Al-A'raf


Al-Araf is the seventh chapter of the Qur'an, with 206 verses. Regarding the timing and contextual background of the revelation, it is a "Meccan surah", which means it is believed to have been revealed in Mecca.
This chapter takes its name from verses 46-47 in which word appears.
According to Abul A'la Maududi time of its disclosure is about equivalent to that of Al-An'am, i. e., the last year of the Islamic prophet Muhammad's residence at Makkah, yet it can't be declared with assurance which of these two was uncovered before. Anyhow the manner of its admonition clearly indicates that it belongs to the same period and both have the same historical background. The audience should keep in mind the introduction to Al-An'am.

Contents

The chapter refers to Adam and Eve, Noah, Lot, Hud, Saleh, Shuaib, Moses and Aaron. The significant issues, Divine laws and points of guidance in this surah are as follows
  1. A greeting is given to the People of the Book to become Muslims.
  3. 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.
  5. The Jews are cautioned about the results of their deceptive lead towards the prophets.
  7. Precept to proliferate the message of Islam with astuteness.
  9. The fact that the Rasools just as the individuals to whom they are sent will be addressed on the Day of Judgment.
  11. Precept to the Believers that they should wear respectable and appropriate dress and eat pure and good food.
  13. Conversation between the inhabitants of Paradise, the prisoners of hell and the individuals of A'raf.
  15. Luxuriousness and difficulty are the ewminders from Allah.
  17. Muhammad is the Rasool for the entirety of humankind.
  19. The fact that the coming of Muhammad was depicted in Torah and the Gospel.
  21. Jews have created fabricated a wrong belief about Allah's creation.
  23. Humankind's declaration about Allah at the hour of Adam's creation.
  25. Allah made all of humankind from a single soul.
  27. Allah's command to show forgiveness, speak for justice and stay away from the ignorant.
  29. 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 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.

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.
AyaatSubject
1-10People have been welcome to follow the Message sent down to them through Muhammad and cautioned of the outcomes of its dismissal.
11-25The 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.
26-53These 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.
54-58As the Message has been sent from Allah, it ought to be followed, for it resembles the downpour He sends down to give life to the dead earth.
59-171Occasions from the lives of some notable prophets - Noah, Hud, Salih, Lot, Shu'aib, Moses - 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.
172-174As 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.
175-179The 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.
180-198Deviations 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 the Muhammad.
199-206Taking 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.

Exegesis

7:80-84 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!". 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.

7:103-156 Moses

The narrative focuses on the history of Moses

7:142 Golden Calf

The incident of the Golden Calf as narrated in Q7:142 paints a positive light on Aaron. The Quran says that Aaron was entrusted the leadership of Israel while Moses was up on Mount Sinai 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.

7:157 The coming of Muhammad

Verse 7:157 reveals that prophecies about the coming of Muhammad were present in the Jewish law and Gospel.

[۩] 7:206 Prostration

This final verse, verse 206, requires a sajdah, or prostration.

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