Translation of the Meanings of the Noble Qur'an - English Translation - Dr. Waleed Bleyhesh Omary * - Translations’ Index
Translation of the meanings Ayah: (4) Surah: Al-A‘rāf
وَكَم مِّن قَرۡيَةٍ أَهۡلَكۡنَٰهَا فَجَآءَهَا بَأۡسُنَا بَيَٰتًا أَوۡ هُمۡ قَآئِلُونَ
(4) [1570]How many a town have We destroyed and Our Might befallen it[1571] ˹while they were fast asleep˺ at night, or as they were resting during the day![1572]
[1570] Now that the defining criterion, the Qur’an, the Distinguisher, which has to be ‘heeded’, has been introduced, this passage brings into light the fate of those who lost their souls and rebelled against God’s Signs; destruction in this world and Punishment in the Hereafter (cf. al-Rāzī).
[1571] God, the All-Just, will only inflict punishment on those whom He forewarned and who were made aware of their wrongs through the communication of the Message and warning (cf. al-Ṭabarī, Ibn Kathīr): “˹These˺ Messengers ˹were sent as˺ deliverers of glad tidings and warnings, so that people would have no pretext against Allah after the Messengers ˹coming to them˺—verily Allah is Most Prevailing, All-Wise” (4: 165); “That, for your Lord will not destroy towns unjustly while their people are unaware” (6: 131).
[1572] That is in a state when people feel most safe and secure and least expect disaster to hit; so much so that the warning becomes more real and the message hard-hitting: “Do those who have plotted evil deeds feel secure that God will not cause the Earth to engulf them, or that the punishment will not come upon them whence they are not aware? *Or that He will not seize them in the midst of their going to and fro, and they will be powerless to thwart ˹it˺? *Or that He will not seize them with a gradual diminishing? And truly your Lord is Kind, Merciful” (16: 45-47).
[1571] God, the All-Just, will only inflict punishment on those whom He forewarned and who were made aware of their wrongs through the communication of the Message and warning (cf. al-Ṭabarī, Ibn Kathīr): “˹These˺ Messengers ˹were sent as˺ deliverers of glad tidings and warnings, so that people would have no pretext against Allah after the Messengers ˹coming to them˺—verily Allah is Most Prevailing, All-Wise” (4: 165); “That, for your Lord will not destroy towns unjustly while their people are unaware” (6: 131).
[1572] That is in a state when people feel most safe and secure and least expect disaster to hit; so much so that the warning becomes more real and the message hard-hitting: “Do those who have plotted evil deeds feel secure that God will not cause the Earth to engulf them, or that the punishment will not come upon them whence they are not aware? *Or that He will not seize them in the midst of their going to and fro, and they will be powerless to thwart ˹it˺? *Or that He will not seize them with a gradual diminishing? And truly your Lord is Kind, Merciful” (16: 45-47).
Arabic explanations of the Qur’an:
Translation of the meanings Ayah: (4) 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.