Translation of the Meanings of the Noble Qur'an - English Translation - Dr. Waleed Bleyhesh Omary * - Translations’ Index
Translation of the meanings Ayah: (33) Surah: Al-A‘rāf
قُلۡ إِنَّمَا حَرَّمَ رَبِّيَ ٱلۡفَوَٰحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنۡهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ وَٱلۡإِثۡمَ وَٱلۡبَغۡيَ بِغَيۡرِ ٱلۡحَقِّ وَأَن تُشۡرِكُواْ بِٱللَّهِ مَا لَمۡ يُنَزِّلۡ بِهِۦ سُلۡطَٰنٗا وَأَن تَقُولُواْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعۡلَمُونَ
(33) [1606]Say ˹Muhammad˺: “My Lord only forbade vices, both open and secret[1607], sinning, aggressing unrightfully[1608], that you Associate with Him that for which He sent down no authority, and that you say about Allah what you have no knowledge of”.
[1606] This message is to affirm the Godly stand on their sordid state of affairs and warns them against His retribution. A detailed account of what real morality is, is provided in the previous Makkan Sura al-Anʿām, Ayas 151-153, which pointedly concludes with: “Indeed this is My path, Straight, so follow it and do not follow the ˹diverse˺ roads and get driven away from His road; that He bade you so that you may become Mindful”.
[1607] al-Fawāḥish (lit. vices) mentioned here are, in a way, related to acts of lewdness (cf. Aya 80 below which talks of homosexuality as a ‘vice’) and nudity (cf. Ibn Taymiyyah, Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā, 15/381). Ibn ʿAbbās narrated that the Messenger (ﷺ) said: “No one is more solicitously jealous than Allah. This is why He forbade vices, both open and secret” (al-Bukhārī: 4637, Muslim: 2670).
[1608] It is given that all forms of aggression (baghy) are undoubtedly not rightful, but ‘unrightful’ (bi ghayr al-ḥaqq): this is mentioned here by way of calling attention to its repulsiveness. Conversely, it could mean that ‘rightful aggression’ is justified when exacting justice against someone who aggressed against the person concerned (al-Rāzī, al-Shinqīṭī, al-ʿAdhb al-Namīr).
[1607] al-Fawāḥish (lit. vices) mentioned here are, in a way, related to acts of lewdness (cf. Aya 80 below which talks of homosexuality as a ‘vice’) and nudity (cf. Ibn Taymiyyah, Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā, 15/381). Ibn ʿAbbās narrated that the Messenger (ﷺ) said: “No one is more solicitously jealous than Allah. This is why He forbade vices, both open and secret” (al-Bukhārī: 4637, Muslim: 2670).
[1608] It is given that all forms of aggression (baghy) are undoubtedly not rightful, but ‘unrightful’ (bi ghayr al-ḥaqq): this is mentioned here by way of calling attention to its repulsiveness. Conversely, it could mean that ‘rightful aggression’ is justified when exacting justice against someone who aggressed against the person concerned (al-Rāzī, al-Shinqīṭī, al-ʿAdhb al-Namīr).
Arabic explanations of the Qur’an:
Translation of the meanings Ayah: (33) 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.