In The Name of Allah, The Beneficent, The Merciful

This Surah is a Meccan Surah. It has been narrated from Qattadah and Dahhak who said this Surah is a Meccan one, except verses 163-165 which were revealed in Medina.

The number of its verses, as kufians and Hejazians have numerated, is 206.

The Virtue of Studying This Surah

'Ubayy-ibn-Ka'b, a leading commentator, has narrated from the Holy Prophet of Islam (S) who said:

"Whoever recites Surah Al-A'raf, Allah will set a curtain between him and the Satan and, on the Day of Judgment Adam (as) will be his intercessor."

Ayyashi, another commentator, by the way of his teacher Abu Basir, has narrated from Imam Sadiq (as) who said:

"Whoever recites Surah Al-'A'raf every month, will be among those that no fear shall be upon them, nor shall they grieve."

Section 1: The Object of the Revelation of the Qur'an

Qur'an's revelation, its object-Every soul shall be judged and every apostle will also be questioned -Deeds will be measured justly.

Surah Al-‘A’raf, Verses 1-3

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ‌ المص (1) كِتابٌ أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكَ فَلا يَكُنْ فِي صَدْرِكَ حَرَجٌ مِنْهُ لِتُنْذِرَ بِهِ وَ ذِكْری‌ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ (2) اتَّبِعُوا ما أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكُمْ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ وَ لا تَتَّبِعُوا مِنْ دُونِهِ أَوْلِياءَ قَلِيلاً ما تَذَكَّرُونَ (3)

In The Name of Allah, The Beneficent, The Merciful

1. "'Alif 'A', Lam 'L', Mim 'M', Sad ''S'."

2. "A Book sent down to you -so let there be no strait ness in your breast about it -that you may warn (people) thereby (and it be) a reminder to the believers."

3. " Follow what has been sent down to you from your Lord, and do not follow any guardians other than Him; how seldom do you remember!"

The holy Surah Al-'An'am was concluded with statement about the Grace of Allah. This Surah, Al-A'raf, begins with the name of the Qur'an and also the ordinances of the religion and the wise sayings are stated therein. It says:

"'Alif 'A', Lam 'L', Mim 'M', Sad ''S'."

The abbreviated letters, mentioned at the beginning of some Suras of the Qur'an were discussed before.¹ They are some secrets between Allah and His Messenger (S).

"A Book sent down to you… "

The Qur'an is a Book which has been sent down to you by the command of Allah.

"... so let there be no strait ness in your breast about it…"

The verse, addressing the Prophet (S) implies that there should not be any strait ness in his breast because of communicating the Qur'an to people.

The Messenger of Allah (S) was afraid that the members of his tribe would accuse him as a liar, and then turn away from his statements, and hurt him. So, he was displeased from their injuries, and did not feel happy about it.

Hence, Allah the Glorified, made him secured, and commanded him not to consider their ill treatment important.

It should be noted that the aim of sending down this Book is to warn people and frighten them from the evil consequence of their wrong thoughts and deeds. It is also a reminder for the true believers. The verse says:

"... that you may warn (people) thereby (and it be) a reminder to the believers" "Follow what has been sent down to you from Your Lord....."

This phrase is for the attention of those who are responsible and are also fully capable; it means that they should follow that which Allah has sent down to them. This 'act of following' concerns those affairs which are either obligatory, or recommended, or legitimate.

In these affairs a believer should follow the command of Allah, and the one must believe in them. One of its examples is that which says it is obligatory to avoid from forbidden things.

".... and do not follow any guardians other than Him...."

The verse warns us not to follow anything other than the Qur'an so otherwise we will become sinners. It is evident that whoever is not the follower of the Qur'an is the follower of Satan and the idols. That is why Allah commands us to follow the Qur'an and avoid following other than it. To follow the Qur'an is the same as to follow Allah.

".... how seldom do you remember!"

This part of the verse addresses the pagans and those disbelieving people who rarely remember the Truth and little they take advice. In fact, the purpose of this phrase is to say that the style of their manner is not agreeable. They ought to gradually adopt the admonishments of the Qur'an and learn the affairs concerning of religion and life for themselves.

The Qur'anic word 'tathakkur', here, means: ' to learn little by little '.