects as already communicated by giving undivided attention, and focus (فَانْظُرْ) how aimed to reach the destination through their conducts (كَانَ) the outcome of their code and conducts, that would face sooner or later, as a perfect recompense; the outcome, the retribution, the payback, the reprisal of whatever was done and is being repaid in just manner in accordance with whatever was done as per Allah’s solid judicial principles and with justice at its best (عَاقِبَةُ) the those who are working as opposed to the Momineen, i.e., those who do not Amanu, do not seek knowledge or use their faculties of intellect; who have doubts, fears, or reservations, who are uncertain, unsure and unsafe (الْمُجْرِمِينَ).
After defining what was the perfect recompense for Quom-e- Lut, Allah is describing in these ayahs, exactly what happened to them, which was a sort of a natural disaster, a natural occurrence such as rain, thunder, floods, or earthquakes, which came upon them as their perfect accountability. Thereafter, Allah is asking us to take lesson from this story of Quom-e- Lut by asking us to think, ponder, watch with vigilant and observational approach, I.e., look but not just on the surface of seeing something, but along with thinking, observing, closely watching and linking the vision with our knowledge and other stories of earlier nations as already communicated by giving our undivided attention, and focus. Because all these stories are telling us how people have reached the destination through their own conducts, as the outcome of their code and conducts, that everyone would have to face sooner or later, as a perfect recompense; the outcome, the retribution, the payback, the reprisal of whatever was done and is being repaid in just manner in accordance with whatever was done as per Allah’s solid judicial principles and with justice at its best. And these punishments and Azaab are the perfect recompense for such people who do not Amanu, do not seek knowledge or use their faculties of intellect; who have doubts, fears, or reservations, who are uncertain, unsure, and unsafe and therefore punished with Azaab in this temporary worldly life as well as in the Akhira.
C. LESSONS AS PER THESE AYAHS:
These Ayahs of Surah Al-A’raf i.e., 7:80 to 80, as connected and aligned with earlier Ayahs, through the story of Quom-e- Lut give us the following lessons.
- TRANSGRESSION OF QUOM-E-LUT: Quom-e-LUT were involved in extreme acts of Fahashat, crossing all boundaries of Allah’s laws which was matchless amongst all the kingdoms and exploiting the weaker segments of the community. They were also committing to the stronger segment in their exploitations of the weaker ones.
- SAVING OF RASOOL LUT & HIS Ahal: Rasool Lut tried to stop and prevent them to commit such atrocities, to make these people lawful and law abiding by asking them to remain within the boundaries of Allah’s laws and follow these laws. But in response to his endeavors, they expelled him and those with him from their community, society, and neighborhood. Thus, Allah saved and rescued the Rasool and his Ahal- those of his nation who were with him, who he was taking care of and he was responsible for.
- PERFECT RECEOMPENSE FOR QUOM-E-LUT: Quom-e-Lut became extinct from the face of the earth due to their own conducts and behaviors, and Allah described a natural disaster as their perfect recompense.
- ALL THESE STORIES AS IBRAT- Allah is asking us to take lessons from Quom-e-Lut by thinking, pondering, and watching with vigilant and observational approach. These stories are telling us how people have reached their destination through their own conducts, and that punishments and Azaab are the perfect recompense for those who do not seek knowledge or use their faculties of intellect.
Footnotes:
D. THE KEY-WORD VOCABULARY:
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