7. Al-A'raaf

And of those whom We have created, there is a community who guides (others) with the truth, and establishes justice therewith.) Allah sai (181)

وَمِمَّنْ خَلَقْنَا

(And of those whom We have created), in reference to some nations,

أُمَّةٌ

(a community), that stands in truth, in words and action,

يَهْدُونَ بِالْحَقِّ

(who guides (others) with the truth), they proclaim it and call to it,

وَبِهِ يَعْدِلُونَ

(and establishes justice therewith), adhere to it themselves and judge by it. It was reported that this Ayah refers to the Ummah of Muhammad ﷺ.

In the Two Sahihs, it is recorded that Mu'awiyah bin Abi Sufyan said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

لَا تَزَالُ طَائِفَةٌ مِنْ أُمَّتِي ظَاهِرِينَ عَلَى الْحَقِّ لَا يَضُرُّهُمْ مَنْ خَذَلَهُمْ وَلَا مَنْ خَالَفَهُمْ حَتَّى تَقُومَ السَّاعَةُ

(There will always be a group of my Ummah who are apparent on the Truth, unabated by those who fail or oppose them, until the (Last) Hour commences.)

In another narration, the Messenger ﷺ said,

حَتَّى يَأْتِيَ أَمْرُ اللهِ وَهُمْ عَلَى ذَلِكَ

(Until Allah's command (the Last Hour) comes while they are still like this.) and in yet another narration,

وَهُمْ بِالشَّامِ

(And they will dwell in Ash-Sham (Greater Syria).)

Those who reject Our Ayat, We shall gradually seize them with punishment in ways they perceive not (182)And I respite them; certainly My plan is strong.) Allah sai (183)

وَالَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا سَنَسْتَدْرِجُهُم مِّنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

(Those who reject Our Ayat, We shall gradually seize them in ways they perceive not) meaning, the doors of provisions will be opened for them and also the means of livelihood, in this life. They will be deceived by all this and think that they are on the correct path. Allah said in another instance,

فَلَمَّا نَسُوا مَا ذُكِّرُوا بِهِ فَتَحْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ أَبْوَابَ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا فَرِحُوا بِمَا أُوتُوا أَخَذْنَاهُم بَغْتَةً فَإِذَا هُم مُّبْلِسُونَ - فَقُطِعَ دَابِرُ الْقَوْمِ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

(So, when they forgot (the warning) with which they had been reminded, We opened for them the gates of every (pleasant) thing, until in the midst of their enjoyment in that which they were given, all of a sudden, We took them (in punishment), and lo! They were plunged into destruction with deep regrets and sorrow. So the root of the people who did wrong was cut off. And all the praises and thanks are to Allah, the Lord of all that exists.)[6:44-45]. Allah said here,

وَأُمْلِي لَهُمْ

(And I respite them) prolong what they are in,

إِنَّ كَيْدِي مَتِينٌ

(certainly My plan is strong) and perfect.

Those who reject Our Ayat, We shall gradually seize them with punishment in ways they perceive not (182)And I respite them; certainly My plan is strong.) Allah sai (183)

وَالَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا سَنَسْتَدْرِجُهُم مِّنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

(Those who reject Our Ayat, We shall gradually seize them in ways they perceive not) meaning, the doors of provisions will be opened for them and also the means of livelihood, in this life. They will be deceived by all this and think that they are on the correct path. Allah said in another instance,

فَلَمَّا نَسُوا مَا ذُكِّرُوا بِهِ فَتَحْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ أَبْوَابَ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا فَرِحُوا بِمَا أُوتُوا أَخَذْنَاهُم بَغْتَةً فَإِذَا هُم مُّبْلِسُونَ - فَقُطِعَ دَابِرُ الْقَوْمِ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

(So, when they forgot (the warning) with which they had been reminded, We opened for them the gates of every (pleasant) thing, until in the midst of their enjoyment in that which they were given, all of a sudden, We took them (in punishment), and lo! They were plunged into destruction with deep regrets and sorrow. So the root of the people who did wrong was cut off. And all the praises and thanks are to Allah, the Lord of all that exists.)[6:44-45]. Allah said here,

وَأُمْلِي لَهُمْ

(And I respite them) prolong what they are in,

إِنَّ كَيْدِي مَتِينٌ

(certainly My plan is strong) and perfect.

Do they not look in the dominion of the heavens and the earth and all things that Allah has created; and that it may be that the end of their lives is near. In what message after this will they then believe (185)

Allah asks, those who denied faith, did they not contemplate about Our Ayat in the kingdom of the heavens and earth and what was created in them? Do they not contemplate about all this and learn lessons from it, so that they are certain that He Who has all this, has no equal or rival? All this was made by He Who Alone deserves the worship and sincere religion, so that they might have faith in Him and believe in His Messenger, all the while turning to Allah's obedience, rejecting any rivals to Him, and rejecting idols. They should be warned that their lifes may have reached their end, and they, thus, face their demise while disbelievers, ending up in Allah's torment and severe punishment. Allah said,

فَبِأَيِّ حَدِيثٍ بَعْدَهُ يُؤْمِنُونَ

(In what message after this will they then believe?)

Allah says, what more warnings, and discouragements should compel them to believe, if the warnings and threats that Muhammad ﷺ brought them from Allah in His Book do not compel them to do so? Allah said next,

Whomsoever Allah sends astray, none can guide him; and He lets them wander blindly in their transgressions (186)

Allah says, those who were destined to be misguided, then none can lead them to guidance, and even if they try their best effort to gain such guidance, this will not avail them,

وَمَن يُرِدِ اللَّهُ فِتْنَتَهُ فَلَن تَمْلِكَ لَهُ مِنَ اللَّهِ شَيْئًا

(And whomsoever Allah wants to put in Fitnah (error, because of his rejecting of Faith, or trial), you can do nothing for him against Allah)[5:41], and,

قُلِ انظُرُوا مَاذَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَا تُغْنِي الْآيَاتُ وَالنُّذُرُ عَن قَوْمٍ لَّا يُؤْمِنُونَ

(Say: "Behold all that is in the heavens and the earth," but neither Ayat nor warners benefit those who believe not)[10:101].

They ask you about the Hour (Day of Resurrection): "When will be its appointed time?" Say: "The knowledge thereof is with my Lord (Alone). None can reveal its time but He. Heavy is its burden through the heavens and the earth. It shall not come upon you except all of a sudden." They ask you as if you have a good knowledge of it. Say: "The knowledge thereof is with Allah (Alone), but most of mankind know not. (187)

The Last Hour and its Portents

Allah said here,

يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ السَّاعَةِ

(They ask you about the Hour), just as He said in another Ayah,

يَسْأَلُكَ النَّاسُ عَنِ السَّاعَةِ

(People ask you concerning the Hour)[33:63].

It was said that this Ayah was revealed about the Quraysh or the Jews, although it appears that it was about the Quraysh, because this Ayah was revealed in Makkah. The Quraysh used to ask about the Last Hour, because they used to deny it and discount its coming. For instance, Allah said in another Ayah,

وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَىٰ هَٰذَا الْوَعْدُ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ

(And they say: "When will be this promise (the torment or the Day of Resurrection), if you speak the truth?")[10:48], and,

يَسْتَعْجِلُ بِهَا الَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِهَا وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مُشْفِقُونَ مِنْهَا وَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهَا الْحَقُّ أَلَا إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يُمَارُونَ فِي السَّاعَةِ لَفِي ضَلَالٍ بَعِيدٍ

(Those who believe not therein seek to hasten it, while those who believe are fearful of it, and know that it is the very truth. Verily, those who dispute concerning the Hour are certainly in error far away)[42:18].

Allah said here (that the Quraysh asked),

أَيَّانَ مُرْسَاهَا

("When will be its appointed time?") in reference to its commencement, according to 'Ali bin Abi Talhah who reported this from Ibn 'Abbas. They asked about the Hour's appointed term and when the end of this world will begin;

قُلْ إِنَّمَا عِلْمُهَا عِندَ رَبِّي لَا يُجَلِّيهَا لِوَقْتِهَا إِلَّا هُوَ

(Say: "The knowledge thereof is with my Lord (Alone). None can reveal its time but He.")

Allah commanded His Messenger ﷺ that when asked about the appointed term of the Last Hour, he referred its knowledge to Allah, the Exalted. Only Allah knows the Last Hour's appointed term and when it will certainly occur, and none besides Him has this knowledge,

ثَقُلَتْ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ

(Heavy is its burden through the heavens and the earth)

'Abdur-Razzaq narrated that Ma'mar said that Qatadah commented on this Ayah,

ثَقُلَتْ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ

(Heavy is its burden through the heavens and the earth)

"Its knowledge is heavy on the residents of the heavens and earth, they do not have knowledge in it." Also, Ma'mar said that Al-Hasan commented on this Ayah, "When the Last Hour comes, it will be heavy on the residents of the heavens and earth."

Ad-Dahhak said that Ibn 'Abbas explained this Ayah,

ثَقُلَتْ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ

(Heavy is its burden through the heavens and the earth,) saying, "All creatures will suffer its heaviness on the Day of Resurrection." Ibn Jurayj also said about this Ayah,

ثَقُلَتْ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ

(Heavy is its burden through the heavens and the earth.)

"When it commences, the heavens will be …

Say : "I possess no power over benefit or harm to myself except as Allah wills. If I had the knowledge of the Ghayb (Unseen), I should have secured for myself an abundance of wealth, and no evil should have touched me. I am but a warner, and a bringer of glad tidings unto people who believe. (188)

The Messenger (ﷺ) does not know the Unseen, and He cannot bring Benefit or Harm even to Himself

Allah commanded His Prophet ﷺ to entrust all matters to Him and to inform, about himself, that he does not know the unseen future, but he knows of it only what Allah informs him. Allah said in another Ayah,

عَالِمُ الْغَيْبِ فَلَا يُظْهِرُ عَلَىٰ غَيْبِهِ أَحَدًا

((He Alone is) the All-Knower of the Ghayb (Unseen), and He reveals to none His Ghayb.)[72:26]

Ad-Dahhak reported that Ibn 'Abbas said that,

وَلَوْ كُنتُ أَعْلَمُ الْغَيْبَ لَاسْتَكْثَرْتُ مِنَ الْخَيْرِ

(If I had the knowledge of the Ghayb (Unseen), I should have secured for myself an abundance of wealth.) refers to money. In another narration, Ibn 'Abbas commented, "I would have knowledge of how much profit I would make with what I buy, and I would always sell what I would make profit from,

وَمَا مَسَّنِيَ السُّوءُ

("and no evil should have touched me.") and poverty would never touch me." Ibn Jarir said, "And others said, 'This means that if I know the Unseen then I would prepare for the years of famine during the prosperous years, and in the time of high cost, I would have prepared for it.'" 'Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam also commented on this Ayah;

وَمَا مَسَّنِيَ السُّوءُ

("and no evil should have touched me."), "I would have avoided and saved myself from any type of harm before it comes." Allah then stated that the Prophet ﷺ is a warner and bearer of good news. He warns against the torment and brings good news of Paradise for the believers,

فَإِنَّمَا يَسَّرْنَاهُ بِلِسَانِكَ لِتُبَشِّرَ بِهِ الْمُتَّقِينَ وَتُنذِرَ بِهِ قَوْمًا لُّدًّا

(So We have made this (the Qur'an) easy on your tongue, only that you may give glad tidings to the pious, and warn with it the most quarrelsome of people.)[19:97]

It is He Who has created you from a single person, and (then) He has created from him his wife, in order that he might enjoy the pleasure of living with her. When he covered [had sexual relation with] her, she became pregnant and she carried it about (lightly). Then when it became heavy, they both invoked Allah, their Lord (saying): "If You give us a Salih (good in every aspect) child, we shall indeed be among the grateful. (189)But when He gave them a Salih child, they ascribed partners to Him (Allah) in that which He has given to them. High be Allah, Exalted above all that they ascribe as partners to Him (190)

All Mankind are the Offspring of Adam

Allah states that He has created all mankind from Adam, peace be upon him, and from Adam, He created his wife, Hawwa' and from them, people started to spread. Allah said in another Ayah,

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَاكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلْنَاكُمْ شُعُوبًا وَقَبَائِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوا إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ

(O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honorable of you with Allah is that (believer) who has Taqwa)[49:13], and,

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُوا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُم مِّن نَّفْسٍ وَاحِدَةٍ وَخَلَقَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا

(O mankind! Have Taqwa of your Lord, Who created you from a single person, and from him He created his wife.)[4:1]

In this honorable Ayah, Allah said;

وَجَعَلَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا لِيَسْكُنَ إِلَيْهَا

(And (then) He has created from him his wife, in order that he might enjoy the pleasure of living with her.) so that he is intimate and compassionate with her. Allah said in another Ayah,

وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ أَنْ خَلَقَ لَكُم مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَزْوَاجًا لِّتَسْكُنُوا إِلَيْهَا وَجَعَلَ بَيْنَكُم مَّوَدَّةً وَرَحْمَةً

(And among His Signs is this, that He created for you wives (spouses) from among yourselves, that you may find repose in them, and He has put between you affection and mercy.)[30:21]

Indeed, there is no intimacy between two souls like that between the spouses. This is why Allah mentioned that the sorcerer might be able with his trick to separate between a man and his wife [thus indicating the difficulty of separating them in normal circumstances]. Allah said next,

فَلَمَّا تَغَشَّاهَا

(When he covered her) meaning had sexual intercourses with her.

حَمَلَتْ حَمْلًا خَفِيفًا

(she became pregnant and she carried it about lightly) in reference to the first stage of pregnancy when the woman does not feel pain, for at that time, the fetus will be just a Nutfah (the mixture of the male and female discharge), then becomes an 'Alaqah (a piece of thick coagulated blood) and then a Mudghah (a small lump of flesh). Allah said next,

فَمَرَّتْ بِهِ

(and she carried it about), she continued the pregnancy, according to Mujahid. It was reported that Al-Hasan, Ibrahim An-Nakha'i and As-Suddi said similarly. Maymun bin Mahran reported that his father said, "She found the pregnancy unnoticeable." Ayyub said, "I asked Al-Hasan about the Ayah,

فَمَرَّتْ بِهِ

(and she carried it about) and he said, 'Had you been an Arab, you would …

It is He Who has created you from a single person, and (then) He has created from him his wife, in order that he might enjoy the pleasure of living with her. When he covered [had sexual relation with] her, she became pregnant and she carried it about (lightly). Then when it became heavy, they both invoked Allah, their Lord (saying): "If You give us a Salih (good in every aspect) child, we shall indeed be among the grateful. (189)But when He gave them a Salih child, they ascribed partners to Him (Allah) in that which He has given to them. High be Allah, Exalted above all that they ascribe as partners to Him (190)

All Mankind are the Offspring of Adam

Allah states that He has created all mankind from Adam, peace be upon him, and from Adam, He created his wife, Hawwa' and from them, people started to spread. Allah said in another Ayah,

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَاكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلْنَاكُمْ شُعُوبًا وَقَبَائِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوا إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ

(O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honorable of you with Allah is that (believer) who has Taqwa)[49:13], and,

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُوا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُم مِّن نَّفْسٍ وَاحِدَةٍ وَخَلَقَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا

(O mankind! Have Taqwa of your Lord, Who created you from a single person, and from him He created his wife.)[4:1]

In this honorable Ayah, Allah said;

وَجَعَلَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا لِيَسْكُنَ إِلَيْهَا

(And (then) He has created from him his wife, in order that he might enjoy the pleasure of living with her.) so that he is intimate and compassionate with her. Allah said in another Ayah,

وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ أَنْ خَلَقَ لَكُم مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَزْوَاجًا لِّتَسْكُنُوا إِلَيْهَا وَجَعَلَ بَيْنَكُم مَّوَدَّةً وَرَحْمَةً

(And among His Signs is this, that He created for you wives (spouses) from among yourselves, that you may find repose in them, and He has put between you affection and mercy.)[30:21]

Indeed, there is no intimacy between two souls like that between the spouses. This is why Allah mentioned that the sorcerer might be able with his trick to separate between a man and his wife [thus indicating the difficulty of separating them in normal circumstances]. Allah said next,

فَلَمَّا تَغَشَّاهَا

(When he covered her) meaning had sexual intercourses with her.

حَمَلَتْ حَمْلًا خَفِيفًا

(she became pregnant and she carried it about lightly) in reference to the first stage of pregnancy when the woman does not feel pain, for at that time, the fetus will be just a Nutfah (the mixture of the male and female discharge), then becomes an 'Alaqah (a piece of thick coagulated blood) and then a Mudghah (a small lump of flesh). Allah said next,

فَمَرَّتْ بِهِ

(and she carried it about), she continued the pregnancy, according to Mujahid. It was reported that Al-Hasan, Ibrahim An-Nakha'i and As-Suddi said similarly. Maymun bin Mahran reported that his father said, "She found the pregnancy unnoticeable." Ayyub said, "I asked Al-Hasan about the Ayah,

فَمَرَّتْ بِهِ

(and she carried it about) and he said, 'Had you been an Arab, you would …