Editing Al-A'raf

{{short description|7th chapter of the Qur'an}}
{{infobox surah
| number         = 7
| name           = Al-ʾAʿraf
| name-ar        = {{lang|ar|ٱلْأَعْرَاف}}
| name-en        = The Elevation
| prev_sura      = Quran 6
| next_sura      = Quran 8
| classification = Makkan
| othernames-ar  = 
| othernames     = The Battlements<ref>[[Arthur Arberry]], [[The Koran Interpreted]]</ref><br/>The Purgatory
| time           = 
| juz            = 8—9
| hizb           = 16—18
| rukus          = 24
| verses         = 206
| words          =3341 
| letters        =14435 
| muqattaat      =  	ʾAlif Lām Mīm Ṣād المص 
| sajdahs        = 1 (verse 206)
| subject_ayat   = 
| audio          = 
}}
{{Quran}}
'''Al-Araf''' <ref>[[George Sale translation]]</ref><ref name = "Quran 4 U">{{cite web|url=http://www.quran4u.com/Tafsir%20Ibn%20Kathir/007%20A%27raf.htm |title=Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Surah Al A'raf |work=Quran 4 U|access-date=8 December 2019}}</ref> ({{langx|ar|ٱلأعراف}}, {{Transliteration|ar|al-ʾAʿrāf}}; {{small|meaning:}} The Heights) is the [[List of chapters in the Quran|7th chapter]] (''[[sūrah]]'') of the [[Qur'an]], with 206 verses ([[āyāt]]). Regarding the timing and contextual background of the revelation (''[[Asbāb al-nuzūl]]''), it is a "[[Meccan surah]]", which means it was revealed before the [[Hijrah|Hijra]].

This chapter takes its name from verses 46–47,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://quran.com/7/46?translations=20|title = Surah Al-A'raf - 46}}</ref> in which the word ''A'araf''<ref>[http://corpus.quran.com/wordmorphology.jsp?location=(7:46:4) Corpus.qoran.com.]</ref> appears.

According to [[Abul A'la Maududi]], the time of its disclosure is about the same as that of [[Al-An'am]], 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 [[Revelation in Islam|uncovered]] before the other. The audience should keep in mind the introduction to Al-An'am.<ref name="mauduoomm i">[[Abul A'la Maududi]] - [[Tafhim-ul-Quran]]</ref>

==Summary==

[[File:Pharaoh watches a serpent devour a person in the presence of the Moses (6125069974).jpg|thumb|Pharaoh watches a serpent devour a demon in the presence of Musa; from a manuscript of ''Qisas al-Anbiya'', c. 1540.]]
*'''1-2''' Allah tells [[Muhammad#Quran|Muhammad]] 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 in Islam|resurrection]] '''16-17''' He avows his purpose to beguile man '''18''' God threatens Satan and his victims 
*'''19-24''' [[Adam and Eve in Islam|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 in Islam|apostles of God]]
*'''43-45''' The blessed reward of true believers 
*'''45-46''' God's curse on the infidels 
*'''47-50''' The veil of [[Araf (Islam)|A'raf]] and its inhabitants
*'''51-52''' The rejecters of God's apostles to be forgotten 
*'''53-54''' A warning against rejecting Muhammad<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ayah al-A`raf (The Heights, The Elevated Places) 7:54 |url=https://www.islamawakened.com/quran/7/54/ |access-date=2024-11-22 |website=www.islamawakened.com}}</ref>
*'''55-59''' [[Creator in Islam|The Creator]] and Lord of the worlds to be served 
*'''[[Noah in Islam|The History of Noah]]''' 
*'''60-65''' Noah rejected by his people—their fate 
* '''[[Hud (prophet)|The History of Hūd]]'''
* '''66-73''' [[Húd]] rejected by the [[Ádites]]—their fate 
*'''[[Sálih|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 
*'''[[Shuaib|The History of Shuaib]]'''
*'''86-94''' Shuaib rejected by the Madianites, and their doom 
*''' God speaks about other nations in the past'''
*'''95-96''' [[Mecca#Early history (up to 6th century CE)|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 
*''' [[Moses in Islam|The story of Moses]]'''
*'''104-105''' [[Moses in Islam|Moses]] is sent to [[Pharaoh in Islam|Pharaoh]] and his princes 
*'''106-108''' The [[Islamic view of miracles|miracles]] of the serpent and leprous hand 
*'''109-115''' The [[Moses in Islam#Quranic references|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 in Islam|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 in Islam|golden calf]]
*'''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 (Bible)#Islam|Mount Sinai]] over the Israelites 
*''' God mentioned other topics '''
*'''173-175''' God's covenant with the children of Adam 
*'''176-179''' The curse of [[Balaam in Islam|Balaam]] a warning to infidels 
*'''180''' Many [[Genie|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#Islam|meditation]]<ref>{{cite book |last1=Wherry |first1=Elwood Morris |author1-link=Elwood Morris Wherry |title=A Complete Index to Sale's Text, Preliminary Discourse, and Notes |date=1896 |publisher=Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner, and Co |location=London}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>

==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.

{|class="wikitable"
! Ayaat !! Subject<ref>Mohammed, A Comprehensive Commentary on the Quran: Comprising Sale’s Translation and preliminary Discourse, with Additional Notes and Emendations (London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner, and Co., 1896). 4 vols.</ref>
|-
| 1-10 || People have been welcome to follow the Message sent down to them through Muhammad and cautioned of the outcomes of its dismissal.
|-
| 11-25 || The account of Adam has been connected with the end goal of caution his relatives against the detestable devices of Satan who is ever prepared to delude them as he did on account of Adam and Eve.
|-
| 26-53 || These ayaat contains some Divine guidelines, and distinguish these from Satan's directions, and portrays a realistic image of the outcomes and the results of the two.  
|-
| 54-58 || As the Message has been sent from Allah (Who is the Creator of the sky and the earth and everything in them), it ought to be followed, for it resembles the downpour He sends down to give life to the dead earth. 
|-
| 59-171 || Occasions from the lives of some notable prophets - Noah, Hud, Salih, Lot, Shu'aib, Moses (Allah's tranquility arrive all) - have been identified with show the outcomes of the dismissal of the Message, and the addressees of Muhammad have been reprimanded to acknowledge and follow the Message so as to get away from condemnation. 
|-
| 172-174 || As the Covenant with the Israelites was referenced toward the finish of the previous section, the entire humankind has been reminded suitably to remember the Covenant that was made at the hour of the appointment of Adam as the Vicegerent of Allah so the entirety of his offspring ought to recollect it and acknowledge and follow the message that was conveyed by Muhammad. 
|-
| 175-179 || The case of the person who had the information on the Message yet disposed of it, has been referred to as a notice to the individuals who were regarding the Message as bogus; they have been urged to utilize their faculties to perceive the Message; in any case Hell would be there residence.
|-
| 180-198 || Deviations of the individuals who don't utilize their resources appropriately to comprehend the Message have been managed and they have been reprimanded, impugned and cautioned of the genuine outcomes of their opposing disposition towards the message of Muhammad. 
|-
| 199-206 || Taking everything into account, guidelines have been given to Muhammad, and through him to his followers, about the attitude they should opt towards the individuals who dismiss the Message and go astray from it.
|}

==Contents==
The chapter refers to [[Adam and Eve]], [[Noah in Islam|Noah]], [[Lot in Islam|Lot]],  [[Hud (prophet)|Hud]], [[Salih|Saleh]], [[Shuaib]], [[Moses in Islam|Moses]] and [[Aaron in Islam|Aaron]].<ref>The Meaning of Surah Al-Araf (The Heights Border Between Hell & Paradise)</ref> The significant issues, Divine laws and points of guidance in this surah are as follows <ref>Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik (translator), Al-Qur'an, the Guidance for Mankind - English with Arabic Text (Hardcover) {{ISBN|0-911119-80-9}}</ref>

# 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.<ref name="mauduoomm i" />

==Exegesis==
===80-84 Lot in Islam===
{{See also|Lot in Islam}}
Verses 7:80–84 deal with the story Lot<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Holy Qur'an: Text, Translation and Commentary, Abdullah Yusuf Ali, Commentary on Surah Araf|quote=Lut is the Lot of the English Bible. His story is biblical, but freed from some shameful features which are a blot on the biblical narrative, (e.g., see Gen. xix. 30-36). He was a nephew of Abraham, and was sent as a Prophet and warner to the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, cities utterly destroyed for their unspeakable sins. They cannot be exactly located, but it may be supposed that they were somewhere in the plain cast of the Dead Sea. The story of their destruction is told in the 19th chapter of Genesis. Two angels in the shape of handsome young men came to Lot in the evening and became his guests by night. The inhabitants of Sodom in their lust for unnatural crime invaded Lot's house but were repulsed. In the morning, the angels warned Lot to escape with his family. "Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven; and He overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground. But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt." (Gen. xix. 24-26). Note that Lot's people are the people to whom he is sent on a mission. He was not one of their own brethren, as was Salih or Shu'aib. But he looked upon his people as his brethren (I. 13), as a man of God always does.}}</ref> 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 [[Moses in Islam|Moses]]

===142 Golden Calf===
The incident of the Golden Calf as narrated in '''Q7:142''' paints  a positive light on [[Aaron#Islam|Aaron]]. The Quran says that Aaron was entrusted the leadership of Israel while Moses was up on [[Mount Sinai]] ({{langx|ar|طُـور سِـيـنـاء}}, ''tur sina’'') for a period of forty days .<ref name="Cite quran|7|103|e=156|s=ns">{{cite quran|7|103|e=156|s=ns}}</ref> [[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 [[Muhammad]] were present in the [[Jewish law]] and [[Gospel]].

===[[۩]] 206 Prostration=== 
This final verse, verse 206, requires a [[sajdah]], or prostration.

:[[۝]]<ref>[[Arabic script in Unicode]] symbol for a Quran verse, U+06DD, page 3, [http://www.evertype.com/standards/iso10646/pdf/09419-encode-koranic.pdf Proposal for additional Unicode characters]</ref> Moreover ''the angels'' who are with my LORD do not proudly disdain his service, but they celebrate his praise and worship him.<ref>Q7:206 [[George Sale translation]]</ref><ref>[[Sahih International]]:  ''[https://quran.com/7/206 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.</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Islamic - Text Page with Illuminated Heading - Walters W55232B - Full Page.jpg|Folio from [[Walters Art Museum|Walter]]s manuscript W.552 with a text page containing an illuminated heading in gold ink for chapter 7
</gallery>

==See also==
*''[[Al Aaraaf]]'' — a poem based on it by [[Edgar Allan Poe]]
* [[Limbo]]
* [[Purgatory]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*{{wikisource-inline|The Holy Qur'an (Maulana Muhammad Ali)/7. The Elevated Places}}
* [https://www.islamawakened.com/quran/7/48/ Q7:48], 50+ translations, islamawakened.com

{{Sura|7|[[Al-An'am]]|[[Al-Anfal]]}}
{{Adam and Eve}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Chapters in the Quran|A'raf]]
[[Category:Satan in religious literature|A'raf]]
[[Category:Adam and Eve]]
[[Category:Muqattaʿat suras|A'raf]]