Translation of the Meanings of the Noble Qur'an - English Translation - Dr. Waleed Bleyhesh Omary * - Translations’ Index
Translation of the meanings Ayah: (158) Surah: Al-A‘rāf
قُلۡ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنِّي رَسُولُ ٱللَّهِ إِلَيۡكُمۡ جَمِيعًا ٱلَّذِي لَهُۥ مُلۡكُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِۖ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ يُحۡيِۦ وَيُمِيتُۖ فَـَٔامِنُواْ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ ٱلنَّبِيِّ ٱلۡأُمِّيِّ ٱلَّذِي يُؤۡمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ وَكَلِمَٰتِهِۦ وَٱتَّبِعُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَهۡتَدُونَ
(158) [1790]Say ˹Muhammad˺: “O people, I am Allah’s Messenger to all of you. He is the One to Whom belongs the dominion of the Heavens and Earth, He gives life and causes death[1791]; so Believe in Allah and His Messenger, ‘the unlettered Prophet’[1792], who Believes in Allah and His Words and follow him so that you might be guided”.[1793]
[1790] This is a call to all who lived through the age of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), humanity’s last Messenger, the people of the Book included, and those that were to come after, to Believe in him, strongly support him, aid him and follow the Light that came down with him in order to attain success (al-Rāzī, Abū Ḥayyān). The address: “O people!” makes it clear that the extent of his Message is truly global, and to clear up any confusion that might arise from the fact that this declaration comes just after the stating of the fact that his foretelling was specifically mentioned in the Torah and the Evangel (cf. al-Saʿdī): “We have sent you ˹Muhammad˺ as nothing but a deliverer of good tidings and a warner to all of humanity, but most people do not know” (34: 28); “We have sent you as nothing but mercy to all beings” (21: 107). Jābir Ibn ʿAbdillāh (رضي الله عنه) narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “I was given five ˹privileges˺ none of the Prophets was given….a Prophet would only be sent to his own people in particular and I am sent to all people without exception…” (al-Bukhārī: 438; Muslim: 521).
[1791] This global Message comes from None but the Absolute Sovereign of the dominions of the Heavens and Earth, the solely True Lord, Who holds Power over lives and livelihoods (cf. al-Shinqīṭī, al-ʿAdhb al-Namīr): “…to Allah belongs the dominion of the Heavens and Earth and all there is between them, He creates whatever He wills—Allah is indeed Able over everything” (5: 17); “Do they not see that Allah, Who created the Heavens and Earth and did not tire in doing so, has the Power to bring the dead back to life? Yes indeed! He has Power over everything” (46: 33).
[1792] Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) is being defined by this honorific epithet which is attested to in God’s Divine Writs. That it is brought up here again implicates authority and encourages the people of the Book at his time to Believe in him, since he is clearly described in their Books (cf. Ibn ʿĀshūr). Had they Believed, the ‘unlettered’ Arabs would have felt tempted to follow suit, given the high regard in which they held the People of the Book.
[1793] Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) is set here as an example for all; to Believe in Allah and His Words, i.e. the Books He sent to His Messengers (cf. al-Ṭabarī, al-Baghawī, Ibn ʿAṭiyyah, al-Qurṭubī). So, consequently, people are to follow his example and Believe in the Light, the Qur’an, God’s Word, which he recites to them in order to be truly guided: “Say ˹Muhammad˺: “If you ˹really˺ love Allah then follow me and Allah shall love you and forgive your sins—Allah is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful”. *Say: “Obey Allah and the Messenger, but if they take to their heels, then Allah likes not the Deniers” (3: 31-32).
[1791] This global Message comes from None but the Absolute Sovereign of the dominions of the Heavens and Earth, the solely True Lord, Who holds Power over lives and livelihoods (cf. al-Shinqīṭī, al-ʿAdhb al-Namīr): “…to Allah belongs the dominion of the Heavens and Earth and all there is between them, He creates whatever He wills—Allah is indeed Able over everything” (5: 17); “Do they not see that Allah, Who created the Heavens and Earth and did not tire in doing so, has the Power to bring the dead back to life? Yes indeed! He has Power over everything” (46: 33).
[1792] Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) is being defined by this honorific epithet which is attested to in God’s Divine Writs. That it is brought up here again implicates authority and encourages the people of the Book at his time to Believe in him, since he is clearly described in their Books (cf. Ibn ʿĀshūr). Had they Believed, the ‘unlettered’ Arabs would have felt tempted to follow suit, given the high regard in which they held the People of the Book.
[1793] Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) is set here as an example for all; to Believe in Allah and His Words, i.e. the Books He sent to His Messengers (cf. al-Ṭabarī, al-Baghawī, Ibn ʿAṭiyyah, al-Qurṭubī). So, consequently, people are to follow his example and Believe in the Light, the Qur’an, God’s Word, which he recites to them in order to be truly guided: “Say ˹Muhammad˺: “If you ˹really˺ love Allah then follow me and Allah shall love you and forgive your sins—Allah is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful”. *Say: “Obey Allah and the Messenger, but if they take to their heels, then Allah likes not the Deniers” (3: 31-32).
Arabic explanations of the Qur’an:
Translation of the meanings Ayah: (158) Surah: Al-A‘rāf
Translation of the Meanings of the Noble Qur'an - English Translation - Dr. Waleed Bleyhesh Omary - Translations’ Index
Translation of the meanings of the Noble Qur’an into English - in progress - translated by Dr. Walid Bleihesh Al-Omari.