Surah Al-Araaf: Difference between revisions

This chapter is the 7th chapter of the Quran.  

These verses start with the story of Prophet Nuh and his people at the time when the heads of the people accused him of misguiding [them]. In his response, Prophet Nuh exonerates himself by saying “O my people, I am not in error” (Surah al-Araaf, Verse 61), and by explaining “Rather, I am an apostle from the Lord of all of the worlds.” <ref name=":19" /> He sets the record straight regarding his Prophetic mission from the One Lord. <ref name=":20">Ibn Kathir Damishqi, Tafsir al-Quran al-Azim (1998), Page 388</ref> <ref name=":21">Tabatabai, Al-Mizan fi Tafsir al-Quran (1971), Page 175</ref>  

The intended meaning of ‘wrath’ in verse 71: “He said, ‘Punishment and wrath from your Lord has become due against you.’” is that from which abstinence is necessary <ref name=":22">Ibid., Page 179</ref>, and has also been interpreted as violent or wrath. <ref name=":23">Ibn Kathir Damishqi, Tafsir al-Quran al-Azim (1998), Page 390</ref>  

Thereafter, there is a reminder of the fate of the people of Thamood, Lut, and Shuayb, and the contention of the leaders of the people with the Prophets, the fate of those peoples who were corrupt and outside of the monotheistic lifestyle is mentioned. They were not bound to any Divine promise or covenant, and this is the key reason for the sending of a specific chastisement upon them. It is for this reason that Allah tests the nations during the time of revelation to the Prophets, and if there is a lack of adherence, then another custom is sent as a test, for instance, deception and persuasion. <ref name=":24">Tabatabai, Al-Mizan fi Tafsir al-Quran (1971), Page 195</ref> <ref name=":25">Ibn Kathir Damishqi, Tafsir al-Quran al-Azim (1998), Page 403</ref>  

These verses tell a detailed account regarding Prophet Musa, Firaun, and the Bani Israil from their time of extreme poverty and torture at the hands of Firaun’s people - to the time of the his defeat and the drowning of his people in the sea. It also tells us about the settling and accompaniment of the Bani Israil and Prophet Musa, as well as other various events. <ref name=":26">Tabatabai, Al-Mizan fi Tafsir al-Quran (1971), Pages 209-300</ref> <ref name=":27">Ibn Kathir Damishqi, Tafsir al-Quran al-Azim (1998), Pages 407-449</ref>  

A group of commentators believe that the creation of the world in six days was in consecutive days of a week, and they believe it was from Sunday to Friday <ref name=":34">Ibn Kathir Damishqi, Tafsir al-Quran al-Azim (1998), Page 382</ref>; but other commentators have interpreted it as allocated to an interval of time or stages of creation. <ref name=":19" /> A number of them believe that the skies have levels of corporeal creation that are visible above the Earth and surround it, <ref name=":35">Ibid., Volume 10, Page 150</ref> and their creation was not sudden and did not just appear out of nothing, rather they were formed from material whose parts were similar and existed previously. This material was first changed into parts and then its parts were separated, and one part was used to create the Earth. Thereafter, a part was sent to the sky and was also changed into parts. In a specific time, these became the seven skies. <ref name=":36">Ibid., Page 151</ref>