7. Al-A'raaf

Verily, those who have Taqwa, when an evil thought comes to them from Shaytan, they remember (Allah), and (indeed) they then see (aright)(201)But (as for) their brothers (the devils' brothers) they (the devils) plunge them deeper into error, and they never stop short (202)

The Whispering of Shaytan and the People of Taqwa

Allah mentions His servants who have Taqwa, obeying His orders, and avoid what He forbade:

إِذَا مَسَّهُمْ

(when comes to them) an evil thought, or anger, or the whispers of Shaytan cross their mind, or intend to err, or commit an error,

تَذَكَّرُوا

(they remember) Allah's punishment, as well as, His tremendous reward. They remember Allah's promises and threats, then repent, go back to Him, seek refuge with Him and ask for forgiveness before death,

فَإِذَا هُم مُّبْصِرُونَ

(and (indeed) they then see (aright)) they become aright and aware of the error of their ways.

A Brethren of Devils among Mankind lure to Falsehood

Allah said next,

وَإِخْوَانُهُمْ يَمُدُّونَهُمْ

(But (as for) their brothers they plunge them deeper) in reference to the devils' brothers among mankind. Allah said in another Ayah,

إِنَّ الْمُبَذِّرِينَ كَانُوا إِخْوَانَ الشَّيَاطِينِ

(Verily, the spendthrifts are brothers of the Shayatin)[17:27] for they are followers of the Shayatin, who listen to them and obey their orders.

يَمُدُّونَهُمْ فِي الْغَيِّ

(They plunge them deeper into error) the devils help them commit sins, making this path easy and appealing to them

ثُمَّ لَا يُقْصِرُونَ

(and they never stop short) for the devils never cease inciting mankind to commit errors. 'Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn 'Abbas commented on Allah's statement,

وَإِخْوَانُهُمْ يَمُدُّونَهُمْ فِي الْغَيِّ ثُمَّ لَا يُقْصِرُونَ

(But (as for) their brothers they plunge them deeper into error, and they never stop short.)

"Neither mankind stop short of the evil that they are doing nor the devils stop short of luring them. " Therefore,

لَا يُقْصِرُونَ

(they never stop short) refers to the devils getting tired or stopping their whispering. Allah said in another Ayah,

أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّا أَرْسَلْنَا الشَّيَاطِينَ عَلَى الْكَافِرِينَ تَؤُزُّهُمْ أَزًّا

(See you not that We have sent Shayatin against the disbelievers to push them to do evil)[19:83] persistently luring the disbelievers to commit evil, according to Ibn 'Abbas and others.

Verily, those who have Taqwa, when an evil thought comes to them from Shaytan, they remember (Allah), and (indeed) they then see (aright)(201)But (as for) their brothers (the devils' brothers) they (the devils) plunge them deeper into error, and they never stop short (202)

The Whispering of Shaytan and the People of Taqwa

Allah mentions His servants who have Taqwa, obeying His orders, and avoid what He forbade:

إِذَا مَسَّهُمْ

(when comes to them) an evil thought, or anger, or the whispers of Shaytan cross their mind, or intend to err, or commit an error,

تَذَكَّرُوا

(they remember) Allah's punishment, as well as, His tremendous reward. They remember Allah's promises and threats, then repent, go back to Him, seek refuge with Him and ask for forgiveness before death,

فَإِذَا هُم مُّبْصِرُونَ

(and (indeed) they then see (aright)) they become aright and aware of the error of their ways.

A Brethren of Devils among Mankind lure to Falsehood

Allah said next,

وَإِخْوَانُهُمْ يَمُدُّونَهُمْ

(But (as for) their brothers they plunge them deeper) in reference to the devils' brothers among mankind. Allah said in another Ayah,

إِنَّ الْمُبَذِّرِينَ كَانُوا إِخْوَانَ الشَّيَاطِينِ

(Verily, the spendthrifts are brothers of the Shayatin)[17:27] for they are followers of the Shayatin, who listen to them and obey their orders.

يَمُدُّونَهُمْ فِي الْغَيِّ

(They plunge them deeper into error) the devils help them commit sins, making this path easy and appealing to them

ثُمَّ لَا يُقْصِرُونَ

(and they never stop short) for the devils never cease inciting mankind to commit errors. 'Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn 'Abbas commented on Allah's statement,

وَإِخْوَانُهُمْ يَمُدُّونَهُمْ فِي الْغَيِّ ثُمَّ لَا يُقْصِرُونَ

(But (as for) their brothers they plunge them deeper into error, and they never stop short.)

"Neither mankind stop short of the evil that they are doing nor the devils stop short of luring them. " Therefore,

لَا يُقْصِرُونَ

(they never stop short) refers to the devils getting tired or stopping their whispering. Allah said in another Ayah,

أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّا أَرْسَلْنَا الشَّيَاطِينَ عَلَى الْكَافِرِينَ تَؤُزُّهُمْ أَزًّا

(See you not that We have sent Shayatin against the disbelievers to push them to do evil)[19:83] persistently luring the disbelievers to commit evil, according to Ibn 'Abbas and others.

And if you do not bring them a miracle, they say: "Why have you not brought it" Say: "I but follow what is revealed to me from my Lord. This (the Qur'an) is nothing but evidences from your Lord, and a guidance and a mercy for a people who believe. (203)

Idolators ask to witness Miracles

Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn 'Abbas commented on Allah's statement,

قَالُوا لَوْلَا اجْتَبَيْتَهَا

(they say, "Why have you not brought it?")

"They say, 'Why have you not received a miracle?'", or, "Why have you not initiated or made it?" Ibn Jarir reported that, 'Abdullah bin Kathir said that Mujahid said about Allah's statement,

وَإِذَا لَمْ تَأْتِهِم بِآيَةٍ قَالُوا لَوْلَا اجْتَبَيْتَهَا

(And if you do not bring them a miracle, they say: "Why have you not brought it?")

"They say, 'Produce a miracle of your own.'" Qatadah, As-Suddi, 'Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam and Ibn Jarir agreed with this. Allah said next,

وَإِذَا لَمْ تَأْتِهِم بِآيَةٍ

(And if you do not bring them an Ayah) a miracle or a sign. Similarly, Allah said,

إِن نَّشَأْ نُنَزِّلْ عَلَيْهِم مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ آيَةً فَظَلَّتْ أَعْنَاقُهُمْ لَهَا خَاضِعِينَ

(If We will, We could send down to them from the heaven a sign, to which they would bend their necks in humility.)[26:4]

The pagans asked the Prophet, why did you not strive hard to bring us an Ayah (miracle) from Allah so that we witness it and believe in it. Allah said to him,

قُلْ إِنَّمَا أَتَّبِعُ مَا يُوحَىٰ إِلَيَّ مِن رَّبِّي

(Say: "I but follow what is revealed to me from my Lord.")

I do not ask such things of my Lord. I only follow what He reveals and commands me. Therefore, if Allah sends a miracle, I will accept it. Otherwise, I will not ask for it unless He allows me. Certainly, Allah is Most Wise, the All-Knower.

Allah next directs the servants to the fact that this Qur'an is the most powerful miracle, clearest evidence and most true proof and explanation, saying,

هَٰذَا بَصَائِرُ مِن رَّبِّكُمْ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةٌ لِّقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ

(This (the Qur'an) is nothing but evidences from your Lord, and a guidance and a mercy for a people who believe.)

So, when the Qur'an is recited, listen to it, and be silent that you may receive mercy (204)

The Order to listen to the Qur'an

After Allah mentioned that this Qur'an is a clear evidence, guidance and mercy for mankind, He commanded that one listen to the Qur'an when it is recited, in respect and honor of the Qur'an. This is to the contrary of the practice of the pagans of Quraysh, who said,

لَا تَسْمَعُوا لِهَٰذَا الْقُرْآنِ وَالْغَوْا فِيهِ

("Listen not to this Qur'an, and make noise in the midst of its (recitation)")[41:26].

Ibn Jarir reported that Ibn Mas'ud said; "We would give Salams to each other during Salah. So the Ayah of Qur'an was revealed;

وَإِذَا قُرِئَ الْقُرْآنُ فَاسْتَمِعُوا لَهُ

(When the Qur'an is recited, then listen to it.)

And remember your Lord within yourself, humbly and with fear and without loudness in words in the mornings and in the afternoons, and be not of those who are neglectful (205)Surely, those who are with your Lord (angels) are never too proud to perform acts of worship to Him, but they glorify His praise and prostrate themselves before Him (206)

Remembering Allah in the Mornings and Afternoons

Allah ordains that He be remembered more often in the mornings and the afternoons. Just as He ordered that He be worshipped during these two times when He said,

وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ وَقَبْلَ الْغُرُوبِ

(And glorify the praises of your Lord, before the rising of the sun and before (its) setting.)[50:39]

Before the night of Isra', when the five daily prayers were ordained, this Ayah was revealed in Makkah ordering that Allah be worshipped at these times, Allah said next,

تَضَرُّعًا وَخِيفَةً

(humbly and with fear) meaning, remember your Lord in secret, not loudly, with eagerness and fear. This is why Allah said next,

وَدُونَ الْجَهْرِ مِنَ الْقَوْلِ

(and without loudness in words). Therefore, it is recommended that remembering Allah in Dhikr is not performed in a loud voice. When the Companions asked the Messenger of Allah, "Is our Lord close, so that we call Him in secret, or far, so that we raise our voices?" Allah sent down the verse,

وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنِّي فَإِنِّي قَرِيبٌ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ

(And when My servants ask you concerning Me, then (answer them), I am indeed near (to them by My knowledge). I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me (without any mediator or intercessor).)[2:186]

In the Two Sahihs, it is recorded that Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari said, "The people raised their voices with Du'a' (invoking Allah) while travelling. The Prophet ﷺ said to them,

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ ارْبَعُوا عَلَى أَنْفُسِكُمْ، فَإِنَّكُمْ لَا تَدْعُونَ أَصَمَّ وَلَا غَائِبًا إِنَّ الَّذِي تَدْعُونَهُ سَمِيعٌ قَرِيبٌ أَقْرَبُ إِلَى أَحَدِكُمْ مِنْ عُنُقِ رَاحِلِتهِ

(O people! Take it easy on yourselves, for He Whom you are calling is not deaf or absent. Verily, He Whom you are calling is the All-Hearer, close (by His knowledge), closer to one of you than the neck of his animal.)"

These texts encourage the servants to invoke Allah in Dhikr often, especially in the mornings and afternoons, so that they are not among those who neglect remembering Him. This is why Allah praised the angels who praise Him night and day without tiring,

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ عِندَ رَبِّكَ لَا يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ عَنْ عِبَادَتِهِ

(Surely, those who are with your Lord (i.e., angels) are never too proud to perform acts of worship to Him)

Allah reminded the servants of this fact so that they imitate the angels in their tireless worship and obedience of Allah. Prostration, here, upon the mention that the angels prostrate to Allah is legitimate. A Hadith reads;

أَلَا تَصُفُّونَ كَمَا تَصُفُّ الْمَلَائِكَةُ عِنْدَ رَبِّهَا يُتِمُّونَ الصُّفُوفَ الْأُوَلَ وَيَتَرَاصُّونَ فِي الصَّفِّ

(Why not you stand in line (for the prayer) like the angels stand in line before their Lord? They continue the first then the next …