Surah 7. Al-A'raf

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Verses [Section]: 1-10[1], 11-25 [2], 26-31 [3], 32-39 [4], 40-47 [5], 48-53 [6], 54-58 [7], 59-64 [8], 65-72 [9], 73-84 [10], 85-93 [11], 94-99 [12], 100-108 [13], 109-126 [14], 127-129 [15], 130-141 [16], 142-147 [17], 148-151 [18], 152-157 [19], 158-162 [20], 163-171 [21], 172-181 [22], 182-188 [23], 189-206 [24]

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Quran Text of Verse 94-99وَ مَاۤAnd notاَرْسَلْنَاWe sentفِیْinقَرْیَةٍa cityمِّنْ[of]نَّبِیٍّany ProphetاِلَّاۤexceptاَخَذْنَاۤWe seizedاَهْلَهَاits peopleبِالْبَاْسَآءِwith adversityوَ الضَّرَّآءِand hardshipلَعَلَّهُمْso that they mayیَضَّرَّعُوْنَ (become) humble ثُمَّThenبَدَّلْنَاWe changedمَكَانَ(in) placeالسَّیِّئَةِ(of) the badالْحَسَنَةَthe goodحَتّٰیuntilعَفَوْاthey increasedوَّ قَالُوْاand saidقَدْVerilyمَسَّ(had) touchedاٰبَآءَنَاour forefathersالضَّرَّآءُthe adversityوَ السَّرَّآءُand the easeفَاَخَذْنٰهُمْSo We seized themبَغْتَةًsuddenlyوَّ هُمْwhile theyلَا(did) notیَشْعُرُوْنَ perceive 7. Al-A'raf Page 163وَ لَوْAnd ifاَنَّ[that]اَهْلَpeopleالْقُرٰۤی(of) the citiesاٰمَنُوْا(had) believedوَ اتَّقَوْاand feared Allahلَفَتَحْنَاsurely We (would have) openedعَلَیْهِمْupon themبَرَكٰتٍblessingsمِّنَfromالسَّمَآءِthe heavenوَ الْاَرْضِand the earthوَ لٰكِنْbutكَذَّبُوْاthey deniedفَاَخَذْنٰهُمْSo We seized themبِمَاfor whatكَانُوْاthey used toیَكْسِبُوْنَ earn اَفَاَمِنَThen did feel secureاَهْلُ(the) peopleالْقُرٰۤی(of) the citiesاَنْthatیَّاْتِیَهُمْcomes to themبَاْسُنَاOur punishmentبَیَاتًا(at) nightوَّ هُمْwhile theyنَآىِٕمُوْنَؕ(were) asleep اَوَ اَمِنَOr felt secureاَهْلُ(the) peopleالْقُرٰۤی(of) the citiesاَنْthatیَّاْتِیَهُمْcomes to themبَاْسُنَاOur punishmentضُحًی(in) daylightوَّ هُمْwhile theyیَلْعَبُوْنَ (were) playing اَفَاَمِنُوْاThen did they feel secureمَكْرَ(from the) planاللّٰهِ ۚ(of) AllahفَلَاBut notیَاْمَنُfeel secureمَكْرَ(from the) planاللّٰهِ(of) Allahاِلَّاexceptالْقَوْمُthe peopleالْخٰسِرُوْنَ۠(who are) the losers

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Translation of Verse 94-99

94. And We did not send a prophet to a township but We did subject its people to tribulation and adversity so that they might grow humble.¹⁵⁰

95. Then We changed the adversity to ease, till they prospered and said: “Our fathers also had sufferings and prosperity.” Then we suddenly seized them, and they were unawares.¹⁵¹

96. And had the people of the townships believed and feared Allah, surely We would have opened for them¹⁵² blessings of the heavens and the earth, but they denied. So we seized them on account of what they earned.

97. Do the people of the townships feel secure that our punishment will not come to them at night while they are asleep?

98. Or do the people of the townships feel secure that our punishment will not come in broad daylight while they are playing?

99. Do they then feel secure from Allah’s secret plan?¹⁵³ But none can feel secure against Allah’s secret plan except those who are losers.

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Commentary

150. This has been explained in Note No.72 in Surah Al-An’am.

151. For explanation, please see Note No.74, Surah Al-An’am.

152. Good living conditions depend on plentiful production. and for plentiful production. enough rainfall and suitable weather conditions are necessary. For the weather conditions to be suitable is not in man’s power. It entirely depends on the will of Allah. If the people of a country or a region collectively believe in Allah and lead a righteous life. fearing Him, then Allah will make the weather conditions suitable for them and as a result of plentiful production they will enjoy good and healthy living conditions. And since this well being will be divinely blessed, it will be different from the well-being temporarily enjoyed by the unbelievers; their well-being is shortlived and is given to them as a respite, so that they may have their fill.

It is clear that the secret of the real well-being in the world lies in God-loving and not in world loving and materialistic beliefs.

153. Means that the punishment from Allah for a nation can come at a time when there are absolutely no signs of its coming, and people may be busy in building up their world so zealously that the unleashing of God’s wrath would be unthinkable at that time, but the secret hand of Allah is working against that nation, and He may bring about the causes of its destruction in such a way that they would not at all feel that anything is amiss. This is what is termed as Allah’s scheme.