In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Summary of Tafsir al-Tabari.
Abridged by Dr. 'Aqil ibn Salim al-Shammari.
Surah al-A'raf.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
"And to 'Ad [We sent] their brother Hud."
"He said, 'O my people, worship Allah; you have no deity other than Him."
"Will you not then fear Him?'"
We sent to the tribe of 'Ad their brother Hud.
Hud said:
"O my people, worship Allah alone, devoting your worship exclusively to Him,"
"for you have no deity other than Him."
"Will you not fear your Lord and beware of Him,"
"dreading His punishment if you worship others alongside Him?"
"The eminent leaders who disbelieved among his people said,"
“The chieftains of his people, who were disbelieving, said: Lo! we surely see thee in foolishness, and lo! we deem thee of the liars.” (7:66)
"in foolishness,"
“The chieftains of his people, who were disbelieving, said: Lo! we surely see thee in foolishness, and lo! we deem thee of the liars.” (7:66)
The prominent leaders who denied the oneness of Allah said:
"O Hud, we surely see that you are in clear error regarding the truth,"
"by abandoning our religion,"
"and we certainly think you are among the liars in what you claim."
“Moses said: O Pharaoh! Lo! I am a messenger from the Lord of the Worlds,” (7:104)
“He said: O my people! There is no foolishness in me, but I am a messenger from the Lord of the Worlds.” (7:67)
"He said, 'O my people, there is no foolishness in me," but I am a messenger from the Lord of the worlds.
“He said: O my people! There is no error in me, but I am a messenger from the Lord of the Worlds.” (7:61)
"Rather, I am a messenger sent to you from the Lord of the worlds."
"I convey to you the messages of my Lord,"
"and deliver them to you just as He commanded me to do."
“I convey unto you the messages of my Lord and am for you a true adviser.” (7:68)
"I deliver this message to you, O my people,"
"and I am a sincere advisor to you in my affair."
"So accept my advice, for I am a trustworthy custodian of Allah's revelation,"
"neither lying about it, nor adding to it, nor altering it."
"Do you wonder that a reminder from your Lord has come to you"
"through a man from among yourselves, to warn you?"
"And remember when He made you successors after the people of Noah,"
“Marvel ye that there should come unto you a Reminder from your Lord by means of a man among you, that he may warn you? Remember how He made you viceroys after Noah's folk, and gave you growth of stature. Remember (all) the bounties of your Lord, that haply ye may be successful.” (7:69)
“Marvel ye that there should come unto you a Reminder from your Lord by means of a man among you, that he may warn you? Remember how He made you viceroys after Noah's folk, and gave you growth of stature. Remember (all) the bounties of your Lord, that haply ye may be successful.” (7:69)
Do you marvel that Allah sent down His revelation
as a reminder to turn you away from your current misguidance,
through a man from among yourselves, to warn you of Allah's severe punishment?
Remember the torment that befell the people of Noah,
for your Lord made you successors on the earth after them;
when He destroyed them, He replaced them with you,
and increased you in stature and physical might beyond the people of Noah.
So remember His blessings and favor upon you,
and thank Allah for that by devoting your worship sincerely to Him alone,
so that you may succeed, attain eternal bliss in the Hereafter,
and achieve all that you seek from Him.
“They said: Hast come unto us that we should serve Allah alone, and forsake what our fathers worshipped? Then bring upon us that wherewith thou threatenest us if thou art of the truthful!” (7:70)
“They said: Hast come unto us that we should serve Allah alone, and forsake what our fathers worshipped? Then bring upon us that wherewith thou threatenest us if thou art of the truthful!” (7:70)
“They said: Hast come unto us that we should serve Allah alone, and forsake what our fathers worshipped? Then bring upon us that wherewith thou threatenest us if thou art of the truthful!” (7:70)
"Then bring upon us what you threaten us with, if you are truthful."
'Ad said:
"Have you come to us so that we should worship Allah alone,"
"and abandon the worship of the deities and idols"
"that our forefathers used to worship,"
"and disavow them?"
"We will never do that,"
"nor will we follow you in what you call us to."
"So bring upon us the punishment you threaten us with,"
"if you are truthful in what you say and promise."
“He said: Terror and wrath from your Lord have already fallen on you. Would ye wrangle with me over names which ye have named, ye and your fathers, for which no warrant from Allah hath been revealed? Then await (the consequence), lo! I (also) am of those awaiting (it).” (7:71)
“He said: Terror and wrath from your Lord have already fallen on you. Would ye wrangle with me over names which ye have named, ye and your fathers, for which no warrant from Allah hath been revealed? Then await (the consequence), lo! I (also) am of those awaiting (it).” (7:71)
"names you have named, you and your forefathers."
“He said: Terror and wrath from your Lord have already fallen on you. Would ye wrangle with me over names which ye have named, ye and your fathers, for which no warrant from Allah hath been revealed? Then await (the consequence), lo! I (also) am of those awaiting (it).” (7:71)
"So wait; indeed, I am with you among those who wait."
Hud said to his people:
"Punishment and wrath from Allah have already become binding upon you."
"Do you dispute with me and your forefathers over mere names you assigned to idols that can neither harm nor benefit?"
"Allah has sent down no authority or proof for your worship of them."
"So wait for Allah's judgment concerning us and you;"
"indeed, I am waiting alongside you for His decree and decisive judgment between us."
“And We saved him and those with him by a mercy from Us, and We cut the root of those who denied Our revelations and were not believers.” (7:72)
So We saved Hud and those with him who believed, through mercy from Us,
and We utterly destroyed those who denied Our signs—every last one of them—leaving none remaining,
for they were not believers in Allah nor in His messenger, Hud.
And to Thamud, We sent their brother Salih.
He said, "O my people, worship Allah; you have no deity other than Him.
There has come to you clear evidence from your Lord.
This is the she-camel of Allah, a sign for you.
So leave her to eat in Allah's land."
“And to (the tribe of) Thamud (We sent) their brother Salih. He said: O my people! Serve Allah. Ye have no other Allah save Him. A wonder from your Lord hath come unto you. Lo! this is the camel of Allah, a token unto you; so let her feed in Allah's earth, and touch her not with hurt lest painful torment seize you.” (7:73)
“And We verily sent unto Thamud their brother Salih, saying: Worship Allah. And lo! they (then became two parties quarrelling.” (27:45)
Salih said to Thamud:
"O my people, worship Allah alone, without any partner,"
"for you have no deity that you are permitted to worship other than Him."
"A clear proof and evidence has come to you confirming the truth of what I say;"
"and my proof for what I preach"
"is this she-camel, which Allah brought forth from this rock hill."
"Do not touch the she-camel of Allah with harm by hamstringing or slaughtering her,"
"lest a painful punishment seize you."
"And remember when He made you successors after 'Ad"
“And remember how He made you viceroys after A'ad and gave you station in the earth. Ye choose castles in the plains and hew the mountains into dwellings. So remember (all) the bounties of Allah and do not evil, making mischief in the earth.” (7:74)
"and you carve mansions out of the mountains."
“And remember how He made you viceroys after A'ad and gave you station in the earth. Ye choose castles in the plains and hew the mountains into dwellings. So remember (all) the bounties of Allah and do not evil, making mischief in the earth.” (7:74)
Remember, O people, Allah's favor upon you
when He made you successors in the land after the destruction of 'Ad,
settling you in the earth and granting you dwellings and spouses therein;
you build palaces on its plains and carve homes out of the mountains.
It is mentioned that they used to hew out rocks to serve as habitations.
So remember the blessings that Allah has bestowed upon you,
and do not spread corruption in the land.
“The chieftains of his people, who were scornful, said unto those whom they despised, unto such of them as believed: Know ye that Salih is one sent from his Lord? They said: Lo! In that wherewith he hath been sent we are believers.” (7:75)
“The chieftains of his people, who were scornful, said unto those whom they despised, unto such of them as believed: Know ye that Salih is one sent from his Lord? They said: Lo! In that wherewith he hath been sent we are believers.” (7:75)
“The chieftains of his people, who were scornful, said unto those whom they despised, unto such of them as believed: Know ye that Salih is one sent from his Lord? They said: Lo! In that wherewith he hath been sent we are believers.” (7:75)
“Those who were scornful said: Lo! in that which ye believe we are disbelievers.” (7:76)
The arrogant leaders among the people of Salih said to the downtrodden believers:
"Do you actually know that Salih is sent from his Lord, sent by Allah to us and to you?"
The vulnerable ones who believed in Salih replied:
"Indeed, in the truth with which Allah has sent Salih,"
"we are firm believers that it is truly from Allah."
Those who arrogantly defied the command of Allah and His messenger Salih said:
"O people, as for what you believe in regarding the prophethood of Salih,"
"we reject and deny it; we neither believe in it nor acknowledge it."
“So they hamstrung the she-camel, and they flouted the commandment of their Lord, and they said: O Salih! Bring upon us that thou threatenest if thou art indeed of those sent (from Allah).” (7:77)
“So they hamstrung the she-camel, and they flouted the commandment of their Lord, and they said: O Salih! Bring upon us that thou threatenest if thou art indeed of those sent (from Allah).” (7:77)
Then Thamud hamstrung the she-camel that Allah had made a sign for them,
and haughtily turned away from following Allah's command,
saying, "O Salih, bring upon us that punishment and vengeance of Allah which you threaten us with,"
"if you are truly a messenger sent from Allah to us."
They said this out of defiance, seeking to hasten the punishment.
So the mighty blast seized those of Thamud who hamstrung the she-camel—
the devastating shockwave that shook them violently and brought about their destruction—
and they lay lifeless in their home, where they perished,
fallen prostrate, completely motionless,
because their souls had departed and they had perished entirely.
“And (Salih) turned from them and said: O my people! I delivered my Lord's message unto you and gave you good advice, but ye love not good advisers.” (7:79)
“And (Salih) turned from them and said: O my people! I delivered my Lord's message unto you and gave you good advice, but ye love not good advisers.” (7:79)
So Salih turned away from them when they rushed the punishment and hamstrung Allah's she-camel,
departing from their land,
and said to his people:
"I have conveyed to you what my Lord commanded me to deliver of His commands and prohibitions,"
"and I advised you sincerely in delivering Allah's message to you,"
"but you do not like those who give you sincere advice for the sake of Allah,"
"because we forbade you from following your vain desires."
And We sent Lut, when he said to his people:
"Do you commit such an abomination"
"as no one in the worlds has ever committed before you?"
Their abomination was engaging in homosexual acts.
"Indeed, you approach men with lust instead of women."
O people, you approach men carnally out of lust,
ignoring the women Allah has made lawful for you.
You are indeed a transgressing people, committing what Allah has forbidden to you
and disobeying Him through your conduct.
Despite this, you approach men with lust instead of women;
despite this, you approach men with lust instead of women,
disobeying Him through this act of yours.
“And the answer of his people was only that they said (one to another): Turn them out of your township. They are folk, forsooth, who keep pure.” (7:82)
"Indeed, they are a people who keep themselves pure."
But the only response of Lut's people was
that they said to one another:
"Expel Lut and his family from your town!"
"For Lut and those who follow him are people who abstain from what we practice,"
namely, approaching men carnally.
So when the people of Lut refused the message of his Lord prohibiting that act upon them,
We saved Lut and his family who believed in him,
except his wife, who was among those who remained behind in Allah's punishment.
And We rained down upon the people of Lut stones of baked clay,
destroying them thereby.
So observe, O Muhammad, the end of those who denied Allah and His messenger,
committing sinful acts against Allah—see how terrible their fate was and what became of them.
"Do not deprive people of their due goods,"
"and do not cause corruption in the land after its reformation."
“And unto Midian (We sent) their brother, Shu'eyb. He said: O my people! Serve Allah. Ye have no other Allah save Him. Lo! a clear proof hath come unto you from your Lord; so give full measure and full weight and wrong not mankind in their goods, and work not confusion in the earth after the fair ordering thereof. That will be better for you, if ye are believers.” (7:85)
And to Madyan We sent their brother Shu'ayb, calling them to the obedience of Allah.
Shu'ayb said to them:
"O my people, worship Allah alone, who has no partner;"
"you have no deity worthy of worship other than the Creator who created you."
"A clear sign and proof has come to you from Allah confirming the truth of what I say."
"Give full measure to people with the scale you measure with,"
"and give full weight with the balance you weigh with."
"Do not deprive people of their rights, nor defraud them of their goods,"
"and do not commit sins in Allah's land"
"after Allah set the earth right by sending the Prophet (peace be upon him) among you,"
"who forbids you from what is unlawful and detestable to Allah."
"This which I have commanded you"
"is far better for you in your present worldly life and in the Hereafter,"
"if you truly believe in what I tell you"
"and in what I convey to you from Allah regarding His commands and prohibitions."
“Lurk not on every road to threaten (wayfarers), and to turn away from Allah's path him who believeth in Him, and to seek to make it crooked. And remember, when ye were but few, how He did multiply you. And see the nature of the consequence for the corrupters!” (7:86)
“Lurk not on every road to threaten (wayfarers), and to turn away from Allah's path him who believeth in Him, and to seek to make it crooked. And remember, when ye were but few, how He did multiply you. And see the nature of the consequence for the corrupters!” (7:86)
“Lurk not on every road to threaten (wayfarers), and to turn away from Allah's path him who believeth in Him, and to seek to make it crooked. And remember, when ye were but few, how He did multiply you. And see the nature of the consequence for the corrupters!” (7:86)
“Lurk not on every road to threaten (wayfarers), and to turn away from Allah's path him who believeth in Him, and to seek to make it crooked. And remember, when ye were but few, how He did multiply you. And see the nature of the consequence for the corrupters!” (7:86)
"And do not lie in wait on every path, threatening believers with death"
"and turning away from faith in Allah and from righteous deeds those who believe in Allah and affirm His oneness,"
"seeking to make Allah's straight path appear crooked, deviating from truth to misguidance."
“Lurk not on every road to threaten (wayfarers), and to turn away from Allah's path him who believeth in Him, and to seek to make it crooked. And remember, when ye were but few, how He did multiply you. And see the nature of the consequence for the corrupters!” (7:86)
"So thank Allah, who has blessed you with that favor,"
"and consider the retribution that befell the former nations before you"
"when they transgressed against their Lord and disobeyed His messengers."
“And if there is a party of you which believeth in that wherewith I have been sent, and there is a party which believeth not, then have patience until Allah judge between us. He is the Best of all who deal in judgment.” (7:87)
“And if there is a party of you which believeth in that wherewith I have been sent, and there is a party which believeth not, then have patience until Allah judge between us. He is the Best of all who deal in judgment.” (7:87)
"And He is the Best of Judges."
"If a group among you believes in that with which I have been sent—"
"namely, devoting worship sincerely to Allah and abandoning disobedience to Him—"
"while another group disbelieves and refuses to follow me,"
"then be patient until Allah passes His decisive judgment between us and you;"
"for Allah is the Best of Deciders and the most just of judges,"
"since His judgment is entirely free from bias or favoritism toward anyone."
Summary of Tafsir al-Tabari.