Surah Al-A’raf – Ayah No. 175-179

Surah Al-A’raf – Ayah # 175-179 (7:175–179)

A.   TRANSLATION

 

 ١٧٥  وَاتْلُ عَلَيْهِمْ نَبَأَ الَّذِي آتَيْنَاهُ آيَاتِنَا فَانْسَلَخَ مِنْهَا فَأَتْبَعَهُ الشَّيْطَانُ فَكَانَ مِنَ الْغَاوِينَ

[Quran 7:175] And Ut’lu (وَاتْلُ) upon them Naba-a (نَبَأَ) those whom Ataynahu (آتَيْنَاهُ) Ayatinahu (آيَاتِنَا)-then Ansalakha (فَانْسَلَخَ) of it. Then, Aataba’ahu (فَأَتْبَعَهُ) the Shaytanu (الشَّيْطَانُ) so Kana (فَكَانَ) of the Al-Ghawina (الْغَاوِينَ).

 

١٧٦  وَلَوْ شِئْنَا لَرَفَعْنَاهُ بِهَا وَلَٰكِنَّهُ أَخْلَدَ إِلَى الْأَرْضِ وَاتَّبَعَ هَوَاهُ ۚ فَمَثَلُهُ كَمَثَلِ الْكَلْبِ إِنْ تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْهِ يَلْهَثْ أَوْ تَتْرُكْهُ يَلْهَثْ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ مَثَلُ الْقَوْمِ الَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا ۚ فَاقْصُصِ الْقَصَصَ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ

[Quran 7:176] And if Shayna (شِئْنَا) so that to Rafaenahu (لَرَفَعْنَاهُ) with it- but Akhlada (أَخْلَدَ) towards the Al-Arzi (الْأَرْضِ) and Attabaʿa (وَاتَّبَعَ) Hawahu (هَوَاهُ ۚ) then Masaluhu (فَمَثَلُهُ) Kamasali (كَمَثَلِ) the Alkalbi (الْكَلْبِ)- indeed, Tahmil (تَحْمِلْ) upon it Yalhas’ (يَلْهَثْ) or Tatrukhu (تَتْرُكْهُ) Yalhas’ (يَلْهَثْ ۚ). That is Masalu (مَثَلُ) the Alqawmi (الْقَوْمِ) those who Kazzabu (كَذَّبُوا) with Ayatina (بِآيَاتِنَا ۚ) so, Aqs’us’i (فَاقْصُصِ) the Ulqas’as’a (الْقَصَصَ) La’alahum (لَعَلَّهُمْ) Yatafakkaruna (يَتَفَكَّرُونَ).

 

١٧٧  سَاءَ مَثَلًا الْقَوْمُ الَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا وَأَنْفُسَهُمْ كَانُوا يَظْلِمُونَ

[Quran 7:177] Saa (سَاءَ) Masalan (مَثَلًا) the Qawmu (الْقَوْمُ) those who Kazzahabu (كَذَّبُوا) with Biayatina (بِآيَاتِنَا) and Anfusahum (وَأَنْفُسَهُمْ) Kanu (كَانُوا) Yazlimuna (يَظْلِمُونَ).

 

١٧٨  مَنْ يَهْدِ اللَّهُ فَهُوَ الْمُهْتَدِي ۖ وَمَنْ يُضْلِلْ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْخَاسِرُونَ

[Quran 7:178] Whoever Yahdi (يَهْدِ) Allah then they the Muhtadi (الْمُهْتَدِي ۖ) and whoever Yuzlil (يُضْلِلْ) than those the Khasiruna (الْخَاسِرُونَ).

 

١٧٩  وَلَقَدْ ذَرَأْنَا لِجَهَنَّمَ كَثِيرًا مِنَ الْجِنِّ وَالْإِنْسِ ۖ لَهُمْ قُلُوبٌ لَا يَفْقَهُونَ بِهَا وَلَهُمْ أَعْيُنٌ لَا يُبْصِرُونَ بِهَا وَلَهُمْ آذَانٌ لَا يَسْمَعُونَ بِهَا ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ كَالْأَنْعَامِ بَلْ هُمْ أَضَلُّ ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْغَافِلُونَ

[Quran 7:179] And so that certainly Zarana (ذَرَأْنَا) to Jahannama (لِجَهَنَّمَ) Kaseeran (كَثِيرًا) of the Jinna (الْجِنِّ) and the Insi (وَالْإِنْسِ ۖ)- for them Qulubun (قُلُوبٌ) not they Yafqahuna (يَفْقَهُونَ) With it And for them A’yenun (أَعْيُنٌ) not they Yubs’iruna (يُبْصِرُونَ) with it and for them Azanun (آذَانٌ) not they Yasma’euna (يَسْمَعُونَ) with it. Those are all the Anaʿami (كَالْأَنْعَامِ) Bal (بَلْ) them Azallu (أَضَلُّ ۚ)- those they the Ghaafiluna (الْغَافِلُونَ).

 

B.   THE CONCEPT:

THE CONTEXT

The context of the earlier ayahs discusses about Allah’s Laws as source of Sabaath (rest, recharge and life) and those who became Qirdatun Khase’een owing to them being on the Bahar. Additionally, we learned that Seizing Adna Lawa while Wishing for Maghfirat: As inheritors of Allah’s Message, they were commanded to uphold the unbreakable covenant, avoid contradictory speech or conduct about Allah’s prestige, and conduct in-depth study to attain knowledge about Allah’s message, adhering to their duties and obligations. But they acted in defiance of Allah’s commands and prioritized aspects and laws inferior to Allah’s, hoping they would protect them from the consequences of their wrongdoings. Consequently, these inferior laws failed to protect them from the impacts of their actions.

 

Strong-hold Stature of Muttaqueen: Observing Taqwa and cautiously following Allah’s laws are crucial for gaining a stronghold stature in the hereafter. Those who follow these laws and establish the S’alat as a social care system, connecting humanity and to basic Deen principles like love, care, compassion, and justice, are guaranteed dominion in the Akhira. Allah rewards Mus’leheen who carry out acts of Is’lah and the Divine wisdom suggests that adhering to Allah’s message, prioritizing it, is crucial for attaining Allah’s protection. We should hold onto this message with strength and courage, remembering Allah’s blessings, and being utterly grateful by following Allah’s laws.

 

Bany Adam Duties Versus their Actions: Baniy Adam, instead of establishing themselves as Khalifa- caretakers of earth and utilizing humanity’s capabilities and Malaik, seized hold of deities and followed their laws, utilizing their resources, supporters, and allies to fulfill the shirk related duties. The establishment of perfect recompense and Allah’s Deen as Deen-e-Qayamma is a confirmed event for everyone, especially for these Ghafileen who remain unaware of their actions and heedless of Allah’s Message, leading to pain and suffering.

 

Thought Provoking Questions: The divine guidance to us as the addressees of the Quran through a couple of throught provoking questions is that we must question such people about their involvement in Shirk and their Baat’il actions in order to make them realize since such people must determine if this is how they think they are following the divine guidance, if their actions are their own, following their forefathers’ footsteps, or if they are aiming for their own destruction and suffering through their own hands.

 

Allah’s Ayaat as Mufas’il: Allah’s Ayaat, Quranic signs as well as universe’s scientific ayahs are established through Allah’s system, establishing laws of requital, cause, and effect as unchangeable facts. This confirmed process ensures that everyone and everything will reach the place of retreat with Allah, will return to Allah as the most competent authority in matters of Deen and will go back to Allah as the source of all creations.

 

CONCEPT OF THESE AYAHS

 

Ayah 7:175, “And Ut’lu (وَاتْلُ) upon them Naba-a (نَبَأَ) those whom Ataynahu (آتَيْنَاهُ) Ayatinahu (آيَاتِنَا)-then Ansalakha (فَانْسَلَخَ) of it. Then, Aataba’ahu (فَأَتْبَعَهُ) the Shaytanu (الشَّيْطَانُ) so Kana (فَكَانَ) of the Al-Ghawina (الْغَاوِينَ).”

 

And asked them to follow (وَاتْلُ) upon them news and Nabo’at (نَبَأَ) those whom were granted (آتَيْنَاهُ) all the Ayaat which were relevant to them (آيَاتِنَا)-then they dissected, withdrew, separated, sliced up and strip away (فَانْسَلَخَ) from it. Then, in terms of their follow-up actions and deeds, being done subsequently to seek and follow (فَأَتْبَعَهُ) the Shaytaan (الشَّيْطَانُ) so their end destination due to their actions was that to be (فَكَانَ) of those who are misled, deviated, lured and astray by making sure their covenant with Allah is rescinded, quashed, annulled and invalidated (الْغَاوِينَ).

 

Continue the discussion about Baniy Adam in terms of their actions to be in direction contradiction of their duties, this Ayah further elaborates that although they were asked to follow the Nabo’at and Allah’s Message which was granted to them through all such Ayaat that they were exposed to and which were relevant to them. But instead, they dissected, withdrew, separated, sliced up and strip away from Allah’s Message such statements, and sentences which were used and manipulated so that as a follow-up action, they could seek and follow the Shayteen. This is how their end destination due to these actions was them to be of those who are misled, deviated, lured and astray by making sure their covenant with Allah is annulled and invalidated with them following laws other than that of Allah in matters of Deen.

 

Ayah 7:176, “And if Shayna (شِئْنَا) so that to Rafaenahu (لَرَفَعْنَاهُ) with it- but Akhlada (أَخْلَدَ) towards the Al-Arzi (الْأَرْضِ) and Attabaʿa (وَاتَّبَعَ) Hawahu (هَوَاهُ ۚ) then Masaluhu (فَمَثَلُهُ) Kamasali (كَمَثَلِ) the Alkalbi (الْكَلْبِ)- indeed, Tahmil (تَحْمِلْ) upon it Yalhas’ (يَلْهَثْ) or Tatrukhu (تَتْرُكْهُ) Yalhas’ (يَلْهَثْ ۚ). That is Masalu (مَثَلُ) the Alqawmi (الْقَوْمِ) those who Kazzabu (كَذَّبُوا) with Ayatina (بِآيَاتِنَا ۚ) so, Aqs’us’i (فَاقْصُصِ) the Ulqas’as’a (الْقَصَصَ) so that they may Yatafakkaruna (يَتَفَكَّرُونَ).”

 

And if it was willed by them, by them striving with their whole beings (شِئْنَا) so that to elevate, raise and create distinction and pride (لَرَفَعْنَاهُ) with it, nothing except remaining in this forever (أَخْلَدَ) towards the planet earth and everything that belongs here (الْأَرْضِ) and follow and seek as subsequent actions (وَاتَّبَعَ) their such desires, delusions, distraction, deviations, that Zalal mislead them away from the Sabeel of Allah, by having them forget and ignore the day of accountability and recompense (هَوَاهُ ۚ) then their examples (فَمَثَلُهُ) is like the example (كَمَثَلِ) of the domesticated pet (الْكَلْبِ)- indeed, whether you carry on, take over or embody upon them (تَحْمِلْ) they would be in extreme difficulty due to shock, pain or surprise (يَلْهَثْ) or you ignore, stop, reject them (تَتْرُكْهُ) they would be in extreme difficulty due to shock, pain or surprise (يَلْهَثْ ۚ). That is example, similar or same as (مَثَلُ) those who establish, and strengthen (الْقَوْمِ) those who deny, reject, make fun of, ridicule or take as a joke (كَذَّبُوا) with those Ayaat of Allah that are relevant to them (بِآيَاتِنَا ۚ) so, will they retrace what they have done (فَاقْصُصِ) the carrying out of justice and retribution (الْقَصَصَ) so that they remain in the unrelenting, perpetual, uninterrupted state (لَعَلَّهُمْ) of thinking and pondering with deep reflections (يَتَفَكَّرُونَ).

 

This Ayah further elaborates their condition that if such people who followed the laws of the Shayateen, would have strived with their whole beings so as to elevate, raise and create distinction and pride through these laws, by remaining as a follower and proponent of these laws forever in the earth and then as their subsequent actions, they would have sought their such desires, delusions, distraction, deviations, that mislead them away from the Sabeel of Allah, by having them forget and ignore the day of accountability and recompense, then their examples is like that of such domesticated pet, who has been tamed to follow the orders of their masters without using any of their intellectual or other faculties. Even if the addresses of the Quran, or anyone would take over, take care with patience or embody them or stop, reject or deject them, their response would be the same which is of them being in extreme difficulty due to shock, pain or surprise. This is how those who establish, and strengthen the acts and people who deny, reject, make fun of, ridicule or take as a joke those Ayaat of Allah that are relevant to them. It’s only once and only when they retrace their own steps, or faced with their perfect accountability and retribution, they would be able to remain in the unrelenting and perpetual state of thinking and pondering as to why they are faced with such retribution.

 

Ayah 7:177, “Saa (سَاءَ) Masalan (مَثَلًا) the Qawmu (الْقَوْمُ) those who Kazzahabu (كَذَّبُوا) with Biayatina (بِآيَاتِنَا) and Anfusahum (وَأَنْفُسَهُمْ) Kanu (كَانُوا) Yazlimuna (يَظْلِمُونَ).”

 

Such acts, sayings and deeds that are unpleasant and uncomfortable not just physically to people’s eyes but feels bad and unpleasant to their whole being; that create Fasaad, imbalance and destruction causing disbalance in the society; that involves making such trade or transactions, with a focus of selfish interests and egoistic desires through deceit and destruction for others, aiming to earn wealth and money at the cost of others; that are reflective of worst behavior towards another by not giving them respect, honor, dignity, justice or suppressing their due rights (سَاءَ) are notable examples (مَثَلًا) of those who establish and strengthen (الْقَوْمُ) those who deny, reject, make fun of, ridicule or take as a joke (كَذَّبُوا) with such Ayaat that are relevant to them (بِآيَاتِنَا) and towards their Nafs (وَأَنْفُسَهُمْ) through such acts they reach the final destination of (كَانُوا) doing extreme acts of injustices (يَظْلِمُونَ).

 

This Ayah, in continuation of the same discussion, further elaborates that those who establish and strengthen such acts, system, laws and people denying, rejecting, making fun of, ridiculing and taking as a joke the Ayaat of Allah that are relevant to them, they reflect through these acts such unpleasant and uncomfortable behaviors that are not just physically unpleasant but feels bad and unpleasant to people’s whole being; that create Fasaad, imbalance and destruction causing disbalance in the society; that involves making such trade or transactions, with a focus of selfish interests and egoistic desires through deceit and destruction for others, aiming to earn wealth and money at the cost of others; that are reflective of worst behavior towards another by not giving them respect, honor, dignity, justice or suppressing their due rights. These people, acts, systems and laws have become the epitome in terms of them being notable examples of going against and killing of people’s own souls- their Nafs-e-Mut’mainna, thereby through such acts, they end up committing extreme acts of injustices.

 

Ayah 7:178, “Whoever Yahdi (يَهْدِ) Allah then they the Muhtadi (الْمُهْتَدِي ۖ) and whoever Yuzlil (يُضْلِلْ) than those the Khasiruna (الْخَاسِرُونَ).”

 

Whoever is guided towards (يَهْدِ) Allah then they are the guided ones (الْمُهْتَدِي ۖ) and whoever is misled, deviated (يُضْلِلْ) than those are the ones who are the losers in both the Duniya as well as the Akhira (الْخَاسِرُونَ).

In conclusion, anyone who seeks to be guided towards the system of Allah, by getting themselves aligned with, and following the laws of Allah, becomes the guided ones. On the contrary those who get misled, deviated and astray from the path of Allah, reach the destination through their own actions, where they not only commit extreme injustices against their own souls but also against those who they are responsible for, as a result of which they become losers in both their Duniya as well as their Akhira- the state of perfect accountability and recompense for them.

 

Ayah 7:179, “And so that certainly Zarana (ذَرَأْنَا) to Jahannama (لِجَهَنَّمَ) Kaseeran (كَثِيرًا) of the Jinna (الْجِنِّ) and the Insi (وَالْإِنْسِ ۖ)- for them Qulubun (قُلُوبٌ) not they Yafqahuna (يَفْقَهُونَ) With it And for them A’yenun (أَعْيُنٌ) not they Yubs’iruna (يُبْصِرُونَ) with it and for them Azanun (آذَانٌ) not they Yasma’euna (يَسْمَعُونَ) with it. Those are all the Anaʿami (كَالْأَنْعَامِ) Bal (بَلْ) them Azallu (أَضَلُّ ۚ)- those they the Ghaafiluna (الْغَافِلُونَ).”

 

And so that certainly is the process of creating, developing, cultivating and growing (ذَرَأْنَا) towards hell, everlasting punishment, and abode of the loss (لِجَهَنَّمَ) many people and to a great extent (كَثِيرًا) of those who are hidden and cannot be understood or made sense of (الْجِنِّ) and general humanity (وَالْإِنْسِ ۖ)- for their intentional reactions of their faculties (قُلُوبٌ) not they understand or perceive with the use of their intellect, thinking, reasoning and all faculties (يَفْقَهُونَ) with it And for them their visions (أَعْيُنٌ) not they perceive, understand, or get any knowledge after the use of all faculties, or get any enlightenment (يُبْصِرُونَ) with it and for them announcement, declaration, and proclamation (آذَانٌ) not they perceive it carefully by giving undivided attention and focus with the basic aim to follow and practically apply whatever is being perceived (يَسْمَعُونَ) with it. Those are all the Allah’s blessings such as success and prosperity in all walks of life; peace, security, safety from lawlessness and destruction; height, being benchmark, role model and inspiration for others and unity of nation, with same common purpose, values and desired destination (الْأَنْعَامِ), but nay (بَلْ) they were misled and astray away from the path of Allah (أَضَلُّ ۚ)- those they are those who are unaware of, ignorant, uninformed, oblivious and heedless about these Nai’mat (الْغَافِلُونَ).

 

This is how, due to the well informed and confirmed happening of the law of requital, the state of perfect accountability and the recompense, for many of those who are hidden and cannot be understood or made sense of as well as the public at large, get involved in the process of creating, developing, cultivating and growing themselves towards hell, everlasting punishment, and abode of the loss to a great extent. This happens because of their own intentional decisions that they make based on the use of their faculties, where they are only involved in a state of blind following, in a domesticated pet like conditions, where they do not understand nor perceive anything with the use of these intellect, thinking and reasoning faculties. They have also been given their visions, and foresights, but they are unable to perceive, understand, or get any knowledge after the use of these faculties, nor could get any enlightenment. They have also been given announcement, declaration, and proclamation of Allah’s message and guidance but they are unable to perceive it carefully by giving undivided attention and focus. These, the faculties of intellect, reasoning, observation, thinking, visions, foresights and Allah’s Message and guidance are all the Allah’s blessings which have been given to them as Na’mat- i.e. as success and prosperity in all walks of life; as peace, security, safety from lawlessness and destruction; as height, being benchmark, role model and inspiration for others and as unity of nation, with same common purpose, values and desired destination, but instead of being able to take benefit from these blessings, they instead were misled and astray away from the path of Allah. Such are the people who remain unaware of, ignorant, uninformed, oblivious and heedless about these blessings of Allah.

 

C.    LESSONS AS PER THESE AYAHS:

These Ayahs of Surah Al-A’raf basically continue the discussions of Baniy Adam’s assigned duties versus their actions as follows

 

• DISSECTION OF ALLAH’S MESSAGE TO FOLLOW & LEAD LAWS OF SHAYTAAN: Baniy Adam, Earth’s caretakers, were instructed to follow Allah’s Message through relevant Ayaats. However, they dissected, sliced through, disregarded and manipulated these statements, and focused on seeking and following the Shayteen instead. Their actions led them to be misled, deviated, and got strayed, ensuring their covenant with Allah is annulled and invalidated by them as they follow other laws in matters of Deen.

 

• BECOMING LIKE DOMESTICATED PETS: These laws of Shaytaan aimed to elevate distinction and pride among its followers by seeking desires that deviated from the Sabeel of Allah, leading them to forget accountability and recompense. Their actions resemble domesticated pets following orders of their Shayateen, the leaders, without using their intellectual faculties. Thus, by denying, rejecting, ridiculing and taking Allah’s Ayaat as jokes, they face extreme difficulties due to shock, pain, and surprise, whether someone tries to take care of them, being patient as caretakers of them or whether they were rejected or ignored. Once they retrace their steps and face accountability and remain in the perpetual state of thinking, then and only then would be able to understand the reasons behind their retribution.

 

• BECOMING NOTABLE EXAMPLES OF WORST POSSIBLE HUMAN BEHAVIOURS: People who commit extreme acts of injustice, such as denying or ridiculing the Ayaat of Allah, create societal imbalance and destruction. These actions reflect their selfish interests and egoistic desires, aiming to earn wealth at the cost of others. They exhibit worst behavior towards others, not respecting their rights or dignity. The law of requital, characterized by perfect accountability and recompense, lead many Jinn o Ins- i.e. those who are hidden, as well as common people, to grow to a great extent towards hell to ultimately become their everlasting punishment, and abode of loss.

 

• THE REASONS- BEING HEEDLESS OF ALLAH’S BLESSINGS: Individuals with intellect and human faculties were given the ability to make informed decisions, but instead were confined to a state of blind following, lacking understanding and perception. Despite possessing visions and foresights, they are unable to perceive, understand, or attain knowledge or enlightenment after using these faculties. They have been given Allah’s message and guidance, but they struggle to carefully perceive it with their undivided attention and focus. Allah’s blessings include intellect, reasoning, observation, thinking, visions, foresights, and guidance which were all granted as Na’imat- i.e. as sources of success, prosperity, peace, security, and unity. However, many are misled and get astray from Allah’s path, resulting in misguided actions since they remain unaware, and heedless about these blessings of Allah.

 

• CONCLUSION: Individuals who align with and follow the laws of Allah are guided, while those who deviate from this path commit extreme injustices against themselves and others who are their Ahal- their responsibilities, ultimately leading them to become Khaasiron i.e. losers in both their Duniya and Akhira.

 

Footnotes:

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