Al-A'raf (ٱلْأَعْرَاف)

Surah Al-A'raf (الْأَعْرَاف) is the 7th chapter (surah) of the blessed Quran. Al-A'raf means the elevated place. Since the surah was revealed in Makkah before the Holy Prophet (ﷺ) migrated to Madinah, it is a Makki surah. It has a total of 206 ayaat (verses) and is spread into 2 juz/paraas and 24 ruku (Ayaah 10, 25, 31, 39, 47, 53, 58, 64, 72, 84, 93, 99, 108, 126, 129, 141, 147, 151, 157, 162, 171, 181, 188, 206). This surah starts with Huroof-e-Muqattat, the disjointed letters: Alif, Lam, Mim, and Sad. 

Surah Al-A'raf was revealed to show the Muslims how it was Allah who created Prophet Adam and his wife Hawwa (Eve) and how Shaytaan strayed them away from Allah's instructions. It serves as a warning to the disbelievers who disobey Allah and reminds the believers about the final day of judgment along with the fact that the Holy Prophet (ﷺ) is the last messenger for all of mankind. The surah is named Al-A'raf after the place between the heaven and hell.

٧ - ٱلْأَعْرَاف

7 - Al-A'raf

الۗمّۗصۗ۝۱ۚ
Aliflammeemsad

English

Ahmed Ali

Alif Lam Mim Sad.

1

كِتٰبٌ اُنْزِلَ اِلَيْكَ فَلَا يَكُنْ فِيْ صَدْرِكَ حَرَجٌ مِّنْہُ لِتُنْذِرَ بِہٖ وَذِكْرٰي لِلْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ۝۲
Kitabun onzila ilayka fala yakun fee sadrika harajun minhu litunthira bihi wathikra lilmumineena

English

Ahmed Ali

This Book has been sent down to you; so do not hesitate to warn (the unbelievers) through it, and remind the faithful.

2

اِتَّبِعُوْا مَاۗ اُنْزِلَ اِلَيْكُمْ مِّنْ رَّبِّكُمْ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوْا مِنْ دُوْنِہٖۗ اَوْلِيَاۗءَ۝۰ۭ قَلِيْلًا مَّا تَذَكَّرُوْنَ۝۳
IttabiAAoo ma onzila ilaykum min rabbikum wala tattabiAAoo min doonihi awliyaa qaleelan ma tathakkaroona

English

Ahmed Ali

Follow what has been revealed to you by your Lord, and do not follow any other lord apart from Him. Yet little do you care to remember.

3

وَكَمْ مِّنْ قَرْيَۃٍ اَہْلَكْنٰہَا فَجَاۗءَہَا بَاْسُـنَا بَيَاتًا اَوْ ہُمْ قَاۗىِٕلُوْنَ۝۴
Wakam min qaryatin ahlaknaha fajaaha basuna bayatan aw hum qailoona

English

Ahmed Ali

Many a habitation have We laid low before: Our retribution came upon them in the night or in the midst of siesta at noon.

4

فَمَا كَانَ دَعْوٰىہُمْ اِذْ جَاۗءَہُمْ بَاْسُـنَاۗ اِلَّاۗ اَنْ قَالُوْۗا اِنَّا كُنَّا ظٰلِـمِيْنَ۝۵
Fama kana daAAwahum ith jaahum basuna illa an qaloo inna kunna thalimeena

English

Ahmed Ali

And when Our punishment overtook them they had nothing to say except crying out: "We have indeed been sinners."

5

فَلَنَسْــــَٔـلَنَّ الَّذِيْنَ اُرْسِلَ اِلَيْہِمْ وَلَنَسْــــَٔـلَنَّ الْمُرْسَلِيْنَ۝۶ۙ
Falanasalanna allatheena orsila ilayhim walanasalanna almursaleena

English

Ahmed Ali

(On the Day of Reckoning) We shall question the people to whom We had sent Our apostles, (if they followed their teachings), and will question the apostles.

6

فَلَنَقُصَّنَّ عَلَيْہِمْ بِعِلْمٍ وَّمَا كُنَّا غَاۗىِٕبِيْنَ۝۷
Falanaqussanna AAalayhim biAAilmin wama kunna ghaibeena

English

Ahmed Ali

We shall recount (their deeds) to them with knowledge, for We were never absent (and saw all they did).

7

وَالْوَزْنُ يَوْمَىِٕذِۨ الْحَقُّ۝۰ۚ فَمَنْ ثَقُلَتْ مَوَازِيْنُہٗ فَاُولٰۗىِٕكَ ہُمُ الْمُفْلِحُوْنَ۝۸
Waalwaznu yawmaithini alhaqqu faman thaqulat mawazeenuhu faolaika humu almuflihoona

English

Ahmed Ali

And the weighing will be just on that Day. Then those whose (deeds) are heavier in the balance will find fulfilment,

8

وَمَنْ خَفَّتْ مَوَازِيْنُہٗ فَاُولٰۗىِٕكَ الَّذِيْنَ خَسِرُوْۗا اَنْفُسَہُمْ بِمَا كَانُوْا بِاٰيٰتِنَا يَظْلِمُوْنَ۝۹
Waman khaffat mawazeenuhu faolaika allatheena khasiroo anfusahum bima kanoo biayatina yathlimoona

English

Ahmed Ali

And those whose (deeds) are lighter in the scale shall perish for violating Our signs.

9

وَلَقَدْ مَكَّنّٰكُمْ فِي الْاَرْضِ وَجَعَلْنَا لَكُمْ فِيْہَا مَعَايِشَ۝۰ۭ قَلِيْلًا مَّا تَشْكُرُوْنَ۝۱۰ۧ
Walaqad makkannakum fee alardi wajaAAalna lakum feeha maAAayisha qaleelan ma tashkuroona

English

Ahmed Ali

We settled you on the earth, and provided means of livelihood for you in it; but little are the thanks you give.

10

Theme and Subject Matter of Surah Al-A'raf (الْأَعْرَاف)

The surah was revealed as an invitation to the divine message that was sent down to the Holy Prophet (ﷺ). After the Prophet had spent 13 years guiding the disbelievers in Makkah towards the righteous path of Islam, he observed no effect on them because they were antagonistic and engulfed in the path of evil. This was when Surah Al-A'raf was revealed to warn them to accept the Holy Prophet's (ﷺ) message of Islam, and a firm warning was given to them about what consequences they would be met with if they continued down the path of evil without listening to the Holy Prophet's (ﷺ) message. 

Since the surah was revealed when the Prophet was about to receive Allah's command to migrate to Madinah, the last portion of the surah addresses the people of the book who the Prophet (ﷺ) was going to address and guide once he was in Madinah. The hypocritical behavior of the Jews is also addressed by discussing how even though they claimed to follow the teachings of Prophet Musa عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ, their actions clearly opposed his teachings by worshipping falsehoods.

The Prophet (ﷺ) and his companions are also instructed to remain patient and not give in to the disbelievers' provocations. The believers were also going through a challenging time when the surah was revealed due to the attitude of the disbelievers. Through Al-A'raf, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) also instructed them to be cautious and not indulge in any action that may harm their noble cause of Islam.

Virtues & Benefits of Reciting Surah Al-A'raf (الْأَعْرَاف)

Reciting the blessed Quran is bound to bring a believer unlimited blessings and Allah's mercy. Here are some of the benefits you can get from reciting Surah Al-Araf:

Reciting the Quran brings one tranquillity and peace while also helping relieve conditions such as anxiety and depression. Allah says in the Quran:

"Those who believe and find peace in their hearts from the contemplation of God: Surely there is peace of heart in the contemplation of God!" (13:28)

The Quran protects the believers from Hellfire:

Abu Hurrairah had reported the Prophet (ﷺ) to have said:

"Read the Qur'an, for it will come as an intercessor for its reciters on the Day of Resurrection." – Riyad-as-Salihin 991

Scholars report reciting the following verse from Surah Al A'raf can be beneficial for believers who sleep less during the night or suffer from sleep conditions such as insomnia.

"Indeed, your Lord is Allah, who created the heavens and the earth in six days and then settled on the Throne. He draws the night's cover over the day, which pursues it swiftly, and [He created] the sun, the moon, and the stars, [all of them] disposed of by His command. Look! All creation and command belong to Him. Blessed is Allah, the Lord of all the worlds."

Recitation of the Quran helps one earn forgiveness from Allah.

If you struggle with feelings of guilt, shame, or regret due to any wrongdoings or sins you may have committed, reciting the Quran can help relieve your feelings and help gain Allah's forgiveness. Indeed, Allah is the most merciful.

"Surely those who read the Book of God, are firm in devotion, and spend of what We have given them in secret or openly, can hope for a commerce that will not decline" – (35:29)

According to scholars, the recitation of Surah Al A'raf also brings barakah to your livelihood and whatever you do in life.