Al-A'raaf (The Heights)

146. “Soon I will (allow to) turn away from My signs those who are arrogant in the earth unjustly; while (even) if they see any sign, they will not believe in it, and if they see the way of rectitude they do not take it for a way, and if they see the way of perverseness they take it for a way. This is because they belied Our signs and were heedless of them.”

The statements, which have formed this verse and the verse after it, are indeed a conclusion drawn from the previous verses upon the fate of Pharaoh and his people, and also the arrogant persons of the Children of Israel. At first, the verse says:

“Soon I will (allow to) turn away from My signs those who are arrogant in the earth unjustly...”

Then the Qur’ān points to three parts of the qualities of these proud and arrogant people and that how they were dispossessed of the success of the truth. It says:

“…while (even) if they see any sign, they will not believe in it…”

And, also, if they see the straight path and the right way, they do not choose it as their own way. The verse says:

“…and if they see the way of rectitude they do not take it for a way…”

After mentioning these three qualities, all of which denote to their arrogance against the truth, the Qur’ān points to the reason of them and says:

“…This is because they belied Our signs and were heedless of them.”