Background Information of Surah Al-A’raf
Revelation Period: Like Surah Al-An’am, Al-A’raf was revealed during the late Meccan period, continuing similar themes. It consists of 206 verses.
Connection to Previous Surah: Continues the spiritual history of humanity, emphasizing learning from past prophets’ experiences.
Key Themes and Messages
Struggle Between Good and Evil:
Story of Adam and Iblis: Illustrates the original conflict where Iblis becomes Satan after refusing to bow to Adam, showcasing the themes of arrogance and rebellion against divine command.
Divine Mercy and Human Guidance: Despite Adam’s sin, Allah’s mercy prevails, guiding humans on modesty and righteousness, emphasizing that the best garment is the garment of righteousness.
Historical Lessons from Prophets:
Prophets’ Stories: Narratives of various prophets including Noah, Hud, Salih, Lot, and Shu’aib highlight their communities’ rejection of divine warnings, resulting in their destruction due to their wickedness and arrogance.
Moses and Pharaoh: Focuses on Moses’s efforts to free the Israelites from Pharaoh’s tyranny, drawing parallels to Muhammad’s struggles and eventual victory.
Divine Justice and Human Disobedience:
Punishments and Rewards: Describes the consequences faced by past nations who disregarded prophets’ warnings, contrasting with the peace and happiness of the righteous.
Continuous Human Expansion: Discusses the proliferation of Adam’s descendants across the earth, possessing inherent good qualities but often straying into disbelief and sin.
Guidance and Misguidance:
Allah’s Signs and Human Denial: Despite clear signs from Allah, many deny the truth, sinking further into wrongdoing, with the inevitable divine punishment for such actions highlighted as a historical constant.
Call for Attention to the Quran: Muslims are advised to listen attentively and silently when the Quran is recited to receive Allah’s mercy.
Personal Devotion: Encourages remembering Allah quietly within one’s soul during morning and evening, warning against being heedless.
Moral and Spiritual Instructions
Moderation in Life: Stresses moderation in consumption and behavior, warning of severe punishments for those who ignore divine warnings.
Purity and Righteousness: Reiterates the importance of moral and physical purity, particularly through the metaphor of clothing, as key to maintaining divine favor.
Topical Analysis of Rukus
Ruku 1: Verses 1-10
Allah talks about the observance to the Qur’an, the punishment that befalls those who do not comply, and the day of reckoning.
Ruku 2: Verses 11-25
Allah narrates the creation of Adam, the rebellion of the devil, and the event of Adam and Eve eating from the forbidden tree.
Ruku 3: Verses 26-31
God tells the children of Adam about the blessing of clothes and warns against the devil’s game of giving up the clothes.
Allah speaks of those who repent and attain salvation and those who are lost in perversion.
He talks about some issues that need to be considered while praying.
Ruku 4: Verses 32-39
Allah explains what He has made haram (forbidden) and forbids people to turn the halal into haram for themselves.
He talks about the death of societies, believers, and the speeches that unbelievers will make at the gates of hell.
Ruku 5: Verses 40-47
Allah explains the states of people in hell and people in paradise and the conversations between these two groups.
He talks about the veil (A’raf) between heaven and hell and the men who are on top of it.
Ruku 6: Verses 48-53
Allah narrates the words that the men on A’raf will say to those in hell.
How the people of hell used to be in the world and their regrets are explained.
Ruku 7: Verses 54-58
Allah speaks of creating the heavens and the earth in six days.
He commands us to pray to Him profusely and to stay away from corruption.
Finally, He gives an example that we can understand on how He will raise the dead.
Ruku 8: Verses 59-64
Allah narrates the conversations between Noah (pbuh) and his people.
Ruku 9: Verses 65-72
Allah narrates the conversations between the prophet Hud (pbuh) and the people of ʿĀd.
Ruku 10: Verses 73-84
Allah narrates the conversations between Salih (pbuh) and the people of Thamud and the conversations between Lot (pbuh) and his people.
Ruku 11: Verses 85-93
Allah narrates the conversations between Shuaib (pbuh) and the people of Madyan.
Ruku 12: Verses 94-99
Allah talks about the societies to which He sent prophets, what kinds of tests they went through, and the ummahs (societies) who did not learn from all these.
Ruku 13: Verses 100-108
God is describing the people of the countries He has destroyed.
Allah narrates the conversation between Moses and Pharaoh and the miracles that Moses (pbuh) performed by the will of Allah.
Ruku 14: Verses 109-126
Allah talks about the decisions made by the pharaoh and his counselors in response to the miracles of Moses (pbuh); the defeat of the magicians against Moses (pbuh) and them (magicians) becoming muslims.
Ruku 15: Verses 127-129
Allah talks about the cruelty of the pharaoh and the conversations between Moses (pbuh) and the Israelites.
Ruku 16: Verses 130-141
Allah explains what kind of calamities He sent to pharaoh and his followers throughout time, and for what reason.
The reactions and the words of the deniers in response to these calamities are narrated.
After the Israelites crossed the sea, the idol they wanted from Moses (as) and Moses’ reaction to it are narrated.
Ruku 17: Verses 142-147
God talks about Him speaking directly with Moses (pbuh) on the mountain of Tur (Sinai); Moses (pbuh) wanting to see him, and giving the Torah plates to Moses (pbuh).
Ruku 18: Verses 148-151
Allah talks about the calf (idol) made from gold by the Israelites when Moses (pbuh) was on the mountain of Tur (Sinai), and the furious reaction of Moses (pbuh).
Ruku 19: Verses 152-157
Allah talks about Moses (pbuh) taking 70 of the calf worshipers with him and climbing the mountain of Tur (Sinai).
The arrogance of those 70 people up there and God’s reaction to their arrogance.
Allah says that the Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) is mentioned in the Bible and the Torah.
Ruku 20: Verses 158-162
Allah commands Muhammad (pbuh) to declare himself a Prophet who has come to all of mankind.
Allah talks about the ‘origin’ of the Israelites and the miraculous blessings He gave them and the sins they committed despite these miracles.
Ruku 21: Verses 163-171
By giving an example from history, God explains the difficulties that the Jews living by the sea faced because they did not obey His prohibition, and His judgment for these Jews because they did not come to their senses despite of it.
God talks about the incident in which He has lifted a mountain over the Jews because they ignored the provisions of the Torah.
Ruku 22: Verses 172-181
Allah reminds us of the promise we have made in front of Adam (pbuh).
Allah talks about a person to whom He revealed verses, but him falling into error and leaving the verses.
Allah describes the characteristics of humans and jinns who deny to see the truth.
God speaks of righteous people.
Ruku 23: Verses 182-188
Allah asks the unbelievers some questions to use their minds and ponder over them.
Allah is talking about the date of the Day of Judgment.
Ruku 24: Verses 189-206
Allah talks about the helplessness of idols that idolers associate with Allah and asks them questions to think about.
God describes the attitude of believers and unbelievers against the delusions of Satan.
He talks about the importance of the Qur’an and worship.
