7. Al-A'raaf

O Children of Adam! Take your adornment to every Masjid, and eat and drink, but waste not by extravagance, certainly He (Allah) likes not the wasteful (31)

Allah commands taking Adornment when going to the Masjid

This honorable Ayah refutes the idolators' practice of performing Tawaf around the Sacred House while naked. Muslim, An-Nasa'i and Ibn Jarir, (the following wording is that of Ibn Jarir) recorded that Shu'bah said that Salamah bin Kuhayl said that Muslim Al-Batin said that Sa'id bin Jubayr said that Ibn 'Abbas said, "The idolators used to go around the House while naked, both men and women, men in the day and women by night. The woman would say, "Today, a part or all of it will be unveiled, but whatever is exposed of it, I do not allow." Allah said in reply,

خُذُوا زِينَتَكُمْ عِندَ كُلِّ مَسْجِدٍ

(Take your adornment to every Masjid,) Al-'Awfi said that Ibn 'Abbas commented on:

خُذُوا زِينَتَكُمْ عِندَ كُلِّ مَسْجِدٍ

(Take your adornment to every Masjid)

"There were people who used to perform Tawaf around the House while naked, and Allah ordered them to take adornment, meaning, wear clean, proper clothes that cover the private parts. people were commanded to wear their best clothes when performing every prayer." Mujahid, 'Ata', Ibrahim An-Nakha'i, Sa'id bin Jubayr, Qatadah, As-Suddi, Ad-Dahhak and Malik narrated a similar saying from Az-Zuhri, and from several of the Salaf. They said that this Ayah was revealed about the idolators who used to perform Tawaf around the House while naked.

This Ayah (7:31), as well as the Sunnah, encourage wearing the best clothes when praying, especially for Friday and 'Id prayers. It is also recommended [for men] to wear perfume for prayer, because it is adornment, and to use Siwak for it is part of what completes adornment.

The best color for clothes is white, for Imam Ahmad narrated that Ibn 'Abbas said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

الْبَسُوا مِنْ ثِيَابِكُمُ الْبَيَاضَ فَإِنَّهَا مِنْ خَيْرِ ثِيَابِكُمْ، وَكَفِّنُوا فِيهَا مَوْتَاكُمْ وَإِنَّ خَيْرَ أَكْحَالِكُمُ الْإثْمَدُ فَإِنَّهُ يَجْلُو الْبَصَرَ وَيُنْبِتُ الشَّعَرَ

(Wear white clothes, for it is among your best clothes, and also wrap your dead with it. And Ithmid (antimony) is among the best of your Kuhl, for it clears the sight and helps the hair grow.)

This Hadith has a sound chain of narration, consisting of narrators who conform to the conditions and guidelines of Imam Muslim. Abu Dawud, At-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah also recorded it, and At-Tirmidhi said, "Hasan Sahih."

Prohibiting Extravagance

Allah said,

وَكُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا

(And eat and drink..). Al-Bukhari said that Ibn 'Abbas said, "Eat what you wish and wear what you wish, as long as you avoid two things: extravagance and arrogance." Ibn Jarir said that Muhammad bin 'Abdul-A'la narrated to us that Muhammad bin Thawr narrated to us from Ma'mar from Ibn Tawus from his father who said that Ibn 'Abbas said, "Allah has allowed eating and drinking, as long as it does not contain extravagance or arrogance." This chain is Sahih. Imam Ahmad recorded that Al-Miqdam bin Ma'dikarib Al-Kindi said that he heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saying,

مَا مَلَأَ ابْنُ آدَمَ وِعَاءً …

Say: "Who has forbidden the adornment with clothes given by Allah, which He has produced for His servants, and At-Tayyibat (good things) of sustenance?" Say: "They are, in the life of this world, for those who believe, (and) exclusively for them (believers) on the Day of Resurrection." Thus We explain the Ayat in detail for people who have knowledge (32)

Allah refutes those who prohibit any type of food, drink or clothes according to their own understanding, without relying on what Allah has legislated.

قُلْ

(Say) O Muhammad, to the idolators who prohibit some things out of false opinion and fabrication,

مَنْ حَرَّمَ زِينَةَ اللَّهِ الَّتِي أَخْرَجَ لِعِبَادِهِ

(Who has forbidden the adornment with clothes given by Allah, which He has produced for His servants) meaning, these things were created for those who believe in Allah and worship Him in this life, even though the disbelievers share in these bounties in this life. In the Hereafter, the believers will have all this to themselves and none of the disbelievers will have a share in it, for Paradise is prohibited for the disbelievers.

Say: "(But) the things that my Lord has indeed forbidden are the Fawahish (immoral deeds) whether committed openly or secretly, and Ithm, and transgression without right, and joining partners with Allah for which He has given no authority, and saying things about Allah of which you have no knowledge. (33)

Fāḥishah', Sin, Transgression, Shirk and Lying about Allah are prohibited

Imam Ahmad recorded that 'Abdullah said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

لَا أَحَدَ أَغْيَرُ مِنَ اللهِ فَلِذَلِكَ حَرَّمَ الْفَوَاحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ، وَلَا أَحَدَ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْهِ الْمَدْحُ مِنَ اللهِ

(None is more jealous than Allah, and this is why He prohibited Fawahish, committed openly or in secret. And none likes praise more than Allah).

This was also recorded in the Two Sahihs. In the explanation of Surat Al-An'am, we explained the 'Fāḥishah' that is committed openly and in secret. Allah said next,

وَالْإِثْمَ وَالْبَغْيَ بِغَيْرِ الْحَقِّ

(and 'Ithm', and transgression without right,)[7:33].

As-Suddi commented, "Al-Ithm means, 'disobedience'. As for unrighteous oppression, it occurs when you transgress against people without justification." Mujahid said, "Ithm includes all types of disobedience. Allah said that the oppressor commits oppression against himself." Therefore, the meaning of, Ithm is the sin that one commits against himself, while 'oppression' pertains to transgression against other people, and Allah prohibited both. Allah's statement,

وَأَن تُشْرِكُوا بِاللَّهِ مَا لَمْ يُنَزِّلْ بِهِ سُلْطَانًا

(and joining partners with Allah for which He has given no authority,) prohibits calling partners with Allah in worship.

وَأَن تَقُولُوا عَلَى اللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

(and saying things about Allah of which you have no knowledge.) such as lies and inventions, like claiming that Allah has a son, and other evil creeds that you – O idolators – have no knowledge of. This is similar to His saying:

فَاجْتَنِبُوا الرِّجْسَ مِنَ الْأَوْثَانِ

(So shun the abomination (worshipping) of the idols)[22:30].

And every Ummah has its appointed term; when their term comes, neither can they delay it nor can they advance it an hour (or a moment)(34)O Children of Adam! If there come to you Messengers from among you, reciting to you My Ayat, then whosoever has Taqwa and becomes righteous, on them shall be no fear nor shall they grieve (35)But those who reject Our Ayat and treat them with arrogance, they are the dwellers of the Fire, they will abide therein forever (36)

Allah said,

وَلِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ

(And every Ummah has), meaning, each generation and nation,

أَجَلٌ فَإِذَا جَاءَ أَجَلُهُمْ

(its appointed term; when their term comes) which they were destined for,

لَا يَسْتَأْخِرُونَ سَاعَةً وَلَا يَسْتَقْدِمُونَ

(neither can they delay it nor can they advance it an hour (or a moment)).

Allah then warned the Children of Adam that He sent to them Messengers who conveyed to them His Ayat. Allah also conveyed good news, as well as warning,

فَمَنِ اتَّقَىٰ وَأَصْلَحَ

(then whosoever has Taqwa and becomes righteous) by abandoning the prohibitions and performing acts of obedience,

فَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ - وَالَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا وَاسْتَكْبَرُوا عَنْهَا

(on them shall be no fear nor shall they grieve. But those who reject Our Ayat and treat them with arrogance,) meaning, their hearts denied the Ayat and they were too arrogant to abide by them,

أُولَٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ

(they are the dwellers of the Fire, they will abide therein forever.) without end to their dwelling in it.

And every Ummah has its appointed term; when their term comes, neither can they delay it nor can they advance it an hour (or a moment)(34)O Children of Adam! If there come to you Messengers from among you, reciting to you My Ayat, then whosoever has Taqwa and becomes righteous, on them shall be no fear nor shall they grieve (35)But those who reject Our Ayat and treat them with arrogance, they are the dwellers of the Fire, they will abide therein forever (36)

Allah said,

وَلِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ

(And every Ummah has), meaning, each generation and nation,

أَجَلٌ فَإِذَا جَاءَ أَجَلُهُمْ

(its appointed term; when their term comes) which they were destined for,

لَا يَسْتَأْخِرُونَ سَاعَةً وَلَا يَسْتَقْدِمُونَ

(neither can they delay it nor can they advance it an hour (or a moment)).

Allah then warned the Children of Adam that He sent to them Messengers who conveyed to them His Ayat. Allah also conveyed good news, as well as warning,

فَمَنِ اتَّقَىٰ وَأَصْلَحَ

(then whosoever has Taqwa and becomes righteous) by abandoning the prohibitions and performing acts of obedience,

فَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ - وَالَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا وَاسْتَكْبَرُوا عَنْهَا

(on them shall be no fear nor shall they grieve. But those who reject Our Ayat and treat them with arrogance,) meaning, their hearts denied the Ayat and they were too arrogant to abide by them,

أُولَٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ

(they are the dwellers of the Fire, they will abide therein forever.) without end to their dwelling in it.

Who is more unjust than one who invents a lie against Allah or rejects His Ayat? For such their appointed portion will reach them from the Book (of Decrees) until Our messengers (the angel of death and his assistants) come to them to take their souls, they (the angels) will say: "Where are those whom you used to invoke and worship besides Allah," they will reply, "They have vanished and deserted us." And they will bear witness against themselves, that they were disbelievers (37)

Idolators enjoy Their destined Share in This Life, but will lose Their Supporters upon Death

Allah said,

فَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنِ افْتَرَىٰ عَلَى اللَّهِ كَذِبًا أَوْ كَذَّبَ بِآيَاتِهِ

(Who is more unjust than one who invents a lie against Allah or rejects His Ayat?) meaning, none is more unjust than whoever invents a lie about Allah or rejects the Ayat that He has revealed. Muhammad bin Ka'b Al-Qurazi said that,

أُولَٰئِكَ يَنَالُهُمْ نَصِيبُهُم مِّنَ الْكِتَابِ

(For such their appointed portion will reach them from the Book) refers to each person's deeds, alloted provisions and age. Similar was said by Ar-Rabi' bin Anas and 'Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam. Allah said in similar statements,

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَفْتَرُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ الْكَذِبَ لَا يُفْلِحُونَ - مَتَاعٌ فِي الدُّنْيَا ثُمَّ إِلَيْنَا مَرْجِعُهُمْ ثُمَّ نُذِيقُهُمُ الْعَذَابَ الشَّدِيدَ بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْفُرُونَ

(Verily, those who invent a lie against Allah, will never be successful. (A brief) enjoyment in this world! And then unto Us will be their return, then We shall make them taste the severest torment because they used to disbelieve.)[10:69-70] and,

وَمَن كَفَرَ فَلَا يَحْزُنكَ كُفْرُهُ إِلَيْنَا مَرْجِعُهُمْ فَنُنَبِّئُهُم بِمَا عَمِلُوا إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُورِ - نُمَتِّعُهُمْ قَلِيلًا

(And whoever disbelieves, let not his disbelief grieve you. To Us is their return, and We shall inform them what they have done. Verily, Allah is the All-Knower of what is in the breasts (of men). We let them enjoy for a little while.)[31:23-24].

Allah said next,

حَتَّىٰ إِذَا جَاءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُنَا يَتَوَفَّوْنَهُمْ

(until when Our messengers come to them to take their souls.) Allah states that when death comes to the idolators and the angels come to capture their souls to take them to Hellfire, the angels horrify them, saying, "Where are the so-called partners (of Allah) whom you used to call in the life of this world, invoking and worshipping them instead of Allah? Call them so that they save you from what you are suffering." However, the idolators will reply,

ضَلُّوا عَنَّا

("They have vanished and deserted us") meaning, we have lost them and thus, we do not hope in their benefit or aid,

وَشَهِدُوا عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِهِمْ

(And they will bear witness against themselves) they will admit and proclaim against themselves,

أَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا كَافِرِينَ

(that they were disbelievers.)

(Allah) will say: "Enter you in the company of nations who passed away before you, of men and Jinn, into the Fire." Every time a new nation enters, it curses its sister nation (that went before) until they are all together in the Fire. The last of them will say to the first of them: "Our Lord! These misled us, so give them a double torment of the Fire." He will say: "For each one there is double (torment), but you know not. (38)The first of them will say to the last of them: "You were not better than us, so taste the torment for what you used to earn. (39)

People of the Fire will dispute and curse Each Other

Allah mentioned what He will say to those who associate others with Him,invent lies about Him,and reject His Ayat,

ادْخُلُوا فِي أُمَمٍ

(Enter you in the company of nations), who are your likes and similar to you in conduct,

قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِكُم

(Who passed away before you) from the earlier disbelieving nations,

مِّنَ الْجِنِّ وَالْإِنسِ فِي النَّارِ

(Of men and Jinn, into the Fire.) Allah said next,

كُلَّمَا دَخَلَتْ أُمَّةٌ لَّعَنَتْ أُخْتَهَا

(Every time a new nation enters, it curses its sister nation (that went before))

Al-Khalil (Prophet Ibrahim), peace be upon him, said,

ثُمَّ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ يَكْفُرُ بَعْضُكُم بِبَعْضٍ

("But on the Day of Resurrection, you shall deny each other)[29:25]. Also, Allah said,

إِذْ تَبَرَّأَ الَّذِينَ اتُّبِعُوا مِنَ الَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوا وَرَأَوُا الْعَذَابَ وَتَقَطَّعَتْ بِهِمُ الْأَسْبَابُ - وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوا لَوْ أَنَّ لَنَا كَرَّةً فَنَتَبَرَّأَ مِنْهُمْ كَمَا تَبَرَّءُوا مِنَّا كَذَٰلِكَ يُرِيهِمُ اللَّهُ أَعْمَالَهُمْ حَسَرَاتٍ عَلَيْهِمْ وَمَا هُم بِخَارِجِينَ مِنَ النَّارِ

(When those who were followed declare themselves innocent of those who followed (them), and they see the torment, then all their relations will be cut off from them. And those who followed will say: "If only we had one more chance to return (to the worldly life), we would declare ourselves as innocent from them as they have declared themselves as innocent from us." Thus Allah will show them their deeds as regrets for them. And they will never get out of the Fire)[2:166-167].

Allah's statement,

حَتَّىٰ إِذَا ادَّارَكُوا فِيهَا جَمِيعًا

(until they are all together in the Fire) means, they are all gathered in the Fire,

قَالَتْ أُخْرَاهُمْ لِأُولَاهُمْ

(The last of them will say to the first of them) that is, the nation of followers that enter last will say this to the first nations to enter. This is because the earlier nations were worse criminals than those who followed them, and this is why they entered the Fire first. For this reason, their followers will complain against them to Allah, because they were the ones who misguided them from the correct path, saying,

رَبَّنَا هَٰؤُلَاءِ أَضَلُّونَا فَآتِهِمْ عَذَابًا ضِعْفًا مِّنَ النَّارِ

("Our Lord! These misled us, so give them a double torment of the Fire.") multiply their share of the torment. Allah said in another instance,

يَوْمَ تُقَلَّبُ وُجُوهُهُمْ فِي النَّارِ يَقُولُونَ يَا لَيْتَنَا أَطَعْنَا اللَّهَ وَأَطَعْنَا الرَّسُولَا - وَقَالُوا رَبَّنَا إِنَّا أَطَعْنَا سَادَتَنَا وَكُبَرَاءَنَا فَأَضَلُّونَا السَّبِيلَا - رَبَّنَا …

(Allah) will say: "Enter you in the company of nations who passed away before you, of men and Jinn, into the Fire." Every time a new nation enters, it curses its sister nation (that went before) until they are all together in the Fire. The last of them will say to the first of them: "Our Lord! These misled us, so give them a double torment of the Fire." He will say: "For each one there is double (torment), but you know not. (38)The first of them will say to the last of them: "You were not better than us, so taste the torment for what you used to earn. (39)

People of the Fire will dispute and curse Each Other

Allah mentioned what He will say to those who associate others with Him,invent lies about Him,and reject His Ayat,

ادْخُلُوا فِي أُمَمٍ

(Enter you in the company of nations), who are your likes and similar to you in conduct,

قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِكُم

(Who passed away before you) from the earlier disbelieving nations,

مِّنَ الْجِنِّ وَالْإِنسِ فِي النَّارِ

(Of men and Jinn, into the Fire.) Allah said next,

كُلَّمَا دَخَلَتْ أُمَّةٌ لَّعَنَتْ أُخْتَهَا

(Every time a new nation enters, it curses its sister nation (that went before))

Al-Khalil (Prophet Ibrahim), peace be upon him, said,

ثُمَّ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ يَكْفُرُ بَعْضُكُم بِبَعْضٍ

("But on the Day of Resurrection, you shall deny each other)[29:25]. Also, Allah said,

إِذْ تَبَرَّأَ الَّذِينَ اتُّبِعُوا مِنَ الَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوا وَرَأَوُا الْعَذَابَ وَتَقَطَّعَتْ بِهِمُ الْأَسْبَابُ - وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوا لَوْ أَنَّ لَنَا كَرَّةً فَنَتَبَرَّأَ مِنْهُمْ كَمَا تَبَرَّءُوا مِنَّا كَذَٰلِكَ يُرِيهِمُ اللَّهُ أَعْمَالَهُمْ حَسَرَاتٍ عَلَيْهِمْ وَمَا هُم بِخَارِجِينَ مِنَ النَّارِ

(When those who were followed declare themselves innocent of those who followed (them), and they see the torment, then all their relations will be cut off from them. And those who followed will say: "If only we had one more chance to return (to the worldly life), we would declare ourselves as innocent from them as they have declared themselves as innocent from us." Thus Allah will show them their deeds as regrets for them. And they will never get out of the Fire)[2:166-167].

Allah's statement,

حَتَّىٰ إِذَا ادَّارَكُوا فِيهَا جَمِيعًا

(until they are all together in the Fire) means, they are all gathered in the Fire,

قَالَتْ أُخْرَاهُمْ لِأُولَاهُمْ

(The last of them will say to the first of them) that is, the nation of followers that enter last will say this to the first nations to enter. This is because the earlier nations were worse criminals than those who followed them, and this is why they entered the Fire first. For this reason, their followers will complain against them to Allah, because they were the ones who misguided them from the correct path, saying,

رَبَّنَا هَٰؤُلَاءِ أَضَلُّونَا فَآتِهِمْ عَذَابًا ضِعْفًا مِّنَ النَّارِ

("Our Lord! These misled us, so give them a double torment of the Fire.") multiply their share of the torment. Allah said in another instance,

يَوْمَ تُقَلَّبُ وُجُوهُهُمْ فِي النَّارِ يَقُولُونَ يَا لَيْتَنَا أَطَعْنَا اللَّهَ وَأَطَعْنَا الرَّسُولَا - وَقَالُوا رَبَّنَا إِنَّا أَطَعْنَا سَادَتَنَا وَكُبَرَاءَنَا فَأَضَلُّونَا السَّبِيلَا - رَبَّنَا …

Verily, those who belie Our Ayat and treat them with arrogance, for them the gates of the heavens will not be opened, and they will not enter Paradise until the Jamal goes through the eye of the needle. Thus do We recompense the criminals (40)Theirs will be Mihad from the Fire, and over them Ghawash. Thus do We recompense the wrongdoers (41)

Doors of Heaven shall not open for Those Who deny Allah's Ayat, and They shall never enter Paradise

Allah said,

لَا تُفَتَّحُ لَهُمْ أَبْوَابُ السَّمَاءِ

(for them the gates of the heavens will not be opened,) meaning, their good deeds and supplication will not ascend through it, according to Mujahid, Sa'id bin Jubayr and Ibn 'Abbas, as Al-'Awfi and 'Ali bin Abi Talhah reported from him. Ath-Thawri narrated that, Layth said that 'Ata' narrated this from Ibn 'Abbas. It was also said that the meaning here is that the doors of the heavens will not be opened for the disbelievers' souls, according to Ad-Dahhak who reported this from Ibn 'Abbas. As-Suddi and several others mentioned this meaning. What further supports this meaning, is the report from Ibn Jarir that Al-Bara' said that the Messenger of Allah mentioned capturing the soul of the 'Fajir' (wicked sinner or disbeliever), and that his or her soul will be ascended to heaven. The Prophet ﷺ said,

فَيَصْعَدُونَ بِهَا، فَلَا تَمُرُّ عَلَى مَلَأٍ مِنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ إِلَّا قَالُوا مَا هَذِهِ الرُّوحُ الْخَبِيثَةُ؟ فَيَقُولُونَ: فُلَانٌ بِأَقْبَحِ أَسْمَائِهِ الَّتِي كَانَ يُدْعَى بِهَا فِي الدُّنْيَا، حَتَّى يَنْتَهَوا بِهَا إِلَى السَّمَاءِ فَيَسْتَفْتَحُونَ بَابَهَا لَهُ فَلَا يَفْتَحُ لَهُ

(So they (angels) ascend it and it will not pass by a gathering of the angels, but they will ask, who's wicked soul is this' They will reply, 'The soul of so-and-so,' calling him by the worst names he was called in this life. When they reach the (lower) heaven, they will ask that its door be opened for the soul, but it will not be opened for it.)

The Prophet ﷺ then recited,

لَا تُفَتَّحُ لَهُمْ أَبْوَابُ السَّمَاءِ

(For them the gates of heaven will not be opened).

This is a part of a long Hadith which was also recorded by Abu Dawud, An-Nasa'i and Ibn Majah.

Ibn Jurayj commented on the Ayah,

لَا تُفَتَّحُ لَهُمْ أَبْوَابُ السَّمَاءِ

(for them the gates of heaven will not be opened,) "(The gates of heaven) will not be opened for their deeds or souls." This explanation combines the two meanings we gave above, and Allah knows best. Allah's statement,

وَلَا يَدْخُلُونَ الْجَنَّةَ حَتَّىٰ يَلِجَ الْجَمَلُ فِي سَمِّ الْخِيَاطِ

(and they will not enter Paradise until the Jamal goes through the eye of the needle.) refers to the male camel. Ibn Mas'ud said it is a male camel from the she camel. In another narration it refers to the spouse of the she camel. Mujahid and 'Ikrimah said that Ibn 'Abbas used to recite this Ayah this way, "Until the Jummal goes through the eye of the needle", whereas 'Jummal' is a thick rope. Allah's statement,

لَهُم مِّن جَهَنَّمَ مِهَادٌ

(Theirs will be Mihad from the Fire) means, beds, while;

وَمِن فَوْقِهِمْ غَوَاشٍ

(and over them Ghawash), means, coverings, according to Muhammad bin Ka'b Al-Qurazi. Similar was said by Ad-Dahhak …