Al-Araf (, ; The Heights) is the 7th chapter (''

sūrah A ''surah'' (; ; ) is an Arabic word meaning 'chapter' in the Quran. There are 114 ''suwar'' in the Quran, each divided into ayah, verses (). The ''suwar'' are of unequal length; the shortest ''surah'' (al-Kawthar) has only three verses, while ...

'') of the

Qur'an The Quran, also romanized Qur'an or Koran, is the central religious text of Islam, believed by Muslims to be a revelation directly from God ('' Allāh''). It is organized in 114 chapters (, ) which consist of individual verses ('). Besides ...

, with 206 verses ( āyāt). Regarding the timing and contextual background of the revelation (''

Asbāb al-nuzūl Occasions or circumstances of revelation (in Arabic - ''al-nuzūl'') names the historical context in which Quranic verses were revealed from the perspective of traditional Islam. Though of some use in reconstructing the Qur'an's historicity, ''a ...

''), it is a "

Meccan surah A Meccan surah is, according to the timing and contextual background of their revelation ('' asbāb al-nuzūl'') within Islamic tradition, a chronologically earlier chapter ('' suwar'', singular ''sūrah'') of the Qur'an. The traditional chronolog ...

", which means it was revealed before the Hijra. This chapter takes its name from verses 46–47, in which the word ''A'araf'' appears. According to

Abul A'la Maududi Abul A'la al-Maududi (; – ) was an Islamic scholar, Islamist ideologue, Muslim philosopher, jurist, historian, journalist, activist, and scholar active in British India and later, following the partition, in Pakistan. Described by Wilfred C ...

, the time of its disclosure is about the same as that of

Al-An'am Al-An'am (, ; The Cattle) is the sixth chapter (sūrah) of the Quran, with 165 verses ( āyāt). Coming in order in the Quran after Al-Fatiha, Al-Baqarah, Al 'Imran, An-Nisa', and Al-Ma'idah, this surah dwells on such themes as the clear ...

, i. e., the last year of the Islamic prophet Muhammad's residence at Makkah: the manner of its admonition clearly indicates that it belongs to the same period and both have the same historical background; however, it cannot be declared with assurance which of these two was uncovered before the other. The audience should keep in mind the introduction to Al-An'am.

- Tafhim-ul-Quran

Summary

*1-2 Allah tells

Muhammad Muhammad (8 June 632 CE) was an Arab religious and political leader and the founder of Islam. Muhammad in Islam, According to Islam, he was a prophet who was divinely inspired to preach and confirm the tawhid, monotheistic teachings of A ...

not to doubt the Quran *3 The people exhorted to believe in it *4-5 Many cities destroyed for their unbelief *6-9 Prophets and their hearers on the judgment-day *10 The ingratitude of infidels *11 The creation of Adam *11-12 Satan refuses to obey Allah by bowing to Adam 13 He is driven from Paradise 14-15 He is respited until the

resurrection Resurrection or anastasis is the concept of coming back to life after death. Reincarnation is a similar process hypothesized by other religions involving the same person or deity returning to another body. The disappearance of a body is anothe ...

16-17 He avows his purpose to beguile man 18 God threatens Satan and his victims *19-24 The fall of Adam and Eve 25-26 They are expelled from Paradise *27-29 Indecent customs condemned 30-31 God to be sought in prayer 32-34 True worshippers to be decently clad *35 Every nation has a fixed term of life *36-42 The doom of those who reject the apostles of God *43-45 The blessed reward of true believers *45-46 God's curse on the infidels *47-50 The veil of A'raf and its inhabitants *51-52 The rejecters of God's apostles to be forgotten *53-54 A warning against rejecting Muhammad *55-59 The Creator and Lord of the worlds to be served * The History of Noah *60-65 Noah rejected by his people—their fate * The History of Hūd * 66-73 Húd rejected by the Ádites—their fate * The History of Sálih *74-80 Sálih rejected by the Thamúdites—their destruction *The Story of Lot *81-85 Lot rejected and the Sodomites destroyed * The History of Shuaib *86-94 Shuaib rejected by the Madianites, and their doom * God speaks about other nations in the past *95-96 Unbelievers at Makkah unaffected either by adversity or prosperity *97-101 The dreadful fate of those cities who rejected the apostles of God and charged them with imposture *102-103 They are reprobated * The story of Moses *104-105

Moses In Abrahamic religions, Moses was the Hebrews, Hebrew prophet who led the Israelites out of slavery in the The Exodus, Exodus from ancient Egypt, Egypt. He is considered the most important Prophets in Judaism, prophet in Judaism and Samaritani ...

is sent to

Pharaoh Pharaoh (, ; Egyptian language, Egyptian: ''wikt:pr ꜥꜣ, pr ꜥꜣ''; Meroitic language, Meroitic: 𐦲𐦤𐦧, ; Biblical Hebrew: ''Parʿō'') was the title of the monarch of ancient Egypt from the First Dynasty of Egypt, First Dynasty ( ...

and his princes *106-108 The

miracles A miracle is an event that is inexplicable by natural or scientific lawsOne dictionary define"Miracle"as: "A surprising and welcome event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws and is therefore considered to be the work of a divin ...

of the serpent and leprous hand *109-115 The magicians of Egypt called *116-120 Contest by miracles between Moses and the magicians *121-123 Several magicians converted to Moses *124-127 Pharaoh's anger kindled against them *128 Pharaoh and his princes persecute Moses and his people *129-130 Moses exhorts his people to patient trust in God *131-132 Adversity and prosperity alike unavailing to bring Pharaoh to repentance *133-134 The Egyptian unbelievers plagued *135 The hypocrisy of the Egyptians *136 They are destroyed in the Red Sea *137 The people of Moses triumph, and possess the eastern and western land *138-141 The children of Israel become idolatrous *142 Moses makes Aaron his deputy, and fasts forty days *143 He desires to see the glory of God, but repents his rashness *144-145 God gives Moses the law on two tables *146-147 Infidels threatened for calling their prophets impostors *148 The people of Moses worship the

golden calf According to the Torah, the Bible, and the Quran, the golden calf () was a cult image made by the Israelites when Moses went up to Mount Sinai (bible), Mount Sinai. In Hebrew, the incident is known as "the sin of the calf" (). It is first mentio ...

*149 They repent their sin *150 Moses in indignation assaults Aaron *151 He prays for forgiveness for himself and Aaron *152 He calls for vengeance on the idolaters *153 God merciful to believers *154 Moses's anger is appeased *155 He chooses seventy elders *155-156 Moses prays for deliverance from destruction by lightning *156-159 The Illiterate Prophet foretold by Moses *160 Some Jews rightly directed *161 The Israelites divided into twelve tribes *161 The rock smitten, and manna and quails given *162-163 The command to enter the city saying Hittatun, and the fate of the disobedient *164-167 The Sabbath-breakers changed into apes *168-169 Dispersion of the Jews among the nations *170-171 Some of their successors faithful to the law of Moses *172 God shakes

Mount Sinai Mount Sinai, also known as Jabal Musa (), is a mountain on the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt. It is one of several locations claimed to be the Mount Sinai (Bible), biblical Mount Sinai, the place where, according to the sacred scriptures of the thre ...

over the Israelites * God mentioned other topics *173-175 God's covenant with the children of Adam *176-179 The curse of

Balaam Balaam (;; ; ), son of Beor, was, according to the Hebrew Bible, a non-Israelite prophet and diviner who lived in Pethor, a place identified with the ancient city of Pitru, thought to have been located between the region of Iraq and norther ...

a warning to infidels *180 Many genii and men created for hell *181-182 The names of God not to be travestied *183-184 God's method of leading infidels to destruction *185 Muhammad not possessed of a devil *186 No hope for the reprobate *187 The coming of the “last hour” sudden *188 Muhammad no seer, only a preacher *189-190 guilty of idolatry *191-198 The folly of idolatry *199 Muhammad commanded to use moderation *200-201 He is to repel Satan by using the name of God *202 The people of Makkah incorrigible *203 They charge Muhammad with imposture *204 ۩ 206 The Quran to be listened to in silence and holy

meditation Meditation is a practice in which an individual uses a technique to train attention and awareness and detach from reflexive, "discursive thinking", achieving a mentally clear and emotionally calm and stable state, while not judging the meditat ...

Subject matter

Although heading of the subject matter of this surah can be summarized as ''"Invitation to the Divine Message"'', some further elaboration is required to comprehend the underlying themes and their interconnection.

The chapter refers to

Adam and Eve Adam and Eve, according to the creation myth of the Abrahamic religions, were the first man and woman. They are central to the belief that humanity is in essence a single family, with everyone descended from a single pair of original ancestors. ...

Noah Noah (; , also Noach) appears as the last of the Antediluvian Patriarchs (Bible), patriarchs in the traditions of Abrahamic religions. His story appears in the Hebrew Bible (Book of Genesis, chapters 5–9), the Quran and Baháʼí literature, ...

, Lot, Hud, Saleh, Shuaib,

and

Aaron According to the Old Testament of the Bible, Aaron ( or ) was an Israelite prophet, a high priest, and the elder brother of Moses. Information about Aaron comes exclusively from religious texts, such as the Hebrew Bible, the New Testament ...

. The significant issues, Divine laws and points of guidance in this surah are as follows # A greeting is given to the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) to become Muslims. # # An admonition is given to the unbelievers about the results of their disavowal through referring to the case of punishments which were caused upon previous nations for their off-base mentality towards their Rasools. # # The Jews are cautioned about the results of their deceptive lead towards the prophets. # # Precept to proliferate the message of Islam with astuteness. # # The fact that the Rasools just as the individuals to whom they are sent will be addressed on the Day of Judgment. # # Precept to the Believers that they should wear respectable and appropriate dress and eat pure and good food. # # Conversation between the inhabitants of Paradise, the prisoners of hell and the individuals of A'raf (a spot between the Paradise and hellfire). # # Luxuriousness and difficulty are the reminders from Allah. # # Muhammad is the Rasool for the entirety of humankind. # # The fact that the coming of Muhammad was depicted in Torah and the Gospel (Bible). # # Jews have created fabricated a wrong belief about Allah's creation. # # Humankind's declaration about Allah at the hour of Adam's creation. # # Allah made all of humankind from a single soul. # # Allah's command to show forgiveness, speak for justice and stay away from the ignorant. # # Allah's order about tuning in to the recitation of The Qur'an with complete quietness.

Theme

The chief subject of this Surah is an invitation to the Divine Message sent down to Muhammad. The Messenger had been admonishing the individuals of Makkah for 13 years. Yet there was no substantial impact on them, since they had deliberately ignored his message. And had become so adversarial that Allah was going to order Muhammad to disregard them and go to others. That is the reason they are being reproved to acknowledge the message and an admonition is given about the results of their off-base demeanor. Since Muhammad was going to get Allah's edict to relocate from Makkah, the finishing up part of this Surah addresses the People of the Book with whom he was going to come into contact at Al-Madinah. In the ayaat directed to the Jews, the outcomes of their deceptive mentality towards the prophets are likewise brought up clearly. As they proclaimed to put belief in Musa (Moses) yet their practices were against his lessons. They were defying him as well as were in certainty worshipping falsehood. Towards the ending of the Surah, guidelines are given to Muhammad and his adherents to show tolerance and exercise patience in answer to the incitements of their rivals. Since the devotees were feeling the squeeze and stress, are encouraged to be cautious and not make any stride that may hurt their cause.

Exegesis

80-84 Lot in Islam

Verses 7:80–84 deal with the story Lot who was sent to a city, that, according to the quranic narrative, was of the transgressors. Angels descend to protect Lot and his daughters, and the city is destroyed by a stone rain. Lot's wife perishes as well. Lot was sent to a group of people who had committed unprecedented levels of immorality. The men amongst them approached other men with desire instead of women; and thus they were transgressing the bounds of God. Upon hearing the accusation that Prophet Lot had leveled on them, his people gave no answer but this: they said, "Drive them out of your city: these are indeed men who want to be clean and pure!" (the second part of the statement was probably a form of sarcasm). In the end, Allah saved Prophet Lot and his family except his wife who was amongst the evildoers and Allah punished the people by sending a rain of stones down on them.

103-156 Moses

The narrative focuses on the history of

142 Golden Calf

The incident of the Golden Calf as narrated in Q7:142 paints a positive light on

. The Quran says that Aaron was entrusted the leadership of Israel while Moses was up on

(, ''tur sina’'') for a period of forty days . Q19:50 adds that Aaron tried his best to stop the worship of the Golden Calf. Further parts of the story are to be found in Quran 7:150. The story ends in an earlier chapter, Quran 5:25.

157 The coming of Muhammad

Verse 7:157 reveals that prophecies about the coming of

were present in the

Jewish law ''Halakha'' ( ; , ), also transliterated as ''halacha'', ''halakhah'', and ''halocho'' ( ), is the collective body of Jewish religious laws that are derived from the Written and Oral Torah. ''Halakha'' is based on biblical commandments ('' mit ...

and

Gospel Gospel originally meant the Christianity, Christian message ("the gospel"), but in the second century Anno domino, AD the term (, from which the English word originated as a calque) came to be used also for the books in which the message w ...

۩ 206 Prostration

This final verse, verse 206, requires a

sajdah Sujūd (, ), or sajdah (, ), also known as sijda, sejda or shejda, in Islam is the act of low bowing or prostration to God facing the ''qiblah'' (direction of the Kaaba at Mecca). It is usually done in standardized prayers (salah). The positio ...

, or prostration. : ۝ Moreover ''the angels'' who are with my LORD do not proudly disdain his service, but they celebrate his praise and worship him.

Sahih International The Saheeh International translation is an English-language translation of the Quran that has been used by numerous Muslims, including Islam's most conservative adherents. Published by the Publishing House (dar), ''dar Abul Qasim in'' Saudi Arab ...

:
Indeed, those who are near your Lord are not prevented by arrogance from His worship, and they exalt Him, and to Him they prostrate
'' Note the inclusion of the Islamic Symbol, ۩ in the Arabic script.

Gallery

File:Islamic - Text Page with Illuminated Heading - Walters W55232B - Full Page.jpg, Folio from

Walter Walter may refer to: People and fictional characters * Walter (name), including a list of people and fictional and mythical characters with the given name or surname * Little Walter, American blues harmonica player Marion Walter Jacobs (1930–19 ...

s manuscript W.552 with a text page containing an illuminated heading in gold ink for chapter 7

References

External links

*
Q7:48
50+ translations, islamawakened.com {{Authority control A'raf A'raf Adam and Eve A'raf