English Translation and Commentary of the Holy Quran (2010)
by Maulana Muhammad Ali
Chapter 7: Al-Araf — The Elevated Places (Revealed at Makkah: 24 sections, 206 verses)
Section 12 (Verses 7:94–7:99): Makkans Warned of Punishment
Translation:
وَ مَاۤ اَرۡسَلۡنَا فِیۡ قَرۡیَۃٍ مِّنۡ نَّبِیٍّ اِلَّاۤ اَخَذۡنَاۤ اَہۡلَہَا بِالۡبَاۡسَآءِ وَ الضَّرَّآءِ لَعَلَّہُمۡ یَضَّرَّعُوۡنَ ﴿۹۴﴾
7:94 And We did not send a prophet to a town but We seized its people with distress and affliction that they might humble themselves.1
ثُمَّ بَدَّلۡنَا مَکَانَ السَّیِّئَۃِ الۡحَسَنَۃَ حَتّٰی عَفَوۡا وَّ قَالُوۡا قَدۡ مَسَّ اٰبَآءَنَا الضَّرَّآءُ وَ السَّرَّآءُ فَاَخَذۡنٰہُمۡ بَغۡتَۃً وَّ ہُمۡ لَا یَشۡعُرُوۡنَ ﴿۹۵﴾
7:95 Then We changed the evil for good, till they became affluent and said: Distress and happiness did indeed touch our fathers. So We took them by surprise while they did not perceive.
وَ لَوۡ اَنَّ اَہۡلَ الۡقُرٰۤی اٰمَنُوۡا وَ اتَّقَوۡا لَفَتَحۡنَا عَلَیۡہِمۡ بَرَکٰتٍ مِّنَ السَّمَآءِ وَ الۡاَرۡضِ وَ لٰکِنۡ کَذَّبُوۡا فَاَخَذۡنٰہُمۡ بِمَا کَانُوۡا یَکۡسِبُوۡنَ ﴿۹۶﴾
7:96 And if the people of the towns had believed and kept their duty, We would certainly have opened for them blessings from the heavens and the earth. But they rejected, so We seized them for what they earned.
اَفَاَمِنَ اَہۡلُ الۡقُرٰۤی اَنۡ یَّاۡتِیَہُمۡ بَاۡسُنَا بَیَاتًا وَّ ہُمۡ نَآئِمُوۡنَ ﴿ؕ۹۷﴾
7:97 Are the people of the towns, then, secure from Our punishment coming to them by night while they sleep?
اَوَ اَمِنَ اَہۡلُ الۡقُرٰۤی اَنۡ یَّاۡتِیَہُمۡ بَاۡسُنَا ضُحًی وَّ ہُمۡ یَلۡعَبُوۡنَ ﴿۹۸﴾
7:98 Or, are the people of the towns secure from Our punishment coming to them in the morning while they play?2
اَفَاَمِنُوۡا مَکۡرَ اللّٰہِ ۚ فَلَا یَاۡمَنُ مَکۡرَ اللّٰہِ اِلَّا الۡقَوۡمُ الۡخٰسِرُوۡنَ ﴿٪۹۹﴾
7:99 Are they secure from Allah’s plan? But none feels secure from Allah’s plan except the people who perish.
Commentary:
- That the histories of the nations are meant as a warning to all opponents of truth is evident. It is also plain that even afflictions and distress sent on a people are meant for their spiritual betterment, that they might humble themselves. ↩︎
- The playing may be taken either literally or it may indicate the worldly engagements in which they were occupied to the utter neglect of higher aspirations. ↩︎